For those people suffering from being grossly overweight and veering towards obesity, then it's necessary for them to understand the causes of this potentially dangerous condition. Once the causes are known and understood, then it becomes easier for the sufferer to comprehend the necessity to take action.

Once the sufferer is completely aware of the consequences of failing to address the problem, of being aware of the dangerous health consequences, then he/she will have no trouble in adapting their lifestyle to combat this disease.

Causes of Obesity

Ongoing research into obesity carried out by health research institutions and the medical professions have come to the unanimous opinions that this problem has two major causes - the food we eat and our sedentary lifestyles.

An inadequate diet is recognized as perhaps the principle cause of obesity. A diet comprised largely of processed, fatty foods, high in sugar and salt, with an excess of alcohol and sugary soft drinks is a recipe for a health disaster. Allied with this is a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables and the problem becomes worse. A complete change of diet and greater awareness of the need to eat nutritional food is necessary.

Bad eating habits are picked up inside the home, and especially for children, at school. Obese children will more likely than not have obese parents and siblings. And as obese children will grow up to be obese adults, their children will also be obese. Bad eating habits is a problem that's carried on from generation to generation.

The second most likely cause of obesity is lack of regular physical exercise, particularly with children. Again this is a habit picked up off their parents. If the parents practice a lazy lifestyle, then there is every chance the children will copy it too. Child obesity has grown alarmingly in the past 20 years, due principally to children preferring to get their entertainment sat in front of a TV or computer rather than playing outdoors.

Physical exercise and exertion is vital for good health, be it walking, jogging or swimming. Children can get all the exercise they need whilst playing a competitive sport outdoors. Adults should be looking at a daily 45 minute walk at the very least. Anything over and above this would be a bonus. A brisk walk around the local park or neighborhood would be sufficient to work off the fat consumed in a meal. Or some people may prefer swimming or playing an action sport such as tennis.

A third cause of obesity and one that has been getting a lot of attention recently is the hereditary factor - the tendency for a person to inherit genes that cause obesity from one or both parents. Research into this aspect of the disease is still in its early stages but the indications are that there may be some genetic correlation between obese parents and their children.

Health Risks of Obesity

The degree of excess weight of people is measured by an index called the Body Mass Index (BMI) It's calculated by taking into account a persons height and their body weight and arriving at a double digit figure. A healthy person would have a BMI of between 20 and 24.9. A figure of 25 to 29.9 would indicate that a person is overweight, whilst a 30 to 39.9 reading indicates obesity. Anything above 40 indicates morbid obesity.

Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next