What is Obesity and What are its Causes?

Obesity is a condition that occurs when your body accumulates too much fat to harm your health. Excess weight is not only an aesthetic problem, but also a serious health problem that invites many diseases. Obesity can be diagnosed when 25-30% of body weight in women and more than 25% in men consists of fat.

So, what causes obesity?

Obesity does not develop due to a single cause. Many factors, from environmental factors to eating habits, from genetic predisposition to lifestyle, can trigger this condition. In short, we can list the reasons as follows;

• Environmental factors: Sedentary lifestyle, fast food consumption, unhealthy eating habits.

• Social factors: Stress, irregular sleep, wrong nutrition culture.

• Economic factors: Difficulty in accessing quality and healthy food, work tempo not allowing for a healthy life.

• Genetic factors: The risk is higher in people with a family history of overweight and obesity.

Obesity and Health Risks

Excess weight not only limits your mobility; it also causes serious health problems. Especially fat accumulated in the abdominal area can cause serious health problems called metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of heart attack. In the long term, it creates a great risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and even some types of cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, the obesity rate has doubled in the 20th and 21st centuries. It has now become a global health problem affecting not only adults but also children under the age of 5. This disease, which used to be seen only in developed countries, is now spreading rapidly in developing countries.

More than 3 million people die each year due to obesity-related diseases. However, it should not be forgotten that obesity is a preventable and treatable disease. It is possible to combat this disease by changing unhealthy eating habits, increasing physical activity and, when necessary, medical interventions.

How Does the Treatment Process Work?

Before starting treatment, we calculate your body mass index (BMI). This value is obtained by dividing your weight by the square of your height. If your BMI is 40 kg/m² and above, obesity poses a serious threat to your health and a treatment plan must be created at this point.

In summary; obesity is a serious disease that directly affects your quality and duration of life. But you should know that this situation is not incurable. With the right treatment, it is in your hands to take a step towards a healthy life!