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Essay on Obesity

List of essays on obesity, essay on obesity – short essay (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on obesity (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on obesity – written in english (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on obesity – for school students (class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 standard) (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on obesity – for college students (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on obesity – with causes and treatment (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on obesity – for science students (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on obesity – long essay for medical students (essay 8 – 1000 words).

Obesity is a chronic health condition in which the body fat reaches abnormal level. Obesity occurs when we consume much more amount of food than our body really needs on a daily basis. In other words, when the intake of calories is greater than the calories we burn out, it gives rise to obesity.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Standard), college, science and medical students.

Introduction:

Obesity means being excessively fat. A person would be said to be obese if his or her body mass index is beyond 30. Such a person has a body fat rate that is disproportionate to his body mass.

Obesity and the Body Mass Index:

The body mass index is calculated considering the weight and height of a person. Thus, it is a scientific way of determining the appropriate weight of any person. When the body mass index of a person indicates that he or she is obese, it exposes the person to make health risk.

Stopping Obesity:

There are two major ways to get the body mass index of a person to a moderate rate. The first is to maintain a strict diet. The second is to engage in regular physical exercise. These two approaches are aimed at reducing the amount of fat in the body.

Conclusion:

Obesity can lead to sudden death, heart attack, diabetes and may unwanted illnesses. Stop it by making healthy choices.

Obesity has become a big concern for the youth of today’s generation. Obesity is defined as a medical condition in which an individual gains excessive body fat. When the Body Mass Index (BMI) of a person is over 30, he/ she is termed as obese.

Obesity can be a genetic problem or a disorder that is caused due to unhealthy lifestyle habits of a person. Physical inactivity and the environment in which an individual lives, are also the factors that leads to obesity. It is also seen that when some individuals are in stress or depression, they start cultivating unhealthy eating habits which eventually leads to obesity. Medications like steroids is yet another reason for obesity.

Obesity has several serious health issues associated with it. Some of the impacts of obesity are diabetes, increase of cholesterol level, high blood pressure, etc. Social impacts of obesity includes loss of confidence in an individual, lowering of self-esteem, etc.

The risks of obesity needs to be prevented. This can be done by adopting healthy eating habits, doing some physical exercise regularly, avoiding stress, etc. Individuals should work on weight reduction in order to avoid obesity.

Obesity is indeed a health concern and needs to be prioritized. The management of obesity revolves around healthy eating habits and physical activity. Obesity, if not controlled in its initial stage can cause many severe health issues. So it is wiser to exercise daily and maintain a healthy lifestyle rather than being the victim of obesity.

Obesity can be defined as the clinical condition where accumulation of excessive fat takes place in the adipose tissue leading to worsening of health condition. Usually, the fat is deposited around the trunk and also the waist of the body or even around the periphery.

Obesity is actually a disease that has been spreading far and wide. It is preventable and certain measures are to be taken to curb it to a greater extend. Both in the developing and developed countries, obesity has been growing far and wide affecting the young and the old equally.

The alarming increase in obesity has resulted in stimulated death rate and health issues among the people. There are several methods adopted to lose weight and they include different diet types, physical activity and certain changes in the current lifestyle. Many of the companies are into minting money with the concept of inviting people to fight obesity.

In patients associated with increased risk factor related to obesity, there are certain drug therapies and other procedures adopted to lose weight. There are certain cost effective ways introduced by several companies to enable clinic-based weight loss programs.

Obesity can lead to premature death and even cause Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Cardiovascular diseases have also become the part and parcel of obese people. It includes stroke, hypertension, gall bladder disease, coronary heart disease and even cancers like breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer and colon cancer. Other less severe arising due to obesity includes osteoarthritis, gastro-esophageal reflux disease and even infertility.

Hence, serious measures are to be taken to fight against this dreadful phenomenon that is spreading its wings far and wide. Giving proper education on benefits of staying fit and mindful eating is as important as curbing this issue. Utmost importance must be given to healthy eating habits right from the small age so that they follow the same until the end of their life.

Obesity is majorly a lifestyle disease attributed to the extra accumulation of fat in the body leading to negative health effects on a person. Ironically, although prevalent at a large scale in many countries, including India, it is one of the most neglect health problems. It is more often ignored even if told by the doctor that the person is obese. Only when people start acquiring other health issues such as heart disease, blood pressure or diabetes, they start taking the problem of obesity seriously.

Obesity Statistics in India:

As per a report, India happens to figure as the third country in the world with the most obese people. This should be a troubling fact for India. However, we are yet to see concrete measures being adopted by the people to remain fit.

Causes of Obesity:

Sedentary lifestyle, alcohol, junk food, medications and some diseases such as hypothyroidism are considered as the factors which lead to obesity. Even children seem to be glued to televisions, laptops and video games which have taken away the urge for physical activities from them. Adding to this, the consumption of junk food has further aggravated the growing problem of obesity in children.

In the case of adults, most of the professions of today make use of computers which again makes people sit for long hours in one place. Also, the hectic lifestyle of today makes it difficult for people to spare time for physical activities and people usually remain stressed most of the times. All this has contributed significantly to the rise of obesity in India.

Obesity and BMI:

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the measure which allows a person to calculate how to fit he or she is. In other words, the BMI tells you if you are obese or not. BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of a person in kg with the square of his / her height in metres. The number thus obtained is called the BMI. A BMI of less than 25 is considered optimal. However, if a person has a BMI over 30 he/she is termed as obese.

What is a matter of concern is that with growing urbanisation there has been a rapid increase of obese people in India? It is of utmost importance to consider this health issue a serious threat to the future of our country as a healthy body is important for a healthy soul. We should all be mindful of what we eat and what effect it has on our body. It is our utmost duty to educate not just ourselves but others as well about this serious health hazard.

Obesity can be defined as a condition (medical) that is the accumulation of body fat to an extent that the excess fat begins to have a lot of negative effects on the health of the individual. Obesity is determined by examining the body mass index (BMI) of the person. The BMI is gotten by dividing the weight of the person in kilogram by the height of the person squared.

When the BMI of a person is more than 30, the person is classified as being obese, when the BMI falls between 25 and 30, the person is said to be overweight. In a few countries in East Asia, lower values for the BMI are used. Obesity has been proven to influence the likelihood and risk of many conditions and disease, most especially diabetes of type 2, cardiovascular diseases, sleeplessness that is obstructive, depression, osteoarthritis and some cancer types.

In most cases, obesity is caused through a combination of genetic susceptibility, a lack of or inadequate physical activity, excessive intake of food. Some cases of obesity are primarily caused by mental disorder, medications, endocrine disorders or genes. There is no medical data to support the fact that people suffering from obesity eat very little but gain a lot of weight because of slower metabolism. It has been discovered that an obese person usually expends much more energy than other people as a result of the required energy that is needed to maintain a body mass that is increased.

It is very possible to prevent obesity with a combination of personal choices and social changes. The major treatments are exercising and a change in diet. We can improve the quality of our diet by reducing our consumption of foods that are energy-dense like those that are high in sugars or fat and by trying to increase our dietary fibre intake.

We can also accompany the appropriate diet with the use of medications to help in reducing appetite and decreasing the absorption of fat. If medication, exercise and diet are not yielding any positive results, surgery or gastric balloon can also be carried out to decrease the volume of the stomach and also reduce the intestines’ length which leads to the feel of the person get full early or a reduction in the ability to get and absorb different nutrients from a food.

Obesity is the leading cause of ill-health and death all over the world that is preventable. The rate of obesity in children and adults has drastically increased. In 2015, a whopping 12 percent of adults which is about 600 million and about 100 million children all around the world were found to be obese.

It has also been discovered that women are more obese than men. A lot of government and private institutions and bodies have stated that obesity is top of the list of the most difficult and serious problems of public health that we have in the world today. In the world we live today, there is a lot of stigmatisation of obese people.

We all know how troubling the problem of obesity truly is. It is mainly a form of a medical condition wherein the body tends to accumulate excessive fat which in turn has negative repercussions on the health of an individual.

Given the current lifestyle and dietary style, it has become more common than ever. More and more people are being diagnosed with obesity. Such is its prevalence that it has been termed as an epidemic in the USA. Those who suffer from obesity are at a much higher risk of diabetes, heart diseases and even cancer.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of obesity, it is important to learn what the key causes of obesity are. In a layman term, if your calorie consumption exceeds what you burn because of daily activities and exercises, it is likely to lead to obesity. It is caused over a prolonged period of time when your calorie intake keeps exceeding the calories burned.

Here are some of the key causes which are known to be the driving factors for obesity.

If your diet tends to be rich in fat and contains massive calorie intake, you are all set to suffer from obesity.

Sedentary Lifestyle:

With most people sticking to their desk jobs and living a sedentary lifestyle, the body tends to get obese easily.

Of course, the genetic framework has a lot to do with obesity. If your parents are obese, the chance of you being obese is quite high.

The weight which women gain during their pregnancy can be very hard to shed and this is often one of the top causes of obesity.

Sleep Cycle:

If you are not getting an adequate amount of sleep, it can have an impact on the hormones which might trigger hunger signals. Overall, these linked events tend to make you obese.

Hormonal Disorder:

There are several hormonal changes which are known to be direct causes of obesity. The imbalance of the thyroid stimulating hormone, for instance, is one of the key factors when it comes to obesity.

Now that we know the key causes, let us look at the possible ways by which you can handle it.

Treatment for Obesity:

As strange as it may sound, the treatment for obesity is really simple. All you need to do is follow the right diet and back it with an adequate amount of exercise. If you can succeed in doing so, it will give you the perfect head-start into your journey of getting in shape and bidding goodbye to obesity.

There are a lot of different kinds and styles of diet plans for obesity which are available. You can choose the one which you deem fit. We recommend not opting for crash dieting as it is known to have several repercussions and can make your body terribly weak.

The key here is to stick to a balanced diet which can help you retain the essential nutrients, minerals, and, vitamins and shed the unwanted fat and carbs.

Just like the diet, there are several workout plans for obesity which are available. It is upon you to find out which of the workout plan seems to be apt for you. Choose cardio exercises and dance routines like Zumba to shed the unwanted body weight. Yoga is yet another method to get rid of obesity.

So, follow a blend of these and you will be able to deal with the trouble of obesity in no time. We believe that following these tips will help you get rid of obesity and stay in shape.

Obesity and overweight is a top health concern in the world due to the impact it has on the lives of individuals. Obesity is defined as a condition in which an individual has excessive body fat and is measured using the body mass index (BMI) such that, when an individual’s BMI is above 30, he or she is termed obese. The BMI is calculated using body weight and height and it is different for all individuals.

Obesity has been determined as a risk factor for many diseases. It results from dietary habits, genetics, and lifestyle habits including physical inactivity. Obesity can be prevented so that individuals do not end up having serious complications and health problems. Chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart diseases and relate to obesity in terms of causes and complications.

Factors Influencing Obesity:

Obesity is not only as a result of lifestyle habits as most people put it. There are other important factors that influence obesity. Genetics is one of those factors. A person could be born with genes that predispose them to obesity and they will also have difficulty in losing weight because it is an inborn factor.

The environment also influences obesity because the diet is similar in certain environs. In certain environments, like school, the food available is fast foods and the chances of getting healthy foods is very low, leading to obesity. Also, physical inactivity is an environmental factor for obesity because some places have no fields or tracks where people can jog or maybe the place is very unsafe and people rarely go out to exercise.

Mental health affects the eating habits of individuals. There is a habit of stress eating when a person is depressed and it could result in overweight or obesity if the person remains unhealthy for long period of time.

The overall health of individuals also matter. If a person is unwell and is prescribed with steroids, they may end up being obese. Steroidal medications enable weight gain as a side effect.

Complications of Obesity:

Obesity is a health concern because its complications are severe. Significant social and health problems are experienced by obese people. Socially, they will be bullied and their self-esteem will be low as they will perceive themselves as unworthy.

Chronic illnesses like diabetes results from obesity. Diabetes type 2 has been directly linked to obesity. This condition involves the increased blood sugars in the body and body cells are not responding to insulin as they should. The insulin in the body could also be inadequate due to decreased production. High blood sugar concentrations result in symptoms like frequent hunger, thirst and urination. The symptoms of complicated stages of diabetes type 2 include loss of vision, renal failure and heart failure and eventually death. The importance of having a normal BMI is the ability of the body to control blood sugars.

Another complication is the heightened blood pressures. Obesity has been defined as excessive body fat. The body fat accumulates in blood vessels making them narrow. Narrow blood vessels cause the blood pressures to rise. Increased blood pressure causes the heart to start failing in its physiological functions. Heart failure is the end result in this condition of increased blood pressures.

There is a significant increase in cholesterol in blood of people who are obese. High blood cholesterol levels causes the deposition of fats in various parts of the body and organs. Deposition of fats in the heart and blood vessels result in heart diseases. There are other conditions that result from hypercholesterolemia.

Other chronic illnesses like cancer can also arise from obesity because inflammation of body cells and tissues occurs in order to store fats in obese people. This could result in abnormal growths and alteration of cell morphology. The abnormal growths could be cancerous.

Management of Obesity:

For the people at risk of developing obesity, prevention methods can be implemented. Prevention included a healthy diet and physical activity. The diet and physical activity patterns should be regular and realizable to avoid strains that could result in complications.

Some risk factors for obesity are non-modifiable for example genetics. When a person in genetically predisposed, the lifestyle modifications may be have help.

For the individuals who are already obese, they can work on weight reduction through healthy diets and physical exercises.

In conclusion, obesity is indeed a major health concern because the health complications are very serious. Factors influencing obesity are both modifiable and non-modifiable. The management of obesity revolves around diet and physical activity and so it is important to remain fit.

In olden days, obesity used to affect only adults. However, in the present time, obesity has become a worldwide problem that hits the kids as well. Let’s find out the most prevalent causes of obesity.

Factors Causing Obesity:

Obesity can be due to genetic factors. If a person’s family has a history of obesity, chances are high that he/ she would also be affected by obesity, sooner or later in life.

The second reason is having a poor lifestyle. Now, there are a variety of factors that fall under the category of poor lifestyle. An excessive diet, i.e., eating more than you need is a definite way to attain the stage of obesity. Needless to say, the extra calories are changed into fat and cause obesity.

Junk foods, fried foods, refined foods with high fats and sugar are also responsible for causing obesity in both adults and kids. Lack of physical activity prevents the burning of extra calories, again, leading us all to the path of obesity.

But sometimes, there may also be some indirect causes of obesity. The secondary reasons could be related to our mental and psychological health. Depression, anxiety, stress, and emotional troubles are well-known factors of obesity.

Physical ailments such as hypothyroidism, ovarian cysts, and diabetes often complicate the physical condition and play a massive role in abnormal weight gain.

Moreover, certain medications, such as steroids, antidepressants, and contraceptive pills, have been seen interfering with the metabolic activities of the body. As a result, the long-term use of such drugs can cause obesity. Adding to that, regular consumption of alcohol and smoking are also connected to the condition of obesity.

Harmful Effects of Obesity:

On the surface, obesity may look like a single problem. But, in reality, it is the mother of several major health issues. Obesity simply means excessive fat depositing into our body including the arteries. The drastic consequence of such high cholesterol levels shows up in the form of heart attacks and other life-threatening cardiac troubles.

The fat deposition also hampers the elasticity of the arteries. That means obesity can cause havoc in our body by altering the blood pressure to an abnormal range. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Obesity is known to create an endless list of problems.

In extreme cases, this disorder gives birth to acute diseases like diabetes and cancer. The weight gain due to obesity puts a lot of pressure on the bones of the body, especially of the legs. This, in turn, makes our bones weak and disturbs their smooth movement. A person suffering from obesity also has higher chances of developing infertility issues and sleep troubles.

Many obese people are seen to be struggling with breathing problems too. In the chronic form, the condition can grow into asthma. The psychological effects of obesity are another serious topic. You can say that obesity and depression form a loop. The more a person is obese, the worse is his/ her depression stage.

How to Control and Treat Obesity:

The simplest and most effective way, to begin with, is changing our diet. There are two factors to consider in the diet plan. First is what and what not to eat. Second is how much to eat.

If you really want to get rid of obesity, include more and more green vegetables in your diet. Spinach, beans, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, etc., have enough vitamins and minerals and quite low calories. Other healthier options are mushrooms, pumpkin, beetroots, and sweet potatoes, etc.

Opt for fresh fruits, especially citrus fruits, and berries. Oranges, grapes, pomegranate, pineapple, cherries, strawberries, lime, and cranberries are good for the body. They have low sugar content and are also helpful in strengthening our immune system. Eating the whole fruits is a more preferable way in comparison to gulping the fruit juices. Fruits, when eaten whole, have more fibers and less sugar.

Consuming a big bowl of salad is also great for dealing with the obesity problem. A salad that includes fibrous foods such as carrots, radish, lettuce, tomatoes, works better at satiating the hunger pangs without the risk of weight gain.

A high protein diet of eggs, fish, lean meats, etc., is an excellent choice to get rid of obesity. Take enough of omega fatty acids. Remember to drink plenty of water. Keeping yourself hydrated is a smart way to avoid overeating. Water also helps in removing the toxins and excess fat from the body.

As much as possible, avoid fats, sugars, refined flours, and oily foods to keep the weight in control. Control your portion size. Replace the three heavy meals with small and frequent meals during the day. Snacking on sugarless smoothies, dry fruits, etc., is much recommended.

Regular exercise plays an indispensable role in tackling the obesity problem. Whenever possible, walk to the market, take stairs instead of a lift. Physical activity can be in any other form. It could be a favorite hobby like swimming, cycling, lawn tennis, or light jogging.

Meditation and yoga are quite powerful practices to drive away the stress, depression and thus, obesity. But in more serious cases, meeting a physician is the most appropriate strategy. Sometimes, the right medicines and surgical procedures are necessary to control the health condition.

Obesity is spreading like an epidemic, haunting both the adults and the kids. Although genetic factors and other physical ailments play a role, the problem is mostly caused by a reckless lifestyle.

By changing our way of living, we can surely take control of our health. In other words, it would be possible to eliminate the condition of obesity from our lives completely by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Health , Obesity

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Band 8 Sample | Causes of Obesity

Essay topic

In some countries the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and fitness are decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?

Band 8 essay sample

It is a fact that in some countries, the average weight of the citizens is shooting up while their fitness and health conditions are worsening. In my view this is mainly because of the food habits and modern lifestyle they follow. In this essay, I will examine these two factors and then propose a viable solution.

One of the foremost reasons for obesity is the consumption of unhealthy foods. Many people started to follow western food habits and eventually ended up eating high fat content foods like pizza and burger. Regular consumption of these fat rich foods will increase a person’s weight in a short span of time.

In addition to that, now-a-days, more and more people are living a sedentary lifestyle. They do not dedicate any time to do any kind of physical activity. As a result, they lose their resistance power. If this lifestyle continues then people will fall ill more frequently and lose their health permanently.

It is necessary that the government takes steps to open many sports complexes and fitness studios near residential communities. Most of the people who do not want to travel far to go to a sports center will be ready to use one if it is available nearby. In a study conducted by a popular newspaper 90% of the respondents said that they are willing to use the gym or any physical activity centers if they are within 3 kilometer radius.

To conclude, encouraging people to do more physical activities will not only improve their fitness and overall health but also help people to shed their weight.

(265 words)

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• Epidemiology

The causes of obesity: an in-depth review

• 10(4):90-94

• Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

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Causes of obesity: a review

Beenish masood.

A Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK

Myuri Moorthy

B Barts NHS Health Trust, London, UK

Obesity research is advancing swiftly, but the increase in obesity prevalence is faster. Over the past three decades, researchers have found that biopsychosocial factors determine weight gain much more than personal choices and responsibility. Various genes have found to predispose people to obesity by interacting with our obesogenic environment. In this review, we discuss the impact of physical inactivity, excessive caloric intake, intrauterine environment, postnatal influences, insufficient sleep, drugs, medical conditions, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, psychosocial stress, endocrine disrupting chemicals and the gastrointestinal microbiome, on the occurrence of obesity.

Introduction

The World Obesity Federation estimates that 800 million people are currently living with obesity, of whom 39 million are children under 5 years (2020) and 340 million are children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 years. Moreover, there are at least 1 billion more people at risk of becoming overweight or obese.

The impact of obesity on individuals and society is evident by considering the chronic diseases resulting from obesity (type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), hypertension, dyslipidaemia, osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea and various cancers) and the associated disabilities, which can lead to decreased productivity.

Although efforts to treat obesity are underway with increasing success, we have failed to control the relentless increase in obesity. Determining the exact causes of obesity and understanding their pathophysiology is a major stumbling block. This was fully addressed in the landmark foresight report first published in 2007, which identified the complex drivers of obesity and outlined a plan to prevent and treat it. 1 This report envisions the obesity occurrence and goals up to 2050 and suggests appropriate measures to achieve a sustainable decrease in the prevalence of obesity. 1

The causes of obesity are multipronged and inter-related. To simplify we describe them here as non-modifiable and modifiable factors.

Non-modifiable factors

There have been several studies over the past 20 years on genetic obesity, which have found that genetic mutations (abnormal changes in DNA sequence), polymorphisms (normal variation in a DNA sequence, which is common in the population) and changes in gene expression (the process by which information encoded in a gene is turned into a function), all have a role in predisposing individuals to obesity.

Initially, candidate gene studies (ie those that look at the genetic variation associated with disease in specified genes) identified certain genes to be pathogenic for severe early-onset obesity or monogenic (rare) obesity (Table ​ (Table1 1 ). 2–26 Later, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which help identify new genes associated with particular diseases identified additional genes (Table ​ (Table1 1 ).

Genes associated with genetic obesity

There are three types of genetic obesity: monogenic, polygenic and syndromic. Monogenic obesity results from a mutation or deficiency of a single gene and is a rare but severe cause of obesity. It occurs when there is a mutation in one of the genes involved in the leptin–melanocortin pathway (see below). Genes associated with this type of obesity are detailed in Table ​ Table1. 1 . Typical features of monogenic obesity are hyperphagia (insatiable hunger) and early-onset obesity (age 3–5 years). Polygenic obesity results from the simultaneous presence of multiple gene variants, which have an accumulative effect. There are several genes associated with this type of genetic obesity, some of which are detailed in Table ​ Table1. 1 . The third type is syndromic obesity, it is associated with other signs of a developmental disorder, and may or may not be accompanied by a congenital malformation syndrome; typical signs are dysmorphic features and organ abnormalities. 27 Examples of syndromes associated with obesity are Prader-Willi, Cohen and Bardet-Biedl among others, 28 ; their respective genes are detailed in Table ​ Table1 1 .

GWAS enabled researchers to discover that it is the accumulation of gene variants that predisposes individuals to common or polygenic obesity (Table ​ (Table2 2 ). 29 Genes found to be more common in individuals with obesity were then assessed for association with the risk of developing obesity, body mass index (BMI) and other body composition traits, such as body fat percentage; 15,16,30 fat free mass; 31 imaging derived adipose tissue; 32 circulating leptin levels and leptin receptor (LEPR) levels. 33 These studies established the role of epigenetics in obesity (discussed in detail below).

Key features of monogenic and polygenic obesity. 36

The leptin–melanocortin pathway

Most research on genetic obesity has revealed that the leptin–melanocortin circuit in the hypothalamus has a key role in appetite regulation and that genes expressed exclusively in this pathway have a pivotal role in obesity. 34 Leptin is an appetite-regulating hormone secreted by fat cells, which circulates at levels proportional to the mass of fat. 35 In obesity, an excess of leptin is secreted, which eventually leads to leptin resistance (similar to insulin resistance). When cells in the hypothalamus become resistant to leptin, the signal for satiety is not received and the person remains hungry. Leptin levels decrease with food deprivation ie during fasting and increase after eating.

Leptin activates LEPR expressed in different areas of the central nervous system. 36 In the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, LEPRb (an isoform of the leptin receptor) is found on two types of neurons, which have a pivotal role in the melanocortin pathway; one type expresses pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and the other expresses agouti-related protein (AGRP). 37 POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus connect with melanocortin-4 receptor, (MC4R) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus via melanocortin, which signal to decrease food intake. 36 In contrast, AGRP neurons act on MC4R neurons to increase food intake. 37,38 A balance between the action of these two types of neurons is found to control eating behaviour.

The hypothalamus receives signals via peptides and hormones (peptide Y, glucagon-like peptide-1, cholecystokinin and ghrelin 39,40 ), which are released by the gut in response to food (varying with the composition of macronutrients), signals from adipose tissue (leptin) and visceroceptive information from the vagus nerve. 41 Although this signalling is entirely subconscious, hypocretins (melanin-concentrating hormone and orexins 42 secreted from the lateral hypothalamic area) act on the medial hypothalamus and affect reward-related brain areas, thus forming a vital loop between the homeostatic and hedonic system; it is this ‘cross-talk’ between metabolism and the pursuit of pleasure that makes it difficult to control appetite and lose weight. 43

Hypothalamic obesity

The leptin–melanocortin pathway is involved in other rare causes of non-genetic obesity, best described as hypothalamic obesity. Lesional hypothalamic obesity results from either an anatomic change in the hypothalamus (usually affecting the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei), as occurs in the case of cranial tumors, such as craniopharyngioma (most common), glioma or other tumours, involving the hypothalamus. Treatment of such tumours with surgery and radiotherapy, and pathologies involving the hypothalamus, such as neurosarcoidosis, tuberculosis and Langerhans cell histiocytosis, 27 can also result in hypothalamic obesity. Rapid Onset of Hypoventilation Hypothalamic Autonomic Disorder (ROHHAD) syndrome is likely autoimmune mediated and has positive anti-pituitary and anti-hypothalamic antibodies. 27 Rapid Onset of Hypoventilation Hypothalamic Autonomic Disorder with Neuroendocrine Tumours (ROHHADNET) syndrome can be considered a paraneoplastic syndrome in which hypothalamic obesity occurs in association with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). 27

Modifiable factors

Epigenetics.

Epigenetic changes are those that affect genetic expression without changing the sequence of DNA; these are acquired through interaction with the environment and, interestingly, are also heritable. Certain obesity syndromes, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, result from imprinting failures. 44 GWAS studies forming the basis of international collaborations, such as the Genetic Investigation for Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium, found associations between obesity-related genes and traits. The GIANT meta-analysis reported 32 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to with obesity, which were then used by other researchers to generate a genetic risk score for obesity. 45 The Early Growth Genetics (EGG) Consortium was founded to analyse genetic data from different studies and to improve understanding of underlying mechanisms causing weight gain in early life, childhood and young adulthood. Twin, family and adoption studies estimate the heriability of obesity to be between 40% and 70%.46 Having a high-risk genetic profile makes a person more susceptible to an obesogenic environment. Studies concluded that the presence of these genes increases the risk of obesity but does not necessitate obesity. This risk can be ameliorated by healthy food choices, increased physical activity and avoiding other causes of obesity mentioned in this review.

Physical inactivity

In one study of 109,000 people in the UK Biobank, the relationship between physical activity and the genetic risk score for obesity was analysed and showed that physical activity decreased the risk of obesity. In fact, those with higher genetic risk scores benefited the most despite light exercise. 47 According to a World Health Organization survey, more than 28% of the world's adult population and 81% of adolescents were physically inactive in 2016. Increasing use of passive modes of transportation have led to reduced physical activity. Lockdown during the Covid19 pandemic has contributed significantly to decreased activity levels world over.

Excessive caloric intake

Historically, the central dogma of the science of obesity has been that it is simply an energy balance disorder: calories in, calories out. If this energy-based model (EBM) of obesity, was true, then essentially exercising more and eating less should work for everyone. However, this is not the case. Many researchers believe that the pathophysiology of obesity is more complex. The carbohydrate–insulin model (CIM) of obesity, first suggested by Gary Taubes in his book Good Calories, Bad calories in 2007 and then later endorsed in 2018 by Ludwig and Ebbeling, 47 proposes that a high carbohydrate diet (with predominantly large amounts of sugar and starch) induces postprandial hyperinsulinaemia; the high insulin level shifts the calories into fat cells rather than into lean tissues and this leads to an overall sense of starvation in the body, whereby the person has a reduced metabolic rate and feels hungrier.

Interestingly, this model was challenged by Hall and colleagues in 2022, 48 whereby they countered that the CIM is inaccurate, and that EBM is a ‘more robust theory of obesity than CIM’. They argued that it is the brain that is responsible for body-weight regulation via a complex interaction between metabolic, endocrine and nervous system signals that respond to the intrinsic energy requirements of the body in combination with external environmental influences. According to Hall and colleagues, adipose tissue acts as an endocrine organ and the secretion of leptin and other adipokines is directly responsible for increased food intake.

Alongside the intrinsic mechanism of obesity, we must recognise external influences, such as the rapid emergence of fast-food chains, meal deals, upsized drinks and the easy availability of inexpensive ultraprocessed food as part of the problem; we also ought to take a step back and analyse why such a significant part of the world's population suddenly has an energy balance disorder. According to the Foresight report on Tackling obesities, 1 although genes, energy intake, early growth pattern and diet have an important role in the development of obesity, it is the obesogenic environment that has modified human behaviour and interacted with human physiology to cause the increase in obesity rates. Today, there are numerous opportunities to eat high-calorie food. Other aspects include: the lower cost of food and drinks; increased marketing of food products; technological advances (such as the improved quality of television and computer screens, increased variety of video games and virtual reality simulators that encourage sedentary behaviour); increased rates of sedentary employment; longer working hours; and improved accessibility of food (convenience stores and vending machines), which result in decreased overall movement.

The intrauterine environment

Obesity in mothers has long been known to be the strongest risk factor for obesity in childhood. 49,50 One prospective study carried out at the University of Southampton concluded that there was a strong association between adiposity of mothers and their daughters, but not their sons. 51 By contrast, there was no such association between the adiposity of fathers and their offspring in this study. Therefore, a stronger association of mother–offspring fat mass suggests a possible role of the intrauterine environment in the development of obesity later in life. However, currently, evidence linking the mother's diet during pregnancy with birth weight is insufficient.

The warm rich environment of the womb has a profound effect on early development. A meta-analysis of 14 studies found that maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a 50% higher risk of childhood obesity. 52 Maternal weight gain during pregnancy leads to insulin resistance and gestational diabetes, which manifests as large birth size. 53 Furthermore, several studies have found a direct association between birth weight and BMI later in life. 54–56 We now know that gestational weight gain and gestational diabetes contributes to obesity in the offspring.

Postnatal influences

The postnatal environment is just as crucial to setting the pace of weight gain throughout life. Modifiable postnatal factors that affect weight in later life include: (1) Sleep duration: interestingly, there is a direct association of short sleep duration in babies with weight gain in infancy as well as adulthood. 57 A meta-analysis of 42 studies concluded that short sleep duration is a risk factor for development of obesity at any ages. 58 Research found antenatal depression, introduction of solid foods before 4 months and infant television viewing to be responsible for decreased infant sleep duration 59 ; (2) Breastfeeding duration: a meta-analysis of 17 studies reported that a longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of weight gain in the baby, with each month of breastfeeding reducing the risk by 4% 60 ; and (3) rate of weight gain in infant: the speed at which a baby gains weight has also been associated with obesity in later life. A systematic review of 10 studies reported a link between rapid early growth and the risk of obesity in later life. 61

Insufficient sleep

Sleep regulates glucose metabolism and neuroendocrine function. Lack of sleep reduces glucose intolerance, insulin sensitivity and leptin levels and increases the levels of cortisol and ghrelin (and, therefore, appetite). 62 Sleep and exercise are mutually beneficial because exercise has long been known to contribute to a good night's sleep and recent research has shown that poor sleep results in low levels of physical activity. 63 One study also found that a change in the mean duration of sleep increased the risk of obesity by modifying the effects of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) variants on BMI. 64

Certain therapeutic drugs cause significant weight gain in some people. These are detailed in Table ​ Table3 3 along with the most probable pathophysiology causing the weight gain. 65–69

Drugs associated with obesity

Medical conditions

Medical conditions may cause weight gain via different mechanisms. For example, insulinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumour of the pancreas, which is mostly benign and presents with weight gain and symptoms of hypoglycaemia because of oversecretion of insulin by the tumour cells. It can occur in isolation or as part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN-1) syndrome. Insulinomas are very rare, with an occurrence of between 1 and 32 per million per year. 70 Obesity can also be related to hormonal disbalance. For example, decreased levels of thyroxine associated with hypothyroidism cause the overall metabolism to slow down and, hence, cause weight gain. In Cushing's syndrome, increased serum cortisol levels cause higher serum insulin levels, which increase glucose metabolism and fat synthesis. High cortisol also increases appetite and cravings for sweet and salty food. A similar mechanism related to high insulin levels causes weight gain in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is another condition which refers to the co-occurrence of hypertension, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides and low high-density lipoproteins. Weight gain results mainly from high insulin levels in this condition. Weight gain-especially around the neck-causes airway narrowing, sleep apnoea and disturbed sleep (known as obstructive sleep apnoea). If left untreated, this condition hinders weight loss because the disturbed sleep cycle results in higher cortisol levels. Finally, conditions causing oedema, such as congestive heart failure and hypoproteinaemia because of malabsorption or deranged liver and kidney function, can cause overall weight gain. However, it can be argued that this is not true weight gain because it relates to fluid rather than fat build-up.

Socioeconomic status

According to the 2021–22 National Child Measurement Programme in England, there is a strong link between deprivation and children living with obesity. 71 The prevalence of severe obesity in reception-aged children was nearly three times as high in the most deprived areas (ie 4.6% as opposed to only 1.3% in children living in the least-deprived areas). Similarly for older children, ∼31.3% year 6 children (age 10–12 years) from the most-deprived areas were living with obesity compared with 13.5% in the least-deprived areas. 71 Socioeconomic status is also an important determinant of obesity in adults. 72

Among ∼9,000 non-Hispanic Europeans, low and/or decreasing socioeconomic status increased the genetic risk score for obesity, whereas high/improving socioeconomic status dampened this association. Spinosa and colleagues linked this association to psychosocial distress and emotional eating. 73 This contrasts with another study that explored the relationship between obesity, gross national product and socioeconomic status from 67 countries. According to this study, obesity increased with the increase in the economic development of a country. 74 Moreover, an interesting trend was noticed: in lower income countries, those people with higher socioeconomic status were more likely to be obese, whereas, in higher income countries, those with higher socioeconomic status were less likely to be obese. The authors attributed this phenomenon to the fact that, in the former, improving socioeconomic status led to eating high-calorie foods and avoiding physical activity, whereas, in the latter, individuals responded with increased physical activity and healthy eating. Certain lower income countries, such as India, face the conjoint challenge of an increase in obesity along with malnutrition. 75

Certain ethnicities are more predisposed to gaining weight than others. Data show that, in November 2021, ∼63.5% adults were overweight or living with obesity. 76 Out of these, 72% adults were of Black ethnic origin, 64.5% were White British, 57% were Asian, 57.9% were ‘other’–White, and 59.5% were mixed ethnic groups. Only 37.5% adults of Chinese ethnicity were living with excess weight or obesity.

Psychosocial stress

According to one study of 2,983 adults from a community in Chicago, USA, multiple stressors were found to increase the risk of obesity. 77 Other studies have discovered that chronic psychosocial stress can interact with genetic predisposition to determine adiposity. Stress increases chronic exposure to glucocorticoids (promoting abdominal obesity) and contributes to emotional/comfort eating.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals

Environmental chemicals that disrupt the hormone action in the human body are called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). 78 EDCs have lipophilic structures and, thus, can interfere with hormonal action and upset normal endocrine functions. Some EDCs interfere with steroid and thyroid hormones, whereas others disrupt metabolism and upset the function of adipocytes (which secrete hormones and act as an endocrine organ). 79 EDCs interfering with adipocyte function can lead to obesity 80–82 and, thus, are also referred to as obesogens. 82,83 Foetuses and neonates are most susceptible to obesogenic EDCs. 83,84 One study found that exposure to diethylstilbesterol (DES) during the neonatal period predisposed mice to becoming obese at 4–6 months of age. 85 EDCs include several chemicals in our environment, the most relevant of which are detailed in Table ​ Table4 4 . 86–88

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals 80

Gastrointestinal microbiome

Gastrointestinal microbes were termed ‘friends with benefits’ by John F. Cryan (a key figure in research on the gut microbiome). The normal human gut microbiome, ∼100 trillion in number, 89 comprises Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Proteus, Actinomycetes and Fusobacteria. 90 Two phyla are predominantly seen to inhabit people with obesity: Firmicutes and Bacteroides. Turnbaugh and colleagues 91 found that Firmicutes were abundant in the microbiota of obese mice. Other studies found a link between obesity with Akkermansia muciniphila ; its supplementation resulted in improved metabolism, insulin sensitivity and plasma triglycerides. 92,93

Bifidobacteria has been used to treat obesity in young people, also improving insulin sensitivity. 94 Factors affecting the gut microbiome include the mode of delivery (normal vaginal birth or Caesarean section), duration of breastfeeding, age at which solid food is introduced, diet and the use of antibiotics throughout life. 95

Approach of healthcare professionals

Obesity management is directly influenced by the approach of healthcare professionals to obesity and, therefore, it is imperative to evaluate our approaches to patients living with obesity.

The attitude of the general public also needs to be modulated toward children and adults with obesity. The stigma associated with increased weight strongly impacts mental and physical health and leads to a lifetime of low self-esteem. According to the World Obesity Federation, weight bias eventually leads to weight stigma. There is a general weight bias where people associate laziness, low intelligence, poor hygiene and lack of will-power with obesity. 96 Although this is not a direct cause of obesity, it can be argued that it leads to increasing obesity prevalence as people with obesity are disheartened and avoid seeking medical advice. In one study, the motivation to lose weight was studied in 10,854 people with obesity and it was found that support from healthcare professionals and a positive interaction with them helped engage patients and motivated them to lose weight. 97

The importance of involving a multidisciplinary team for obesity management in underlined by some clinicians. Obesity is a product of multiple factors and, therefore, requires input by multidisciplinary team and support from specialist obesity nurses and dietitians to develop a personalised plan for each patient.

The causes of obesity are a nexus of communal and individual factors. Although most of these are modifiable, controlling all contributing factors is a real challenge. The Foresight report 1 describes these risk factors as ‘interconnected’ and grouped them into different clusters on an ‘obesity map’ to enable easier understanding and management of obesity. These groups include the physical activity environment, food consumption, food production, individual psychology and social psychology. Understanding these risk factors individually and appreciating their interconnection is key to understanding the causes of obesity and working toward a plausible solution to curb this worldwide pandemic.

Key practice implications

• The causes of obesity are manifold and cannot be attributed to one single cause, such as overeating.
• In most cases, including polygenic obesity, the factors causing obesity are modifiable.
• A multidisciplinary team is necessary to decide upon a personalised plan and help support people living with obesity.
• Healthcare professionals must appreciate the complexity of obesity and acknowledge that it is best managed with a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach.
• Efforts to prevent and treat obesity must be made by individuals as well as governments to promote a healthy environment.

Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue Expository Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Obesity is a psychological issue as well as a social one. Both “psychological and behavioral issues play significant roles in both the development and consequences of obesity” (Collins and Bentz 126).

Obesity is caused by eating disorders triggered by psychosocial, genetically and environmental parameters. Obesity is mainly associated with those people who suffer from psychological conditions, such as anxiety, depression as well as eating disorders.

This is because such people have a problem of regulating the amount of food taken as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It has been noted that food is taken as a coping strategy for those who suffer from obesity. The sociological factors associated with obesity make obese individuals have perpetual cycle of mood distress, overeating as well as weight gain.

This makes those people get distressed and depressed. Obese people get their comforts from food that make them feel better as a result of the reduced stress of their mood and an obese condition that may trigger a dysphonic mood because of their inability to control their stress.

This pattern is mainly applicable to the individuals who are genetically predisposed to obesity or live in environments where calorically rich foods are easily available while physical activities of the people living there are very minimal (Collins and Bentz 124). Sociological as well as psychological factors have great influence on the development as well as management of obesity.

Apart from social, psychological and environmental factors, other causes of obesity include frequent snacking on high calories foods, overeating, etc. Moreover, obesity can result from an unusual characteristic of eating behavior that entails episodes of eating during discrete periods, as well as eating large quantities of food that are not in accordance to the amount many people would consume at the same given time in stances.

This is a factor that indicates a tendency of lack of eating control as well as failure to control the distress that follows such periods. Almost 2% of the general population and around 10-25% of the bariatric population are said to suffer from this condition (Collins and Bentz 34).

Night eating is a condition that is known to greatly result in a significant weight gain. This issue is characterized with excessive night eating behavior that entails consumption of approximately over 35% of our daily calories after the evening meal. This condition has recently been linked with the lack of appetite during the day and an increase in the appetite and overeating during the night (Stunkard, Grace, and H.G. Wolff 6).

Social issues are also key attributes of obesity incidents. Many researches on obesity give positive correlations between obesity versus social and economical conditions.

They show that most people, who are obese, mainly live in poverty, and are less educated, less likely to marry or date as well as less likely to earn as much salary as those people who are not obese. A recent study on obesity indicated obesity as an antecedent to adverse economical as well as social outcomes.

The effects of obesity are social as well as psychological. Overweight people are concerned with their weight and become self-conscious of their weight and think that people may make fun of them.

The western culture mainly associates thinness with beauty. Because of this perception, many women as well as girls in Europe and the U.S.A. try to have slim bodies. The perception that associates thinness with beauty as well as the tendency of most celebs in these regions to be thin influences women in these countries and other areas to follow this way of thinking.

This paradigm makes many women do their best to stay slim. Thus, those women who are overweight suffer from the idea that they are less beautiful, and this greatly affects their social interactions. Some of social problems they exhibit include low self-esteem, discrimination as well as avoiding social gatherings.

The reasons why obese people suffer from low self-esteem is because some individuals may make fun of their obese conditions; such jokes may injure their feelings and psychological health which can result in a negative impact on their self-esteem.

There are many people who associate obesity with laziness and gluttonous. This attitude makes some obese people suffer from low self-esteem as well and avoid publicity as a result. Many obese people are known to do their best to manage their conditions. Most of them try to manage their obesity by controlling their dieting behavior as well as by exercising a lot.

Therefore, the wrong perception that obese people are lazy and gluttonous can make these people withdraw and shun social gatherings and assume solitary lifestyles that are detrimental to their social life.

Moreover, such negative attitudes towards obese humans may force them to engage in unhealthy habits, such as anorexia or bulimia, which include avoiding eating or vomiting the food in order to loose weight.

This can result in detrimental health issues which will in turn worsen their social lives. Those girls who suffer from obesity are often characterized with low performances in schools because of the social stigma that is associated with the obese condition.

These girls tend to have a problem in establishing healthy relationships with their learning peers, and because of being discriminated by their learning mates, they are isolated from society which makes them suffer from low self-esteem which affects their school performance negatively (Obesity Working Group).

People who suffer from obesity experience psychological problems. For instance, the children with such condition can be mean and bully. It is also observed that those kids who are teased about their overweight status tend to have low self-esteem, poor body image and symptoms of depression.

It is universally accepted that all people aspire to have friends, Unfortunately, most of the obese children often find themselves lonely as well as isolated. This makes these children suffer from depressions and use food as their means of comfort.

In addition, the isolation they encounter in their day-to-day-activities make such children less active because they do not have friends to play with. This is the notion that makes obese kids be regarded as lazy. Moreover, teenagers who suffer from obesity are highly affected by their obese status.

These teens experience psychological disturbances that affect their health conditions and lead to serious medical issues. The teen’s period is mainly a growing stage, which is described by the urge to be more independent as well as experience an increased need in socializing.

At this juncture, teenagers are more concerned about their physical appearances and appeal to other people. Thus, when they are teased because of their obese conditions, they show a psychological devastation (Wadden, Sarwer, Fabricatore, Jones, Stack, and Williams 65).

Obesity can be treated socially or psychologically. Obese people are encouraged to exercise more as well as reduce taking foods that are highly rich in calories. This is a type of a behavioral or cognitive therapy that entails modification of one’s lifestyle as well as dietary habits.

This approach is effective in managing the obese condition in many people. Nevertheless, the psychological treatment of obesity is the best strategy of managing this condition as it helps in addressing its fundamental causes.

In classical conditioning, eating disorders are linked with other actions. These behaviors are meant to happen simultaneously. For instance, a person may be used to eat nachos as he/she watches the news. When these conditions are done repeatedly, a person may have a craving for nachos every time she/he watches news.

Behavioral intervention involves establishing and extinguishing those factors that facilitate obesity. Conversely, operant conditioning uses strengthening and consequences. It happens when people employ a reward to momentarily to reduce pressure associated foods with a more congenial state, this increases its possibility to turn into a recurring behavior.

It is said that behavior therapy is connected with the lifestyles changes as well as weight loss in short-time, but does not indicate any substantial proof of its long-term effectiveness. Nowadays, cognitive behavior therapies have become more common approaches for the treatment of obesity.

Cognitive therapies are known to influence both the feelings and behaviors. They are used to treat overweight by helping the obese to change their eating disorders and embrace healthy eating lifestyles. They entail strategies such as social support, stress management, cognitive restructuring as well as stimulus control (Cooper and Fairburn 54).

It is very important to note that both social and psychological issues are very essential in the development and examining the effects of obesity. Therefore, the treatment of obesity should be a multidisciplinary approach. Thus, the treatment of this condition should be biological, social, psychological as well as environmental in order to guarantee an inclusive care, the best practices and effective results.

Works Cited

Collins, Jennifer C., and Jon E. Bentz. ” Behavioral and Psychological Factors in Obesity.” The Journal of Lancaster General Hospital, 4.4(2009): 124-127. jlgh.org. Web.

Cooper, Z. and C.G. Fairburn. “A new cognitive behavioral approach to the treatment of obesity.” Behaviour Research and Therapy , 39.5(2001):499-511. Print.

Obesity Working Group. Technical Report No 1: Obesity in Australia: A need for urgent action . P3-451. Australia: Commonwealth of Australia, 2008. Print.

Stunkard, A.J., Grace, W.J., and H.G. Wolff. “The night-eating syndrome: A pattern of food intake among certain obese patients.” American Journal of Medicine , 19.1(1955): 78-86. Print.

Wadden, T.A., Sarwer, D.B., Fabricatore, A.N., Jones, L., Stack, R., and N.S. Williams. “Psychosocial and behavioral status of patients undergoing bariatric surgery: what to expect before and after surgery.” The Medical Clinic of North America , 91.3(2007): 451-469. Print.

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Obesity Essay | Essay on Obesity for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by Prasanna

Obesity Essay: Obesity is a condition that occurs when a person puts on excess body fat. It is a sudden and unusual increase in body fat. It can lead to heart-related diseases, blood pressure, hypertension, cholesterol, and various other health issues. The main cause of obesity is over-eating. Consuming junk food and staying away for physical activities can lead to an increase in the cases of obesity. Every 1 out of 5 children is facing obesity around the globe.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Obesity for Students and Kids in English

In this article, we have provided a long essay and a short essay, along with ten lines on the topic, to help students write this essay in examinations. Given below is a long essay composed of about 500 words and a short essay comprising 100-150 words on Obesity in English.

Long Essay on Obesity 500 words in English

Obesity essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

The world today is facing various complex diseases. Out of them, obesity is one. Obesity is a condition wherein a person starts to gain unnecessary body fat. This is an excessive and abnormal increase in body fat which can lead to various other related health issues like heart problems, blood pressure, hypertension, cholesterol, and many more. Some people think of obesity as only a cosmetic and physical concern but that’s not true.

The lifestyle of people has changed a lot. Instead of focusing more on physical activities, there has been a paradigm shift to adapting non-physical activities. Children used to play in parks and playgrounds with friends whereas now the preference has been shifted to mobile and computer games. Not only children but also elders have changed their lifestyle a lot. Previously, people preferred to do everything by themselves. Right from doing household chores to getting things from the market, everything was done manually. But time has changed a lot. Now, everything gets delivered at the doorstep. This type of lifestyle has lead to various diseases including obesity.

Additionally, obesity is even caused due to genetics as well. Some people have heredity or have genes that force them to gain weight faster as compared to others. Also, there are some medications like those consumed by bodybuilders (steroids), antidepressants, and medicines for diabetes that make changes in the body metabolism in such a way that the appetite increases resulting in gaining weight. Some people are couch potatoes and foodaholic which means they can’t stay away from food. Under such a situation the appetite increase and the chances to fill oneself with junk food enhances. This kind of habit positively increases the chances of becoming obese.

Ever-increasing cases of obesity are surely a cause of concern, but there are various cures available to treat it. Also, not every treatment is related to medication or surgery. Some of the treatments are such that are related to changes in diet and adapting to physical activities. Eating a healthy, fibrous, and nutritious diet can help reduce that excess weight. Also not munching in between and following a diet routine can help to cure obesity.

Secondly, by doing some physical activities like walking, jogging, running, or exercising one can also burn unwanted fat and calories, thereby reducing obesity. There are various drug therapies as well as surgeries like bariatric surgery that can help reduce the weight. The drug therapies can be long term as well as short term depending on the weight to be reduced. But usually, these are clubbed with natural therapies like exercising and yoga.

Obesity is now concerning more and more people. It is thus necessary to make people aware of the symptoms, causes, and cures of the disease as well. This will help to take the necessary steps and combat obesity. Everybody should adapt to the health-enhancing lifestyle and should try to reduce unhealthy habits as much as possible. It is quite true that junk food is attractive and a healthy plate looks dull but to stay healthy and fit, one needs to choose the healthy plate over junk. This is the best way to keep the self and family away from obesity.

Short Essay on Obesity 150 words in English

Obesity essay is usually provided to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Obesity is a cause of serious concern today. Although, many may not think of obesity as the disease still the effects of obesity can lead to various health issues. Obesity is a situation where a person faces a continuous increase in body mass. This increase is usually not normal and hence is a cause of concern. The diseases linked to obesity range from blood pressure, heart issues, hypertension, and diabetes as well. There are many causes of obesity. The most common cause of obesity is unhealthy food habits. An increase in the consumption of junk foods and munching in between leads to obesity.

The second cause of obesity is a decrease in physical activities. People have turned to couch potatoes. They prefer to sit and watch television rather than going out and doing physical exercises like running, walking, jogging, or yoga. The third reason is related to heredity or genetics. Apart there are other reasons related to medication that result in weight gain. There are various natural as well as medical treatments available for obesity. Adapting to healthy food habits and daily exercising can reduce weight. It can lead to a reduction in obesity. Apart there are drug-related therapies as well as surgeries like bariatric surgery available to reduce that excess weight.

It is important to adapt to a healthy lifestyle which includes intake of nutritious food and exercise to reduce obesity. Also making people aware of cause and cures of obesity can be of great use. The best way to keep the self and family away from obesity is to have a healthy lifestyle.

10 Lines on Obesity Essay in English

• Obesity is very common today. It is a situation where a person gains excessive and abnormal weight.
• It has affected 1 out of every 5 individuals in the world.
• It can lead to various diseases such as heart-related, hypertension, blood pressure, and many more.
• There are various causes of obesity right from genetic to habit related.
• Increased intake of junk food, decreased physical activities, increased medication, and unhealthy lifestyle is some major causes of obesity.
• The cases of obesity are more prevalent in children as they tend to be couch potatoes.
• Obesity can be cured by natural as well as medical ways.
• Natural ways to cure obesity include healthy food habits, a healthy lifestyle, and exercising.
• Medical treatments for obesity include drug treatment and surgeries like bariatric surgery.
• Making people aware of how to adapt to a better lifestyle can reduce the chances of obesity.

FAQ’s on Obesity Essay

Question 1. What is Obesity?

Answer: Obesity refers to a situation where the person gains abnormal and excessive weight. Such an increase in weight can lead to health issues.

Question 2. What are the causes of Obesity?

Answer: There are various causes of obesity. The main causes of obesity are unhealthy food habits, reduced physical exercises, increased medication, couch potato nature, and heredity.

Question 3. How can we cure obesity?

Answer: There are various natural and medical cures available for obesity. These include healthy food habits, exercising, drug treatment, and surgeries like bariatric surgery.

Question 4. What steps can be taken to reduce cases of obesity?

Answer: The steps that can be taken to reduce the chances of obesity are as follow:

• Intake of healthy food
• Adapting to a better lifestyle
• Say no to munching and junk food.
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Article Contents

Obesity: causes, consequences, treatments, and challenges.

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Obesity: causes, consequences, treatments, and challenges, Journal of Molecular Cell Biology , Volume 13, Issue 7, July 2021, Pages 463–465, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmcb/mjab056

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Obesity has become a global epidemic and is one of today’s most public health problems worldwide. Obesity poses a major risk for a variety of serious diseases including diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer ( Bluher, 2019 ).

Obesity is mainly caused by imbalanced energy intake and expenditure due to a sedentary lifestyle coupled with overnutrition. Excess nutrients are stored in adipose tissue (AT) in the form of triglycerides, which will be utilized as nutrients by other tissues through lipolysis under nutrient deficit conditions. There are two major types of AT, white AT (WAT) and brown AT, the latter is a specialized form of fat depot that participates in non-shivering thermogenesis through lipid oxidation-mediated heat generation. While WAT has been historically considered merely an energy reservoir, this fat depot is now well known to function as an endocrine organ that produces and secretes various hormones, cytokines, and metabolites (termed as adipokines) to control systemic energy balance. Studies over the past decade also show that WAT, especially subcutaneous WAT, could undergo ‘beiging’ remodeling in response to environmental or hormonal perturbation. In the first paper of this special issue, Cheong and Xu (2021) systematically review the recent progress on the factors, pathways, and mechanisms that regulate the intercellular and inter-organ crosstalks in the beiging of WAT. A critical but still not fully addressed issue in the adipose research field is the origin of the beige cells. Although beige adipocytes are known to have distinct cellular origins from brown and while adipocytes, it remains unclear on whether the cells are from pre-existing mature white adipocytes through a transdifferentiation process or from de novo differentiation of precursor cells. AT is a heterogeneous tissue composed of not only adipocytes but also nonadipocyte cell populations, including fibroblasts, as well as endothelial, blood, stromal, and adipocyte precursor cells ( Ruan, 2020 ). The authors examined evidence to show that heterogeneity contributes to different browning capacities among fat depots and even within the same depot. The local microenvironment in WAT, which is dynamically and coordinately controlled by inputs from the heterogeneous cell types, plays a critical role in the beige adipogenesis process. The authors also examined key regulators of the AT microenvironment, including vascularization, the sympathetic nerve system, immune cells, peptide hormones, exosomes, and gut microbiota-derived metabolites. Given that increasing beige fat function enhances energy expenditure and consequently reduces body weight gain, identification and characterization of novel regulators and understanding their mechanisms of action in the beiging process has a therapeutic potential to combat obesity and its associated diseases. However, as noticed by the authors, most of the current pre-clinical research on ‘beiging’ are done in rodent models, which may not represent the exact phenomenon in humans ( Cheong and Xu, 2021 ). Thus, further investigations will be needed to translate the findings from bench to clinic.

While both social–environmental factors and genetic preposition have been recognized to play important roles in obesity epidemic, Gao et al. (2021) present evidence showing that epigenetic changes may be a key factor to explain interindividual differences in obesity. The authors examined data on the function of DNA methylation in regulating the expression of key genes involved in metabolism. They also summarize the roles of histone modifications as well as various RNAs such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs in regulating metabolic gene expression in metabolic organs in response to environmental cues. Lastly, the authors discuss the effect of lifestyle modification and therapeutic agents on epigenetic regulation of energy homeostasis. Understanding the mechanisms by which lifestyles such as diet and exercise modulate the expression and function of epigenetic factors in metabolism should be essential for developing novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity and its associated metabolic diseases.

A major consequence of obesity is type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when body cannot use and produce insulin effectively. Diabetes profoundly and adversely affects the vasculature, leading to various cardiovascular-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, arteriosclerotic, and microvascular diseases, which have been recognized as the most common causes of death in people with diabetes ( Cho et al., 2018 ). Love et al. (2021) systematically review the roles and regulation of endothelial insulin resistance in diabetes complications, focusing mainly on vascular dysfunction. The authors review the vasoprotective functions and the mechanisms of action of endothelial insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling pathways. They also examined the contribution and impart of endothelial insulin resistance to diabetes complications from both biochemical and physiological perspectives and evaluated the beneficial roles of many of the medications currently used for T2D treatment in vascular management, including metformin, thiazolidinediones, glucagon-like receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors, as well as exercise. The authors present evidence to suggest that sex differences and racial/ethnic disparities contribute significantly to vascular dysfunction in the setting of diabetes. Lastly, the authors raise a number of very important questions with regard to the role and connection of endothelial insulin resistance to metabolic dysfunction in other major metabolic organs/tissues and suggest several insightful directions in this area for future investigation.

Following on from the theme of obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction, Xia et al. (2021) review the latest progresses on the role of membrane-type I matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), a zinc-dependent endopeptidase that proteolytically cleaves extracellular matrix components and non-matrix proteins, in lipid metabolism. The authors examined data on the transcriptional and post-translational modification regulation of MT1-MMP gene expression and function. They also present evidence showing that the functions of MT1-MMP in lipid metabolism are cell specific as it may either promote or suppress inflammation and atherosclerosis depending on its presence in distinct cells. MT1-MMP appears to exert a complex role in obesity for that the molecule delays the progression of early obesity but exacerbates obesity at the advanced stage. Because inhibition of MT1-MMP can potentially lower the circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cancer metastasis and atherosclerosis, the protein has been viewed as a very promising therapeutic target. However, challenges remain in developing MT1-MMP-based therapies due to the tissue-specific roles of MT1-MMP and the lack of specific inhibitors for this molecule. Further investigations are needed to address these questions and to develop MT1-MMP-based therapeutic interventions.

Lastly, Huang et al. (2021) present new findings on a critical role of puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA), an integral non-transmembrane enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of amino acids near the N-terminus of polypeptides, in NAFLD. NAFLD, ranging from simple nonalcoholic fatty liver to the more aggressive subtype nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, has now become the leading chronic liver disease worldwide ( Loomba et al., 2021 ). At present, no effective drugs are available for NAFLD management in the clinic mainly due to the lack of a complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disease progress, reinforcing the urgent need to identify and validate novel targets and to elucidate their mechanisms of action in NAFLD development and pathogenesis. Huang et al. (2021) found that PSA expression levels were greatly reduced in the livers of obese mouse models and that the decreased PSA expression correlated with the progression of NAFLD in humans. They also found that PSA levels were negatively correlated with triglyceride accumulation in cultured hepatocytes and in the liver of ob/ob mice. Moreover, PSA suppresses steatosis by promoting lipogenesis and attenuating fatty acid β-oxidation in hepatocytes and protects oxidative stress and lipid overload in the liver by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, the master regulator of antioxidant response. These studies identify PSA as a pivotal regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism and suggest that PSA may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for treating NAFLD.

In summary, papers in this issue review our current knowledge on the causes, consequences, and interventions of obesity and its associated diseases such as type 2 diabetes, NAFLD, and cardiovascular disease ( Cheong and Xu, 2021 ; Gao et al., 2021 ; Love et al., 2021 ). Potential targets for the treatment of dyslipidemia and NAFLD are also discussed, as exemplified by MT1-MMP and PSA ( Huang et al., 2021 ; Xia et al., 2021 ). It is noted that despite enormous effect, few pharmacological interventions are currently available in the clinic to effectively treat obesity. In addition, while enhancing energy expenditure by browning/beiging of WAT has been demonstrated as a promising alternative approach to alleviate obesity in rodent models, it remains to be determined on whether such WAT reprogramming is effective in combating obesity in humans ( Cheong and Xu, 2021 ). Better understanding the mechanisms by which obesity induces various medical consequences and identification and characterization of novel anti-obesity secreted factors/soluble molecules would be helpful for developing effective therapeutic treatments for obesity and its associated medical complications.

Bluher M. ( 2019 ). Obesity: global epidemiology and pathogenesis . Nat. Rev. Endocrinol . 15 , 288 – 298 .

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Cheong L.Y. , Xu A. ( 2021 ). Intercellular and inter-organ crosstalk in browning of white adipose tissue: molecular mechanism and therapeutic complications . J. Mol. Cell Biol . 13 , 466 – 479 .

Cho N.H. , Shaw J.E. , Karuranga S. , et al.  ( 2018 ). IDF Diabetes Atlas: global estimates of diabetes prevalence for 2017 and projections for 2045 . Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract . 138 , 271 – 281 .

Gao W. , Liu J.-L. , Lu X. , et al.  ( 2021 ). Epigenetic regulation of energy metabolism in obesity . J. Mol. Cell Biol . 13 , 480 – 499 .

Huang B. , Xiong X. , Zhang L. , et al.  ( 2021 ). PSA controls hepatic lipid metabolism by regulating the NRF2 signaling pathway . J. Mol. Cell Biol . 13 , 527 – 539 .

Loomba R. , Friedman S.L. , Shulman G.I. ( 2021 ). Mechanisms and disease consequences of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease . Cell 184 , 2537 – 2564 .

Love K.M. , Barrett E.J. , Malin S.K. , et al.  ( 2021 ). Diabetes pathogenesis and management: the endothelium comes of age . J. Mol. Cell Biol . 13 , 500 – 512 .

Ruan H.-B. ( 2020 ). Developmental and functional heterogeneity of thermogenic adipose tissue . J. Mol. Cell Biol . 12 , 775 – 784 .

Xia X.-D. , Alabi A. , Wang M. , et al.  ( 2021 ). Membrane-type I matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), lipid metabolism, and therapeutic implications . J. Mol. Cell Biol . 13 , 513 – 526 .

Author notes

Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China E-mail: [email protected]

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What Are the Causes of Obesity?

• Lifestyle Causes
• Genetic Causes
• Biological/Medical Causes
• Social Causes
• Next in Obesity Guide How Obesity Is Diagnosed

While historically attributed mainly to excess caloric intake, obesity is a complex condition with many contributing factors. About 3 in 4 adults in the United States have obesity. Causes include hormones related to appetite and metabolism, which can be altered by environmental and medical conditions, genetics, and medications. Even the body's collection of microorganisms, known as the microbiome , plays a role.

Read on to learn more about obesity and its causes.

SDI Productions / Getty Images

Defining Obesity

The medical definition of obesity is a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater. BMI is a calculation of weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters squared) to gain a sense of weight per height. However, using BMI can be problematic, since body weight doesn't directly correlate with body fat. It's important to understand this when calculating and interpreting BMI.

For example, a very fit and muscular person will have a higher BMI because muscle weighs more than fat, and they won't necessarily have obesity or be at a high risk of obesity-related complications.

BMI is a dated, flawed measure. It does not take into account factors such as body composition , ethnicity, sex, race, and age. Even though it is a biased measure , BMI is still widely used in the medical community because it’s an inexpensive and quick way to analyze a person’s potential health status and outcomes.

There are other ways to measure body fat , such as dual-energy X-ray absorption (DEXA), underwater weighing, and bioelectrical impedance. However, these methods aren't as widely available as BMI measurements. Measuring skin fold thickness with calipers is an alternative method, but it can be difficult to standardize. BMI is a simpler and easily measured way to screen for obesity, but it is still a problematic measurement that may need to be re-interpreted in the proper context for individuals.

Lifestyle Related Causes of Obesity

Obesity is usually blamed on behaviors of taking in too many calories while not burning enough calories. While there is truth that not burning calories you eat over time leads to weight gain, this simplistic explanation doesn't account for the role of biology and environment. Not everyone absorbs, stores, and expends energy the exact same way, and there are variations in hormones related to metabolism in individuals.

Researchers are still discovering the exact causes and contributors to obesity. However, there is no denying that certain lifestyle habits have a great impact on obesity. The imbalance of food intake and activity is believed to be one of the biggest contributors to weight gain.

Diet is a major contributor to obesity. Eating high-calorie foods and a diet high in saturated fats and refined sugars, especially processed foods has been linked to weight gain and obesity. A study looking at worldwide populations found that increased soda consumption in adolescents was associated with a higher prevalence of obesity.

It's not hard to see why since one 12-ounce can of soda contains about 40 grams (almost 10 teaspoons!) of sugar. Processed snack foods are loaded with a combination of salt and saturated fats or refined sugars, a high-calorie combination that is suggested to alter appetite signals and lead to addiction-like and withdrawal behaviors.

Another major contributor to obesity is a sedentary lifestyle. Spending more time sitting burns less calories and means less time is spent doing physical activity that would burn more calories. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to obesity and other chronic conditions like diabetes , heart disease, and high blood pressure.

On the other hand, regular physical activity, such as moderate-intensity exercises like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or aerobic sports has many health benefits, including helping maintain a target weight.

The quality and duration of sleep also appears to play a role in obesity. Sleeping less than 7 hours per night is linked to higher body weight and obesity, which researchers suggest may be related to the effect sleep deprivation has on appetite-related hormones . Furthermore, evidence suggests an association of weight gain with circadian misalignment, which is the body being awake during times when the body's sleep/wake cycle, such as in people doing night-shift work.

Stress levels over time can also impact weight gain and contribute to obesity. Chronic stress, which may be due to any number of causes, is associated with obesity. Stress increases the amount of stress hormone ( cortisol ) in the body, which, over time, can lead to weight gain. Furthermore, the way people cope with stress can also affect their weight in some cases. For example, binge-eating (or "stress-eating") contributes to excess calories and potential weight gain.

Genetic Causes of Obesity

If your parents are obese, you're more likely to have it, too. This is partly related to lifestyle factors that tend to be similar to family members. However, genetics also play a role in obesity. Researchers have discovered many genetic variations that can increase the susceptibility to obesity. These include mutations in appetite regulation and energy balance, such as proteins and hormones that help us feel hungry or full.

Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes insatiable appetite in affected children. This leads to overeating and obesity. Bardet-Biedl syndrome is another rare genetic condition affecting the eyes that also causes obesity starting in childhood.

Biologic and Medical Contributors to Obesity

Several medical conditions can contribute to excess body weight and obesity. Many of these are related to hormones involved in metabolism and appetite. And the gut microbiome is becoming increasingly recognized for its impact on obesity.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition where there are not enough thyroid hormones circulating in the blood. Thyroid hormones are involved in many body processes, and are important in weight, energy levels, growth of skin, hair and nails, and digestion, among other things.

When your body doesn't have enough thyroid hormones, you can expect to have low energy levels and gain weight, which can lead to obesity. However, the American Thyroid Association notes that much of the weight gain in hypothyroidism is related to salt and water retention, with an expected weight gain of up to 10 pounds.

Cushing's Syndrome

Cushing's syndrome is caused by too much stress hormone (cortisol) in the body. This can happen when taking steroid medications, or when the body produces too much of the hormone. Cortisol is involved in regulation of blood pressure, blood sugar. People with Cushing's syndrome often develop excess fat tissue in the abdomen and upper back.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a syndrome resulting in cysts on the ovaries as well as hormonal changes, such as insulin resistance and excess androgen hormones . There is a definite link between PCOS and obesity. Researchers think this relationship is due to genetic and hormonal factors.

The Gut Microbiome

There are more bacterial cells than human cells in the human body, and the population of these microorganisms in the gastrointestinal system is called the gut microbiome . Science has shown that the gut microbiome patterns are linked to obesity. The bacteria in the gut are affected by our own behaviors, medical conditions, and environment.

Studies suggest that the typical Western diet with foods high in saturated fats and refined sugars may also promote obesity through the effects this diet has on the gut microbiome.

Social Drivers of Obesity

In addition to the biologic and behavioral causes of obesity discussed above, there are social drivers of obesity. While these social drivers can impact behavior, it's important to recognize that

The following are social factors related to increased risk of obesity:

• Income level
• Education levels
• Access to healthcare
• Living in certain geographic locations (South and Midwest) as well as specific urban and rural environments results in less access to fresh foods and recreational activities
• Food availability, such as higher number of fast food restaurants and food insecurity- not having the economic means to buy food. Food insecurity results in relying on lower-cost options, which are often more calorie-dense, with less access to fresh foods
• Neighborhood walkability
• Work environment, which can lead to increased sedentariness

Obesity is a common condition that has many causes spanning behavioral, biologic, and environmental. Diet and physical activity are major contributors, but stress and sleep also play a role. Biologic factors such as genetics and medical conditions affect appetite and satiety as well as energy balance and metabolism. Lastly, social and environmental factors play a role that can be beyond an individual's immediate control.

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Parnarouskis L, Leventhal AM, Ferguson SG, Gearhardt AN. Withdrawal: A key consideration in evaluating whether highly processed foods are addictive .  Obes Rev . 2022;23(11):e13507. doi:10.1111/obr.13507

Moris JM, Heinold C, Blades A, Koh Y. Nutrient-based appetite regulation .  J Obes Metab Syndr . 2022;31(2):161-168. doi:10.7570/jomes22031

Silveira EA, Mendonça CR, Delpino FM, et al. Sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity and obesity in adults and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis .  Clin Nutr ESPEN . 2022;50:63-73. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.06.001

Cleven L, Krell-Roesch J, Nigg CR, et al.  The association between physical activity with incident obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes and hypertension in adults: a systematic review of longitudinal studies published after 2012 .  BMC Public Health.  2020;20(1):726. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08715-4

Cooper CB, Neufeld EV, Dolezal BA, Martin JL. Sleep deprivation and obesity in adults: a brief narrative review . BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med . 2018;4(1):e000392. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000392

Chaput JP, McHill AW, Cox RC, et al. The role of insufficient sleep and circadian misalignment in obesity .  Nat Rev Endocrinol . 2023;19(2):82-97. doi:10.1038/s41574-022-00747-7

Cuevas AG, Chen R, Thurber KA, Slopen N, Williams DR. Psychosocial stress and overweight and obesity: Findings from the Chicago Community Adult Health Study .  Ann Behav Med . 2019;53(11):NP. doi:10.1093/abm/kaz008

Goens D, Virzi NE, Jung SE, Rutledge TR, Zarrinpar A. Obesity, chronic stress, and stress reduction .  Gastroenterology Clinics of North America . 2023;52(2):347-362. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2023.03.009

Mahmoud R, Kimonis V, Butler MG. Genetics of obesity in humans: A clinical review . Int J Mol Sci . 2022;23(19):11005. doi:10.3390/ijms231911005

MedlinePlus. Prader-Willi syndrome .

MedlinePlus. Bardet-Biedl syndrome .

Endocrine Society. Thyroid and parathyroid hormones .

American Thyroid Association. Thyroid and weight .

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Cushing's syndrome .

Barber TM, Hanson P, Weickert MO, Franks S. Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome: Implications for pathogenesis and novel management strategies . Clin Med Insights Reprod Health . 2019;13:1179558119874042. doi:10.1177/1179558119874042

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Cheng Z, Zhang L, Yang L, Chu H. The critical role of gut microbiota in obesity .  Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) . 2022;13:1025706. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1025706

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By Angela Ryan Lee, MD Dr. Lee is an Ohio-based board-certified physician specializing in cardiovascular diseases and internal medicine.

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The Most Common Causes of Obesity

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