Fat just does not play fair! Sometimes you can do everything right and you still pack on the pounds. Obesity has almost exclusively been attributed to poor dietary habits and lack of exercise. New scientific evidence points to some surprising and unexpected causes of obesity. Stay tuned for some fat busting facts.

People are often mistakenly judged because of their weight. It is easy to see the weight problems. There is no doubt when you look at a person who is overweight that they have a problem. The assumption is, more often than not, that the over weight person simply eats too much or lives a sedentary lifestyle. The impression is that they either don’t care or have no will power.

Eating habits and lack of exercise still play a significant role in weight gain. Many other causal links are now coming to light as more scientific research is being done. Obesity science is coming into its own and clinicians are at the forefront of the studies on the battle of the bulge.

Gene studies, hormone imbalance and viruses can play a role in obesity. The fat gene or FTO was discovered when human genome studies on type 2 diabetes were being conducted. Genetic markers that increased the predisposition to diabetes were being studied and the FTO gene was discovered.

Both men and women struggle with the process of weight loss. Sometimes it seems the more they try, the bigger they get. Weight loss pills, powders and programs are developed and sold to thousands of people everyday who are willing to try anything to lose weight. Eighty percent of North Americans are either over weight or obese.

Obesity is a significant risk factor for a number of serious health problems including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. As the baby boomer generation ages they are becoming more health conscious and the trend is to develop a healthier lifestyle which includes weight control.

Science is now proving what many overweight people have always suspected. Losing weight isn’t just about eating and exercising. The reasons and underlying factors that cause obesity are turning out to have a greater impact on fitness and fatness than we ever suspected. Unraveling the causes of obesity and how to lose weight will definitely give people the information needed to make healthy choices in their battle against fat.

Author: Paulette M Sherb
Provided by: How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

What is Obesity?

Obesity means an excessively high proportion of body fat. Overweight refers to an excess of body weight, but not necessarily body fat. Health professionals use a measurement called body mass index (BMI) to classify an adult’s weight as healthy, overweight, or obese. BMI describes body weight relative to height and is correlated with total body fat content in most adults. Generally, the higher your BMI, the higher your health risk, and the risk increases even further if your waist size is greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women.

People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallbladder disease, and joint pain caused by excess uric acid (gout). Excess weight can also cause interrupted breathing during sleep and wearing away of the joints (osteoarthritis). Carrying extra weight means carrying an extra risk for certain types of cancer, including endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

Losing Weight

Most overweight people should lose weight gradually. Sometimes, people with serious health problems associated with obesity may have legitimate reasons for losing weight rapidly. If so, a physician’s supervision is required. Experts recommend that people who are overweight or obese should concentrate on engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining healthy eating habits.

See your doctor for advice about your overall health risk and the weight loss options that are best for you. Together, decide whether you should go on a moderate diet or whether other options might be appropriate. Check with your doctor and make sure that your health status allows lowering your caloric intake and increasing your physical activity.

Successful weight loss and healthy weight management depend on sensible goals and expectations. Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity. Follow a calorie-reduced balanced diet that provides for 1-2 pounds of weight loss a week. Be sure to include at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, lean meat and low fat dairy products. Make time in your day for some form of physical activity. Walking is an excellent form of physical activity that almost everyone can do. In addition to helping to control weight, physical activity decreases the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and reduces the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.