One Of the basic characteristics of complex phenomena is the intrinsic impossibility of constructing an explanation of them through the deconstruction procedure in their constituent parts. Much of its nature lies in its indivisibility. Hence the well-known mantra that the whole is much more than the parts. The recondite dynamics of its constituent parts is inextricably linked to its essence. This leads to the epistemic strategy of sketching bridges between different disciplines already established to forge a holistic explanation of these phenomena.

Obesity as an object of study is a paradigmatic example. There are different perspectives that involve numerous scientific disciplines that account for approaches related to the body and its symbolic representations, eating habits, and the way in which social inequity affects those who suffer in different ways from one of the pandemics of our times.

This issue of the journal INTER DISCIPLINA dedicates its dossier to this topic. The six articles that compose it provide different approaches to this problem with a wide spectrum of points of view that include food-health relationships, gender perspectives of the problem, testimonies of migrants, the aspects of mental health linked to obesity, and a historical outlook at the phenomenon in the last two decades.

The dossier is complemented by an interview with the prominent researcher Mabel Gracia Arnaiz, professor of social anthropology at the Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona, Spain), visiting researcher at CETSAH (CNRS-EHSS, Paris), at CIESAS (Mexico City), CETIA (University of Toulouse II, Toulouse) and at the Institute of Anthropological Research (UNAM-CDMX, Mexico).

Six papers in the Independent Communications section and two book reviews complete the issue.