symptoms of obesity essay

• Patient Care & Health Information
• Diseases & Conditions

Obesity is a complex disease involving having too much body fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It's a medical problem that increases the risk of many other diseases and health problems. These can include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea and certain cancers.

There are many reasons why some people have trouble losing weight. Often, obesity results from inherited, physiological and environmental factors, combined with diet, physical activity and exercise choices.

The good news is that even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity. A healthier diet, increased physical activity and behavior changes can help you lose weight. Prescription medicines and weight-loss procedures are other options for treating obesity.

Products & Services

• A Book: The Mayo Clinic Diet Bundle

Body mass index, known as BMI, is often used to diagnose obesity. To calculate BMI , multiply weight in pounds by 703, divide by height in inches and then divide again by height in inches. Or divide weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. There are several online calculators available that help calculate BMI .

See BMI calculator

Asians with a BMI of 23 or higher may have an increased risk of health problems.

For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. However, BMI doesn't directly measure body fat. Some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a BMI in the obesity category even though they don't have excess body fat.

Many health care professionals also measure around a person's waist to help guide treatment decisions. This measurement is called a waist circumference. Weight-related health problems are more common in men with a waist circumference over 40 inches (102 centimeters). They're more common in women with a waist measurement over 35 inches (89 centimeters). Body fat percentage is another measurement that may be used during a weight loss program to track progress.

When to see a doctor

If you're concerned about your weight or weight-related health problems, ask your health care professional about obesity management. You and your health care team can evaluate your health risks and discuss your weight-loss options.

More Information

Obesity care at Mayo Clinic

• What is insulin resistance? A Mayo Clinic expert explains

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

Error Email field is required

Error Include a valid email address

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Thank you for subscribing!

You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription

Please, try again in a couple of minutes

Although there are genetic, behavioral, metabolic and hormonal influences on body weight, obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through typical daily activities and exercise. Your body stores these excess calories as fat.

In the United States, most people's diets are too high in calories — often from fast food and high-calorie beverages. People with obesity might eat more calories before feeling full, feel hungry sooner, or eat more due to stress or anxiety.

Many people who live in Western countries now have jobs that are much less physically demanding, so they don't tend to burn as many calories at work. Even daily activities use fewer calories, courtesy of conveniences such as remote controls, escalators, online shopping, and drive-through restaurants and banks.

Risk factors

Obesity often results from a combination of causes and contributing factors:

Family inheritance and influences

The genes you inherit from your parents may affect the amount of body fat you store, and where that fat is distributed. Genetics also may play a role in how efficiently your body converts food into energy, how your body regulates your appetite and how your body burns calories during exercise.

Obesity tends to run in families. That's not just because of the genes they share. Family members also tend to share similar eating and activity habits.

Lifestyle choices

• Unhealthy diet. A diet that's high in calories, lacking in fruits and vegetables, full of fast food, and laden with high-calorie beverages and oversized portions contributes to weight gain.
• Liquid calories. People can drink many calories without feeling full, especially calories from alcohol. Other high-calorie beverages, such as sugared soft drinks, can contribute to weight gain.
• Inactivity. If you have an inactive lifestyle, you can easily take in more calories every day than you burn through exercise and routine daily activities. Looking at computer, tablet and phone screens is inactivity. The number of hours spent in front of a screen is highly associated with weight gain.

Certain diseases and medications

In some people, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and other conditions. Medical problems, such as arthritis, also can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain.

Some medicines can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through diet or activity. These medicines include steroids, some antidepressants, anti-seizure medicines, diabetes medicines, antipsychotic medicines and certain beta blockers.

Social and economic issues

Social and economic factors are linked to obesity. It's hard to avoid obesity if you don't have safe areas to walk or exercise. You may not have learned healthy ways of cooking. Or you may not have access to healthier foods. Also, the people you spend time with may influence your weight. You're more likely to develop obesity if you have friends or relatives with obesity.

Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increase your risk of obesity. The amount of muscle in your body also tends to decrease with age. Lower muscle mass often leads to a decrease in metabolism. These changes also reduce calorie needs and can make it harder to keep off excess weight. If you don't consciously control what you eat and become more physically active as you age, you'll likely gain weight.

Other factors

• Pregnancy. Weight gain is common during pregnancy. Some women find this weight difficult to lose after the baby is born. This weight gain may contribute to the development of obesity in women.
• Quitting smoking. Quitting smoking is often associated with weight gain. And for some, it can lead to enough weight gain to qualify as obesity. Often, this happens as people use food to cope with smoking withdrawal. But overall, quitting smoking is still a greater benefit to your health than is continuing to smoke. Your health care team can help you prevent weight gain after quitting smoking.
• Lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can cause changes in hormones that increase appetite. So can getting too much sleep. You also may crave foods high in calories and carbohydrates, which can contribute to weight gain.
• Stress. Many external factors that affect mood and well-being may contribute to obesity. People often seek more high-calorie food during stressful situations.
• Microbiome. The make-up of your gut bacteria is affected by what you eat and may contribute to weight gain or trouble losing weight.

Even if you have one or more of these risk factors, it doesn't mean that you're destined to develop obesity. You can counteract most risk factors through diet, physical activity and exercise. Behavior changes, medicines and procedures for obesity also can help.

Complications

People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including:

• Heart disease and strokes. Obesity makes you more likely to have high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease and strokes.
• Type 2 diabetes. Obesity can affect the way the body uses insulin to control blood sugar levels. This raises the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.
• Certain cancers. Obesity may increase the risk of cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate.
• Digestive problems. Obesity increases the likelihood of developing heartburn, gallbladder disease and liver problems.
• Sleep apnea. People with obesity are more likely to have sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
• Osteoarthritis. Obesity increases the stress placed on weight-bearing joints. It also promotes inflammation, which includes swelling, pain and a feeling of heat within the body. These factors may lead to complications such as osteoarthritis.
• Fatty liver disease. Obesity increases the risk of fatty liver disease, a condition that happens due to excessive fat deposit in the liver. In some cases, this can lead to serious liver damage, known as liver cirrhosis.
• Severe COVID-19 symptoms. Obesity increases the risk of developing severe symptoms if you become infected with the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19. People who have severe cases of COVID-19 may need treatment in intensive care units or even mechanical assistance to breathe.

Related information

• Link between extra pounds, severe COVID-19 illness grows stronger - Related information Link between extra pounds, severe COVID-19 illness grows stronger

Quality of life

Obesity can diminish the overall quality of life. You may not be able to do physical activities that you used to enjoy. You may avoid public places. People with obesity may even encounter discrimination.

Other weight-related issues that may affect your quality of life include:

• Depression.
• Disability.
• Shame and guilt.
• Social isolation.
• Lower work achievement.
• Overweight and obesity. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/overweight-and-obesity. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• Goldman L, et al., eds. Obesity. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 21. 2022.
• Kellerman RD, et al. Obesity in adults. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2023. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• Feldman M, et al., eds. Obesity. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• Perrault L. Obesity in adults: Prevalence, screening and evaluation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• Melmed S, et al. Obesity. In: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• COVID-19: People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• Perrault L. Obesity in adults: Overview of management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• Healthy weight, nutrition and physical activity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• Ferri FF. Obesity. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 20, 2023.
• Feldman M, et al., eds. Surgical and Endoscopic Treatment of Obesity. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.
• BMI and waist circumference calculator

Associated Procedures

• Bariatric surgery
• Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS)
• Cholesterol test
• Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y)
• Intragastric balloon
• Liver function tests
• Sleeve gastrectomy

News from Mayo Clinic

• Mayo Clinic researchers pave the way for individualized obesity therapy, tailoring interventions to a person's needs July 12, 2023, 03:00 p.m. CDT
• People with severe obesity and a genetic pathway variant have increased risk of hypertension, Mayo Clinic research finds April 18, 2023, 08:00 p.m. CDT
• Obesity makes it harder to diagnose and treat heart disease Feb. 28, 2023, 04:15 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Obesity and heart disease Feb. 23, 2023, 05:30 p.m. CDT
• Healthy Weight Awareness Month. Mayo Clinic innovations can help you lose weight, keep it off Jan. 05, 2023, 04:15 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Q and A: Probiotics, gut bacteria and weight -- what's the connection? Sept. 25, 2022, 11:00 a.m. CDT
• Addressing health care barriers during Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15, 2022, 04:30 p.m. CDT
• Symptoms & causes
• Diagnosis & treatment
• Doctors & departments
• Care at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

• Opportunities

Mayo Clinic Press

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press .

• Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Incontinence
• The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press The Essential Diabetes Book
• Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance
• FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment
• Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book

Your gift holds great power – donate today!

Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that's changing medicine.

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Digestive Health
• Multiple Sclerosis
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Occupational Therapy
• Healthy Aging
• Health Insurance
• Public Health
• Patient Rights
• Caregivers & Loved Ones
• End of Life Concerns
• Health News
• Thyroid Test Analyzer
• Doctor Discussion Guides
• Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer
• Lipid Test Analyzer
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer
• What to Buy
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Obesity: What You Need to Know

Learn more about the definition of obesity and what it means for your health.

• How It's Calculated
• Next in Obesity Guide Obesity Classes 1 Through 3: Each Category Explained

Obesity is a chronic disease that is diagnosed when a person’s body weight is about what’s considered healthy for their height. Obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) above 30 for adults, is associated with health risks including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic conditions.

However, some people with obesity are metabolically healthy and don’t have this increased risk for disease, just as some people who are not overweight still suffer from these diseases. 

Continue reading to learn more, including classes of BMI and why your BMI doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about your health. 

A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology

Verywell Health acknowledges that  sex and gender  are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.

andreswd / Getty Images

What Is Obesity, and How Is It Calculated?

Obesity is calculated by comparing a person's weight to their height. This is a calculation known as the body mass index . For adults, obesity is diagnosed when BMI is 30 or higher. That means for a male who is 5 feet, nine inches tall (the average male height ), weighing 203 pounds or more qualifies him as obese. 

Although the use of BMI is widespread in modern medicine, it is a problematic and overly simplistic metric. BMI ranges were initially determined based on measurements of northern European white men in the 1800s. Thus, the data do not reflect modern life. It also ignores sex, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other important factors.

In addition, the measurement does not consider a person’s body composition, including whether they have lots of muscle. For that reason, athletes often have a high, sometimes even obese, BMI.

WHy BMI Is Flawed

One of the main reasons BMI is a flawed measurement is because it does not take into account the gender, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic differences in people that may cause obesity. It also doesn't differentiate between weight from fat, bone, muscle mass,

Obesity Classes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) breaks down adult obesity into three subclasses. They are:

• Class 1: BMI of 30–35
• Class 2: BMI of 35–40 
• Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher

Class 3 obesity is sometimes categorized as severe obesity, which used to be known as morbid obesity. In recent years that term has been dropped to combat stigma around obesity. 

What Is Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity is diagnosed when a person’s BMI is at the 95th percentile or higher on growth charts for their age and sex. Just as with adults, the calculation of BMI is problematic for children, and athletes may have a high BMI due to their muscle mass compared with their peers.

Obesity Rates

About 4 in 10 American adults are obese. Learn more about obesity rates and stats here . 

What Are the Symptoms of Obesity?

There are no specific symptoms of obesity , because it is such a complex condition. About 7% people with obesity are metabolically healthy—that means their excess weight isn’t causing any health concerns. However, researchers have determined that obesity increases risks for certain health conditions.

What Are the Complications of Obesity?

Compared to people with a BMI in the healthy range, people with obesity are at increased risk of:

• Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Sleep apnea
• Breathing problem
• Joint problems and pain
• Certain cancers
• Gallbladder disease
• Fatty liver disease
• High cholesterol
• Mental health issues
• Infertility and irregular menstrual cycles

While there are physical reasons for many of these complications, others are caused or worsened by how society treats people with obesity. Research shows that people with obesity get lower quality care from healthcare professionals when compared with people of lower weight. Stigma, judgment, and shame from family, colleagues, or self can also contribute to mental and emotional complications of obesity. 

The Obesity Paradox

People with obesity are more likely than lower-weight people to die from all causes. However, researchers have seen that obese people are more likely to survive from cardiac events like heart attacks or heart surgery than people of a normal BMI. This is known as the obesity paradox.

What Causes Obesity?

The causes of obesity are incredibly varied and are about much more than simply the food you eat—although that can play a role. However, obesity is much more complex than the outdated idea of calories consumed vs. calories burned, and is not a personal failing or a reflection of your self-control. Many different factors contribute to the development of obesity, including:

• Food, activity, and sleep: A person’s eating patterns, movement, and sleep can all contribute to weight gain. 
• Genetic factors: Many different genes can contribute to obesity, and your genetics often impacts body size. 
• Social determinants of health: Where you live, work and learn can impact your risk for obesity. Socioeconomic factors, including access to quality fresh food, also play a role. 
• Illnesses and medications: Certain diseases and medications can lead to weight gain. 

Health Conditions That May Lead to Weight Gain

Some health conditions can contribute to weight gain, including:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Metabolic syndrome
• Cushing syndrome
• Thyroid disease
• Prader-Willi syndrome

Medications, including those that treat depression and other mental health conditions, can also lead to weight gain. Treating these illnesses, or adjusting medications, may help manage obesity.

How Is Obesity Diagnosed?

Obesity is most often diagnosed using a person’s BMI. Since the BMI defines obesity, this is the true diagnostic test.

However, there are other diagnostic criteria that a healthcare provider can use to determine whether the classification of obesity is impacting your health. These can give a better understanding of your body composition, and include:

• Measuring your waist circumference
• Calculating body fat, including by using a skinfold test
• Looking at labs that measure your blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function, and more
• Getting a physical exam and giving a thorough health history

How Is Obesity Treated?

Obesity is a complex disease, and treating it is difficult. While weight loss is often a goal for people with obesity, sustaining weight loss through dietary and lifestyle changes alone is challenging.

Fortunately, even a small amount of weight loss can make a difference. in fact, losing just 5% to 10% of your body weight can lead to more energy, better sleep, and lower blood sugars, even if you still have obesity.

To many lasting changes to your weight, the CDC recommends:

• Eat whole foods : Add more fruits and vegetables, while reducing processed foods and sugary beverages. 
• Move more : Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise, like walking, each week. Add in one or two days of strength training. 

Treatments for obesity can also include medical interventions, like weight loss surgery or weight loss drugs . While these options help many people, they’re not a magic pill. They come with their own serious side effects, which you should discuss with your healthcare provider if you are considering them. 

How Can You Prevent Obesity?

Focusing on health throughout your life may help prevent obesity. More importantly, it will help contribute to your overall health. Try these tips.

• Eat whole foods. 
• Limit processed foods.
• Get regular physical activity.
• Limit screen time.
• Find a healthcare provider or care provider who listens to your concerns and doesn’t stigmatize your weight.
• Treat underlying health concerns.
• Practice self care and body acceptance .
• Build your self confidence.
• Create supportive environments.

Obesity is a chronic condition that is diagnosed when a person’s BMI is 30 or higher. Having a BMI considered obese is associated with increased risk for adverse health effects, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, some people with obesity are metabolically healthy.

Eating healthy, whole foods, exercising more and sleeping well may help you lose weight, but for most people treating obesity is much more complex than lifestyle changes. It can include surgical or medical interventions, and treating underlying health conditions. Finding a trusted healthcare provider who does not stigmatize your weight can help you develop a treatment plan that works for you. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Defining adult overweight and obesity .

Wang J, Xia P, Ma M, et al. Trends in the prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity among US Adults, 1999-2018 . JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(3):e232145. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.2145

Humphreys S. The unethical use of BMI in contemporary general practice . Br J Gen Pract . 2010. doi: 10.3399/bjgp10X515548.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body mass index: Considerations for practitioners .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About child & teen BMI .

National Institutes of Health. Overweight and obesity: Symptoms and diagnoses .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health effects of overweight and obesity .

Phelan SM, Burgess DJ, Yeazel MW, Hellerstedt WL, Griffin JM, van Ryn M. Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity . Obes Rev. 2015.. doi: 10.1111/obr.12266.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Causes of obesity .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy weight .

By Kelly Burch Kelly Burch is has written about health topics for more than a decade. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

Essays About Obesity: Top 5 Examples and 7 Writing Prompts

Obesity is a pressing health issue many people must deal with in their lives. If you are writing essays about obesity, check out our guide for helpful examples and writing prompts. 

In the world we live in today, certain diseases such as obesity are becoming more significant problems. People suffering from obesity have excess fat, which threatens their health significantly. This can lead to strokes, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and even death. It also dramatically alters one’s physical appearance.

However, we must not be so quick to judge and criticize obese people for their weight and supposed “lifestyle choices.” Not every obese person makes “bad choices” and is automatically “lazy,” as various contributing causes exist. Therefore, we must balance concern for obese people’s health and outright shaming them. 

To write insightful essays about obesity, you can start by reading essay examples. 

5 Best Essay examples

1. obesity as a social issue by earnest washington, 2. is there such a thing as ‘healthy obesity’ by gillian mohney, 3. problems of child obesity by peggy maldonado, 4.  what is fat shaming are you a shamer by jamie long.

• 5. ​​The Dangerous Link Between Coronavirus and Obesity by Rami Bailony

Writing Prompts for Essays About Obesity

1. what causes obesity, 2. what are the effects of obesity, 3. how can you prevent obesity, 4. what is “fat shaming”, 5. why is obesity rate so higher, 6. obesity in the united states, 7. your experience with obesity.

“Weight must be considered as a genuine risk in today’s world. Other than social issues like body shaming, obesity has significantly more to it and is a risk to human life. It must be dealt with and taken care of simply like some other interminable illness and we as people must recollect that machines and innovation has progressed to help us not however not make us unenergetic.”

Washington writes about the dangers of obesity, saying that it can significantly damage your digestive and cardiovascular systems and even cause cancer. In addition, humans’ “expanded reliance on machines” has led us to become less active and more sedentary; as a result, we keep getting fatter. While he acknowledges that shaming obese people does no good, Washington stresses the dangers of being too heavy and encourages people to get fit. 

“‘I think we need to move away from using BMI as categorizing one as obese/overweight or unhealthy,” Zarabi told Healthline. “The real debate here is how do we define health? Is the vegetarian who has a BMI of 30, avoiding all saturated fats from meats and consuming a diet heavy in simple carbohydrates [and thus] reducing his risk of cardiac disease but increasing likelihood of elevated triglycerides and insulin, considered healthy?

Mohney, writing for Healthline, explains how “healthy obesity” is nuanced and should perhaps be retired. Some people may be metabolically healthy and obese simultaneously; however, they are still at risk of diseases associated with obesity. Others believe that health should be determined by more factors than BMI, as some people eat healthily and exercise but remain heavy. People have conflicting opinions on this term, and Mohney describes suggestions to instead focus on getting treatment for “healthy obese” people

“The absence of physical movement is turning into an increasingly normal factor as youngsters are investing more energy inside, and less time outside. Since technology is turning into an immense piece of present-day youngsters’ lives, exercises, for example, watching TV, gaming, messaging and playing on the PC, all of which require next to no vitality and replaces the physical exercises.”

In her essay, Maldonado discusses the causes and effects of childhood obesity. For example, hereditary factors and lack of physical activity make more children overweight; also, high-calorie food and the pressure on kids to “finish their food” make them consume more. 

Obesity leads to high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease, and cancer; children should not suffer as they are still so young. 

“Regardless of the catalyst at the root of fat shaming, it persists quite simply because we as a society aren’t doing enough to call it out and stand in solidarity against it. Our culture has largely bought into the farce that thinness equals health and success. Instead, the emphasis needs to shift from the obsession of appearance to promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors for all, regardless of body size. A lean body shouldn’t be a requisite to be treated with dignity and respect. Fat shaming is nonsensical and is the manifestation of ignorance and possibly, hate.”

Long warns readers of the dangers of fat shaming, declaring that it is reprehensible and should not be done. People may have “good intentions” when criticizing overweight or obese people, but it does not, in fact, help with making them healthier. Long believes that society should highlight a healthy lifestyle rather than a “healthy” body, as everyone’s bodies are different and should not be the sole indicator of health. 

5. ​​ The Dangerous Link Between Coronavirus and Obesity by Rami Bailony

“In a study out of NYU, severe obesity (BMI >40) was a greater risk factor for hospitalization among Covid-19 patients than heart failure, smoking status, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease. In China, in a small case series of critically ill Covid-19 patients, 88.24% of patients who died had obesity versus an obesity rate of 18.95% in survivors. In France, patients with a BMI greater than 35 were seven times more likely to require mechanical ventilation than patients with a BMI below 25.”

Bailony’s essay sheds light on research conducted in several countries regarding obesity and COVID-19. The disease is said to be “a leading risk factor in mortality and morbidity” from the virus; studies conducted in the U.S., China, and France show that most obese people who contracted the coronavirus died. Bailony believes obesity is not taken seriously enough and should be treated as an actual disease rather than a mere “lifestyle choice.”

It is well-known that obesity is an excess buildup of body fat, but what exactly causes this? It is not simply due to “eating a lot,” as many people simply understand it; there are other factors besides diet that affect someone’s body size. Look into the different causes of obesity, explaining each and how they are connected.

Obesity can result in the development of many diseases. In addition, it can significantly affect one’s physique and digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems. For your essay, discuss the different symptoms of obesity and the health complications it can lead to in the future.

It can be safely assumed that no one wants to be obese, as it is detrimental to one’s health. Write an essay guide of some sort, giving tips on managing your weight, staying healthy, and preventing obesity. Include some dietary guidelines, exercise suggestions, and the importance of keeping the balance between these two.

“Fat shaming” is a phenomenon that has become more popular with the rise in obesity rates. Define this term, explain how it is seen in society, and explain why it is terrible. Also, include ways that you can speak about the dangers of obesity without making fun of obese people or making them feel bad for their current state. 

The 21st century has seen a dramatic rise in obesity rates worldwide compared to previous decades. Why is this the case? Explore one or more probable causes for the increase in obese people. You should mention multiple causes in your essay, but you may choose to focus on one only- explain it in detail.

The United States, in particular, is known to be a country with many obese people. This is due to a combination of factors, all connected in some way. Research obesity in the U.S. and write about why it is a bigger problem than in other countries- take a look at portion size, fitness habits, and food production. 

If applicable, you may write about your experience with obesity. Whether you have struggled or are struggling with it in the past or know someone who has, discuss how this makes you feel. Reflect on how this knowledge has impacted you as a person and any lessons this may have taught you. 

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .If you’re looking for more ideas, check out our essays about bullying topic guide !

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

View all posts

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Heart-Healthy Living
• High Blood Pressure
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Sleep Apnea
• Information & Resources on COVID-19
• The Heart Truth®
• Learn More Breathe Better®
• Blood Diseases and Disorders Education Program
• Publications and Resources
• Blood Disorders and Blood Safety
• Sleep Science and Sleep Disorders
• Lung Diseases
• Health Disparities and Inequities
• Heart and Vascular Diseases
• Precision Medicine Activities
• Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity
• Population and Epidemiology Studies
• Women’s Health
• Research Topics
• Clinical Trials
• All Science A-Z
• Grants and Training Home
• Policies and Guidelines
• Funding Opportunities and Contacts
• Training and Career Development
• Email Alerts
• NHLBI in the Press
• Research Features
• Past Events
• Upcoming Events
• Mission and Strategic Vision
• Divisions, Offices and Centers
• Advisory Committees
• Budget and Legislative Information
• Jobs and Working at the NHLBI
• Contact and FAQs
• NIH Sleep Research Plan
• < Back To Overweight and Obesity
• Symptoms and Diagnosis
• What Are Overweight and Obesity?
• Causes and Risk Factors
• Childhood Obesity
• Obesity and Women's Health
• Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome

MORE INFORMATION

Overweight and Obesity Symptoms and Diagnosis

Language switcher.

There are no specific symptoms of overweight and obesity. Your healthcare provider may diagnose overweight and obesity based on your medical history and high body mass index (BMI). Your provider may also order tests to rule out other medical conditions.

Body mass index

Your BMI is a measure of body fat based on your weight and height. It is important to know that body mass index is a screening tool and does not necessarily diagnose body fatness. Other related measures, such as waist circumference, are used to evaluate a person’s health and risk of overweight and obesity.

To calculate your BMI, use NHLBI’s BMI calculator .

BMI categories for adults

For adults:

• Underweight is a BMI of less than 18.5
• Healthy weight is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
• Overweight is a BMI of 25 to 29.9
• Obesity is a BMI of 30 or above

BMI categories for children

For children, height and weight are shown in percentiles. A child’s BMI percentile is calculated by comparing the child’s BMI to growth charts for children who are the same age and sex.

To learn your child’s percentile, use the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s BMI percentile calculator for children and teens .

• Underweight is a BMI below the 5th percentile.
• Healthy weight is a BMI between the 5th and the 85th percentile.
• Overweight is a BMI between the 85th percentile and the 95th percentile.
• Obesity is a BMI in or above the 95th percentile.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that providers screen for obesity in children beginning at age 6.

Unhealthy body fat distribution

To better understand the health risks that overweight and obesity may pose to a specific person providers can measure the person’s distribution of body fat. You may have a normal BMI but if you have a large waist circumference, you may have more fat in your abdomen than elsewhere.

• For men, an unhealthy waist circumference is greater than 40 inches.
• For women, an unhealthy waist circumference is greater than 35 inches.

Fatty tissue is found in different parts of your body. Fatty tissue produces hormone , cushions your joints, and stores energy.

However, depending on where the fatty tissue is found, it may do more harm than good. Fatty tissue found inside your abdomen is called visceral or abdominal fat. We do not know what causes the body to create and store visceral fat. But we do know that this type of fat interferes with your body’s endocrine and immune systems. It also promotes inflammation and contributes to obesity-related complications, including heart disease and diabetes.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your BMI results and body fat distribution and what steps you may need to take to reach a healthy weight.

Testing for causes of overweight and obesity

Sometimes other medical conditions or medicines that you take may lead to overweight and obesity. These conditions or medicines may disrupt the delicate balance of hormones that control how we use and store energy. Your provider may order blood tests to rule out one of these conditions.

• Cushing’s syndrome is a disorder that happens when your body makes too much of the stress hormone cortisol.
• Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your body does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This slows down your body’s use of energy (food), called metabolism.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects the ovaries and results in hormone imbalance. PCOS can also be ruled out using ultrasound, a test where sound waves are used to create images of organs.

Talk with your provider if you start gaining or losing weight when you take prescribed medicines.

• About Project
• Testimonials

Business Management Ideas

Essay on Obesity

List of essays on obesity, essay on obesity – short essay (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on obesity (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on obesity – written in english (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on obesity – for school students (class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 standard) (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on obesity – for college students (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on obesity – with causes and treatment (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on obesity – for science students (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on obesity – long essay for medical students (essay 8 – 1000 words).

Obesity is a chronic health condition in which the body fat reaches abnormal level. Obesity occurs when we consume much more amount of food than our body really needs on a daily basis. In other words, when the intake of calories is greater than the calories we burn out, it gives rise to obesity.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Standard), college, science and medical students.

Introduction:

Obesity means being excessively fat. A person would be said to be obese if his or her body mass index is beyond 30. Such a person has a body fat rate that is disproportionate to his body mass.

Obesity and the Body Mass Index:

The body mass index is calculated considering the weight and height of a person. Thus, it is a scientific way of determining the appropriate weight of any person. When the body mass index of a person indicates that he or she is obese, it exposes the person to make health risk.

Stopping Obesity:

There are two major ways to get the body mass index of a person to a moderate rate. The first is to maintain a strict diet. The second is to engage in regular physical exercise. These two approaches are aimed at reducing the amount of fat in the body.

Conclusion:

Obesity can lead to sudden death, heart attack, diabetes and may unwanted illnesses. Stop it by making healthy choices.

Obesity has become a big concern for the youth of today’s generation. Obesity is defined as a medical condition in which an individual gains excessive body fat. When the Body Mass Index (BMI) of a person is over 30, he/ she is termed as obese.

Obesity can be a genetic problem or a disorder that is caused due to unhealthy lifestyle habits of a person. Physical inactivity and the environment in which an individual lives, are also the factors that leads to obesity. It is also seen that when some individuals are in stress or depression, they start cultivating unhealthy eating habits which eventually leads to obesity. Medications like steroids is yet another reason for obesity.

Obesity has several serious health issues associated with it. Some of the impacts of obesity are diabetes, increase of cholesterol level, high blood pressure, etc. Social impacts of obesity includes loss of confidence in an individual, lowering of self-esteem, etc.

The risks of obesity needs to be prevented. This can be done by adopting healthy eating habits, doing some physical exercise regularly, avoiding stress, etc. Individuals should work on weight reduction in order to avoid obesity.

Obesity is indeed a health concern and needs to be prioritized. The management of obesity revolves around healthy eating habits and physical activity. Obesity, if not controlled in its initial stage can cause many severe health issues. So it is wiser to exercise daily and maintain a healthy lifestyle rather than being the victim of obesity.

Obesity can be defined as the clinical condition where accumulation of excessive fat takes place in the adipose tissue leading to worsening of health condition. Usually, the fat is deposited around the trunk and also the waist of the body or even around the periphery.

Obesity is actually a disease that has been spreading far and wide. It is preventable and certain measures are to be taken to curb it to a greater extend. Both in the developing and developed countries, obesity has been growing far and wide affecting the young and the old equally.

The alarming increase in obesity has resulted in stimulated death rate and health issues among the people. There are several methods adopted to lose weight and they include different diet types, physical activity and certain changes in the current lifestyle. Many of the companies are into minting money with the concept of inviting people to fight obesity.

In patients associated with increased risk factor related to obesity, there are certain drug therapies and other procedures adopted to lose weight. There are certain cost effective ways introduced by several companies to enable clinic-based weight loss programs.

Obesity can lead to premature death and even cause Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Cardiovascular diseases have also become the part and parcel of obese people. It includes stroke, hypertension, gall bladder disease, coronary heart disease and even cancers like breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer and colon cancer. Other less severe arising due to obesity includes osteoarthritis, gastro-esophageal reflux disease and even infertility.

Hence, serious measures are to be taken to fight against this dreadful phenomenon that is spreading its wings far and wide. Giving proper education on benefits of staying fit and mindful eating is as important as curbing this issue. Utmost importance must be given to healthy eating habits right from the small age so that they follow the same until the end of their life.

Obesity is majorly a lifestyle disease attributed to the extra accumulation of fat in the body leading to negative health effects on a person. Ironically, although prevalent at a large scale in many countries, including India, it is one of the most neglect health problems. It is more often ignored even if told by the doctor that the person is obese. Only when people start acquiring other health issues such as heart disease, blood pressure or diabetes, they start taking the problem of obesity seriously.

Obesity Statistics in India:

As per a report, India happens to figure as the third country in the world with the most obese people. This should be a troubling fact for India. However, we are yet to see concrete measures being adopted by the people to remain fit.

Causes of Obesity:

Sedentary lifestyle, alcohol, junk food, medications and some diseases such as hypothyroidism are considered as the factors which lead to obesity. Even children seem to be glued to televisions, laptops and video games which have taken away the urge for physical activities from them. Adding to this, the consumption of junk food has further aggravated the growing problem of obesity in children.

In the case of adults, most of the professions of today make use of computers which again makes people sit for long hours in one place. Also, the hectic lifestyle of today makes it difficult for people to spare time for physical activities and people usually remain stressed most of the times. All this has contributed significantly to the rise of obesity in India.

Obesity and BMI:

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the measure which allows a person to calculate how to fit he or she is. In other words, the BMI tells you if you are obese or not. BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of a person in kg with the square of his / her height in metres. The number thus obtained is called the BMI. A BMI of less than 25 is considered optimal. However, if a person has a BMI over 30 he/she is termed as obese.

What is a matter of concern is that with growing urbanisation there has been a rapid increase of obese people in India? It is of utmost importance to consider this health issue a serious threat to the future of our country as a healthy body is important for a healthy soul. We should all be mindful of what we eat and what effect it has on our body. It is our utmost duty to educate not just ourselves but others as well about this serious health hazard.

Obesity can be defined as a condition (medical) that is the accumulation of body fat to an extent that the excess fat begins to have a lot of negative effects on the health of the individual. Obesity is determined by examining the body mass index (BMI) of the person. The BMI is gotten by dividing the weight of the person in kilogram by the height of the person squared.

When the BMI of a person is more than 30, the person is classified as being obese, when the BMI falls between 25 and 30, the person is said to be overweight. In a few countries in East Asia, lower values for the BMI are used. Obesity has been proven to influence the likelihood and risk of many conditions and disease, most especially diabetes of type 2, cardiovascular diseases, sleeplessness that is obstructive, depression, osteoarthritis and some cancer types.

In most cases, obesity is caused through a combination of genetic susceptibility, a lack of or inadequate physical activity, excessive intake of food. Some cases of obesity are primarily caused by mental disorder, medications, endocrine disorders or genes. There is no medical data to support the fact that people suffering from obesity eat very little but gain a lot of weight because of slower metabolism. It has been discovered that an obese person usually expends much more energy than other people as a result of the required energy that is needed to maintain a body mass that is increased.

It is very possible to prevent obesity with a combination of personal choices and social changes. The major treatments are exercising and a change in diet. We can improve the quality of our diet by reducing our consumption of foods that are energy-dense like those that are high in sugars or fat and by trying to increase our dietary fibre intake.

We can also accompany the appropriate diet with the use of medications to help in reducing appetite and decreasing the absorption of fat. If medication, exercise and diet are not yielding any positive results, surgery or gastric balloon can also be carried out to decrease the volume of the stomach and also reduce the intestines’ length which leads to the feel of the person get full early or a reduction in the ability to get and absorb different nutrients from a food.

Obesity is the leading cause of ill-health and death all over the world that is preventable. The rate of obesity in children and adults has drastically increased. In 2015, a whopping 12 percent of adults which is about 600 million and about 100 million children all around the world were found to be obese.

It has also been discovered that women are more obese than men. A lot of government and private institutions and bodies have stated that obesity is top of the list of the most difficult and serious problems of public health that we have in the world today. In the world we live today, there is a lot of stigmatisation of obese people.

We all know how troubling the problem of obesity truly is. It is mainly a form of a medical condition wherein the body tends to accumulate excessive fat which in turn has negative repercussions on the health of an individual.

Given the current lifestyle and dietary style, it has become more common than ever. More and more people are being diagnosed with obesity. Such is its prevalence that it has been termed as an epidemic in the USA. Those who suffer from obesity are at a much higher risk of diabetes, heart diseases and even cancer.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of obesity, it is important to learn what the key causes of obesity are. In a layman term, if your calorie consumption exceeds what you burn because of daily activities and exercises, it is likely to lead to obesity. It is caused over a prolonged period of time when your calorie intake keeps exceeding the calories burned.

Here are some of the key causes which are known to be the driving factors for obesity.

If your diet tends to be rich in fat and contains massive calorie intake, you are all set to suffer from obesity.

Sedentary Lifestyle:

With most people sticking to their desk jobs and living a sedentary lifestyle, the body tends to get obese easily.

Of course, the genetic framework has a lot to do with obesity. If your parents are obese, the chance of you being obese is quite high.

The weight which women gain during their pregnancy can be very hard to shed and this is often one of the top causes of obesity.

Sleep Cycle:

If you are not getting an adequate amount of sleep, it can have an impact on the hormones which might trigger hunger signals. Overall, these linked events tend to make you obese.

Hormonal Disorder:

There are several hormonal changes which are known to be direct causes of obesity. The imbalance of the thyroid stimulating hormone, for instance, is one of the key factors when it comes to obesity.

Now that we know the key causes, let us look at the possible ways by which you can handle it.

Treatment for Obesity:

As strange as it may sound, the treatment for obesity is really simple. All you need to do is follow the right diet and back it with an adequate amount of exercise. If you can succeed in doing so, it will give you the perfect head-start into your journey of getting in shape and bidding goodbye to obesity.

There are a lot of different kinds and styles of diet plans for obesity which are available. You can choose the one which you deem fit. We recommend not opting for crash dieting as it is known to have several repercussions and can make your body terribly weak.

The key here is to stick to a balanced diet which can help you retain the essential nutrients, minerals, and, vitamins and shed the unwanted fat and carbs.

Just like the diet, there are several workout plans for obesity which are available. It is upon you to find out which of the workout plan seems to be apt for you. Choose cardio exercises and dance routines like Zumba to shed the unwanted body weight. Yoga is yet another method to get rid of obesity.

So, follow a blend of these and you will be able to deal with the trouble of obesity in no time. We believe that following these tips will help you get rid of obesity and stay in shape.

Obesity and overweight is a top health concern in the world due to the impact it has on the lives of individuals. Obesity is defined as a condition in which an individual has excessive body fat and is measured using the body mass index (BMI) such that, when an individual’s BMI is above 30, he or she is termed obese. The BMI is calculated using body weight and height and it is different for all individuals.

Obesity has been determined as a risk factor for many diseases. It results from dietary habits, genetics, and lifestyle habits including physical inactivity. Obesity can be prevented so that individuals do not end up having serious complications and health problems. Chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart diseases and relate to obesity in terms of causes and complications.

Factors Influencing Obesity:

Obesity is not only as a result of lifestyle habits as most people put it. There are other important factors that influence obesity. Genetics is one of those factors. A person could be born with genes that predispose them to obesity and they will also have difficulty in losing weight because it is an inborn factor.

The environment also influences obesity because the diet is similar in certain environs. In certain environments, like school, the food available is fast foods and the chances of getting healthy foods is very low, leading to obesity. Also, physical inactivity is an environmental factor for obesity because some places have no fields or tracks where people can jog or maybe the place is very unsafe and people rarely go out to exercise.

Mental health affects the eating habits of individuals. There is a habit of stress eating when a person is depressed and it could result in overweight or obesity if the person remains unhealthy for long period of time.

The overall health of individuals also matter. If a person is unwell and is prescribed with steroids, they may end up being obese. Steroidal medications enable weight gain as a side effect.

Complications of Obesity:

Obesity is a health concern because its complications are severe. Significant social and health problems are experienced by obese people. Socially, they will be bullied and their self-esteem will be low as they will perceive themselves as unworthy.

Chronic illnesses like diabetes results from obesity. Diabetes type 2 has been directly linked to obesity. This condition involves the increased blood sugars in the body and body cells are not responding to insulin as they should. The insulin in the body could also be inadequate due to decreased production. High blood sugar concentrations result in symptoms like frequent hunger, thirst and urination. The symptoms of complicated stages of diabetes type 2 include loss of vision, renal failure and heart failure and eventually death. The importance of having a normal BMI is the ability of the body to control blood sugars.

Another complication is the heightened blood pressures. Obesity has been defined as excessive body fat. The body fat accumulates in blood vessels making them narrow. Narrow blood vessels cause the blood pressures to rise. Increased blood pressure causes the heart to start failing in its physiological functions. Heart failure is the end result in this condition of increased blood pressures.

There is a significant increase in cholesterol in blood of people who are obese. High blood cholesterol levels causes the deposition of fats in various parts of the body and organs. Deposition of fats in the heart and blood vessels result in heart diseases. There are other conditions that result from hypercholesterolemia.

Other chronic illnesses like cancer can also arise from obesity because inflammation of body cells and tissues occurs in order to store fats in obese people. This could result in abnormal growths and alteration of cell morphology. The abnormal growths could be cancerous.

Management of Obesity:

For the people at risk of developing obesity, prevention methods can be implemented. Prevention included a healthy diet and physical activity. The diet and physical activity patterns should be regular and realizable to avoid strains that could result in complications.

Some risk factors for obesity are non-modifiable for example genetics. When a person in genetically predisposed, the lifestyle modifications may be have help.

For the individuals who are already obese, they can work on weight reduction through healthy diets and physical exercises.

In conclusion, obesity is indeed a major health concern because the health complications are very serious. Factors influencing obesity are both modifiable and non-modifiable. The management of obesity revolves around diet and physical activity and so it is important to remain fit.

In olden days, obesity used to affect only adults. However, in the present time, obesity has become a worldwide problem that hits the kids as well. Let’s find out the most prevalent causes of obesity.

Factors Causing Obesity:

Obesity can be due to genetic factors. If a person’s family has a history of obesity, chances are high that he/ she would also be affected by obesity, sooner or later in life.

The second reason is having a poor lifestyle. Now, there are a variety of factors that fall under the category of poor lifestyle. An excessive diet, i.e., eating more than you need is a definite way to attain the stage of obesity. Needless to say, the extra calories are changed into fat and cause obesity.

Junk foods, fried foods, refined foods with high fats and sugar are also responsible for causing obesity in both adults and kids. Lack of physical activity prevents the burning of extra calories, again, leading us all to the path of obesity.

But sometimes, there may also be some indirect causes of obesity. The secondary reasons could be related to our mental and psychological health. Depression, anxiety, stress, and emotional troubles are well-known factors of obesity.

Physical ailments such as hypothyroidism, ovarian cysts, and diabetes often complicate the physical condition and play a massive role in abnormal weight gain.

Moreover, certain medications, such as steroids, antidepressants, and contraceptive pills, have been seen interfering with the metabolic activities of the body. As a result, the long-term use of such drugs can cause obesity. Adding to that, regular consumption of alcohol and smoking are also connected to the condition of obesity.

Harmful Effects of Obesity:

On the surface, obesity may look like a single problem. But, in reality, it is the mother of several major health issues. Obesity simply means excessive fat depositing into our body including the arteries. The drastic consequence of such high cholesterol levels shows up in the form of heart attacks and other life-threatening cardiac troubles.

The fat deposition also hampers the elasticity of the arteries. That means obesity can cause havoc in our body by altering the blood pressure to an abnormal range. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Obesity is known to create an endless list of problems.

In extreme cases, this disorder gives birth to acute diseases like diabetes and cancer. The weight gain due to obesity puts a lot of pressure on the bones of the body, especially of the legs. This, in turn, makes our bones weak and disturbs their smooth movement. A person suffering from obesity also has higher chances of developing infertility issues and sleep troubles.

Many obese people are seen to be struggling with breathing problems too. In the chronic form, the condition can grow into asthma. The psychological effects of obesity are another serious topic. You can say that obesity and depression form a loop. The more a person is obese, the worse is his/ her depression stage.

How to Control and Treat Obesity:

The simplest and most effective way, to begin with, is changing our diet. There are two factors to consider in the diet plan. First is what and what not to eat. Second is how much to eat.

If you really want to get rid of obesity, include more and more green vegetables in your diet. Spinach, beans, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, etc., have enough vitamins and minerals and quite low calories. Other healthier options are mushrooms, pumpkin, beetroots, and sweet potatoes, etc.

Opt for fresh fruits, especially citrus fruits, and berries. Oranges, grapes, pomegranate, pineapple, cherries, strawberries, lime, and cranberries are good for the body. They have low sugar content and are also helpful in strengthening our immune system. Eating the whole fruits is a more preferable way in comparison to gulping the fruit juices. Fruits, when eaten whole, have more fibers and less sugar.

Consuming a big bowl of salad is also great for dealing with the obesity problem. A salad that includes fibrous foods such as carrots, radish, lettuce, tomatoes, works better at satiating the hunger pangs without the risk of weight gain.

A high protein diet of eggs, fish, lean meats, etc., is an excellent choice to get rid of obesity. Take enough of omega fatty acids. Remember to drink plenty of water. Keeping yourself hydrated is a smart way to avoid overeating. Water also helps in removing the toxins and excess fat from the body.

As much as possible, avoid fats, sugars, refined flours, and oily foods to keep the weight in control. Control your portion size. Replace the three heavy meals with small and frequent meals during the day. Snacking on sugarless smoothies, dry fruits, etc., is much recommended.

Regular exercise plays an indispensable role in tackling the obesity problem. Whenever possible, walk to the market, take stairs instead of a lift. Physical activity can be in any other form. It could be a favorite hobby like swimming, cycling, lawn tennis, or light jogging.

Meditation and yoga are quite powerful practices to drive away the stress, depression and thus, obesity. But in more serious cases, meeting a physician is the most appropriate strategy. Sometimes, the right medicines and surgical procedures are necessary to control the health condition.

Obesity is spreading like an epidemic, haunting both the adults and the kids. Although genetic factors and other physical ailments play a role, the problem is mostly caused by a reckless lifestyle.

By changing our way of living, we can surely take control of our health. In other words, it would be possible to eliminate the condition of obesity from our lives completely by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Health , Obesity

Get FREE Work-at-Home Job Leads Delivered Weekly!

Join more than 50,000 subscribers receiving regular updates! Plus, get a FREE copy of How to Make Money Blogging!

Message from Sophia!

Like this post? Don’t forget to share it!

Here are a few recommended articles for you to read next:

• Essay on Cleanliness
• Essay on Cancer
• Essay on AIDS
• Essay on Health and Fitness

No comments yet.

Leave a reply click here to cancel reply..

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Billionaires

• Donald Trump
• Warren Buffett
• Email Address
• Free Stock Photos
• Keyword Research Tools
• URL Shortener Tools
• WordPress Theme

Book Summaries

• How To Win Friends
• Rich Dad Poor Dad
• The Code of the Extraordinary Mind
• The Luck Factor
• The Millionaire Fastlane
• The ONE Thing
• Think and Grow Rich
• 100 Million Dollar Business
• Business Ideas

Digital Marketing

• Mobile Addiction
• Social Media Addiction
• Computer Addiction
• Drug Addiction
• Internet Addiction
• TV Addiction
• Healthy Habits
• Morning Rituals
• Wake up Early
• Cholesterol
• Reducing Cholesterol
• Fat Loss Diet Plan
• Reducing Hair Fall
• Sleep Apnea
• Weight Loss

Internet Marketing

• Email Marketing

Law of Attraction

• Subconscious Mind
• Vision Board
• Visualization

Law of Vibration

• Professional Life

Motivational Speakers

• Bob Proctor
• Robert Kiyosaki
• Vivek Bindra
• Inner Peace

Productivity

• Not To-do List
• Project Management Software
• Negative Energies

Relationship

• Getting Back Your Ex

Self-help 21 and 14 Days Course

Self-improvement.

• Body Language
• Complainers
• Emotional Intelligence
• Personality

Social Media

• Project Management
• Anik Singal
• Baba Ramdev
• Dwayne Johnson
• Jackie Chan
• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Narendra Modi
• Nikola Tesla
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Sandeep Maheshwari
• Shaqir Hussyin

Website Development

Wisdom post, worlds most.

• Expensive Cars

Our Portals: Gulf Canada USA Italy Gulf UK

Privacy Overview

• Second Opinion

Obesity in Teens

What is obesity in teens?

Obesity is when a teen has too much body fat. Obesity is a serious, long-term disease.

What causes obesity in a teen?

In many ways, childhood obesity is a puzzling disease. Doctors do not fully understand how the body controls weight and body fat. On one hand, the cause seems simple. If a person takes in more calories than he or she uses for energy, then he or she will gain weight.

But a teen's obesity can be caused by a combination of things. It can be linked to:

• Socioeconomic issues
• How the body turns food into energy (metabolism)
• Not getting enough sleep
• Lifestyle choices

Some endocrine disorders, diseases, and medicines may also have a strong effect on a child’s weight.

Which teens are at risk for obesity?

Things that may put your teen at risk for obesity are:

• Genes. Obesity may be passed down through families. Having even one obese parent may raise a child’s risk for it. Experts are looking at the link between genes, the ever-changing environment, and obesity.
• Metabolism. Each person’s body uses energy differently. Metabolism and hormones don’t affect everyone the same way. They may play a role in weight gain in children and teens.
• Socioeconomic factors. There is a strong tie between economic status and obesity. Obesity is more common among low-income people. In some places, people may have limited access to affordable healthy foods. Or they may not have a safe place to exercise.
• Lifestyle choices. Overeating and an inactive lifestyle both contribute to obesity. A diet full of sugary, high-fat, and refined foods can lead to weight gain. So can a lack of regular exercise. In children, watching TV and sitting at a computer can play a part.

What are the symptoms of obesity in a teen?

Too much body fat is the main symptom of obesity. But it’s hard to directly measure body fat. A guideline called the body mass index (BMI) is used to estimate it. The BMI uses a teen’s weight and height to come up with a result. The result is then compared with standards for children of the same gender between the ages of 2 and 20.

A teen who is overweight has a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile for age and gender. He or she is obese if the BMI is greater than the 95th percentile for age and gender.

How is obesity diagnosed in a teen?

Obesity is diagnosed by a healthcare provider. BMI is often used to define obesity in teens. It has 2 categories:

• BMIs at the 95th percentile or more for age and gender, or BMIs of more than 30, whichever is smaller. BMI findings in this category mean the child should have a full health checkup.
• Family history of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity
• High blood pressure
• Total cholesterol level
• Large gains in BMI from year to year
• Concerns about weight, including the child’s own concerns about being overweight

How is obesity treated in a teen?

Treatment depends on your teen’s symptoms, age, and health. It also depends on how severe the condition is.

Treatment for obesity may include:

• Diet counseling
• Changes to diet and amount of calories eaten
• More physical activity or an exercise program
• Behavior changes
• Individual or group therapy that focuses on changing behaviors and facing feelings linked to weight and normal developmental issues
• Support and encouragement for making changes and following recommended treatments

Treatment often involves the help of a nutritionist, mental health professionals, and an exercise specialist. Your teen’s treatment goals should be realistic. They should focus on a modest cutting back of calories, changing eating habits, and adding more physical activity.

What are possible complications of obesity in a teen?

Obesity can affect your teen’s health in a number of ways. These include:

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol. These are risk factors for heart disease.
• Diabetes. Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes. It can cause resistance to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. When obesity causes insulin resistance, blood sugar becomes higher than normal.
• Joint problems, such as osteoarthritis. Obesity can affect the knees and hips because of the stress placed on the joints by extra weight.
• Sleep apnea and breathing problems. Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing for brief periods. It interrupts sleep throughout the night and causes sleepiness during the day. It also causes heavy snoring. The risk for other breathing problems such as asthma is higher in an obese child.
• Psychosocial effects. Modern culture often sees overly thin people as the ideal in body size. Because of this, people who are overweight or obese often suffer disadvantages. They may be blamed for their condition. They may be seen as lazy or weak-willed. Obese children can have low self-esteem that affects their social life and emotional health.

What can I do to help prevent obesity in a teen?

Young people often become overweight or obese because they have poor eating habits and aren’t active enough. Genes also play a role.

Here are some tips to help your teen stay at a healthy weight:

• Focus on the whole family.  Slowly work to change your family’s eating habits and activity levels. Don’t focus on a child’s weight.
• Be a role model. Parents who eat healthy foods and are physically active set an example. Their child is more likely to do the same.
• Encourage physical activity. Children should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
• Limit screen time. Cut your teen’s screen time to less than 2 hours a day in front of the TV and computer.
• Have healthy snacks on hand. Keep the refrigerator stocked with fat-free or low-fat milk instead of soft drinks. Offer fresh fruit and vegetables instead of snacks high in sugar and fat.
• Aim for 5 or more. Serve at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
• Drink more water. Encourage teens to have water instead of drinks with added sugar. Limit your child’s intake of soft drinks, sports drinks, and fruit juice drinks.
• Get enough sleep. Encourage teens to get more sleep every night. Earlier bedtimes have been found to decrease rates of obesity.

Key points about obesity in teens

• Obesity is a long-term disease. It’s when a teen has too much body fat.
• Many things can lead to childhood obesity. These include genes and lifestyle choices.
• Body mass index (BMI) is used to diagnose obesity. It’s based on a child’s weight and height.
• Treatment may include diet counseling, exercise, therapy, and support.
• Obesity can lead to many other health problems. Some of these are heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and joint problems.
• Obesity can be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices like being more physically active and eating more fruits and vegetables.

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your child’s condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your child’s provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.

Related Links

• The Center for Healthy Weight
• Adolescent Bariatric Surgery
• Adolescent Medicine
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Our Services
• Chiari Malformation Center at Stanford Medicine Children's Health

Related Topics

A Chubby Baby Is Not a Sign of Future Obesity

Connect with us:

Download our App:

• Leadership Team
• Vision, Mission & Values
• The Stanford Advantage
• Government and Community Relations
• Get Involved
• Volunteer Services
• Auxiliaries & Affiliates

© 123 Stanford Medicine Children’s Health

Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue Expository Essay

Obesity is a psychological issue as well as a social one. Both “psychological and behavioral issues play significant roles in both the development and consequences of obesity” (Collins and Bentz 126).

Obesity is caused by eating disorders triggered by psychosocial, genetically and environmental parameters. Obesity is mainly associated with those people who suffer from psychological conditions, such as anxiety, depression as well as eating disorders.

This is because such people have a problem of regulating the amount of food taken as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It has been noted that food is taken as a coping strategy for those who suffer from obesity. The sociological factors associated with obesity make obese individuals have perpetual cycle of mood distress, overeating as well as weight gain.

This makes those people get distressed and depressed. Obese people get their comforts from food that make them feel better as a result of the reduced stress of their mood and an obese condition that may trigger a dysphonic mood because of their inability to control their stress.

This pattern is mainly applicable to the individuals who are genetically predisposed to obesity or live in environments where calorically rich foods are easily available while physical activities of the people living there are very minimal (Collins and Bentz 124). Sociological as well as psychological factors have great influence on the development as well as management of obesity.

Apart from social, psychological and environmental factors, other causes of obesity include frequent snacking on high calories foods, overeating, etc. Moreover, obesity can result from an unusual characteristic of eating behavior that entails episodes of eating during discrete periods, as well as eating large quantities of food that are not in accordance to the amount many people would consume at the same given time in stances.

This is a factor that indicates a tendency of lack of eating control as well as failure to control the distress that follows such periods. Almost 2% of the general population and around 10-25% of the bariatric population are said to suffer from this condition (Collins and Bentz 34).

Night eating is a condition that is known to greatly result in a significant weight gain. This issue is characterized with excessive night eating behavior that entails consumption of approximately over 35% of our daily calories after the evening meal. This condition has recently been linked with the lack of appetite during the day and an increase in the appetite and overeating during the night (Stunkard, Grace, and H.G. Wolff 6).

Social issues are also key attributes of obesity incidents. Many researches on obesity give positive correlations between obesity versus social and economical conditions.

They show that most people, who are obese, mainly live in poverty, and are less educated, less likely to marry or date as well as less likely to earn as much salary as those people who are not obese. A recent study on obesity indicated obesity as an antecedent to adverse economical as well as social outcomes.

The effects of obesity are social as well as psychological. Overweight people are concerned with their weight and become self-conscious of their weight and think that people may make fun of them.

The western culture mainly associates thinness with beauty. Because of this perception, many women as well as girls in Europe and the U.S.A. try to have slim bodies. The perception that associates thinness with beauty as well as the tendency of most celebs in these regions to be thin influences women in these countries and other areas to follow this way of thinking.

This paradigm makes many women do their best to stay slim. Thus, those women who are overweight suffer from the idea that they are less beautiful, and this greatly affects their social interactions. Some of social problems they exhibit include low self-esteem, discrimination as well as avoiding social gatherings.

The reasons why obese people suffer from low self-esteem is because some individuals may make fun of their obese conditions; such jokes may injure their feelings and psychological health which can result in a negative impact on their self-esteem.

There are many people who associate obesity with laziness and gluttonous. This attitude makes some obese people suffer from low self-esteem as well and avoid publicity as a result. Many obese people are known to do their best to manage their conditions. Most of them try to manage their obesity by controlling their dieting behavior as well as by exercising a lot.

Therefore, the wrong perception that obese people are lazy and gluttonous can make these people withdraw and shun social gatherings and assume solitary lifestyles that are detrimental to their social life.

Moreover, such negative attitudes towards obese humans may force them to engage in unhealthy habits, such as anorexia or bulimia, which include avoiding eating or vomiting the food in order to loose weight.

This can result in detrimental health issues which will in turn worsen their social lives. Those girls who suffer from obesity are often characterized with low performances in schools because of the social stigma that is associated with the obese condition.

These girls tend to have a problem in establishing healthy relationships with their learning peers, and because of being discriminated by their learning mates, they are isolated from society which makes them suffer from low self-esteem which affects their school performance negatively (Obesity Working Group).

People who suffer from obesity experience psychological problems. For instance, the children with such condition can be mean and bully. It is also observed that those kids who are teased about their overweight status tend to have low self-esteem, poor body image and symptoms of depression.

It is universally accepted that all people aspire to have friends, Unfortunately, most of the obese children often find themselves lonely as well as isolated. This makes these children suffer from depressions and use food as their means of comfort.

In addition, the isolation they encounter in their day-to-day-activities make such children less active because they do not have friends to play with. This is the notion that makes obese kids be regarded as lazy. Moreover, teenagers who suffer from obesity are highly affected by their obese status.

These teens experience psychological disturbances that affect their health conditions and lead to serious medical issues. The teen’s period is mainly a growing stage, which is described by the urge to be more independent as well as experience an increased need in socializing.

At this juncture, teenagers are more concerned about their physical appearances and appeal to other people. Thus, when they are teased because of their obese conditions, they show a psychological devastation (Wadden, Sarwer, Fabricatore, Jones, Stack, and Williams 65).

Obesity can be treated socially or psychologically. Obese people are encouraged to exercise more as well as reduce taking foods that are highly rich in calories. This is a type of a behavioral or cognitive therapy that entails modification of one’s lifestyle as well as dietary habits.

This approach is effective in managing the obese condition in many people. Nevertheless, the psychological treatment of obesity is the best strategy of managing this condition as it helps in addressing its fundamental causes.

In classical conditioning, eating disorders are linked with other actions. These behaviors are meant to happen simultaneously. For instance, a person may be used to eat nachos as he/she watches the news. When these conditions are done repeatedly, a person may have a craving for nachos every time she/he watches news.

Behavioral intervention involves establishing and extinguishing those factors that facilitate obesity. Conversely, operant conditioning uses strengthening and consequences. It happens when people employ a reward to momentarily to reduce pressure associated foods with a more congenial state, this increases its possibility to turn into a recurring behavior.

It is said that behavior therapy is connected with the lifestyles changes as well as weight loss in short-time, but does not indicate any substantial proof of its long-term effectiveness. Nowadays, cognitive behavior therapies have become more common approaches for the treatment of obesity.

Cognitive therapies are known to influence both the feelings and behaviors. They are used to treat overweight by helping the obese to change their eating disorders and embrace healthy eating lifestyles. They entail strategies such as social support, stress management, cognitive restructuring as well as stimulus control (Cooper and Fairburn 54).

It is very important to note that both social and psychological issues are very essential in the development and examining the effects of obesity. Therefore, the treatment of obesity should be a multidisciplinary approach. Thus, the treatment of this condition should be biological, social, psychological as well as environmental in order to guarantee an inclusive care, the best practices and effective results.

Works Cited

Collins, Jennifer C., and Jon E. Bentz. ” Behavioral and Psychological Factors in Obesity.” The Journal of Lancaster General Hospital, 4.4(2009): 124-127. jlgh.org. Web.

Cooper, Z. and C.G. Fairburn. “A new cognitive behavioral approach to the treatment of obesity.” Behaviour Research and Therapy , 39.5(2001):499-511. Print.

Obesity Working Group. Technical Report No 1: Obesity in Australia: A need for urgent action . P3-451. Australia: Commonwealth of Australia, 2008. Print.

Stunkard, A.J., Grace, W.J., and H.G. Wolff. “The night-eating syndrome: A pattern of food intake among certain obese patients.” American Journal of Medicine , 19.1(1955): 78-86. Print.

Wadden, T.A., Sarwer, D.B., Fabricatore, A.N., Jones, L., Stack, R., and N.S. Williams. “Psychosocial and behavioral status of patients undergoing bariatric surgery: what to expect before and after surgery.” The Medical Clinic of North America , 91.3(2007): 451-469. Print.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, June 7). Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue. https://ivypanda.com/essays/obesity-psychological-sociological/

"Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue." IvyPanda , 7 June 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/obesity-psychological-sociological/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue'. 7 June.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue." June 7, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/obesity-psychological-sociological/.

1. IvyPanda . "Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue." June 7, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/obesity-psychological-sociological/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological Issue." June 7, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/obesity-psychological-sociological/.

• Expectations From Psychological-Sociological Course
• Overeating's Causes and Problems
• Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating
• Effect of Dietary Protein Content During Overeating
• Do Mental Diseases Cause Obesity?
• Food Addiction and Obesity in Children and Teens
• Television Plus Junk Foods Equal Childhood Obesity
• Bulimia in Teenagers: How to Make a Change
• Obesity Challenge and Changes in American Society
• Obesity as a Form of Malnutrition and Its Effects
• Quality and Value of Food
• The Consequences of Fast Food
• Rice: Thailand Native Foods
• Fast Food and Hate Groups
• Recommendations for Ensuring Food Safety & Reducing Disease-Causing Mosquitoes

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings
• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Singapore Med J
• v.64(3); 2023 Mar
• PMC10071857

The impact of obesity: a narrative review

Benjamin chih chiang lam.

1 Family and Community Medicine, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore

2 Integrated Care for Obesity and Diabetes, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore

Amanda Yuan Ling Lim

3 Singapore Association for the Study of Obesity, Singapore

4 Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore

Soo Ling Chan

5 Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore

Mabel Po Shan Yum

6 Psychology Service, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore

Natalie Si Ya Koh

7 Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre, Singapore

Eric Andrew Finkelstein

8 Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore

Obesity is a disease with a major negative impact on human health. However, people with obesity may not perceive their weight to be a significant problem and less than half of patients with obesity are advised by their physicians to lose weight. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of managing overweight and obesity by discussing the adverse consequences and impact of obesity. In summary, obesity is strongly related to >50 medical conditions, with many of them having evidence from Mendelian randomisation studies to support causality. The clinical, social and economic burdens of obesity are considerable, with these burdens potentially impacting future generations as well. This review highlights the adverse health and economic consequences of obesity and the importance of an urgent and concerted effort towards the prevention and management of obesity to reduce the burden of obesity.

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly over the last two decades worldwide, including in Singapore, a multiethnic Southeast Asian country.[ 1 , 2 ] Recent national health surveys of adult Singaporeans suggest a continuation of this rising trend after a brief period of stabilisation.[ 3 ] Obesity, which is characterised by excessive adiposity, is not benign.

Obesity predisposes affected individuals to a large array of diseases that are often interconnected, leading to an increased risk of simple (two comorbid diseases) and complex (four or more comorbid diseases) multimorbidity in these individuals, when compared to people with healthy weight.[ 4 ] For example, in a large Finnish cohort of 114,657 people aged 16–78 years, with a mean follow-up of 12.1 years, people with obesity were five times more likely to develop simple multimorbidity and 12 times more likely to develop complex multimorbidity, with stronger associations found in people with more severe obesity.[ 4 ] This dose–response relationship between obesity and multimorbidity is also observed in other populations, including Asian populations.[ 5 , 6 ] In Singapore, the proportion of disability-adjusted life years, a composite measure of all health loss within a population, contributed by overweight and obesity, increased from 3.9% in 1990 to 6.4% in 2017, making it the fifth leading risk factor affecting health in Singapore.[ 7 ] Hence, obesity is a disease with a major negative impact on human health and has become a major global and regional health problem.

However, according to international surveys and interviews, people with obesity may not perceive their weight to be a significant problem,[ 8 ] with evidence also suggesting that less than half of patients with obesity are advised by their physicians to lose weight.[ 9 , 10 ] Hence, the purpose of this narrative review, as part of a series on obesity, is to highlight the importance of managing overweight and obesity by presenting and summarising the latest evidence on the adverse consequences and impact of obesity [ Figure 1 ]. The causal role of excess adiposity on obesity-related conditions (as established by the many epidemiological evidence already described in literature) will be explored. In addition, data from Singapore, if any, will be included in the review for each section, with the review on the economic burden of overweight and obesity focusing on Singapore.

Diagram shows a summary of the diseases and conditions associated with obesity and the potential impacts. *Supported by mendelian randomisation studies. T1DM: type 1 diabetes mellitus, T2DM: type 2 diabetes mellitus

EVIDENCE FOR CAUSAL ROLE OF EXCESS ADIPOSITY ON OBESITY-RELATED DISEASES

The hypertrophy of adipose tissue is associated with proinflammatory adipokine production and macrophage infiltration. In addition, the failure of adipose tissue to continually expand leads to lipotoxicity and ectopic fat deposition in lean tissues such as the heart, liver, pancreas and kidneys.[ 11 , 12 ] These phenomena contribute to a proinflammatory and insulin-resistant milieu and, together with increased mechanical stress due to increased adipose tissue mass,[ 11 , 13 ] are the main pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the development of multiple medical conditions. Hence, there are reasonable pathways to link outcome to exposure (i.e. plausibility), one of the principles useful for establishing a causal relationship.[ 14 ]

This causal role of obesity is further supported by evidence from Mendelian randomisation (MR) studies. MR is an analytical technique involving genetic variants that are associated with exposures (risk factors such as obesity) as instrumental variables to investigate the effects of these exposures on an outcome of interest (e.g. a disease).[ 15 ] Since these genetic variants are fixed, randomly allocated at conception and temporally precede the outcome, MR is less likely to be subject to bias, confounding and reverse causation, which are frequent in conventional observational studies.[ 15 ] ’BMI’, ’obesity’, ’Mendelian randomisation’, ’Mendelian randomization’ and the outcome of interest (e.g. ’diabetes’) were used as search terms, and all studies relevant to this review were considered. These obesity-related diseases, with evidence for the causal role of obesity (plausible biological mechanisms and MR studies), and the various impacts of obesity will be discussed next.

Diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia and hypertension

As highlighted, obesity leads to insulin resistance. Additionally, elevated free fatty acid from the adipose tissues and ectopic fat deposition cause pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.[ 16 , 17 ] Hence, the various pathological mechanisms synergistically exacerbate the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In particular, visceral fat deposition plays an important role in the development of T2DM.[ 18 ] Hepatic fat worsens hepatic insulin resistance, while pancreatic fat affects insulin secretion and glucose tolerance.[ 18 ] In a meta-analysis of MR studies, genetically predicted higher body mass index (BMI) was consistently associated with T2DM, with a combined odds ratio (OR) of 2.03 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.88–2.19) per 1 standard deviation increase in BMI.[ 19 ] In Singapore, multiple observational studies confirm the increased risk of T2DM with increasing BMI in all major ethnic groups,[ 20 , 21 , 22 ] although there might be ethnic-specific sensitivity to the effects of increasing adiposity.[ 23 ]

There is also increasing evidence for the role of obesity in the increased incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), with studies from North America and the UK suggesting an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in people with T1DM.[ 24 ] It has been hypothesised that obesity-induced insulin resistance may be responsible for the accelerated loss of pancreatic β cells through excessive stimulation[ 25 ] and a chronic proinflammatory state.[ 26 ] This causal role is supported by MR studies, although the evidence is not as consistent (compared to obesity and T2DM), with high heterogeneity between the studies.[ 19 ]

Obesity is associated with dyslipidaemia, which is characterised by increased triglycerides (TGs) and free fatty acids, decreased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) with HDL dysfunction and increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), in particular, small dense LDL-C, which is particularly atherogenic.[ 27 ] The underlying mechanisms involve hepatic fat accumulation, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation.[ 27 , 28 ] In a recent MR study based on participants from the UK Biobank, genetically predicted higher BMI was significantly associated with dyslipidaemia (low HDL-C levels).[ 29 ] In Singapore, in a multiethnic sample of 4,723 adult participants, elevated TG was more common in people with obesity, with the prevalence of elevated TG increasing with higher BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR),[ 20 ] consistent with the evidence.

Hypertension is more than twice as prevalent in people with obesity compared to people with normal weight.[ 30 ] The mechanisms for obesity-induced hypertension are varied (involving adipokines, cytokines, free fatty acids, insulin, the rennin–angiotensin–aldosterone system) and interconnected, with the final common pathways being endothelial dysfunction, extracellular fluid overload and sympathetic nervous system activation.[ 30 , 31 ] Hence, obesity is an established risk factor for hypertension, and its causal role is supported by MR studies,[ 19 , 32 ] particularly that of higher adiposity with a more unfavourable metabolic profile (higher visceral and ectopic fat).[ 32 ] In Singapore, the increased prevalence of hypertension with higher BMI and WHR is consistent, especially in males.[ 20 ]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. Genetic variants that increase hepatic fat content have been shown to be associated with increased liver enzymes, hepatocellular damage and fibrosis, suggesting that hepatic fat accumulation mediates the development of liver fibrosis, independent of inflammation.[ 33 ] Hence, NAFLD may lead to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and ultimately, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

The prevalence of NAFLD has risen in tandem with the global epidemic of obesity, with NAFLD now being the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.[ 34 ] A meta-analysis of MR studies confirms the causal effect of obesity on NAFLD,[ 19 ] with central adiposity (waist circumference) having the strongest relationship (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.85–4.63) among the various obesity measures.[ 35 ] In Singapore, studies consistently show that participants with evidence of NAFLD have significantly higher BMI and waist circumference.[ 36 , 37 ]

Cardiovascular diseases

The association between obesity and increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, coronary heart disease and stroke has long been established.[ 38 ] For example, based on pooled data from 97 prospective cohort studies involving 1.8 million participants, the hazard ratio (HR) for each 5 kg/m 2 higher BMI was 1.27 (95% CI 1.23–1.31) for coronary heart disease and 1.18 (95% CI 1.14–1.22) for stroke after adjustment for potential confounders.[ 39 ] Additional adjustment for diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidaemia reduced the HRs to 1.15 (95% CI 1.12–1.18) and 1.04 (95% CI 1.01–1.08) for coronary heart disease and stroke, respectively, suggesting that 46% (95% CI 42%–50%) of the excess risk of BMI for coronary heart disease and 76% (95% CI 65%–91%) for stroke were mediated by these conditions,[ 39 ] which are common in people with obesity.[ 4 , 30 ]

Obesity itself leads to an increased risk of these cardiovascular events, likely via mechanisms such as the secretion of adipokines, proinflammatory cytokines and hypofibrinolytic factors, that together could lead to increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction resulting in atherosclerosis.[ 40 ] Additionally, excessive adiposity results in haemodynamic alterations via various neurohormonal and metabolic abnormalities, causing left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and subsequent dysfunction, leading to LV failure. LV failure, facilitated by pulmonary arterial hypertension from hypoxia due to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and/or obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), may subsequently lead to right ventricular failure.[ 41 ] This causal role of obesity is supported by multiple MR studies,[ 19 , 29 , 32 ] with the strongest association between BMI and heart failure, followed by BMI and coronary artery disease, then BMI and stroke.[ 19 , 32 ]

Another obesity-related cardiovascular disease is atrial fibrillation (AF), with evidence suggesting that obesity is an independent risk factor for AF, even after accounting for OSA.[ 41 ] Also, studies have demonstrated a strong graded association between higher BMI and the risk of persistent AF and higher BMI, with increased risk of postablation AF.[ 41 ] The mechanisms linking obesity and AF are complex and incompletely understood, with increased left atrial and ventricular abnormalities, altered haemodynamics, increased epicardial and pericardial fat, inflammation, and metabolic and neurohormonal abnormalities being the potential causal mechanisms.[ 41 ] This causal relationship is similarly supported by MR studies which consistently show that genetically predicted BMI is associated with AF.[ 19 , 32 , 42 ]

In Singapore, a longitudinal study involving 2,605 Chinese participants found that the adjusted HR for cardiovascular and stroke mortality was highest in the group with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 ) among those aged ≥65 years,[ 43 ] which is consistent with the association between obesity and increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

Obstructive sleep apnoea and hypoventilation syndrome

The increased intra-abdominal and intrathoracic pressure as a result of excessive adiposity impedes inflation of the lung, which can significantly affect the lung function, thereby leading to hypoventilation and ventilation–perfusion imbalance.[ 44 ] A constellation of obesity, daytime hypoventilation characterised by hypercapnia and hypoxaemia, and sleep-disordered breathing, without an alternative cause for hypoventilation, is known as OHS, with an estimated prevalence of 8%–20% in patients with obesity who were referred to sleep centres for evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing.[ 45 ]

The most common sleep-disordered breathing in such patients and people with obesity is OSA, as fat accumulation around the upper airways predisposes to the collapse of these airways.[ 44 ] About 50% of people with OSA have obesity, and approximately 40%–90% of people who are overweight suffer from OSA.[ 44 , 45 ] Consistent with epidemiological observations and genetic correlation (between OSA and BMI), an MR study shows that genetically predicted BMI is strongly associated with OSA, supporting the causal effect of BMI on OSA.[ 46 ] In Singapore, a study based on 587 Chinese participants reported that people with OSA had significantly higher BMI, and also BMI remained an important predictor of OSA after adjusting for hypertension and smoking,[ 47 ] in line with the overall evidence.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Obesity is strongly associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),[ 48 ] which is characterised by reproductive dysfunction (oligo-amenorrhoea, infertility), hyperandrogenism (hirsutism, acne, androgenic alopecia and biochemical hyperandrogenism) and a polycystic ovarian morphology (high antral follicle counts or increased ovarian volume).[ 49 ] Up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese,[ 48 ] with a meta-analysis showing that women with obesity had a twofold to threefold higher risk for PCOS when compared to women without obesity.[ 50 ] The pathogenesis of PCOS involves primarily insulin resistance, with the ensuing secondary hyperinsulinaemia resulting in enhanced steroidogenesis in the ovaries, particularly androgen production.[ 48 ] Hence, the insulin-resistant milieu associated with obesity can lead to the development of PCOS. This causal effect of obesity on PCOS is supported by MR studies,[ 32 , 51 ] with one MR study suggesting that this effect is predominantly metabolic in nature.[ 32 ] In Singapore, a study based on a multiethnic population of 389 participants reported that women with PCOS had significantly higher BMI compared to women without PCOS,[ 52 ] consistent with the evidence.

Cognitive impact and dementia

Experimental studies have shown that cellular mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation can affect the brain structure and function.[ 53 ] Obesity is an established risk factor for dementia,[ 54 ] and has been associated with cognitive impairment[ 55 , 56 ] and decreased grey matter volume linked with executive functioning.[ 53 , 57 ] However, while MR studies have found causal relationships between BMI and grey matter volumes,[ 58 ] evidence for BMI and dementia has so far not been significant.[ 32 , 58 , 59 ] In Singapore, a longitudinal analysis of 1,519 cognitively normal older persons (>55 years) of Chinese ethnicity showed that central obesity was associated with a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment,[ 60 ] consistent with the overall evidence that higher adiposity has a negative impact on the brain.

Chronic kidney disease

Excess adiposity results in pathological processes such as lipotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress and activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, leading to glomerular and tubular injuries (obesity-induced nephropathy).[ 61 ] Multiple MR studies have confirmed this causal relationship between obesity and kidney disease,[ 32 , 62 , 63 ] including one study conducted in an East Asian population using BMI-associated variants validated in East Asia.[ 63 ] In Singapore, longitudinal gain in adiposity was associated with progressive renal decline in a prospective multiethnic cohort with T2DM, suggesting that increasing adiposity would lead to adverse renal outcomes over time.[ 64 ]

Obesity is known to be associated with 13 types of cancers: oesophageal adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, postmenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, colorectal cancer, meningioma, multiple myeloma, and cancer of the gastric cardia, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, ovary and thyroid.[ 65 ] In Singapore, these obesity-associated cancers make up four out of the top five cancers affecting women (breast, colorectal, endometrial and ovarian) and two of the top five cancers affecting men (colorectal and liver).[ 66 ] Potential mechanisms of increased cancer risk in obesity include hyperinsulinaemia, chronic inflammation and oestrogen excess.[ 67 ] This causal role of obesity in cancer is supported by MR studies,[ 19 , 32 ] particularly for cancers of the digestive system, with all of them (oesophageal, colorectal, gastric, liver, gallbladder, pancreas) positively associated with genetically predicted BMI based on a meta-analysis of MR studies.[ 19 ]

Depression and anxiety

The prevalence of depression is much higher among people with obesity than that in the general population.[ 68 , 69 ] Similarly, anxiety occurs more frequently in people who are overweight or obese compared to people with normal weight, and the relationship is stronger among those who are more severely obese.[ 70 , 71 , 72 ] Research findings consistently show that people with obesity frequently suffer from psychological issues ranging from stress associated with weight-related issues, perceived weight discrimination and stigmatisation to body image dissatisfaction.[ 68 , 69 ] Additionally, there is evidence that the dysfunctional adipose tissues present in obesity result in metabolic abnormalities, such as altered glucocorticoid, adipokine, insulin, leptin and inflammatory signalling, which either directly or indirectly impact the control of emotions and mood.[ 73 , 74 ] Hence, the causal relationship between obesity and depression/anxiety is likely to have both psychological and biological components. This is supported by MR studies which demonstrate the relationship between genetically predicted BMI (and fat mass) and depression,[ 75 , 76 , 77 ] even when using a genetic instrument that omits the metabolic consequences of higher BMI.[ 75 ]

In Singapore, a study based on 83 patients with obesity at a weight management clinic reported that the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms was 28% and 11%, respectively,[ 78 ] suggesting that symptoms of depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in people with obesity in Singapore and are higher than the national prevalence of depression and anxiety,[ 79 ] consistent with international data.

Severe coronavirus disease-19

The dysfunctional physiological milieu of obesity has been associated with altered lymphoid tissue integrity, shifts in leukocyte populations and proinflammatory profiles, such that immune responses and pathogen defence are impaired.[ 80 ] This is demonstrated in previous influenza outbreaks[ 81 ] and the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, where obesity (high adiposity) is a major risk factor for severe COVID-19 (death and hospitalisation), as supported by multiple epidemiological studies worldwide[ 82 ] and MR studies[ 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ] using data from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (an international collaboration that aims to uncover the genetic determinants of outcomes related to COVID-19 susceptibility and severity). In Singapore, where the COVID-19 mortality rate is low (<0.001),[ 87 ] a subgroup analysis of younger (<60 years) COVID-19 patients found that a BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 was significantly associated with the need for low-flow supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation,[ 88 ] consistent with observations internationally.

Other diseases

Other diseases with established epidemiological and strong MR evidence include asthma,[ 32 ] gastro-oesophageal reflux disease,[ 19 , 32 ] diverticular disease,[ 19 , 32 ] gallstone disease,[ 19 , 32 ] Crohn's disease,[ 19 , 89 ] osteoarthritis,[ 32 , 90 ] intervertebral degeneration (including back pain and sciatica),[ 91 , 92 ] peripheral arterial disease,[ 19 , 32 ] venous thromboembolism,[ 19 , 32 ] deep vein thrombosis,[ 19 , 32 ] aortic valve stenosis,[ 19 ] atopic dermatitis,[ 93 ] psoriasis,[ 32 ] gout[ 32 ] and rheumatoid arthritis.[ 32 ]

IMPACT ON MOTHER AND CHILD

Maternal obesity has been associated with adverse outcomes, including increased mortality, for both mother and child.[ 94 ] Mothers with obesity are more likely to develop pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and thromboembolic disease, with a higher risk of preterm delivery, caesarian section, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation and foetus that is large for gestational age.[ 94 , 95 , 96 ] In an MR study, genetically elevated maternal BMI was associated with higher offspring birthweight, supporting a causal relationship.[ 97 ] These adverse outcomes can lead to complications and disability, with increased birth weight being associated with childhood adiposity and metabolic disorders during life.[ 94 ] Hence, the impact of obesity may extend beyond the current generation (mother) to the next generation (child). In Singapore, findings from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study, a prospective mother–offspring birth cohort, showed that pre-pregnancy BMI and maternal obesity were associated with child size and adiposity[ 98 ] and childhood obesity,[ 99 ] respectively, confirming the generational impact of obesity.

PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT

Obesity negatively impacts health-related quality of life, with greater degrees of obesity associated with greater impairments.[ 100 , 101 , 102 ] While most individuals often report significant difficulties with physical and occupational functioning, many also experience problems with social functioning, such as social withdrawal[ 103 ] and social isolation.[ 104 ] This could be due to perceived negative attitudes and discrimination towards people with obesity, increased self-consciousness and self-blame for being overweight.[ 69 , 104 ] People with obesity, especially females, are often dissatisfied with their body image, which is exacerbated by society's expectation of thinness, with the degree of dissatisfaction positively correlated with the amount of excess weight.[ 102 , 105 , 106 ] Taken together, obesity can negatively impact an individual's self-esteem,[ 69 ] thereby affecting self-efficacy,[ 107 ] possibly resulting in a vicious circle and downward spiral.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

There are substantially higher healthcare utilisation and medical costs among people who are overweight or obese due to treatment of medical conditions caused by excess adiposity and for direct obesity treatments, which may include weight loss surgeries and medications.[ 108 ] In addition to direct medical costs, there is also an increase in indirect costs as a result of increased absenteeism (workdays missed due to illness or injury) and presenteeism (reduced productivity while working).[ 109 ]

The economic burden of overweight and obesity has been well described and quantified in North America,[ 108 , 110 ] Europe,[ 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 ] Brazil,[ 115 ] Australia,[ 116 , 117 ] China[ 118 ] and Saudi Arabia,[ 119 ] with an estimated cost of 0.8%–2.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 based on eight countries.[ 120 ] As for Singapore, a recent study has attempted to quantify the economic burden of overweight and obesity.[ 121 ] Using econometric methods and cross-sectional data from the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases (SEED) cohort, which includes measured height and weight, self-reported healthcare utilisation and absenteeism/presenteeism (based on a modified version of the Work Productivity Activity Impairment questionnaire), the incremental per capita and aggregate direct and indirect costs of excess weight among a multiethnic population of older adults (aged 40–80) were estimated.

Among Chinese, individuals who were overweight missed one additional workday per year compared to those who were of normal weight. Individuals in the obese category had SGD720 per year greater medical expenditures, but missed workdays were not statistically different from those in the normal weight category. Among Indians, differences were not significant between normal and overweight categories, but Indians in the obese category incurred an additional SGD310 per year in absenteeism costs than those of normal weight. For Malays, no significant differences by BMI category were identified.[ 121 ]

In aggregate, the predicted total medical expenditures attributable to overweight and obesity in Singapore were estimated to be SGD178 million, representing 1.6% of Singapore's total healthcare expenditures (SGD11,300 million in 2019). This figure is on the low end of published estimates, which range between 2.9% and 9.7% of the total healthcare spending.[ 121 ] Including absenteeism increases this estimate to SGD261 million, although this estimate is likely to be conservative because it does not include costs for presenteeism (reduced productivity while working), retraining, injuries or other costs resulting from excess weight in the workplace.[ 121 ] By ethnicity, Malays are responsible for 19% of the total costs of excess weight, even though they make up only 12% of the Singapore population.[ 121 ] This disproportionate burden is consistent with the disproportionately higher rates of overweight and obesity among Malays.[ 3 ]

LIMITATIONS OF REVIEW

First, this review discussed mainly the impact of adult obesity, with a focus on diseases that have shown a strong relationship with obesity, especially those supported by MR studies. Hence, the impact of paediatric obesity is not discussed and not all diseases have been covered. Second, not all the diseases supported by evidence from MR studies were discussed in detail. Nonetheless, they are listed in the section ’Other diseases’ and included in Figure 1 . Third, interventional studies which show significant weight loss-improving health outcomes were not discussed. These studies, by showing the positive impact of weight loss, would have further supported the negative impact of obesity. Lastly, while there are some MR studies based on Asian cohorts, the majority of MR studies were based on genetic data derived from individuals of European ancestry or large cohorts that were predominantly European. Hence, the inference of causality may be limited in non-European populations.

As discussed, obesity is strongly related to more than 50 medical conditions [summarised in Figure 1 ], with evidence from MR studies to support causality for many of these conditions. Based on the 2017 Global Burden of Diseases study, the top four causes (cardiovascular diseases, cancers, musculoskeletal disorders and mental disorders) of disability-adjusted life years in Singapore account for more than 50% of the total burden,[ 7 ] with many of the common conditions in these four causes related to obesity. Hence, the clinical, social and economic burdens of obesity are considerable, potentially impacting future generations as well. This review, therefore, highlights the importance of an urgent and concerted effort towards the prevention and management of obesity to reduce the burden of obesity.

Financial support and sponsorship

Conflicts of interest.

There are no conflicts of interest.

Get Second Opinion from Top Surgeons! Book an Appointment »

Book Free Appointment

* * By clicking on the above button you agree to receive updates on WhatsApp

Obesity Symptoms - Understand the Common Signs Here

Table of Contents

What is Obesity?

Signs and symptoms of obesity, causes of obesity, what are the effects of obesity on the body, what are the repercussions of obesity on the body, when to see a doctor, frequently asked questions.

People today have greater access to high-caloric food items with low nutritional value. Combined with a sedentary lifestyle, these high-caloric foods have a snowball effect on the body, leading to obesity. Obesity does not just affect looks; it significantly affects health and can lead to several health conditions like heart attack and diabetes. 

Obesity has excess body fat that could result from several factors. These factors can risk a person's quality of life. It can be environmental, psychological, or hormonal. But what are the signs and symptoms of obesity? What are obesity causes? How to notice overweight symptoms and prevent them from becoming obese? Keep reading to find out!

Book Appointment for

Early Symptoms of Obesity

The most visible obesity symptoms and signs are excess body fat and an increase in weight. A person may also experience other signs and symptoms of obesity, like:

• Difficulty in sleeping (daytime drowsiness, sleep apnoea )
• Excessive sweating
• Shortness of breath 
• Infections in the skin folds
• Intolerance to heat
• Irregular menstrual cycles

Late Symptoms of Obesity

The late symptoms of obesity often occur due to the magnitude of weight gain; as a result, a person may notice the following:

• Swelling and varicose veins in the legs.
• Acanthosis nigricans: a skin condition characterised by hyperpigmentation and hyperkeratosis in the armpits and skin folds
• Stretch marks due to rupture of the skin's elastic fibres.
• High blood pressure.
• Body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 kg/m2
• Waist circumference: more than 88 cm in women; more than 94 cm in men. 

Doctors commonly measure BMI to define obesity. The BMI calculates the body weight against the body surface area. After calculating the BMI, doctors determine whether a person is healthy, overweight, or obese.

The doctors classify obesity into class types based on its severity. 

• Class I is low-risk obesity, with a BMI range from 30 to 34.9 kg/m2. 
• Class II is moderate-risk obesity, with a BMI range from 35 to 39.9 kg/m2. 
• Class III obesity, also called morbid obesity, is when a person starts experiencing obesity-related health problems. The BMI range for class III is 40 + kg/m2.

However, BMI has a few limitations, for example, in the case of athletes and bodybuilders, who have more muscles than fat. They may also have a high BMI but low body fat.

Body Mass Index table:

Now, we are all aware that obesity symptoms result from the excessive consumption of more calories than the body requires. Factors that lead to high-calorie consumption are:

• Fast and convenient food items: If a person frequently eats highly processed, packaged foods (sugary drinks, candies, etc.), it’s easier for them to consume excess calories. Such foods are high in fat and sugar and have lesser fibre and other nutrients. Such foods are cost-efficient and easily available and may have ingredients that promote addictive eating patterns.
• Sugar: All food items contain a small amount of sugar. Most products containing high amounts of sugar are sweetened beverages like colas and sweets with immense calories and no nutritional value.
• Hormones: Hormones are responsible for satiety and hunger signals. Several factors can disturb hormone levels and these processes, such as insufficient sleep, stress, genetic variations, etc. 
• Psychological Factors: Anxiety, depression, boredom, and loneliness may all lead to overeating. It may lead to a person having a certain type of food (candies, muffins, etc.) that activates pleasure centres in their brain and makes them feel better. These foods mostly have high calories.
• Medications: Certain medications taken to treat a medical condition may contribute to weight gain. Some medications that may cause weight gain are steroids, anti-epileptics, antidepressants, antidiabetics, and beta-blockers. 

Other factors that may contribute to obesity include:

• Sedentary lifestyle: Desk work with long hours consumes a majority of people’s time sitting, and this lack of activity leads to obesity.
• Screen culture: People spend most of their time on phones and laptops, neglecting physical activity.
• Fatigue: Sitting makes the body stiff and causes pain and aches that further discourages movement.
• Disability: Children and adults with physical and learning disabilities have high chances of obesity.

The Direct Effects

Increased body fat can crowd the respiratory system’s organs and adds strain on the musculoskeletal system. This may contribute to the following:

• Sleep apnoea
• Osteoarthritis
• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

The Indirect Effects

Obesity is also linked indirectly with

• Female infertility 
• Complications of Pregnancy
• Depression and mood disorders
• Cognition and memory problems, including increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
• Certain cancers, such as breast cancer, oesophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer , and uterine cancer .

Obesity symptoms affect the body in several ways. A few may include mechanical effects on the body (extra weight, too much pressure on the joints). In contrast, other symptoms of obesity are more subtle and appear over a long time, such as chemical changes in the body (increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke). 

Metabolic syndrome also called combined risk factors, is when several conditions group together, and they all tend to reinforce each other. Metabolic syndrome is closely linked to obesity which may lead to several health diseases. These metabolic syndromes contribute to diseases like:

• Heart Disease: Obesity can lead to heart diseases like congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. These diseases may further aggravate due to the factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, inflammation, and high blood sugar. 
• Type II Diabetes: Obesity specifically increases the risk of type II diabetes by 20% for every additional score you gain on the BMI scale.
• Fatty Liver Disease: Excess fats circulating in the blood may begin to deposit in the liver, leading to fatty liver diseases such as hepatitis (chronic liver inflammation) and liver cirrhosis (liver cell death).
• Kidney Disease: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and other liver conditions may contribute to chronic kidney disease .
• Gallstones : High cholesterol levels can result in the accumulation of cholesterol in the gallbladder leading to cholesterol gallstones and gallbladder diseases. There are 7% more chances of getting gallbladder disease with an increase in BMI.
• Osteoarthritis : In obese people, the extra weight puts pressure on the muscles, joints, and bones, leading to bone and muscle-related issues such as osteoarthritis. 
• Obese asthma : A unique type of asthma that occurs in a few individuals with obesity. 
• Sleep apnea : The fat deposition around the tongue and neck may block the airways.
• Hiatal hernia , gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and heartburn: This may occur due to extra weight pushing on the valve that keeps the stomach content out of the oesophagus.  

Living with obesity is linked with various other health conditions. An obese person must consult the doctor immediately for the following conditions:

• Type II diabetes 
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Osteoarthritis 
• Sleep apnea
• Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, etc.
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). 

What you can expect on your first visit?

During your first visit with the doctor, you can expect the following things:

• The doctor may as your medical history, which will include your history of nutrition, exercise, and weight loss.
• Physical examination: assessing waist measurement, BMI, and other health risks.
• Examine any obesity-related issues with your health.
• Examine other medical issues that may cause weight gain.
• Assess if you need to undergo tests.
• Help you in making realistic weight loss goals.
• Advise you on the diet that would be best for you.
• Advise you on different types and duration of exercise.
• If you are overweight or obesity is affecting your mental health.
• Find out if you need weight reduction surgery or not.

Obesity disease symptoms may keep getting worse if not addressed at the right time. We all know that several health risks are linked to obesity, but the good news is that you can still prevent and improve your health status starting today. The risks are worth your attention, as they are manageable and reversible. 

Are you stuck on how to go about starting a healthy lifestyle? Or obesity symptoms and causes? Or a good workout plan? Or a tailored diet plan? Contact our care team at HexaHealth to get the best guidance. Our experts will help you throughout your journey of fighting obesity towards a healthier you. Of course, it will take some exploring to land on the right formula for you, but with HexaHealth, your journey may seem easy and achievable.

What are the symptoms of obesity?

Symptoms of obesity include weight gain, excess body fat, extra pressure on the joints causing pain, intolerance to heat, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, irregular menstrual cycles, infections in skin folds, fatigue, etc.

Book Appointment

What illness causes obesity?

Hormonal imbalance conditions like PCOS , psychological factors (depression, anxiety), and disability may cause obesity.

What foods stop obesity?

Eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes that have fibre and micronutrients and are low in fat may help you prevent or manage obesity. 

What foods should an obese person avoid?

How can obesity be treated, what are the three keys to preventing obesity, what is the best fruit for weight loss, does drinking water help in weight loss, does lemon water help you lose weight, how can i lose weight fast without exercise.

Eating a healthy diet and avoiding fast and sugary foods may help you achieve your goals. However, doing a little exercise is necessary to stay fit and active. 

Can you lose weight by not eating?

How much weight can you lose in a month, what is the best diet to follow.

The best diet is a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes with high fibre and micronutrients.

Will eating salad help me lose weight?

Which juice is good for weight loss at night.

Updated on : 12 October 2023

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES

12 Years Experience

HexaHealth Care Team

HexaHealth Care Team brings you medical content covering many important conditions, procedures falling under different medical specialities. The content published is thoroughly reviewed by our panel of qualified doctors for its accuracy and relevance.

Related Expert Doctors

Dr   Pradeep Kumar Singh

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,Cosmetology,Plastic Surgery

19 Years Experience

Dr   Priya Bansal

Plastic Surgery

14 Years Experience

Dr   Rajesh Kumar Watts

33 Years Experience

Dr   Amitabh Singh

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

35 Years Experience

Dr   Rashmi Taneja

Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery

Dr   Rajat Gupta

16 Years Experience

Dr   Richie Gupta

Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic Surgery

39 Years Experience

Dr   Shishir Agarwal

31 Years Experience

Related Hospitals

BH Salvas Hospital  

Chandan Palace

CDAS Super Speciality Hospital  

Malibu Town

Cloudnine Hospital, Sector 47  

MSJ House, Plot No. A-2, Vikas Marg

Cloudnine Hospital, Sector 14  

94, 4, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd

Diyos Hospital  

Indian Diagnostic Centre  

D-364, Rajori Garden Ext Rd

Lotus Hospital, Gurugram  

389, 3, New Mata Mandir Rd, Prem Nagar, Sector 13, Gurugram

Latest Health Articles

Difference between Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

• 1 June 2022

Top Exercise to Lose Belly Fat in 1 Week

• 19 December 2022

• 15 December 2022

How to Reduce Belly Fat without Exercise at Home?

• 4 January 2023

Weight Loss Surgery - Types, Procedure, Benefits, Side Effects

• 2 January 2023

Bariatric Surgery and Liposuction: Are They the Same or Different?

• 26 July 2022

10 Best Fruits for Weight Loss

• 3 January 2023

How to Burn Fat Fast at Home Naturally? - Best Ways

• 16 November 2022

Is Banana Good for Weight Loss? - Diet Advice and Benefits

Difference between Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery

• 14 February 2023

Related Treatments

Liposuction

Download HexaHealth App

Get free consultation with our expert doctors, store all your health records at one place and get real time updates of appointments, consultations & surgery.

• MPV Blood Test in Hindi
• MCH Blood Test in Hindi
• ESR Blood Test
• Double Marker Test
• HCT Blood Test in Hindi
• TB Gold Test
• CA 125 Blood Test
• CA 125 Test in Hindi
• ANC Profile Test
• Serum Iron Test
• Press & Media
• Medical Reviewers
• Privacy Policy
• Refund Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Editorial Policy
• All Doctors
• All Hospitals
• All Conditions
• All Treatments
• BMI Calculator
• English Blog
• HexaHealth Reviews

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

The Top Cause of Alcohol-Related Deaths Can Go Undetected for Years

Deaths from alcohol-related liver disease are rising, especially among younger adults and women.

By Dana G. Smith

Alcohol-related liver disease is the leading cause of death from excessive drinking — and while it’s curable in the earliest stages, many people don’t realize they have it until it’s too late to reverse.

Annual deaths caused by the disease are on the rise in the United States, having climbed 39 percent in recent years, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Death rates are highest in men and adults aged 50 to 64, though they are increasing more quickly among women and younger adults.

“People who are drinking are drinking more heavily than they were before, so I think that is the biggest factor,” said Dr. Jessica Mellinger, an assistant professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Michigan Medical School. And, she added, “we’re seeing that for the first time in this country, women are drinking as much as men.”

What is alcohol-related liver disease?

The first stage of the illness is fatty liver disease, or steatosis. This happens when fat starts to accumulate in the liver, which is responsible for metabolizing alcohol. In the second stage, excessive alcohol consumption activates the body’s immune system, causing inflammation in the liver.

“The two big ways that you can damage your liver are by putting fat into it and then by adding inflammation onto the fat,” Dr. Mellinger said.

If that damage continues, scar tissue can build up in the liver, leading to the third stage, cirrhosis. Approximately 20 percent of people with alcohol-related fatty liver disease will progress to cirrhosis.

Some people also develop alcohol-associated hepatitis, which is severe liver inflammation. This occurs most often in people with cirrhosis, but it can happen at any stage if people are drinking very heavily (eight to 10 drinks a day). Both liver cirrhosis and alcohol-associated hepatitis can be fatal.

What causes it?

The risk for alcohol-related liver disease increases when people drink more than the recommended limits: seven drinks a week for women and 14 for men. It goes up substantially for women who regularly consume more than three drinks per day and men who have more than four drinks per day, said Dr. Sasha Deutsch-Link, a fellow in gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. (Because women metabolize alcohol differently from men, they have a greater risk of disease if they drink the same amount.)

At that level of alcohol use, an estimated 90 percent of people have fat deposits in their livers. The fat can start to accumulate rapidly — in some cases, after just six months of heavy drinking, said Dr. Rohit Loomba, the chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at UC San Diego Health.

Cirrhosis takes years or decades to develop. As a result, severe liver disease is more common in older adults, though Dr. Deutsch-Link said she had seen 20-year-olds with cirrhosis or alcohol-associated hepatitis.

Metabolic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension, can also damage the liver. This puts people “at increased risk of progressing to liver disease more quickly at lower levels of alcohol consumption,” Dr. Deutsch-Link said. Worsening metabolic health among Americans may be another reason for the rise in deaths from alcohol-related liver disease.

What are the signs of liver damage?

There are no symptoms in the early stages of alcohol-related liver disease, which makes it difficult to identify.

“The majority of people who may be on their way to developing cirrhosis don’t even know that,” Dr. Loomba said.

When people are diagnosed in the first two stages, it’s often because blood tests have revealed abnormal liver function. These tests may be given as part of routine metabolic screening, or a doctor may recommend them if they are concerned about a patient’s drinking. If someone’s liver enzyme levels are abnormal, an ultrasound or M.R.I. can determine what stage of liver disease the person is in.

Often, though, liver disease is detected only when alarming symptoms appear in the late stages. A patient might have significant fluid and swelling in the abdomen, start vomiting blood or develop jaundice.

How is alcohol-related liver disease treated?

Because the liver can regenerate itself, the earliest two stages of liver disease can be reversed if the patient cuts out alcohol.

“The most important thing is stopping alcohol use for these patients,” Dr. Deutsch-Link said. To help with this, many liver clinics offer treatment for alcohol use disorder, including therapy, group programs or medication to reduce cravings.

Once someone has cirrhosis, “for the most part, that’s considered irreversible,” said Dr. Robert Wong, a clinical associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine. “And once you get to cirrhosis, you’re at much higher risk of complications, progression, liver cancer and, of course, death, unfortunately.”

However, Dr. Loomba noted that even with cirrhosis, if people stop drinking, “the risk of dying from cirrhosis in the next year goes down significantly.”

If you’re concerned about your liver health, experts said, the first step is to talk to a doctor and ask about liver function tests. The goal is to catch any issues as early as possible.

Dana G. Smith is a Times reporter covering personal health, particularly aging and brain health. More about Dana G. Smith