Obesity – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Obesity is a serious health condition marked by excess body fat. It’s not just about appearance—it affects overall health, raising risks for many conditions including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.

Several factors contribute to obesity. These include:

• Genetic factors passed down through families.
• Physiological differences in metabolism and hormone function.
• Environmental influences like food availability.
• Lifestyle choices related to diet and physical activity.

Weight management can be challenging for many people. The body naturally resists weight loss through various biological mechanisms.

The positive news is that losing even a small amount of weight—5-10% of body weight—can significantly improve health outcomes.

Effective weight management strategies include:

• Balanced nutrition plans
• Regular physical activity
• Behavior modification techniques

For some people, healthcare providers might recommend medication or weight-loss procedures as additional treatment options when lifestyle changes alone prove insufficient.

Signs of Obesity

Obesity is often diagnosed using body mass index (BMI). You can calculate your BMI by multiplying your weight in pounds by 703, then dividing by your height in inches twice.

Or simply divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. Many online tools can help you find your BMI quickly.

BMI values fall into these categories:

• Below 18.5: Underweight
• 18.5-24.9: Healthy weight
• 25.0-29.9: Overweight
• 30.0 and higher: Obesity

For Asian individuals, health risks may increase at a BMI of 23 or higher.

While BMI works well for most people, it has limitations. It doesn’t directly measure body fat. Some people, like athletes with significant muscle mass, might have a high BMI without having excess fat.

Healthcare providers often measure waist circumference, too. This measurement helps guide treatment decisions. Health problems related to weight become more common in:

• Men with waists larger than 40 inches (102 cm)
• Women with waists larger than 35 inches (89 cm)

Body fat percentage is another useful measurement that can track progress during weight loss.

When to Talk to a Doctor

If you worry about your weight or have concerns about weight-related health issues, speak with your healthcare provider. They can help assess your health risks and discuss possible weight loss options that might work for you.

A doctor can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation and medical history.

Causes

Obesity happens when people consume more calories than they use through daily activities and exercise. The body stores these extra calories as fat.

Americans often eat diets high in calories, particularly from fast food and sugary drinks. People with obesity may need to eat more to feel satisfied, get hungry more quickly, or eat extra food when stressed or anxious.

Modern lifestyles contribute to weight gain in several ways:

• Less physically demanding jobs
• Fewer calories burned during daily activities
• Increased use of convenience options like:
  • Remote controls
  • Escalators
  • Online shopping
  • Drive-through services

While genetics, behavior, metabolism, and hormones all affect body weight, the fundamental cause of obesity remains a calorie imbalance. When calorie intake consistently exceeds what the body uses, weight gain occurs.

What Puts You at Risk

Genetic Background and Family Impact

Your genes play a key role in how your body stores fat. They affect where fat gets stored and how your body turns food into energy. They also influence appetite control and calorie burning during exercise.

Weight issues often appear throughout families. This happens not just because of shared genes, but also because family members usually have similar eating habits and activity levels.

Daily Choices That Matter

• Diet Quality: Eating too many calories, especially from fast food, and not enough fruits and vegetables leads to weight gain. Large portions make this problem worse.
• Drinks With Hidden Calories: Beverages can add many calories to your diet without making you feel full. Consider these common drinks and their calorie counts:

Beverage	Typical Calories
Regular soda (12 oz)	150
Sweetened iced tea (12 oz)	120
Alcohol (beer, 12 oz)	150
Fancy coffee drink	250+

• Sitting Too Much: When you don’t move enough, you burn fewer calories than you consume. Screen time (phones, computers, TV) contributes significantly to inactivity. Studies show that more screen time strongly connects to weight gain.

Medical Conditions and Medications

Some people gain weight because of health conditions like hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, or Prader-Willi syndrome. Physical problems like arthritis can limit activity, leading to weight gain.

Several medications can cause weight gain, including:

• Steroid medications
• Some antidepressants
• Anti-seizure drugs
• Certain diabetes medicines
• Some beta blockers
• Antipsychotic medications

Community and Economic Factors

Your environment affects your weight in important ways. Limited access to safe exercise areas makes staying active difficult. Some people haven’t learned healthy cooking methods or can’t easily get affordable healthy foods.

The people around you influence your weight too. Research shows that having friends or family members with weight issues increases your own risk of developing similar problems.

Getting Older

Weight gain can happen at any age but becomes more likely as you get older. This happens because:

• Hormone levels change
• People often become less active
• Muscle mass decreases, slowing metabolism
• Calorie needs decrease

If you don’t adjust your eating habits and physical activity as you age, weight gain often follows.

Additional Risk Elements

• Pregnancy: Many women gain weight during pregnancy that becomes difficult to lose afterward.
• Stopping Smoking: Weight gain commonly follows quitting smoking, as many people eat more to cope with nicotine withdrawal. Despite this, the health benefits of quitting smoking far outweigh the risks of some weight gain.
• Sleep Problems: Both too little and too much sleep can disrupt hormones that control hunger. Poor sleep often leads to cravings for high-calorie, carbohydrate-rich foods.
• Emotional Stress: Difficult life situations often trigger comfort eating. Many people reach for high-calorie foods when feeling stressed.
• Gut Bacteria: Your digestive system contains billions of bacteria that affect how you process food. What you eat changes these bacteria, potentially contributing to weight issues.

Life Quality Impact

Excess weight can lead to many health issues that reduce daily comfort and well-being. People carrying extra weight often struggle with physical activities they once enjoyed. This can limit their participation in social events and family gatherings.

Many individuals with obesity face unfair treatment in various settings. This discrimination may happen at work, in healthcare facilities, or in public places.

Weight-related challenges that affect everyday life include:

• Mental health concerns – Higher rates of depression and anxiety
• Physical limitations – Difficulty with movement and daily tasks
• Emotional distress – Feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment
• Social problems – Withdrawal from friends and community activities
• Work-related issues – Reduced productivity and fewer career opportunities

People with higher body weights often report lower satisfaction with life overall.

Daily activities like climbing stairs, walking short distances, or playing with children can become difficult and painful.

Sleep quality typically suffers as well. Poor sleep further reduces energy levels and mood, creating a challenging cycle that’s hard to break.

Studies show that improving physical health through reasonable lifestyle changes can significantly boost overall happiness and satisfaction.

Even modest improvements in fitness can lead to better mobility and more independence in daily activities.