The Causes of
Obesity
By JM Jackson
With daily focus in America on weight, health and obesity,
there is one question that gets ignored: what causes obesity?
There is no simple answer.
Basically, a person becomes obese when more calories are
consumed than he or she can burn.
This is called “calorie
imbalance.” Beyond this simple definition, the factors that
cause obesity are varied and many.
Calorie imbalance has many things that affect it. What causes
this imbalance varies from one person to another. We also know
obesity is more than just over-eating. Genetic, environmental,
psychological, and other factors seem to play big roles in
causing obesity.
Here are some factors that have been attributed to obesity:
1. Weight Gain During Certain Periods
A person commonly gains more weight during the following
periods of life: between 12 and 18 months of age, between 12
and 16 years of age, adulthood when a person gains in excess of
60% of their ideal body weight and women, during pregnancy.
2. Genetic Factors -
Heredity is linked to obesity.
Studies of adopted children show
that adopted children tend to have weights closer to their
biological parents than to their adoptive parents.
3. Environmental Factors -
Environment also strongly influences obesity.
This includes
lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and level of
physical activity. The tendency to eat high-fat foods, to use
labor saving devices coupled with a sedentary lifestyle are
causes behind obesity.
4. Psychological Factors
Many people eat when they are stressed, bored or angry. Over
time, the association between an emotion and food can become
firmly fixed.
Depression and stress can also lead to obesity and are leading
causes of eating disorders.
Studies show most overweight people
have no more psychological problems than people of average
weight.
Most eating disorders can also be traced to behavioral or
psychological difficulties. Up to 10 percent of people who are
mildly obese and who try to lose weight on their own or through
commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder. This
disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.
5. Age
Metabolism slows down with advancing age. As you get older you
do not require as many calories to maintain your weight as you
did when you were younger.
If you know about these factors you are in a better position to
cope with the life cycles and manage your weight without getting
into the problems of obesity.
About The Author: Jaycee Jackson is a health, wellness, weight
and fitness consultant. For more information see her extensive
website at Weight Loss Hypnosis.
http://secrettips.net
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