What is obesity?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines obesity as an “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health”. For adults, that means a BMI of 30 or above.
Obesity increases the risk of other diseases and illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and more.
There are many reasons as to why someone may be obese. It could be due to genetic or environmental factors, or a combination of the two.
Obesity and genetics
Although there are genetic disorders that predispose someone to obesity, obesity mainly occurs when you consume a diet which contains more calories than your body needs for good health and daily activity. This may be from a diet consisting of high calorie, low nutrition foods (think fast food) and drinking high-calorie beverages like sodas.
Many people end up unintentionally eating a lot of calories and don’t do enough exercise to burn them off, causing the food they ate to be stored as fat, and increasing the risk for obesity.
Obesity and environmental factors
There are many environmental factors which contribute towards an increased likelihood of obesity. These include stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise. Other risks could be due to social and economic factors. For example, it may be difficult to exercise if you live in an area which is unsafe to go out for a walk or run. Additionally, you may have never learned how to cook in a healthy way, or there may not be access to inexpensive healthy foods nearby. And don’t forget your family and friends can also influence your diet and exercise routine and could also become a factor as to why you’re above a healthy weight.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742
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