Obesity

Obesity is a complex disease that consists of having an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity is not just an aesthetic problem. It is a medical problem that increases your risk of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.
Causes

Although there are genetic, behavioral, metabolic, and hormonal influences on body weight, obesity occurs when more calories are ingested than are burned with exercise and normal daily activities. The body stores these excess calories in the form of fat.

Most American diets are too high in calories, often from fast food and high-calorie drinks. People with obesity may eat more calories before they feel full, feel hungry sooner, or eat more due to stress or anxiety.

Obesity

Risk factor's

 
Heredity and family influences : The genes you inherit from your parents can affect how much body fat you store and where that fat is distributed. Genetics can also play a role in how efficiently your body converts food into energy, in the way your body regulates your appetite, and in the way your body burns calories during exercise.

Obesity tends to run in the whole family. That's not just because of the genes they share. Family members also tend to share similar eating and activity habits.
Lifestyle choices
    Unhealthy diet:  A high-calorie diet with lots of fast food, high-calorie drinks, and oversized portions, but few fruits and vegetables contributes to weight gain.
    Liquid calories: People can drink a lot of calories without feeling full, especially calories from alcohol. Other high-calorie drinks, such as sugary sodas, can contribute to significant weight gain.
    Inactivity: If you have a sedentary lifestyle, it is very easy for you to eat more calories every day than you burn when you exercise and do normal daily activities. Looking at the screens of computers, tablets and phones is a sedentary activity. The number of hours you spend in front of a screen is highly associated with weight gain.

Certain diseases and medications

In some people, obesity may have a medical cause, such as the Prader-Willi symptom, Cushing's syndrome, or other disorders. Medical problems, such as arthritis, can also decrease physical activity, which can lead to weight gain.

Some medications can cause weight gain if you don't compensate for it with diet or physical activity. These medications include some antidepressants, anticonvulsant medications, diabetes medications, antipsychotic medications, steroids, and beta-blockers.
Social and economic problems

There are social and economic factors related to obesity. Avoiding obesity is difficult if you don't have safe areas to walk or exercise. Similarly, you may not have been taught healthy ways to cook or you may not have access to healthier foods. Also, the people you spend time with can influence your weight; you are more likely to develop obesity if you have obese friends or relatives.

Age:

Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. However, as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increase your risk of obesity. Also, the amount of muscle in the body tends to decrease with age. Generally, the decrease in muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism. These changes also reduce the calories you need, so they can make it harder to avoid excess weight. If you don't consciously control what you eat and don't get more physical activity as you age, you are likely to gain weight.

Other factors:

    Pregnancy:  Weight gain is common during pregnancy. For some women, after the baby is born, it is difficult to lose that weight that they gained. This weight gain can contribute to the development of obesity in women. Breastfeeding may be the best option for losing the weight gained during pregnancy.

    Give up smoking :  Quitting smoking is often associated with weight gain. And for some people, it can lead to enough weight gain to qualify as obesity. This often happens when people use food to cope with abstinence from smoking. However, in the long term, quitting smoking is still a greater health benefit than continuing to smoke. Your doctor can help you prevent weight gain after you quit smoking.

    Lack of sleep :  Not getting enough sleep or getting too much sleep can cause hormonal changes that increase your appetite. You may also feel like eating foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates, which can contribute to weight gain.

    Stress :  Many external factors that affect mood and well-being can contribute to obesity. People often reach for more high-calorie foods when they are in stressful situations.

    Microbiome :  Gut bacteria are affected by what you eat and can contribute to weight gain or difficulty in losing weight.

Obesity

 

People with obesity are more likely to have a number of potentially serious health problems, such as:

    Heart disease and strokes:  Obesity increases your chances of having high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

    Type 2 diabetes : Obesity can affect the way the body uses insulin to control blood sugar levels. This increases the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

    Certain cancers Obesity can increase the risk of cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and prostate.

    Digestive problems : Obesity increases the likelihood of developing heartburn, gallbladder disease, and liver problems.

    Gynecological and sexual problems :. Obesity can cause infertility and irregular periods in women. Obesity can also lead to erectile dysfunction in men.

    Sleep apnea : People with obesity are more likely to have sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and resumes during sleep.

    Osteoarthritis Obesity increases the load on the joints with full body weight bearing, in addition to facilitating inflammation within the body. These factors can cause complications such as osteoarthritis.
Quality of life

Obesity can lower your overall quality of life. You may not be able to do things you used to do, like participate in enjoyable activities. Maybe you avoid public places. People with obesity can even experience discrimination.

Other weight-related problems that can affect your quality of life include the following:

•     Depression
•     Disability
•     Sexual problems
•     Shame and guilt
•     Social isolation
•     Lower job performance

Prevention

If you are at risk for obesity, if you are currently overweight or at a healthy weight, you can take steps to avoid unhealthy weight gain and related health problems. It's no wonder that the measures to avoid weight gain are the same as to lose weight: daily exercise, healthy diet, and a long-term commitment to controlling what you eat and drink.

    Exercise regularly : You should do 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week to avoid weight gain. Moderate intensity physical activities include brisk walking and swimming.

    Follow a healthy eating plan : Focus on nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid saturated fat and cut down on sweets and alcohol. Eat three normal meals a day and few snacks. You can even enjoy small amounts of high-calorie, high-fat foods for a treat from time to time. Just be sure to choose foods that promote a healthy weight and good health most of the time.

    Recognize and avoid the traps that lead you to eat. Identify situations that cause you to eat out of control. Try keeping a journal in which you write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you feel, and how hungry you are. After a while, you should see certain patterns. You can plan and develop strategies to handle these types of situations and maintain control of your eating behaviors.

    Check your weight regularly : People who weigh themselves at least once a week do better at avoiding excess weight. Checking your weight can tell you if your efforts are paying off and help you spot small weight gains before they become a big problem.

    Be consistent. Sticking to your healthy weight plan as much as possible during the week, on weekends, holidays, and vacations increases your chances of long-term results.