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| An obese child |
WHAT IS OBESITY, AND WHAT CAUSES IT?
MEANING OF OBESITY
Obesity is a condition that occurs when a person has excess weight or body fat that might affect their health. You have obesity if you have high body mass index.
BMI is a tool that doctors use to assess whether or not a person has an appropriate weight for their age, sex, and height. It combines a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters.
Having a BMI between 25.1 and 30 indicates that a person is carrying excess weight. A person has obesity if their BMI is 30 or over.
Factors such as a person’s waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and amount and distribution of fat — also play a role in determining how healthy their weight is.
If someone has obesity, it can increase his/her risk of developing a number of other health conditions, including metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and some types of cancer.
Metabolic syndrome itself has a collection of conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Maintaining a moderate weight or losing weight through diet and exercise can help prevent or reduce obesity. In some cases, however, a person may need surgery.
Consumption of too much calories*
When a person consumes more calories than they use as energy, their body will store the extra calories as fat. This can lead to Trusted Source obesity.
Also, some foods and beverages — especially those that are high in fats and sugars — are more likely to lead to weight gain.
THINGS THAT TEND TO INCREASE THE RISK OF WEIGHT GAIN (OBESITY)
➡️ Fast foods
➡️ Fried foods, such as french fries
➡️ Fatty and processed meats
➡️ Many dairy products
➡️ Foods with added sugar, such as baked goods, ready made breakfast cereals, and cookies
foods containing hidden sugars, such as ketchup and many other canned and packaged food items
➡️ Sweetened juices, sodas, and alcoholic drinks
➡️ Processed, high carbohydrate foods, such as breads and bagels.
Some processed food products, such as ketchup, contain high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener.
However, they are more likely to enjoy a varied diet while maintaining a moderate weight. Fresh foods and whole grains contain fiber, which can encourage healthy digestion and help a person feel full for longer.
*Leading A Sedentary Lifestyle*
Many people lead a much more sedentary lifestyle than their parents and grandparents did.
EXAMPLES OF SEDENTARY HABITS
_Working in an office rather than doing manual labor
_Playing games on a computer instead of doing physical activities outside
_Going to places by car instead of walking or cycling
N/B: The less a person moves around, the fewer calories they burn.
Conclusion
Many factors play a role in the development of obesity. Genetic traits can increase the risk in some people.
Eating a healthy diet that contains plenty of fresh foods and getting regular exercise will reduce the risk of obesity in most people.
However, those with a genetic predisposition to the condition may find it harder to maintain a normal weights.
Health is wealth!