What Causes Obesity

First, you must know what being obese is. Doctors, and most others use your body mass index (BMI) as a guideline to determine your level of obesity. If your BMI is 30 or higher you may be considered obese.

Sometimes these guidelines do not hold true if you are is very active, or an athlete. Muscle weighs more than fat, so even though the number on the scale is higher than recommended, you may not be considered obese.

When answering the question "What causes obesity?", it is best to look at that particular person's situation. The reasons vary from person to person.

Many people are obese because they eat food in amounts that exceed their body's need, and don't get enough exercise to burn off the additional calories they consume.

Some may also have their food choices to thank for there plumpness. Fatty foods, excessive carbohydrates, too much sugar, drinking too many calories (like sodas, juices, coffee and flavored drinks), can all lead to being obese. All of these things should be taken in sparingly, not make up the bulk of your diet.

Steroids and Weight Gain

"Zyprexa is famous for weight gain but started people really looking at this problem, and now it's clear that many of the new generation antipsychotics like Risperidone and Seroquel as well as Zyprexa can cause substantial weight gain (as well as the old generation as well, that's Haldol and Thorazine and the like), although several studies comparing them tend to come up with Zyprexa as the worst."

According to many medical websites, many steroids have weight gain as one of the side effects. One of the more commonly used steroids, prednisone, not only causes weight gain in some patients, but it may also cause the fat in their body to shift to other areas. The unwanted fat pools usually form in the face, neck (back or base), collarbone, and stomach. So if you are already a few pounds overweight before taking these drugs, it only makes your struggle even harder to prevent or fight obesity.

Fast Food Obesity

Fast food may very well be what causes obesity in some people. A standard KFC meal of one original recipe chicken breast, potato wedges, and a medium soda totals 790 calories and 33 grams of fat according to the nutritional facts on their official website.

You may think that 780 calories is not so bad, it still leaves 1,210 calories for the rest of the day to fall within the recommended 2,000 calorie a day limit. But how many people eat only two food items from their menu. Many of their meals come along with two side orders, not just one.

There's also those delicious chicken wings, which range from 70 to 100 calories, depending on the flavor you choose. And let's be honest, what they consider a wing is really half of a wing.

So, if you get a 5-piece Sweet and Spicy Hot Wings with your meal, that is 400 calories and 25 grams of fat. Seems a bit much for two and a half chicken wings.

I do not want to single out KFC and McDonald's alone. But if I gave you examples from every single chain restaurant, you would be reading for hours. This is why fast food obesity is growing in such a strong manner.

New York City recently made it a law that all fast food restaurant chains list the nutritional value of each item right on the menu. Now, the people who eat there regularly will see in black and white, what causes obesity.

Obesity and Depression

Depression symptoms include constant, persistent, long-term feelings of sadness. Depression symptoms could also include having trouble sleeping (insomnia), suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem, sleeping excessively, not taking care of yourself properly (in relation to hygiene), withdrawn, crying excessively, and weight gain.

Food is used as comfort by many people, not just depression sufferers. Eating tasty foods make many of us feel better, and it covers up the feelings of sadness, anxiety, and loneliness, for the moment. But then, the resulting gluttonous feeling, and eventual weight gain, only make the depression symptoms worse.

This overeating may be what causes obesity in many depressed people. Now they have a poor self-image of themselves, and are unhappy with their bodies because of the weight gain. The guilt grows, along with the self-hate, despair, and hopelessness. It is truly a vicious cycle, which usually requires medical and/or family intervention and help.

Depression medication may also be what causes obesity in some people. Weight gain is a common side effect in many of the drugs made to help people suffering from depression. You should ask your doctor the potential side effects of any drug you are given. Believe it or not, some doctors don't come right out and tell you these things.

Obesity and Exercise

Exercising benefits your heart, your mobility, your overall health, and it burns calories. When you don't exercise, your body has to store the additional calories you don't use during the digestion process. And that storage takes the form of fat.

It is recommended to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in at least 5 times a week. But if you take in more than the daily recommended 2,000 calories a day, it wouldn't hurt to do a little more. But always check with your doctor before starting and exercise or weight loss program.

Knowing what causes obesity is important in order to prevent it. Obesity comes along with increased risk of many health issues and diseases. Having the right information, and acting on it, can keep you away from obesity risks.

Custom Search