The terms overweight and obesity refer to an excess amount body of fat that may be detrimental to health.
The current standard way of classifying overweight or obesity is through calculation of a person’s body mass index (BMI), which is their weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters.
For adults, overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 29.9; obesity as a BMI of 30 to 39.9 and extreme obesity as a BMI of 40 or more. For children, overweight or obesity is classified as a BMI at or higher than the 85th percentile and obesity as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile.
Causes Among Adults
Behaviors: The main aspects of healthy behaviors are a healthy diet and regular physical activity. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a healthy diet would include fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins and a limited intake of high-fat foods. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should engage in 150 minutes of moderate exercise and/or 75 minutes of intense exercise, as well as strength building exercises. Failing to adhere to these guidelines by eating an unhealthy diet and not exercising enough, increases the risk of overweight, obesity and the associated complications such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Environment and community: People tend to base decisions about their lifestyle on the people and environment they are surrounded by. For example, unsafe routes to work or a shopping outlet may lead people to choose transport instead of walking. People’s work or school environments, healthcare and home life can also influence how a person behaves on a day-to-day basis.
Genetics: Research has suggested that genetic factors do influence how people respond to a high calorie intake or changes in the environment. Gene variants have also been identified that increase hunger and the amount of food people eat.
Disease: Certain diseases can lead to a person becoming overweight or obese, with examples being Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Medications: Certain medications such as antidepressants and steroids can lead to weight gain.
Causes Among Children
The causes of overweight and obesity in children are similar to those that cause adult obesity, such as unhealthy day-to-day behaviors and genetic risk factors. Eating a high-calorie diet that is rich in fat and low in nutrients and having a sedentary lifestyle that involves watching lots of TV and playing computer games can increase the risk of a child becoming overweight or obese.
Engaging in regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, on the other hand, can help children to grow without gaining too much weight. Again, environments or communities that do not encourage a healthy lifestyle can make it difficult for children to choose healthy foods and get enough exercise. Other environmental factors include availability and affordability of foods, food advertising and the behaviors of peers.
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