Obesity
Obesity is defined as an excess proportion
of total body fat. People are generally considered obese when his
or her weight is greater than 20% above normal weight. Obesity has
been more precisely defined by the National Institutes of Health
as a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or above. A BMI of 30 is about
30 pounds overweight. A person’s BMI is calculated by dividing
a person's weight in kilograms (kg) by their height in meters (m)
squared.
There are often multiple causes for obesity,
based on both genetic and behavioral factors. Recent studies have
shown that a child has a 75% chance of becoming obese if their biological
mother was obese. Obesity can develop when a person consumes more
calories than he or she burns. Aging can also factor into obesity.
With time, the body's ability to metabolize food slows down, and
fewer calories are needed to maintain weight. People who lead active
lifestyles require more calories than less active ones to maintain
their weight. However, physical activity often decreases appetite
in obese people while increasing their body's ability to burn fat
as an energy source. Decreased levels of daily activity are thought
to have resulted in an increase in obesity over the last 20 years.
Psychological factors also influence obesity. Many people eat as
a response to negative emotions like anger, boredom, or sadness.
Rare illnesses can also cause obesity. These include hormone problems
such as hypothyroidism, depression and some rare brain disorders
which can lead to overeating.
In addition to the added health risks that
accompany obesity, emotional suffering is also prevalent. Modern
society places great emphasis on physical appearance, often equating
attractiveness with a slim or muscular physique. Obese people are
also unjustly stereotyped as lazy and/or gluttonous quite often.
However, since obesity and its multiple causes are better understood
today, people struggling with obesity have more options to lose
weight and live healthier lives.
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