Understanding The Potential Causes Of Obesity

Obesity is not a new problem. For as long as there have been people at least some of them were overweight. However, lately there has been more concern about the sheer number of people who are affected by the causes of obesity. Approximately 1/3 of the adult population in the United States is currently overweight. Even more alarming is that the number of children and teenagers who are overweight is increasing.

The person who is overweight is usually told that they should expect to deal with lots of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart disease, and arthritis. Members of the medical community are continually trying to determine the different causes of obesity so that they can figure out how to help people shed their excess weight and live long and productive lives.

Not all people are obese because they are lazy and do not eat right. Some overweight people actually lead very healthy lifestyles and are quite active, but for some reason they simply cannot seem to lose any weight. Many experts believe that there is an underlying reason for these individual's obesity.

One of the reasons people can be obese is habit. As children they were not encouraged to get up and exercise. This causes them to be overweight as children and this weight is very difficult to lose, especially since they never learned how to exercise properly. This is why phys ed. in school is so important, as it encourages children to be active and helps them stay trim.

Even though it often sounds like an excuse, sometimes a person's glands really are the reason they are overweight. Glandular conditions such as hypothyroidism tend to trigger fast and severe weight gain. Once the weight is on, it is nearly impossible for the person to shed it again, no matter how hard they try.

Stress can play a huge part in a person's obesity. It is natural for a person to turn to food when they are stressed. The food they reach for is seldom healthy, most people prefer either sweet or salty foods that might make them feel better, but which also cause them to pack on the pounds. The chances are pretty good that if the person is able to reduce some of the stress in their life, they will be able to make healthier food choices and hopefully start losing some of their weight.

Genetics are another explanation for a person's obesity. When a child has parents who are overweight there is a greater chance that the child will also be overweight While there is evidence that a person is more genetically prone to being overweight if their parents are, there is also a great deal of speculation as to whether the condition is truly connected to genetics or if it is the result of learned behavior.

In addition to all of the above mentioned causes of obesity, there are also environmental factors that can play a role in a person's body mass. The human body is not designed to deal with some of the pollutants and other things that it is forced to deal with every day. Breathing air pollution, coming into contact with pesticides, or even eating from plastic containers can have a negative impact on a person's metabolism. The way a person reacts to their environment will depend on the sensitivity of the individual.

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