What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. More specifically, it refers to having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is a measure of body fat calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.
Some key facts about obesity:
- Obesity rates have nearly tripled globally since 1975. As of 2016, approximately 650 million adults worldwide were obese.
- Obesity increases the risk for many health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers.
- Obesity is generally caused by a combination of genetic, behavioral, metabolic, environmental, socioeconomic, and other factors that lead to excess calorie consumption and/or inadequate physical activity.
So what causes someone to become obese in the first place? There are a few main contributing factors:
- Poor diet - Consuming high amounts of processed, high-calorie foods.
- Lack of exercise - Not engaging in enough physical activity to burn calories.
- Genetics and family history - Some people inherit a predisposition to gain weight more easily.
- Medical problems - Issues like thyroid disorders can negatively impact weight.
- Medications - Some drugs like steroids and antidepressants may cause weight gain.
- Stress and emotions - Stress and mood issues could lead to overeating behaviors.
The good news? Obesity can be prevented and treated through lifestyle changes like improved nutrition, more activity, sleep, and stress relief. Our friends at Renewed Balance Clinic also offer personalized plans to optimize hormones for healthy metabolism and weight loss.
I hoped this overview gave you a better understanding of this global health issue! Let me know if you have any other questions.