Obesity is a long-term complex condition

Obesity is a long-term complex condition which has become a worry for many people in our culture nowadays and it is important to obtain and realizing of what obesity is. According to Wlardlow (Journal of the Hela, 2000, vol. 7) “obesity is defined as a condition characterized by excess body fat and also defined as being 20% above the average weight”. Generally increase consumption of foods high in fats and sugars may lead to obesity. According to research, we all have and require fat tissue in our bodies.” When there is too much body fat, the result is obesity “(The World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia CD-ROM, 1996). Classification of obesity is commonly based on Body Mass Index (BMI) which adjusts body weight for height is associated with the total body fat content in adults. A BMI of 25-29.9 is classified as overweight while a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. The energy needed by the human body is divided into two. Primary energy is needed by the human body for non-voluntary activities, such as heart rate, breathing, bowel movements, and others and secondary energy activity and movement is caused by human use during the day walking, swimming and movement in general. The World Health Organization, the National Institute of Health. Its over- all prevalence has increased by 33% in the last decade (Merck, 2003, pp. 685-687). Researchers have found that obesity is directly related to an increase in the mortality rate (Journal of American Medical Assoc., 2003, vol. 289, 2, pp.187-193). Obesity tends to run throughout ones life, meaning that its presence at any age will increase the risk of the condition at later ages.

This paper discussed the causes and effects of obesity. “Obesity can contribute to many adverse health outcomes which increase one’s risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, gallbladder disease, cancers, pulmonary disease, bone joint disorders and early death”( Rosemary., para.2 ).Each plays an important role so many people are overweight or obese nowadays because of many factors that influence being obese or overweight which include behavior, environment , eating habits and lifestyle changes all plays an significant role in obesity. According to the American Medical Association,” being obese means that 30% of your ideal body weight is constituted by fat” (Atkinson, 1999). Obesity is the world’s biggest health epidemic at the moment! Preventing obesity is one of the main steps that we need to focus on.

Causes of Obesity

To begin with, there are many causes that lead people to become obese. First of all, many people get obese because of heredity. For example, if the person has a strong family history of obesity, he will have the tendency to be obese more than the other people with no family history. Some people are prone to gain weight and store fat due to increase in genetic. Although not everyone with this tendency will become obese, some persons without genetic tendency do become obese. This is due to our genes that decides the level of metabolism.

Wardlaw, Insel and Seyler suggest that “genetic background accounts for about 70% of weight differences between people”. The genetic and hormonal problems lead people to get higher weight than they should as it tends to run in families. The sedentary life style of some people also plays a role in being obese. Technology has made labor and timesaving products such as, cars, computers and TVs with remote controls devices reduces the overall amount of energy used in their daily lives (NIDDK, 2001). Employers do not give efforts for the physical activities and most hold jobs that involve minimal physical labor especially at work places. If people do not practice enough exercise due to the use of cars instead of walking. For example, lack of movement due to demand for watching TV and playing video games rather than engaged in playing different sports. Besides, eating habits include the spreading of the fast food which contain high amount of fat and calories and changing environment has widened food options and eating habits. for example, Shelves in the supermarkets are stocked with a greater selection of foods, soft drinks, fast food restaurants and pre-packaged foods are more accessible today. Although such foods are fast and convenient they tend to be very high in fat and calories contributing to an excess caloric intake, causing weight gain (National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes and Kidney Disease, 2001). So people are not aware of the quality and quantity of the food, they will certainly end up in raising their weight. The psychological condition has great influences on some people to become obese especially those who suffer from certain emotional or stress problems, because their feelings influence their eating habits, causing them to overeat.