Overweight and Obesity

Obesity is a preventable health concern that is caused by the accumulation of body fat. While there are both genetic and hormonal causes that influence an individual’s tendency to gain weight, your body is most susceptible to obesity when you consume more calories than you burn off through physical exertion. Obesity is most often caused by a combination of dietary, exercise and lifestyle habits.

Poor eating habits strongly contribute to weight gain. Proper portion sizes and the timing of your meals both play a large role in your dieting habits, in addition to the actual types of foods that you are consuming. Skipping breakfast and eating a majority of your calories at night both contribute to weight gain. When you eat a diet that is high in calories you are forcing your body to increase exertion in order to balance your calorie consumption. An unhealthy diet may include items such as fried foods, fast-foods and sugar filled snacks.

It is important to balance the calories that you take in with increased activity. Being sedentary makes weight management more difficult because your body is burning a reduced number of calories during your normal activities. In addition, there are a number of lifestyle factors that can contribute to obesity. Becoming pregnant puts many women at risk for gaining weight, which is often difficult to lose following the birth of their child. Other factors such as medication usage, a lack of sleep and medical conditions can also increase an individual’s risk for weight gain.