All about obesity
Causes of obesity
A complex problem with numerous causes is obesity. It results from the body storing excess calories as fat.
Your body will store a large portion of excess energy as fat if you eat a lot of energy-dense foods, especially those heavy in fat and sugar, and do not expend it all through physical activity.
Calories
Calories are a unit of measurement for food’s energy content. To maintain a healthy weight, the average physically active male needs roughly 2,500 calories per day, while the average physically active woman needs roughly 2,000 calories per day.
Although this seems like a lot of calories, if you eat particular kinds of food, it can be simple to meet your goal. For instance, consuming a big takeout burger, fries, and a milkshake in one sitting can add up to 1,500 calories. See our guide on understanding calories for more details
Moreover, a lot of people do not exercise to the necessary levels for adults, which results in the body storing extra calories as fat.
Diet
Obesity and overweight develop as a result of lifestyle and diet choices. Among the most typical ones are:
consuming a lot of processed or fast food, which is heavy in fat and sugar; drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, which is high in calories; and dining out frequently Dining out may result in cuisine that is higher in fat and sugar; overindulging in portions ; and consuming an excessive amount of sugar-filled beverages, such as fruit juice and soft drinks.
Comfort eating : People who indulge in comfort food may do so for a variety of other reasons, such as low mood or low self esteem.
Maintaining a healthy diet has also become more challenging due to societal changes. Food that is high in calories is now more affordable, easier to find, and widely advertised.
Learn how to reduce your intake of sugar and saturated fat in your diet by reading these articles.
Physical activity
Insufficient physical activity is a significant contributing factor to obesity. A lot of people work in occupations where they spend the majority of the day at a desk. In addition they depend more on their cars than on cycling or walking.
Many people rarely engage in regular exercise as a form of relaxation and instead choose to watch TV, browse the internet, or play computer games.
If you don’t exercise enough, your body stores the excess energy you consume as fat since you won’t be utilizing the energy from your diet.
Adults should engage in at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise such as brisk walking or cycling, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. You can divide this up into smaller sessions rather than having to finish it all at once. For instance, you may work out five days a week for thirty minutes each day.
You might need to exercise more than this if you’re attempting to reduce weight and you live with obesity. Stepping up your weekly workout routine gradually at first might be beneficial.
Genetics
There exist certain genes linked to overweight and obesity. Genes can influence an individual’s body’s ability to store fat and convert food into energy. Genes can influence a persons lifestyle decisions as well.
Additionally, some uncommon genetic diseases like Prader-Willi syndrome can result in obesity.
Losing weight may be more challenging if you have certain hereditary features from your parents such as an excessive appetite but it is still doable.
Obesity is frequently more the result of environmental factors such as childhood eating patterns or difficult access to nutritious food
Medical reasons
Underlying medical issues might occasionally be a factor in weight gain. Among them are:
hypothyroidism, a condition in which your thyroid gland does not generate enough hormones, is an underactive thyroid gland
A rare condition known as Cushing’s syndrome results in an excess of steroid hormones.
But if ailments like these are identified and treated appropriately, they ought to be less of an obstacle to losing weight.
There are a number of medications that might cause weight gain. These include steroids, diabetic and epilepsy treatments and several antidepressants and schizophrenia meds.
One of the occasional negative effects of quitting smoking is weight gain.
As a seasoned content writer specialized in the fitness and health niche, Arun Bhagat has always wanted to promote wellness. After gaining proper certification as a gym trainer with in-depth knowledge of virtually all the information related to it, he exercised his flair for writing interesting, informative content to advise readers on their healthier lifestyle. His topics range from workout routines, nutrition, and mental health to strategies on how to be more fit in general. His writing is informative but inspiring for people to achieve their wellness goals as well. Arun is committed to equipping those he reaches with the insights and knowledge gained through fitness.