What is obesity, and what causes it？
Obesity is a condition that occurs when a person has an unhealthy amount of body fat or excess weight. If a patient has a high body mass index (BMI), a physician will typically diagnose them as obese.
Doctors use BMI to determine whether or not a patient's weight is appropriate for their age, sex, and height. It combines the individual's weight in kilograms divided by their height in meters squared.
A person with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 carries excess weight. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.
Other factors also contribute to the determination of a person's healthful weight. Including the waist-to-hip ratio, the waist-to-height ratio, and the volume and distribution of fat.
Obesity can increase a person's risk of developing a variety of other diseases, including metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and certain types of cancer.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that includes hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise or reducing weight can help prevent or reduce obesity. The majority of the diet is composed of fruits, vegetables, whole cereals, and water. Fresh foods and whole grains contain fiber, which can promote healthy digestion and prolong the feeling of fullness.
The causes of obesity include excessive caloric intake, sedentary lifestyle, insufficient sleep, endocrine disruptors, weight gain, and medications.
A defective gene known as the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) causes some instances of obesity. A 2013 study established a link between this gene and obesity, behaviors that contribute to obesity, an increased food intake, a preference for high-calorie foods, and an impaired capacity to feel full.
Numerous factors contribute to the development of obesity. Certain genetic traits can increase the risk for certain individuals. Most people will have a lower risk of obesity if they consume a healthful diet rich in fresh foods and engage in regular physical activity.
資料來源：Yvette Brazier (2021), “What is obesity, and what causes it?”. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323551.