Obesity: Causes, Risks, Treatment & More
Know the causes, health risks, diagnosis criteria, and effective treatment options for obesity. Learn about lifestyle changes, medical interventions, and prevention strategies to manage and combat obesity for better health.
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Last updated on 3rd Jul, 2025
Excess body fat is a sign of obesity. It is a complicated, long-term illness that can impair one’s general well-being and standard of living. If not taken care of promptly, obesity can lead to serious medical complications. Moreover, it can impact mental well-being and sense of self-worth, which can lead to the onset of other diseases.
This guide discusses obesity’s causes, diagnoses, treatments, and more, assisting people dealing with obesity in determining the best course of action for their health.
Exploring the Causes of Obesity
There are multiple factors that can lead to obesity:
Genetic Factors
One of the major factors that make a person predisposed to obesity is genetics:
It is responsible for determining body weight and fat distribution.
Those with a family history of obesity can inherit genes that affect metabolism.
Environmental Factors
For individuals living in an urban environment, there are several factors that can lead to obesity:
Sedentary lifestyles with a lack of physical activities.
Poor sleep schedules, stress and exposure to toxic pollutants.
Availability of processed, high-calorie foods, with limited healthy eating options.
Lifestyle Choices
There are several lifestyle habits that directly influence body weight, such as:
High-calorie diets and sugary drinks result in excessive calorie intake.
Sedentary lifestyles, with prolonged screen time, reduce physical activity levels.
Psychological Influences
Psychological factors impact eating behaviours, often leading to unhealthy patterns. In this regard:
Stress and emotional distress play major roles. Emotional eating is the intake of high-calorie foods during periods of distress.
Over time, this coping mechanism can lead to severe weight gain.
Psychological factors may need to be addressed for effective management of obesity.
Health Risks of Obesity
Individuals can suffer from numerous life-altering health risks as a result of obesity. They are as follows:
Cardiovascular Diseases
Obesity increases the risk of life-threatening cardiovascular conditions since:
Excess fat enhances the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.
High cholesterol and blood pressure increase these risks even more.
Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders
Visceral fat is the major contributor to the development of diabetes:
Another factor is insulin resistance, which leads to high blood sugar levels and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
The management of weight greatly minimises the chances of getting metabolic disorders.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Obesity puts pressure on bones and joints, causing numerous musculoskeletal problems, like:
Osteoarthritis, chronic back pain, and decreased mobility are some of the common issues.
Healthy weight maintenance reduces stress on the joint and increases mobility.
Respiratory Conditions
Obesity can also lead to respiratory issues like:
Fatty tissue does not expand the lungs, thus restricting breathing.
Another common condition among obese patients is obstructive sleep apnoea.
Diagnostic Criteria for Obesity
Healthcare providers use Body Mass Index (BMI) to diagnose obesity. It works out body fat based on height and weight.
Overweight is a BMI greater than 25, and obesity is a BMI greater than 30.
The BMI system is widely used. However, it does not consider muscle mass variation.
Additionally:
The size of the waist can give a hint about fat distribution.
Excess abdominal fat is problematic as a marker for increased health risks.
The waist-hip ratio also assesses obesity-related risk factors.
These measurements together provide a better understanding of obesity.
Other clinical tests are used to confirm obesity and related conditions, such as:
Cholesterol, blood sugar and hormone levels are measured in blood tests.
Metabolic assessments check how much energy the body uses daily.
Treatment Options for Obesity
Weight gain and associated problems improve when one adopts healthy habits:
Individuals must consume diets that are nutrient-dense to lower calorie intake.
People should also exercise routinely to boost weight loss by improving metabolism.
Medications can help with weight loss when lifestyle changes alone do not work:
Some medications help people eat fewer calories by suppressing their appetite.
Other medications inhibit fat absorption, which keeps the calorie intake low.
Surgery can provide substantial and long-lasting weight loss for people with severe obesity. Bariatric procedures change the way the digestive system works. Common procedures are:
Gastric bypass
Sleeve gastrectomy
Stomachs are reduced in size in these surgeries so that they can only absorb a limited amount of food.
Role of Diet in Managing Obesity
Having a balanced diet helps the body get essential nutrients while limiting calorie intake:
Focusing on food items like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins is the best way to improve nutritional quality.
In this regard, individuals can perform weight management by cutting down on processed foods and added sugars.
Popular Dietary Approaches
Although there are several dietary approaches which help to control obesity, a few have outstanding records for addressing this very issue:
Keto
A low-carbohydrate diet encourages the use of body fat instead of carbohydrates.
Intermittent Fasting
A form of fasting where one alternates between eating and fasting to consume fewer calories.
Nutritionists and Dieticians’ Role
Nutritionists and dieticians provide personalised aid by doing the following:
Balanced meal plans are designed by nutritionists based on individual calorie and nutritional needs.
Dieticians can provide counselling and support for long-term dietary adherence.
Exercise and Physical Activity
For those who are trying to lose weight and keep healthy, exercise provides many rewards, such as:
Routine physical activity increases energy expenditure and can help individuals reach calorie deficit.
Walking, jogging, or cycling can help improve cardiovascular fitness.
Such activities also aid in building muscle mass that increases one’s resting metabolic rate.
Combining aerobic and strength exercises is also recommended.
Psychological Support and Counselling
Long-term success depends on how individuals manage stress and emotions. Reducing habits like comfort eating and developing a healthier way of coping is essential to mitigating obesity.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works on changing thought patterns:
CBT identifies negative thought patterns leading to unhealthy eating.
It helps those positive behaviours like mindful eating and regular exercise.
Moreover, it offers social and emotional support in the following ways:
Support groups provide a stage to learn from other people's experiences.
Individual counselling offers personalised guidance to cope with such problems.
Prevention of Obesity
Regular health check-ups to monitor weight gain and get timely advice.
Follow a balanced diet with regular exercise.
Practise meditation and deep breathing to manage stress.
Take part in community-based physical activity events to promote healthier behaviours.
Opting for professional help to reduce emotional eating.
Conclusion
Obesity is a serious illness which can lead to severe health complications if left untreated. It can also impact the individual’s mental health, affecting their quality of life. Thus, taking proactive measures like monitoring weight, regular exercise, having a balanced diet and reducing stress is crucial to keep this medical condition under control.
Also, consulting a nutritionist or dietician can really help in getting the right diet plan to combat this disease.
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