Obesity is a complex disease primarily caused by an imbalance between the calories you consume and the calories your body uses. Besides obesity Valhalla being a cosmetic concern, it is also a medical problem that increases your risk of other health problems like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers. Obesity is mainly a result of lifestyle choices like poor eating habits and lack of enough physical exercise. However, people can be predisposed to obesity due to other factors, including genetics and certain medical conditions. Read on to learn about the risk factors for obesity.
Genes
You are more likely to be heavier if you have first-degree relatives who are obese; these include your parents or siblings. Some genes influence your metabolism – how efficiently your body converts food to energy. Genes can also affect your appetite level and the amount of calories your body expends during physical activity. As such, obesity tends to run in families; besides the genes they share, family members tend to have similar eating and activity habits.
Lifestyle choices
Lifestyle factors such as consuming too many calories and not engaging in physical exercise predispose you to obesity. You can quickly gain weight if your diet consists of fast food and high-calorie beverages but lacks fruits and vegetables. Eating oversized portions also contributes to weight gain. Liquid calories from alcohol and sugary soft drinks can also contribute to significant weight gain.
As previously mentioned, obesity primarily stems from an imbalance between the calories you consume and the ones your body burns. Therefore, having a sedentary lifestyle puts you at risk of being obese because you can easily take in more calories than you burn through exercise and everyday activities. You want to minimize the hours you spend in front of a screen since it is highly associated with weight gain.
Certain medical conditions and medications
While obesity is typically related to diet and exercise levels, sometimes it can be traced to certain diseases such as Crushing syndrome, Prader-Willi, and other conditions. Medical problems like arthritis make your joints painful and stiff, leading to a decreased activity which may cause weight gain. Other health conditions that may cause weight gain include insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, and hypothyroidism.
Several medications can cause you to gain weight, especially if you do not watch your diet or exercise. Examples of medications associated with weight gain include antidepressants, antihistamines, corticosteroids like prednisone, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, and diabetes medications.
Age
You are more likely to gain extra weight as you age due to hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle. Additionally, your muscle mass becomes low, causing a decrease in metabolism. All these changes reduce the body’s calorie needs, making it harder for you to keep off excess weight. Therefore, you will likely gain weight if you don’t consciously watch what you eat.
If any of the above factors apply to you, it is best to take action to address the cause. Fortunately, even small adjustments to your diet and lifestyle add up eventually.
For tips on how to reduce your risk for obesity, consult your provider at Advanced Surgeons.
