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What Are The Causes Of Obesity? Simply Put, Overeating and Underexercising

The root cause obesity is fairly simple and can be attributed to taking in more calories than can be consumed on a daily basis. This imbalance results in weight gain and will differ from person to person because of pre-existing factors such as genetics, health issues as well as mobility (or lack of it).

Like A Checking Account

The intake as well as using up of calories can be likened to a checking account in which both sides should be balanced in order not to gain weight. The food that we eat and the beverages that we drink are all rich in calories, and if these calories are not burnt or used up, they will contribute to weight gain and is what causes obesity in people.

There are nevertheless, certain factors in weight gain over which one does not have much control over, including certain illnesses such as Cushing’s disease that lends itself to weight gain. Also, some medications like steroids and antidepressants can also lead to weight gain and can be considered to be causes of obesity.

Besides, genetics, environmental factors, physical inactivity as well as psychological issues also contribute to weight gain and may be what the causes of obesity are. Even though the main cause of obesity is underlying disorders, nevertheless, it is also closely related to lifestyles as well. There are two basic issues when one considers what the causes of obesity are, and these include too much food and too little activity.

When a person consumes high calorie diets from processed foods as well as fats, it is easy to become obese, and along with sedentary lifestyles and inadequate exercise, the problem is further compounded. Genetic factors have been found to be a contributing factor in what the causes of obesity are, and people that have a family tendency to be obese are also likely to contract the malady.

Though genes do not destine people to become obese, environment too come into play. Americans are prone to eating high-fat foods and prefer taste as well as convenience ahead of nutrition, and the problem is further compounded when they do not exercise enough.

Psychological factors also contribute to causing obesity, and many people are prone to eating in response to negative emotions like being bored, feeling sad, stressed or being angry. Though most obese persons may not have psychological problems, still as many as ten percent of people that are mildly obese and who try to lose weight thanks to commercial weight loss programs, will suffer from binge eating disorder and the problem is even more pronounced in severely obese persons.

Bottom line, the primary causes of obesity, if one is not genetically predisposed, can be viewed as being a lack of willpower, or simply a lifestyle choice of overeating and not exercising enough.