Posted by Obesity is a medical condition characterised by excessive or abnormal accumulation of body fat which poses a health risk. Health providers would usually define obesity by using the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a ratio of weight to height.
Obesity is a complex and chronic health issue that can result from various factors such as genetics, environment, lifestyle choices and societal influences. It is more than just a matter of appearance because it significantly increases the risk of various health problems and can lead to serious diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, joint problems and certain cancers.
These are the main causes of obesity in adults:
1. CALORIES
The energy value for food is measured in units called calories. The average physically active man needs around 2,500 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight whereas a physically active woman requires 2,000 calories per day.
This amount of calories may seem high but it is easy to achieve that with the right types of food. For example, a large burger, fries and a milkshake has a total of 1,500 calories and that is just one meal. Therefore, it is very easy to consume extra calories which will then lead to obesity.
Moreover, people are not getting the appropriate amount of exercise daily. That is why the excess amount of calories ends up being stored as fat in the body.
2. DIET
Diet and lifestyle factors contribute to the development of obesity and overweight. Some of the most common ones are:
- eating large amounts of processed or fast food – food with high sugar and fat content
- drinking too much alcohol – alcohol contains a lot of calories
- eating out a lot – food cooked in an establishment may contain a higher amount of sugar and fat
- drinking too many sugary drinks – soft drinks and fruit juice
- comfort eating – some people will eat to comfort themselves from uncomfortable emotions
Changes in society have also made it more difficult for people to have a healthy diet. High-calorie food has become cheaper and much more convenient.
3. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Lack of exercise is another important factor related to obesity. Many people have jobs that involve sitting at a desk for most of the day. They also rely a lot on their cars rather than walking or cycling.
For relaxation, many people tend to watch TV, browse the internet or play video games and they rarely have regular exercise.
If you are not active enough, you do not use the energy provided by the food you eat and the extra energy you consume is stored in your body as fat.
Specialists recommend that adults do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises such as cycling or fast walking.
4. GENETICS
There are some genes associated with obesity and being overweight. In some people, genes can affect how bodies change food into energy and store fat. Genes can also affect people’s lifestyle choices.
Some rare genetic conditions can cause obesity such as Prader-Willi syndrome.
Certain genetic traits inherited from your parents such as having a big appetite may make losing weight difficult but it is not impossible with the right help and motivation.
In many cases, obesity has more to do with environmental factors such as not having easy access to healthy food or unhealthy eating habits learned during childhood.
5. MEDICAL REASONS
In some cases, underlying medical conditions may contribute to weight gain such as:
- an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) – where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones
- Cushing’s syndrome – a rare disorder that causes the overproduction of steroid hormones
However, if these conditions are properly diagnosed and treated, they should pose less of a challenge to losing weight.
Certain medicines including steroids, medications for epilepsy and diabetes and some psychiatric medicines can contribute to weight gain.
Weight gain can sometimes be a side effect of stopping smoking.