Obesity is a condition in which the total proportion of fat in the body is higher than normal. A person is considered obese when they are 20% or more overweight. The most traditional measure of obesity is body mass index or BMI. A person is considered overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 29.9, and obese if their BMI is over 30.

“Critically obese” means that a person is 50%-100% overweight, and has a BMI of 40 or more, or when being overweight seriously interferes with one’s health.

What causes obesity?

Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than they expend. For many people, this condition occurs as a result of overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. But there are other factors that also play a role in the formation of obesity. Among them:
Age. As you get older, your body’s ability to absorb food slows down and you don’t need as many calories to maintain a normal weight. This is why people note that as they age, they eat the same amount of food and engage in the same activities, but their weight increases.
Floor. Women tend to be more overweight than men. This is because men have a higher metabolic rate (i.e., they use more energy at rest) than women, so men require more calories to maintain body weight. Also, when women reach menopause, the metabolic rate decreases. This is partly why many women gain weight after menopause.

Genetics. Obesity (as well as thinness) can be inherited. If your biological mother is slim, then in 75% of cases you have a chance to inherit this feature and vice versa, if your mother is obese, you are also up to 75% likely to be overweight. However, many people are genetically predisposed to obesity but do not become overweight.

environmental factor. While genes are an important factor in many cases of obesity, the environment also plays a significant role. The environmental factor also includes a person’s lifestyle, his eating behavior and general physical activity.

Physical activity. Active people need more calories than passive. In addition, physical activity tends to reduce appetite in obese individuals while increasing the body’s ability to predominantly metabolize fat as an energy source. Most cases of obesity are associated with a decrease in the level of daily physical activity.
psychological factor. The psychological factor also has an impact on weight gain. Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. People who have difficulty managing weight may become more emotionally addicted to food and lose control of how much they eat.
Diseases. Some diseases can lead to obesity. These include hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism (slow metabolism associated with a malfunctioning thyroid gland), depression, and some rare brain conditions that trigger overeating.

Therapy. Some medications, such as steroids and antidepressants, can cause excessive weight gain.

The Emotional Factor of Obesity

One of the most painful aspects of obesity can be the emotional distress and inhibitions it causes. Many of us have an erroneous stereotype of obese people as gluttonous, lazy and weak-willed individuals. That is why obese people often face prejudice and discrimination at work, at school, while looking for work, and when trying to build social bonds. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression are common problems for overweight people.

How to prevent obesity?

Obesity should be prevented at an early stage. At the first suspicions, doctors recommend calculating the body mass index and, if it is above the norm, consult a doctor.

“In order to prevent obesity, it is necessary to reduce the intake of easily digestible carbohydrates, this includes all sweets, flour products, especially high-calorie ones such as cakes, cakes, buns. It is advisable to use fiber, these are all kinds of cereals, this is lean meat, these are vegetables and fruits, ”says endocrinologist Natalya Pitiryakova.
When to seek help for obesity?

You need to see a doctor if you are experiencing emotional or psychological problems. problems related to your obesity, or you feel that you cannot cope with the problem on your own, and therefore your health is deteriorating.

If your BMI is 30 or more, you should consult with a nutritionist to develop an individualized diet, as well as discuss the possibility of joining a sports club and working with a personal trainer.

Do not forget that obesity is a risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases, is fraught with prolapse of internal organs and related problems, infertility, varicose veins, hernia, hemorrhoids and many other diseases.