Treating obesity can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. Successful treatments comprise interdisciplinary long-term programs. The combined skills of physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists and dieticians are necessary to modify the patient's eating habits. With regard to dietetic measures, the combination of formula diets followed by reduction diets (CLD) has proved successful. Behavioral therapy in combination with professional physiotherapy can reduce the failure rate. In the event that dietetic measures fail, the medications sibutramine, orlistat and rimonabant are available.