Obesity

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much; the excess weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Still, both terms mean that a person's weight is greater than what is considered healthy for his or her height. In the United States, more than 1 in 3 adults are considered obese.

Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use; your body stores the excess calories as fat. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might affect your weight include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active.

Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern. Obesity increases the risk of diseases and health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers. However, even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity. Dietary changes, increased physical activity, and lifestyle modifications can help you lose weight. Losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent the health problems associated with diabetes. Prescription medications and weight-loss surgery are additional options for treating obesity.

Simply, obesity occurs when you consume more calories than you burn through exercise and normal daily activities. Your body stores these excess calories as fat.

Genetic, behavioral, and hormonal factors can influence body weight and metabolism, and obesity can sometimes be traced to a medical cause. However, such disorders are rare and, in general, the principal causes of obesity are:

• inactivity. If you are sedentary, you can easily take in more calories every day than you use through exercise and normal daily activities.
• unhealthy diet and eating habits. Weight gain is inevitable if you regularly eat more calories than you burn. Most Americans' diets are high in calories and are include fast food and high-calorie beverages.

Poor sleeping habits or lack of sleep can increase the risk of obesity, as can age, pregnancy, and smoking.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about a healthy-weight plan, especially if you have related conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or sleep apnea. Support and treatment can lower your risk of serious health problems.