10 Leading Causes of Obesity and Over Weight

 

Overview on obesity

Rising prevalence of overweight and obesity and its health consequences has promoted the WHO to identify it as one of today’s most important public health problem.

Obesity is due to positive energy balance, the intake of calories is more than the expenditure of energy. Obesity is a state in which there is a generalized accumulation of excess adipose tissue (fats) in the body leading to more than 20 per cent of the desirable weight. Over weight is a condition where the body weight is 10-20 per cent greater than the mean standard weight for age, height and sex.

Here are 10 leading causes factors of obesity and over weight.

 

1.Genetic

Genetic inheritance probably influence 50-70 percent a person’s  chance of becoming bad more than any other factor. A genetic base regulate species difference in body fat and sexual differences within a species. Within families the chance is 80 percent if both parents are obese and 50 percent if one parent is obese. A mutation in the human gene for the B3 receptor in adipose tissue, involved in lipolysis and thermogenesis markedly increase the risk of obesity.

 

2.Age and sex

It can occur at any age in either sex as long as the person is under positive energy balance. Studies shows that more females than males are found to be over weight among all age groups. Hormonal predisposition put women at higher risk of obesity when compared to men.

 

3.Eating habits

Certain type of eating habits may lead to obesity.
  (a) Nibbling between meals is common
  (b) Some may eat faster taking less time for chewing, therefore they tend to consume more food.
  (c) People who eat more junk food  or fried food snacks may become obese.
  (d) Sugar added beverages when frequently consumed May contribute to weight gain.
  (e) Personal who work in different shifts, whose body clock is distributed, may over eat.
  (f) Housewives who do not want leftover food to be thrown out may consume forcibly and put on weight.

 

4.Physical activity

Obesity is found in person who lead sedentary lives and pay less importance to physical activity. Though obesity can occur at any age, this is more common during middle age when physical activity decreases without corresponding decrease in food consumption. Obesity can also be seen among school children who spend too much time on studies, who do not do physical exercise, who do not participate in school games and who use vehicles for commuting to place nearby their home.

 

5.Stress

Food is one of the many simulants of endorphin, ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter. Self gratification, self punishment, depression, anxiety and stress may lead to excess caloric intake. Recent studies have shown that school children tend to take more fatty foods as their lives grow stressful. Chronic sleep deprivation may increase appetite in some.

 

6.Endocrine factor

Obesity is found in hypothyroidism, hypothalamus and Cushing’s syndrome. Obesity is common at puberty, pregnancy and menopause, suggesting endocrine may be a factor in obesity.

 

7.Sugar

Added sugar is half glucose, half fructose. Consuming a diet high in added sugars, such as those found in sweetened beverages, candy, baked goods, and sugary cereals, is a contributing factor in weight gain and chronic health conditions, including obesity. Scientists believe and Strong evidence shows that that excessive sugar intake may be one of the main causes of obesity.

 

8.Prosperity and civilization

Obesity is common in prosperous countries and continent like UK, US and USSR and among people from higher socioeconomic status of developing countries, since they have the purchasing power and availability of surplus food. Obesity is rare in primitive societies. Civilization has brought plentiful supply of appetizing foods, concentrated foods and variety of foods in the market.

 

9.Trauma

Obesity may follow due to damage to hypothalamus after head injury because it is not able to regulate appetite or satiety.

 

10.Medication

Some drugs promote weight gain. Psychiatric drug like antidepressants, steroid hormones, contraceptive, diabetic drugs and antihistamines may increase weight in an individual.

 

conclusion

Unless you are suffering from any kind of medical condition, it is advisable to maintain a healthy body weight to avoid different risk factors which can be associated with over weight and obesity.

If you have concerns about your overall health, you should not use this article as an excuse to give up. It often takes small lifestyle change to maintain healthy body weight and many people do succeed in the long term despite having the odds stacked against them.

The point of this article is to open people’s minds to the fact that something other than individual responsibility plays a vital role in the obesity epidemic.