Causes of Obesity

Obesity is characterized by an excess amount of body fat, or a body mass index greater than 30. This excess weight is not only physically debilitating, but it can also lead to serious health issues, such as diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. Obesity is caused by a variety of factors, and only by identifying the causes of an individual's excess weight can you begin to treat this condition.

Diet

• One of the main causes of obesity is poor diet, specifically, taking in more calories than needed to support an individual's daily activity level. To illustrate this, you only need to compare the average calorie intake as it relates to the percentage of the population classified as obese. From 1971 to 2004 in the United States, the average daily calorie intake for women increased by 335 calories a day, while the average man's caloric intake increased by 168 calories a day. During this same period, the obesity rate in the United States increased from 14.5 percent to 31 percent. To help prevent obesity, an individual should match the number of calories consumed to the number of calories expended daily through exercise and other activities.

Inactivity

• As technology has improved to make our lives easier over the decades, it has also allowed us to be more lazy. Cars are more prevalent than ever, so fewer people are walking. Frozen foods and fast-food restaurants keep us from having to cook, making us less aware of the ingredients used in our food, and we don't have to exert much energy to cook it. With the Internet and email, people no longer have to physically go to stores, go mail a letter or perform other tasks. This decline in physical activity means fewer calories are being burned, leading to weight gain and, eventually, obesity.

Emotions

• Many obese individuals categorize themselves as emotional eaters. This means they may eat when sad, depressed or even celebrating. In much of the world, food is associated with good times. We make sugar-loaded cakes to celebrate a birthday, we take friends out to dinner, and large meals are common for holiday gatherings. By eating food for reasons other than hunger, we are building up a calorie surplus in our bodies. For every 3,500 calories we eat and don't burn off, body weight increases by 1 lb. Over time, this can lead to obesity.

Genetics

• Genetics cannot cause a person to be obese, they it can make an individual more susceptible to weight gain. Those with obese parents are likely to be obese themselves. A person with obese family members is 30 percent more likely to be obese than a person with no obesity in the family. In addition to genetics, family habits can cause weight gain. Children learn eating habits at a young age. As they see their families cooking and eating large meals, these habits are ingrained, leading to increased risk of obesity in the future.

Medical Problems

• Although only 1 percent to 2 percent of obesity cases can be attributed to health issues, the number of people is fairly significant. Obesity may be caused by a slow metabolism, thyroid issues or problems with hormone production. Diseases of the adrenal glands, such as Cushing's syndrome, make one particularly vulnerable to rapid weight gain. Some serious heart and neurological disorders can also cause obesity if left untreated. Psychological issues, like depression or binge eating disorders, may lead to weight gain or obesity as well.