Question

What is the reason for obesity?

Answer 1

Obesity is a complex disease which involves an excessive amount of body fat. It is such a kind of medical problem that increases the risk of other diseases and health problems. Body Mass Index is a calculation of a person's weight and height in account to measure body size.

Complete answer:
Eating more calories than we burn in daily activities and exercises practice on a long term basis can lead to obesity. These extra calories add up and cause a gain in weight. Other than this, there are some common specific causes of obesity –

i) Genetical – How one’s body processes food into energy and how the storage of food takes place. Some people have such genes which make it difficult for them to lose weight.
ii) Growing older – This leads to less muscle mass and a slower metabolic rate which makes it easier to gain weight.
iii) Sleep – Not getting proper sleep due to some workload or other which make the person feel hungrier and crave more calorie foods.
iv) Pregnancy – As weight gained during it may be difficult to lose and sometimes causes obesity.

The people who live in a neighbourhood with many fast-food restaurants and may crave it may have a higher risk for obesity. There are some psychological and other factors that can sometimes lead to weight gain which can further cause obesity such as – depression, or some control pills, antidepressants, etc.

Few more causes of Obesity:
- Physical inactivity.
- Overeating.
- A diet high in simple carbohydrates.
- Frequency of eating.
- Medications.
- Psychological factors.
- Diseases such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome are also contributors to obesity.

Additional information:
- Lifestyle and behavioural changes are preferred as the best methods for weight loss. We have to treat obesity by exercising regularly and eat a healthy reduced-calorie diet.
- BMI does not always give an accurate measurement of body fat content. Surgery is only considered when other weight management options are not affectable.

Note: Adult Body Mass Index for Obesity range
- If our BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range.
- If our BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the healthy weight range.
- If our BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range.
- If our BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.