Causes of Obesity

Obesity is one of the biggest health concerns around the world, which leads to several health problems, like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, strokes, and many more. Studies indicate that obesity leads to around 3250,000 deaths each year in the United States. What makes it worse is that obesity not only affects adults but also children. There are several factors that could lead to this problem, which could range from environmental causes of obesity to genetic causes of obesity.

Causes of Obesity in Women:

Most women complain that they tend to gain weight much faster than they do.

Some of the most common causes of obesity in women include:

Pregnancy or having been through pregnancy in the past
Lack of physical exercise, because of hectic lifestyles
Hormonal imbalances and medical conditions
Genetic factors or family history of obesity
Following a diet that is high in fat and calories

Obesity in Children

Facts about obesity in children claim that the percentage of obese children and teens is twice as high today, as compared to the 1970s. Some of the main causes of obesity in children could include poor eating habits, certain medical conditions, and the lack of physical activity, low metabolism and heredity. Unfortunately, not a lot of parents realize what the effects of obesity in children could be. Some of the most common risks of obesity in children are diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. There are several emotional consequences of obesity in children too, as overweight kids often suffer from low self-esteem and lack of confidence. In addition to that, obese children cannot participate in sports and a few other extracurricular activities with the same ease as their fit counterparts can. This could also cause the child to have a less than normal social life. Hence, parents should follow the steps for preventing obesity in children, by making sure that their kids follow a healthy diet, with limited amounts of fat and calories, right from an early age. Parents can also monitor their children’s physical activity, by setting fixed schedules for an exercise routine. Many responsible parents also seek the right treatment for obesity in children through professional fitness and nutrition experts, at the right time. Symptoms of obesity in children are similar to those in adults and are plain to see.

Causes of Obesity in Children:

There are many different causes of obesity in children, but some of the most common ones are:

Eating too much or consuming a high amount of fat
Genetics, where one of the parents are overweight
Leading a sedentary lifestyle or the lack of adequate physical activity
Low metabolism
Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism

Causes of Obesity in Teenagers:

The causes of obesity in teenagers are quite similar to those in children. Common obesity causes in teens include

Choosing to eat foods that are high in fats and calories
Consumption of alcoholic beverages
Hormonal changes
Spending more time in sedentary activities, which could also include studies

Obesity in Adults

Some of the most common causes of obesity in adults include unhealthy eating habits, lack of adequate physical activities, low metabolism, use of certain medication, underlying health problems and genetics to name a few. Unfortunately, many people do not even realize when they cross over from being overweight, to being obese. However, there are certain symptoms of obesity in adults, which can be recognized by the friends and family members. These symptoms include sleeping difficulties, snoring excessively, pain in the joints, excess perspiration, getting tired very easily, fatigue, depression, eating more than before, guilt and reluctance to socialize or participate in various activities. As soon as any of these symptoms become evident, it is best to seek professional treatment for obesity in adults, which could include dietary changes, exercises, weight loss medication, home remedies for weight loss or even in some cases, a bariatric surgery. If left unchecked or untreated, some of the risk factors for obesity in adults that a person could be exposed to include diabetes, strokes, sleeping disorders, arthritis, depression, cancer and hypertension, to name a few.

Causes of Obesity in Adults:

There are several additional factors which could lead to obesity in adults, some of the most common ones being:

Eating an excessive amount of junk food, fast food and takeaway meals
Irregular eating habits, which could include skipping breakfast of binging late at night
Aging, which leads to a reduction in metabolism
Use of certain medication, especially in case of the elderly
Medical conditions like diabetes and thyroid problems

Symptoms of Obesity

There are several signs and symptoms of obesity that should be recognized by family members, so that the right steps can be taken to get this problem under control.

Symptoms of Obesity in Adults:

There are several symptoms of obesity in men and women, which can be quite serious. Given below are some of the most common symptoms of obesity in women, as well as men:

A BMI of more than 30
Depression and low self-confidence
Fatigue, exhaustion
Sleeping disorders
Breathing difficulties or feeling out of breath very soon
Pain in the joints
Snoring

Symptoms of Obesity in Children and Teens:

The symptoms of obesity in teenagers and children are quite similar, the most common ones being:

Fatigue and extreme tiredness
Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
Reluctance to participate in social and especially sports activities
Eating more than normal, as compared to others, or even eating in hiding
Early occurrence of puberty

Treatment for Obesity

Several fitness centers claim to have the ideal treatment for obesity in adults and children. However, most people avoid using commercial products and services, especially in case of treatment for obesity in children. More people are turning towards naturopathy treatment for obesity, where the causes of the problem are identified and then addressed. This could include following a healthy but low fat diet, engaging in an effective exercise routine and making healthy lifestyle changes too. In many countries, the practice of yoga and Ayurvedic treatment for obesity is quite popular. In the United States too, several people have now started using herbal treatment for obesity. You could also avail of the laser treatment for obesity after consultation with your doctor.

Effects of Obesity

People all over the world are becoming more aware of the health effects of obesity, which include serious conditions, ranging from hypertension to cancer. However, there are several psychological effects of obesity that should be kept in mind, as they could also cause serious damage to a person. In addition to psychological effects, social effects of obesity also come into focus. Some of the common emotional effects of obesity seen in adults as well as children are depression, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, anxiety. One of the effects of obesity in children is poor grades is school too, as these negative feeling as bound to affect a person’s academic performance. The negative effects of obesity are far reaching. Hence, in order to minimize the side effects of obesity, parents need to show support to their children, in helping them reach a healthier weight.

Submitted on January 16, 2014