Is Obesity a Disease?

Obesity is an excess of body fat that frequentlyEnvironment strongly influences obesity. This includes
results in a significant impairment of health. Obesity is alifestyle behaviors such as eating habits and exercise.
known risk factor for chronic diseases including heartAlthough you can't change your genetic factor, you
disease, diabetics, high blood pressure, heart attackcan change your eating habits and levels of activity.
and various other forms of diseases. The symptomsEat nutritious food and be more physically active.
may be mild in some individuals, but they represent thePsychological factors-
early stages of a chronic and incurable disease. EvenMany people eat in response to negative emotions
in children with overweight, there is increased risk ofsuch a boredom, sadness or anger.
developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol levelsOther factors-
and other diseases.Some illness can lead to obesity or a tendency to gain
According to most references, a person is classifiedweight. Drugs such as steroids may cause weight gain.
as obese, if he has a BMI of 30 or higher. ManyUnfortunately, obesity is difficult to manage, in part
classify obese as disease that affects the rest ofbecause the treatment is difficult and demanding and
one's body in negative ways, leading to increasedmust be sustained for a lifetime. Again, it is rarely
stress on the heart and other organs.covered by health insurance.
Although obesity is often considered as a disease, it isPhysicians find various ways to manage obesity by
technically only a condition-the condition in whichaltering lifestyle issues like diet and exercise and with
excess body fat is stored on the body. There areeffective medication. To lose weight and maintain
many factors that can contribute to excess body fatweight loss over the long term, it is necessary to
deposition. These factors can be divided into broadlymodify one's diet and engage in regular physical
two categories-genetic or inherited factors andexercise.
behavioral factors. Obesity has become so commonObesity is a serious risk to our health. Other than
these days that it is replacing traditional healthseveral health problems, emotional suffering is one of
concerns such as malnutrition and other infectiousthe painful parts of obesity. Obese people often face
diseases.prejudice or discrimination in the job market, at school
Obesity has more than one cause- genetic,and in social gatherings.
environmental, psychological, and many other factorsVarious treatment modalities applied for weight
play a part as well.reduction include diet regulation, behavior modification,
Genetic factors-prescribed exercises, medication, management of
Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting a geneticcomplications and surgery as the last resort. The
cause. Research says if one of the parents is obese,management of obesity consists of reduction in calorie
the possibility that their children will be obese is 40%. Ifintake, dietary modifications, increasing the physical
both the parents are obese, the chance that theiractivity, behavior therapy, medically approved drug
children will be obese goes up to 80%.therapy and if nothing works, surgical treatment.
Environmental factors-