WHY AM I FAT?

An Overview of Obesity

Obesity is an American disease of affluence—eating too many of the wrong calories in relation to the calories burned and an excess of prejudice and misunderstanding for the overweight person. Obesity most commonly strikes inactive individuals who have close relatives who are overweight. It may include those who try diet after diet and others who make poor food selections. But there is more to understanding obesity than assuming these individuals have no will power and are gluttonous eaters. There are many possible physiological and psychological causes.

Obesity Prevalence

Obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack. As many as 20-25% of all Americans are obese by this definition. Race and ethnicity also can be factors - in adolescents, obesity is more common among Mexican Americans. Americans see themselves as fatter than that. As much as 46% of the women and 32% of the men in one research study stated that they were overweight eventhough their weight was correct for their age, height, and body type. Our society has an obsession with weight.

Physical Factors

Physical causes, like metabolism, or hormones, relate in some way to every obese individual, but only 5% are actually caused by medical problems. Your metabolism burns up calories; obese individuals usually have lesser metabolic needs. That can be caused by having Frustrating as it is, when the body's fat percentage increases, the calories burned decreases. making the situation more difficult. Most Americans don't meet the recommended standards for even a minimum level of physical fitness: 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week. Medical studies have shown that the obese tend to move their bodies less and this inactivity increases the possibility of obesity. Heredity factors is also linked to obesity. If both of your parents are obese, your chances of becoming obese are 80%; one parent, 40%; and with lean parents, 10%. Children often follow their parent's eating habits and if their parents are overweight, their chances of becoming obese themselves are greatly increased. It is important to note that the link is not 100%. Even if everyone you know seems to be overweight, obesity is not inevitable!

Muscle burns more calories than fat. By exercising regularly, you will increase muscle and decrease body fat.

Psychological Factors

In some cases obesity has a psychological cause. But being obese in our thin worshipping society can cause a variety of emotional stresses which, in turn, can trigger the urge to overeat. Research has found that as a group, obese persons may be more sensitive to sweet tastes, more responsive to eating cues in the environment, and overeating can be stimulated by the thoughts of tasty food. (When life revolves around a strict meal plan, it can easily slip from a healthy intention to an obsession.). Environmental stress, such as work problems or family problems, can increase the susceptibility towards overeating. Stress can imbalance self-control and increase making frequent poor food choices.

Hope for the Obese

Society is learning how to respect obese individuals while giving them the support they need to conquer this condition. Scientists are researching many possible solutions to help the obese. %obesityresearchideas% Obesity doesn't have to be a life sentence. Obese people should accept themselves, and make small and gradual steps towards the solution of their disease.