OBESITY: ^[1,2]
Obesity is the condition of over accumulation of fat under the skin and also around certain organs like mostly around the midsection,which protrudes out with a characteristic bulge.

The excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have any adverse effects on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and increased health problems.Hence it is a long term complex disease.

It gradually develops from poor diet,lifestyle and to some extent from your genes inherited from parents.

A person gains weight when he consumes more calories than required for its normal functions i.e basal metabolic rate [BMR] and physical activity.Hence the unused calories are stored as fat,as a result person becomes obese.For example,intake of extra 100 calories per day can lead to a gain of 4.5 kgs body weight in a year. Gaining 4.5kgs a year ultimately will result in a BMI of 30 or even higher.
Hence activity level is very important.Activity uses calories,and balances the calories obtained through food.

SIGNS OF AN OBESE PERSON ^[1]

1. Large hips
2. Excess of bulk over the midsection area
3. Pendulous brests
4. Too much flesh over the cheeks

SYMPTOMS OF OBESITY ^[1]

1. Person gets tierd very easily i.e no stamina in the body
2. Rapid heartbeat
3. In a state of lethargy almost all the time
4. Person wheezes while walking

CAUSES OF OBESITY


Lifestyle choices ^[3]

Lifestyle choices are an important factor in deciding a persons body weight.Eating more calories is the sign of unhealthy food choices like

• Eating fastfood that contains high fat.
• Not eating fruits,vegetables and required carbohydrates like in wholemeal bread and brown rice.
• Drinking too much alcohol which contains a lot of calories.
• Eating out a lot and larger portions than needed.
• Comfort eating when a person feel depressed he may comfort eat to make himself feel better.

Lack of physical activity ^[3]
Lack of physical activity is another important factor mostly seen in people who have jobs that involve just sitting at a desk,also people who rely on their cars to get around and people who tend to watch TV or play computer games for most of the day.If a person is not active enough,the energy provided by the food and the extra calories are stored as fat.The Department of Health recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day on five or more days of the week for adults and at least 60 minutes every day for children.

Genes ^[3]
Some people put on weight quickly if they are not careful about their food due to their genes.
Some genetic conditions can increase appetite,so people end up eating too much.Genes also determine how much fat body stores.A particular genetic variation could mean that body is more likely to store fat.

Medical reasons ^[3]
Medical conditions that can cause weight gain are

• Cushing's syndrome is a disorder that causes an overproduction of steroid hormones

• Hypothyroidism is the condition when thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone i.e thyroxine

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when women have a large number of cysts in their ovaries.

Certain medicines like corticosteroids,antidepressants and combined contraceptive pill intake,quitting smoking.can also contribute to weight gain.

Environmental Factors ^{[2, 4]}
Environmental and genetic factors are closely interrelated.Modern lifestyle,environment,food high in fat but low in fruits and vegetables,fast food,long days sitting at a desk may lead to weight gain and obesity.Total change in environment results in failure to reach and maintain a healthy body weight.
Sudden rise in weight levels which is a worldwide problem which is evident by the new word "globesity"-environmental factors must be the prime cause of modern obesity.

Metabolism ²
Weight gain or loss is a function of calories ingested and then burnt.Intake of more calories than person burn leads to weight gain;but burning of more calories than intake results in lose of weight.
Obesity researchers pointed a theory called the "set point" which is a sort of thermostat in the brain that makes people resistant to either weight gain or loss.If a person overrides the set point by drastically cutting calorie intake,brain responds by lowering metabolism and slowing activity resulting in the gain of lost weight.

Family Influence ^[4]
Faminly behavioral patterns concerning shopping,cooking,eating and exercise influences child's energy balance and their weight.Family diet and lifestyle are important contributory causes to modern child obesity.Since majority of obese children grow up to become obese adults,it's clear that family influence extends to adult obesity.Hence it is a major contributory cause to obesity.

Overconsumption -Eating Too Many High Fat or Refined Sugary Foods: ^[4]

Eating too many calories must be a major reason for the main cause of the modern obesity.Increase in consumption of calorie dense foods,growth of fast food chains and higher soft drink consumption as evidenced by modern lifestyle choices leads to a higher energy-intake.

The type of food eaten also plays an important role in the rise of obesity.Eating patterns are known to interfere with food and energy metabolism in the body,causes excessive fat storage.As a result health disorders like insulin resistance,type 2 diabetes mainly obesity may occur.Incidence of these "modern" health disorders is increasing worldwide.

References:

1. http://www.ayushveda.com/health/obesity.htm
2. http://www.obesitysurgeries.com/causes-of-obesity.html
3. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obesity/Pages/Causes.aspx
4. http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/causes-of-obesity.htm

This blog doesnot contain plagiarised material.