Human Health Metabolism-Cancer, Obesity, and Diabetes

Obesity : Causes, Diet and Exercise

Obesity in a person is caused due to the excess body fat. obesity can increase a risk of number of diseases and health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Obesity is usually defined using a ratio of height to weight called body mass index (BMI), which calculates the amount of the fat present in the person's body.

Obesity occurs due to unhealthy diet, regularly eating and drinking of more calories than they use. Besides a person's eating behavior, number of factors results to obesity, which includes a lack of physical activity, a lack of sleep, genetics and the use of certain medications that can cause gain in the weight, such as corticosteroids, antidepressants or some seizure medications.

These health conditions also can lead to weight gain, including:

1. polycystic ovary syndrome - polycystic ovary syndrome can affect up to 10 percent of women of childbearing age and can also lead to excess body hair and reproductive problems.

2.Cushing's syndrome- Cushing's syndrome results from an overproduction of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal glands and is characterized by weight gain in the upper body, face and neck.

3.Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition in which people never feel full, and so they want to eat constantly.

A good dietitian can help to achieve a healthy weight and adopt healthier eating habits. Dietary changes for a short period of time is not the best way to keep weight off permanently. 5 to 10 percent decrease in the body weight include improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugars. Make small changes to your eating habits, reduce the number of calories containing food. Regular physical activity (60 to 90 minutes) is very important.