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Obesity
Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty
tissue of humans and other mammals, exceeds healthy limits. It is commonly
defined as a body mass index (weight divided by height squared). Although
obesity is an individual clinical condition, some authorities view it as a serious
and growing health problem. Some studies show that excessive body weight
has been shown to predispose various diseases, particularly cardiovascular
diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. Lifestyle Most researchers have concluded that the combination of an excessive nutrient
intake and a sedentary lifestyle are the main cause for the rapid acceleration of
obesity in Western society in the last quarter of the 20th century. Obesity caused
specifically by overeating is called exogenous obesity. Despite the widespread
availability of nutritional information in schools, doctor’s offices, on the internet
and on product packaging, it is evident that overeating remains a substantial
problem. Less well established and possibly under investigated life style issues that influence obesity include, insufficient sleep, endocrine disruptors, food substances that interfere with lipid metabolism, decreased variability in ambient temperature, decreased rates of smoking, which suppress the appetite, increased use of medication that leads to weight gain, increased distribution of ethnic and age groups that tend to be heavier, pregnancy at a later age, positive natural selection of people with a higher BMI, assortative mating, heavier people tending to form relationships with each other. Treatment
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