In Spain, more than half the population is overweight and 16% suffer from obesity, according to a recent study by the University of Navarra. Experts blame much of the problem on new habits in modern societies, where people go everywhere by car, use remote controls and, in the case of children, play with video games instead of engaging in traditional kinds of entertainment that burn more calories. Ironically, many things that are supposed to improve our quality of life do just the opposite.

Add to the all this the related effects of poor diets and insufficient nutritional education, with excessive consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol, as is the case with pre-cooked foods. Furthermore, cardiovascular and metabolic woes are directly related to weight problems.

Doctors have developed surgical techniques that open doors for obese people who until recently felt doomed. Stomach operations yield surprising results in a short time, although this kind of remedy is only used in cases of severe, life-threatening obesity. In any case the average price of this kind of operation is 12,500 euros in a private clinic.

The surgery helps reduce the patient�s appetite, creating small gastric balls and causing poor, selective absorption of fats. This kind of procedure leads to a quick weight loss that lasts six months, followed by a period of slow weight loss that lasts as much as a year and a half, after which there is stabilization. People who simply want to get ride of fatty deposits can save 3,500 euros by undergoing liposuction in a certified facility.

The University of Navarra study advises against certain kinds of diets, such as the artichoke or pineapple diets, based on loss of water and body mass and dilution of fats. A complete, 20-day therapy costs about 1000 euros and gives surprising results: five kilos or 10 cm of waistline.

There are other, similar diets that involve great sacrifices and give disappointing results over the medium term because the kilos that vanish in just a few weeks can come back in a question of days. In order to work, Draconian measures must be accompanied by a significant change in diet and exercise habits.

The sap diet costs about 30 euros, including the syrup and the lemons. It takes a week and consists of ingesting the syrup diluted in water with lemon a bit of pepper. Nothing else. On average, people who try this lose five to eight kilos, depending on their build.
Weight loss spas also give healthy results since they blend nutritional care with physical exercise and other kinds of therapy that are good for eliminating fat. The down side is the price. They are so expensive that only the wealthy can afford them. A week of this therapy costs more than 700 euros, meals included in a four-star hotel.

Gymnasiums have become an outlet for thousands of people who want to sculpt their figures while they burn calories and get in shape. Prices vary but on average a well-equipped gym costs about 300 euros if you sign up for the whole year, or 30 euros if you do it monthly. A day at the pool costs about 2.5 euros in Madrid or Barcelona.