Obesity

Obesity is a term describing body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. A person’s body mass index, or BMI, is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Adults with a BMI between 25 kg/m^2 and 30 kg/m^2 are considered overweight. Adults with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m^2 are considered to be obese. Anyone who is 100 pounds or more overweight or who has a BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m^2 is considered to be morbidly obese. The American society promotes increased food intake, non-healthful foods, and physical inactivity. This in return affects the rise in obesity in the United States.

Causes of obesity include eating more food than your body can use, drinking too much alcohol, and not getting enough exercise. Taking in more calories than your body burns leads to being overweight and will eventually lead to obesity. The human body stores unused calories as fat, not muscle. Some other causes of obesity may result from an underactive thyroid, which can lead to 5- 10 pounds of weight gain. Also, some antidepressants and antipsychotic medications may also contribute to weight gain and obesity. Obesity may also be a hereditary trait, making genetic factors a possible contributor in the development of obesity. Children of obese parents are 10 times more likely to become obese themselves than children of normal-weight parents. People at a higher risk for obesity include lower income groups, former smokers, people with chronic mental illness, people with disabilities, and people with a sedentary lifestyle. Obese people are also at greater risk for developing other medical problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Treatment solutions are available for people with obesity, but they need to make the effort to follow through with the decision to become a healthy weight. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are critical components when it comes to controlling weight. The safest method over a long-term period would be to burn more calories than consumed. Exercising daily and eating the right foods and amounts of food are essential to losing the unwanted weight. Maintaining a diet schedule is very difficult; therefore, support from family and friends makes the effort to stay on track easier. Weight-loss medications as well as herbal remedies are also available to help get rid of excess weight. Many of these products do not work and pose dangers to users. It is important to consult health care providers before beginning any medications or other methods to lose weight. Surgery is another option mainly for very obese people having trouble losing the weight with diet and exercise. After surgery, however, exercise and healthy eating must follow. Eating less, but eating the right portions each day can help to maintain a healthy weight. Individuals must have the drive to lose the weight and keep it off in order to see results. If no one has the drive to maintain health and fitness, then the future of the active world will be in danger. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004552/
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/