Obesity

Obesity - having too much body fat in relation to lean body mass

In the past 20 years, the number of obese people in the United States has increased dramatically. Over 30% of adults, and about 15% of adolescents and children are currently considered obese.

Causes

Basically, consuming more calories than you burn each day will cause obesity, but several additional factors might also contribute:

• Genetics: It appears that obesity can be inherited, and that obesity can run in a family. However, genetics alone are not responsible for obesity.
• Age: Metabolism, or the rate at which you burn calories, slows as you get older. That means that eating the same amount of food will lead to more weight gain. Prolonged weight gain can then lead to obesity.
• Environment: People behave differently in different settings. At home, people tend to watch many hours of television, and many jobs consist of sitting at a desk with little or no physical activity. Environment affects lifestyle choices such as the amount and types of food you eat and how often you exercise.
• Medication and Diseases: Certain drugs, including some antidepressants, can cause weight gain. Specific diseases can also contribute to obesity.

The Dangers of Obesity

Obesity leads to an increased risk of acquiring a large number of health problems, many of which are serious and potentially life-threatening. They include:

• Hypertension, or high blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Stroke
• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes

Ways to Prevent or Reduce the Risk of Obesity

While obesity can run in some families, there are things you can do to prevent your chances of becoming obese.

• Watch what you eat: When you take in more calories than you burn off you are overeating, which leads to weight gain. Controlling the number of calories you consume can help you maintain a healthy weight.
• Reduce your fat intake: Foods high in fat contain more calories than other foods. Sticking to a low-fat diet can reduce your calorie intake.
• Exercise: The more physical activity you get during the day, the more calories you burn, and the less likely you are to gain weight.

Treatment Options

The methods for treating obesity are similar to the methods used to prevent obesity in the first place.

• Diet: Switching to a low-calorie diet and maintaining a consistent level of food intake can help with weight loss, although it is often difficult to maintain this loss.
• Exercise: Increasing your physical activity is helpful, although it may be more helpful over a long period time than in the initial short-run.
• Monitor Behavior: Becoming aware of your eating habits and behaviors can allow you to recognize when you overeat, and what you can do to counteract these urges.
• Medication: If other treatments do not work, medication and therapy can be considered. In extreme cases, surgery can be performed to shrink the stomach.