What Causes Obesity

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What Causes Obesity?
By Alexandra Ross-Reid
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• The contributing factors

• Genetics

• Environment and lifestyle

• Psychological factors

Road Map

• Physical causes and Medication

• Culture

• F.Y.I

• Summary

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GENETICS

• Obesity seems to be some what of an inherited
  disorder.
• Studies have shown that children of obese
  parents tend to be born with lower
  metabolisms compared to children with parents of
  average weight.
• The fact that family members who are obese
  resemble each other compositionally also has
  helped doctors and scientists realize that
  obesity can, and may be passed on through
  genetics.
• People who have been obese since childhood tend
  to have more fat cells, which also tend to be
  larger than those of people who have not been
  obese since childhood. Because these people have
  larger fat cells, and more of them, there is
  more room available to store unused energy, which
  turns into fat.

• STATISTIC On average about 33 of body weight is
  influenced by genetics.

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• Ones environment and lifestyle can definitely
  contribute to obesity.

• In the United States the diet of many Americans
  consists of foods that are high in fat.

Environment
Hmm Did somebody say

• Many people that eat such foods do not exercise
  as much as they should. This then becomes a
  problem because they are consuming more calories
  than their bodies can use.

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• These calories get stored in fat cells for later
  use, but they dont get used. They just begin to
  expand and get bigger and contain more fat.

Blood vessel
Fats and sugars
Body cells
Red blood cells
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In our culture, food is also associated with
success and celebration, therefore using it as a
means of rewarding someone or something.
The United States seems to be a good environment
for weight gain.
Culture
Unhealthful foods, such as, hamburgers, french
fries, chips, cookies etc. are readily
available, and sold at inexpensive prices.
Obesity is quite common among people of lesser
income. These foods are bought instead of fruit,
vegetables, and dairy because it is more
affordable.
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• Nowadays, people dont have to work as hard as
  they used to.
• Not as much physical energy is involved when it
  comes time to get things done.
• Example Now that people have the ability to
  drive cars, and ride in elevators they dont do
  so much walking.

• The same thing goes for entertainment.
• Example Many people watch television quite
  frequently, go to the movies or play video games,
  instead of going outside and being active.
• Everyday life has been simplified by technology,
  which has led to a decline in physical activity.

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Eating when stressed, angry, or bored can and
will cause someone to become obese once one
develops a constant habit of associating food
with emotions.
Psychological Factors
Once this type of behavior becomes a frequent
habit it may be called Binge eating disorder.
This type of eating maybe uncontrollable for such
a person. Often times a person with this disorder
will feel guilty of his or her behavior.
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It may be caused by guilt of having failed to
lose the weight he or she had hoped and intended
to lose. It may also be caused by depression.
Some people use food as a source of comfort and a
means of escape. In other words food is to some
people as drugs are to others.
Some people eat to escape emotional discomfort.
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Physical causes and Medication

• Hypothyroidism is when a thyroid is under active.
  This is a problem because it causes ones
  metabolism to be lower than it should be. This
  causes weight gain.

• Cushing's syndrome is when ones body has an
  excess of cortisol. People suffering from this
  disease usually have what is considered to be
  upper body obesity. This means people tend to
  have rounded faces and increased fat around the
  neck, while normal sized arms and legs.

• Depression is also a disorder, which can cause
  obesity

• Antidepressants and steroids are medications
  which can cause obesity as well.

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F.Y.I

• Is there a difference between being overweight
  and obese?

• Yes there is a difference. Being overweight is
  someone who is less than 30 percent over the
  average weight for their height. This is not
  limited to excess fat.

• Being obese is when someone is 30 percent or more
  over the average weight for their height. This
  pertains to excess fat.

• 97.1 million adults in the U.S. are overweight.
  That is 54.9 of the population.

• 39.8 million adults are obese. That is 22.3 of
  the population.

• Each year about 280,000 deaths are caused by
  obesity

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• Only 22 of American adults meet recommended
  physical activity guidelines.

• 4 out of 10 American adults say they NEVER engage
  in physical activity during their free time.

• 62.7 million physician office visits are related
  to obesity each year.

• 39.3 million missed workdays are related to
  obesity each year.

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SUMMARY

• As you can see, there are a number of things
  which can cause obesity
• Genetics obesity tends to be hereditary
• Environment and lifestyle ones surroundings
• and lifestyle choices can have a major effect on
  ones well being.
• Culture eating for celebration, eating for
• success.
• Psychological factors mixing emotions with
• food, eating for comfort.
• Physical causes and Medication Physical
• disorders can result in obesity, while
  medications for such disorders, in turn, do the
  same.

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CITATIONS
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27 December 2002
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December 2002
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