Obesity is defined as having an excessively high amount of body fat in relation to lean muscle mass. The most commonly used method to determine if someone is obese is body mass index (BMI). A BMI over 30 is considered obese.
Obesity develops when a person consumes more calories from food and beverages than their body can efficiently burn off through normal daily activities and exercise. The excess calories are then stored as fat. Obesity is a complex health issue caused by many interrelated factors including:
- Genetics - Some people inherit a predisposition to gain weight more easily than others
- Lifestyle factors - Lack of exercise, unhealthy diet high in calories, excessive alcohol, stress, lack of sleep
- Medical problems - Hormonal issues like hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease, medication side effects
- Environment - Easy access to high-calorie processed foods, lack of access to healthy affordable options
Obesity significantly increases the risk for other
health conditions like:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease and strokes
- Certain cancers
- Liver and gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea and respiratory issues
- Osteoarthritis
Losing even a modest amount of weight can help reduce these
health risks. Effective long-term weight loss often requires changes in
eating habits, increase in physical activity,
behavior changes, and in some cases
medication or surgery.