The Multiple Causes of Obesity

Abstract

Obesity is known to cause physical and metabolic diseases. It is often assumed by people (including the healthcare workers) that the person with obesity lacks self-control in matters of diet and physical exercise, and is therefore responsible for his or her weight. Persons with obesity have to face sarcasm, barbs, and discrimination due to their condition. They often have difficulty in getting jobs or have to accept lower than standard pay for their work. Although weight gain requires calorie intake in excess of calorie expenditure, it is sometimes not easy for the person to restrict calories due to the underlying causes of obesity. The body resists losing weight, and attempts to hoard calories by reducing the metabolic rate. In this chapter we have explained and classified the causes of obesity into endogenous and exogenous. The endogenous causes include genetic and epigenetic causes, maternal factors, and hormonal causes, while exogenous causes include obesogenic environment, lifestyle, and weight-gain promoting medicines. It must be realized that losing weight and keeping it off is not easy for a person with obesity.

Ultra-Processed Food Addiction: An Epidemic?

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Sensitization Lectures for Reducing Weight Bias in Undergraduate Medical Students

“…The prevalence of obesity based on body mass index and abdominal obesity was 13.85% and 57.71%, respectively, in 2019-21 [ 10 ]. Since obesity is associated with various medical conditions [ 11 ], physicians can expect more encounters with such patients in their practice. Overt expression of bias is relatively rare in healthcare as socially aware physicians and nurses attempt to be impartial in patient care.…”

A low-calorie meal replacement improves body composition and metabolic parameters in shift workers with overweight and obesity: a randomized, controlled, parallel group trial

“…Overweight and obesity results from complex interactions between environmental and biological factors, with environmental changes contributing to its rapid increase [ 5 ]. These factors can be broadly categorized into endogenous (genetic, epigenetic, maternal, hormonal) and exogenous (obesogenic environment, lifestyle, medications) causes [ 6 , 7 ]. Several factors have been proposed as potential mediators including unhealthy dietary habits, low recreational physical activity, sleep deprivation, increases in alcohol consumption, and disruption of the circadian rhythm [ 2 ].…”