Obesity affects people’s health, which can lead to other conditions. Obesity in adults is expensive. It causes health problems such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and a few cancers resulting in premature death.

What is Obesity?

Obesity  comprises a complex form of the disease that involves an excess accumulation of bodily fat. Obesity in adults is both a health issue and a vanity issue. It can cause a lot of other health-related problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, as well as certain kinds of cancers.

What are the causes of Obesity?

There are genetic, behavior-related, metabolic as well as hormone-related influences that can lead to excess body weight. Excess calories can lead to obesity. When paired with exercise, it should be safe for most people. Our bodies can store excessive amounts of calories in the form of fats. Obesity in adults is the result of a combination of various causes along with various risk factors such as:

a) Familial inheritance: Genes inherited from one’s parents might affect the amounts of body fat that can be stored and distributed within the body.

b) Lifestyle

1) Consumption of an unhealthy form of diet that is rich in calories and lacks fruits and/or vegetables, junk food, high-calorie beverages

2) Consumption of liquid-form of calories such as alcohol or sugary soft drinks

3) Inactive or sedentary form of lifestyle

4) Various types of diseases, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Cushing syndrome as well as certain medications like antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, anti-diabetic medications, antipsychotic agents, corticosteroids or beta-blockers

5) Social as well as economic problems one lives in a neighborhood that is not safe for walking or exercising

6) Age-associated changes in hormones and an inactive lifestyle, reduction in body’s metabolism and

7) A variety of factors like Pregnancy where one can easily gain weight, any type of stress wherein people consume calorie-rich foods and

8) Gut bacteria.

What are the consequences of Obesity?

People suffering from obesity are highly likely to develop a large number of very serious health-related problems that include —

a) Heart diseases and stroke as obesity causes the development of high blood pressure and abnormal levels of cholesterol that can act as a risk factor

b) Diabetes: Obesity influences the body’s capability of producing insulin for controlling levels of glucose in the blood. This results in an increased risk of resistance to insulin and the development of diabetes

c) Certain types of cancers: Obesity increases the risk of development of cancer of the uterus, uterine cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breasts, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gall-bladder, pancreas, kidney as well as prostate gland

d) Development of digestion-related problems such as an increase in chances or likelihood of development of heartburn, diseases of the gallbladder, and problems related to liver

e) Sleep-related apnea People suffering from obesity have more chances of developing sleep apnea which is a potential serious sleep-related disorder wherein the process of breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleeping

f) If a person diagnosed with Osteoarthritis has developed obesity, there is an increase in stress placed upon the weight-bearing joints that can also lead to an increase in inflammation within one’s body and

g) Increase in severity of symptoms of COVID-19: Obesity increases the risk for the development of a severe type of symptoms if one becomes severely infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

How can Obesity be prevented?

The excess energy from food is stored in the body as fat. People who are unable or unwilling to burn off calories by doing exercise may gain weight

Various preventive measures against obesity are as follows:

a) Controlling intake of calories: The energy-related value of various food items is measured in terms of units “calories”. A physically active male needs up to 2,500 calories while a physically active female needs up to 2,000. Most people may find that this number seems very high. It’s important for their body to properly function. There is a significant connection with those who don’t get enough activity.

b) Consumption of poor choices in diet: Obesity is not an overnight phenomenon. It requires time to develop gradually as a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices, such as

1 consuming larger amounts of processed or junk foods that contain higher amounts of fats and sugars,

2 consuming large amounts of alcohol as alcohol has lots of calories in it and people who are heavy drinkers are mostly overweight

3 when one eats lots of junk food. We have temptations for starters or desserts at any restaurant that may have high contents of fat and sugars,

4  if one is in habit of drinking lots of sugar-containing beverages such as soft drinks or fruit juices and

5 eating comfort foods: If one suffers from severe lower self-esteem or is feeling depressed, one eats to feel better. These can continue into adulthood.

c) Lacking physical activities: Lack of adequate amounts of physical-based activities is an important factor responsible for developing obesity. Most people have types of jobs that involve sitting at one’s desk for the majority of the time or people mostly rely upon the use of cars when compared to walking and cycling. Most people primarily use their television or device for leisure, with exercise being a secondary activity.

The Department of Health strongly recommends that adults engage in aerobic activities. Such as cycling and fast walking for at least 150 minutes per week. For example, one must exercise for 30 minutes each day for 5 days per week. Visit Centric Healthcare for more health-related blogs.

References

1. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html
2. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742
4. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/obesity/preventing-obesity