[The dangers of drug career in young people].

It is significant when a young person encounters drugs for the first time. Research has shown that 70% of later addicts try the drugs during the five-year period of adolescence. Youngsters tend to try new experinces; they are high risk-takers, seek novelty and are sensitive to pressure from the peer group.

[New perspectives on childhood obesity].

From preventional point of view, childhood obesity is very important, since proliferation of extra fatty tissue in childhood contribute metabolic processes favoring the development of type 2 diabetes, as well as it can accelerate cardiovascular complications. Anyone who is overweight in his or her life is likely to be confronted by such social stigma that could ultimately have a negative impact on self-esteem. The cornerstone of prevention is a healthy diet and age-adjusted physical training which may result in a physiological energy balance.

[Current views on the metabolic syndrome and the effects of antipsychotic drugs].

Nevertheless clinical studies have confirmed that atypical antipsychotics have a different metabolic effect. The metabolic effect of atypical antipsychotics may manifest itself in weight gain, disturbances in glucose homeostasis and dyslipidaemia. In fact, obesity is the body's way of storing lipids where they belong, in fat tissue, to protect our other organs from lipids toxic effects.

[Role of fatty liver in metabolic syndrome].

Epidemiological studies in humans have documented an association between visceral obesity and cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently, attention has been focused on the excessive accumulation of triglycerides in the liver as part of metabolic syndrome. It appears that fat accumulation in the liver is associated with several features of insulin resistance even in normal-weight and moderately overweight people.