Many people associate obesity with gluttony and laziness, but in some cases, obesity is more than just failing to eat a balanced diet or perform regular physical activity. It’s about everything that happens inside the body, including metabolism and genetics, that causes weight gain.
Over the years, obesity has become a health epidemic, with over 650 million adults worldwide classified as obese in 2016, which nearly tripled since the 1970s. Contrary to popular belief, obesity affects all ages and demographics, regardless of a person’s physical activity or diet. It is often a result of multiple physical, psychological, and genetic factors, making it harder to treat obesity.
Understanding the causes of obesity or weight gain can help you lose weight in a better and informed way that leads to improved long-term health outcomes. At Beltline Health, we provide you with the information and assistance needed to choose the best weight loss solution that will help you achieve a healthy weight and regain control over your life.
In this article, we will discover what obesity is, what its causes are, and why it should be treated as a serious health condition.
What is obesity?
Obesity is a complex medical condition involving an excessive amount of fat cells that impair the body’s normal functioning, which then makes you more susceptible to weight gain. It is sometimes called “adiposity” in the medical community, which refers to the state of excess body fat.
One of the most common ways to diagnose obesity is by calculating the body mass index (BMI). Doctors use a person’s weight and height to determine BMI. It is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms (kg) divided by the square of his weight in meters (m²).
For instance, a person who is 5 feet, 2 inches (1.6 m) tall, and 120 pounds (54 kg) would have a BMI of 21 kg/m².
A high BMI is a common sign of overweight and obesity. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery classifies obesity based on a range of BMI:
- class I obesity: 30 to 34.9
- class II obesity (serious obesity): 35 to 39.9
- class III obesity (severe obesity): 40 and above
However, a body mass index of 25 to 29.9 falls within the overweight range, which increases the risk of becoming obese, especially in the presence of weight-related health problems.
BMI is a useful tool to measure overweight and obesity in a population since it can be used by adults of all ages and both sexes. However, since BMI does not directly assess body fat percentage, it should only be considered an estimate, as it might not accurately correspond to a person’s body fatness.
Another way to measure overweight and obesity is by determining waist circumference. A larger amount of abdominal fat relative to the rest of the body can be a sign of overweight, which can eventually lead to obesity and other chronic diseases.
To find out your waist circumference, measure your waist just above your hipbones. Based on the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person may have an increased risk for acquiring obesity-related complications if the waist circumference is:
- more than 40 inches for a man
- more than 35 inches for a non-pregnant woman
Like body mass index (BMI), waist circumference is just a screening tool to determine a person’s health status. If you want to have a better understanding of your current health conditions and risks, it’s best to consult a trained healthcare professional to perform the appropriate health assessments and provide medical advice based on your health problems.
Our team at Beltline Health will walk you through the steps necessary to understand your health conditions, provide suitable weight loss options, and support your journey to a healthy weight, from nutritional assessment to recovery.
What are the causes of obesity?
By now, it’s crystal clear that obesity is not just about having too much to eat or not exercising enough. You can gain weight even if you eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Excess weight is often a by-product of a combination of these contributing risk factors:
Genetics
The genes you inherited from your parents may have a significant impact on how the body stores fat as well as how that fat is distributed within your body. It also affects how your body converts food into energy, regulates your appetite, and burns calories during physical activity.
“Just like diabetes, people are trying everything they can do to eat right. But there’s something innately wrong in your body that’s causing you to be unable to lose weight,” shares Dr. Roger Eduardo. He is one of the bariatric surgeons at Beltline Health committed to helping patients find a safe, effective, and appropriate long-term weight loss solution.
Family history may not only be the reason why obesity tends to run in families. It may also be because family members tend to share similar eating, physical activity, and other lifestyle habits.
Lifestyle choices
Whether you are eating an unhealthy diet, not doing enough physical activity, or both, you are more prone to consuming more calories than needed without burning enough of it, which would lead to unusual weight gain.
If your diet lacks nutrient-dense and healthier foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, you are not getting enough of the good stuff your body uses to strengthen your overall health. Likewise, if you don’t burn the calories consumed from foods through physical activity, they will be stored in the body indefinitely, and you could end up overweight or obese at some point.
Other habits such as overeating, unhealthy sleep patterns, drinking alcohol, smoking, and high-stress conditions may increase risks for developing obesity.
Certain health conditions and medications
Obesity is also associated with medical conditions that make it harder for the body to regulate certain hormones like in the case of Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome.
In some cases, specific health problems may make it harder for a person to be physically active, resulting in an increased risk of weight gain, especially if food intake is not controlled or monitored.
Many prescription medications and drugs such as steroids, diabetes medications, and antidepressants are also known to cause weight gain, especially if you don’t make up with a balanced diet and active lifestyle.
Why obesity is a serious health condition
Obesity is more than just what people see. But in most cases, you can maintain a healthy weight by following a balanced diet, doing regular physical activity, having enough quality sleep, and avoiding stress.
People who suffer from obesity compared to those who have healthy weight are more likely to develop chronic health conditions which can diminish their overall quality of life. Some of these health problems are heart disease, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, stroke, certain types of cancer, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, and osteoarthritis.
“Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, which makes it not just a medical problem, but the mother of all medical problems. By catching and fixing it early, you can prevent all of those other health conditions down the line,” says Dr. Eduardo.
According to CDC, obesity is considered one of the risk factors for severe COVID-19, with about 50% of people who have been hospitalized or died from COVID-19 are obese. Other weight-related issues also include discrimination, shame, social isolation, and low self-esteem.
With an increasing trend of obesity cases worldwide in both children and adults, now is the perfect opportunity to make the appropriate lifestyle changes to escape the obesity epidemic. But it will involve more than just promoting healthy eating habits and regular exercise to lose weight and prevent future weight gain.
At Beltline Health, our team of top bariatric surgeons in the country provides you with the best action plan to support your weight loss journey, from nutritional counseling, exercise physiologists, and surgical options.
To know more about the weight loss surgery options we offer, see this link. You may also contact us here at the website or call (470) 419-4380 for your questions and concerns.
Don’t forget to register for free in our weight loss online seminar to help you get started on your journey to having a healthy weight.
