10 main factors that contribute to obesity

August 11. 2021

Although we know about pandemics of viruses that occur, last for a certain period of time, and then eventually disappear, there’s a pandemic that’s taking over the world slowly but surely, and it’s called – obesity. It’s becoming one of the biggest health problems globally but seems to be neglected and put aside as entirely usual. People are quick to talk about obesity in terms of aesthetics and as a cosmetic concern, but it is actually a health condition that carries numerous health risks; heart diseases, high blood pressure, and diabetes are only a few. The number of obese people rises each year, which is why we believe it’s essential to get more informed about what causes weight gain and how to prevent it. Here are 10 main factors that contribute to obesity:

• Overeating
  One of the most significant factors that contribute to obesity is a pretty obvious one – it’s overeating. Meal sizes have generally increased in the last few decades, contributing to people consuming more calories than they can burn and gaining weight. Another common reason for overeating is due to emotional reasons; people tend to find comfort in the food they eat, and it’s typically food high in fat and sugar, and it’s from there known as comfort food. In addition to that, sugar has been shown to cause addiction, and it can get pretty challenging to get off of it. To curb your appetite, you may find appetite suppressants beneficial. 

• The consumption of processed food
  Our lifestyles seem to be getting faster each year. The food industry found this an excellent opportunity to present highly processed food such as frozen meals you can just put in your microwave for a few minutes and get a meal. Unfortunately, processed food is packed with empty calories and won’t leave you saturated for long, but it will likely be responsible for exceeding your recommended calorie intake. Wholefoods, on the other hand, will ensure you get all the essential nutrients and help you skip the snacks and escape those hunger attacks between meals. 

• Not enough activity, and not enough rest
  Physical activity is beneficial for virtually every aspect of your life, but so is rest. That’s why people who have a sedentary lifestyle tend to gain weight more quickly than those who either walk a lot or have regular workouts. On the other hand, not having a proper sleep schedule and not getting enough sleep can cause late-night snacking and seriously mess up your hormonal balance. Sleep deprivation causes your body to release a hunger-stimulating hormone called ghrelin, which results in you eating way more calories than you need. If you struggle with decreased energy, you may consider taking a lipo C Injection.

• Too much time spent in front of the TV
  It appears that people who watch TV more than two hours a day are more likely to gain weight and end up being obese. Couch potatoes are exposed to food advertisements that can significantly impact what they eat later on; ads can also cause cravings and trigger people to order what they saw on TV a minute ago. Additionally, people who spend hours in front of the TV typically snack more than those who don’t.

• Eating out and ordering in
  Unfortunately, less than 15% of families have a home-cooked meal together all seven days of the week; the rest have a habit of eating out or ordering in, which more than doubles the risk of obesity. This is mainly because restaurant food tends to be high in calories and low in essential nutrients. You can also rarely be sure about what you’re eating, as many restaurants don’t highlight the nutritional facts of their meals.

• Increased alcohol intake
  This may be one of the hidden factors that contribute to obesity for some people, but alcohol intake increases your chances of gaining weight. Alcohol is packed with empty calories, but it also causes hunger and dehydrates your body; it’s a combination you’ll want to stay away from. It can also significantly affect your food choices and leave you craving fast food and unhealthy snacks full of sodium.

• Toxic environment
  The environment you live in can have an immense impact on your diet. And, unfortunately, the world we live in is becoming a toxic environment in terms of food. Unhealthy but affordable food is advertised everywhere. Fast food is served in many schools and work canteens worldwide, leaving people no choice but to have a nutritionally depleted meal or prepare and bring food from home. 

• Hormone imbalance
  Several hormones are responsible for weight regulation in one way or another and can therefore contribute to obesity. The main ones include insulin, leptin, estrogen, growth hormone, and androgen. Anyone may experience hormone imbalance during the course of their life. Still, women are generally more frequently exposed to it since they pass through several body changes, including their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Hypothyroidism can also cause weight gain that sometimes ends with obesity.

• Unhealthy diets
  Ironically, one of the main factors that contribute to obesity is diet. Unhealthy diets and fad diets are growing in popularity nowadays since they offer a quick fix in weight loss. However, behind the weight loss are often seriously restrictive meal plans that forbid you to consume a particular type of food and sometimes even a whole food group. Once you initially lose some weight, you’ll most likely realize that such diets are not sustainable, and sooner or later, you’ll give up, gaining your weight back or gaining even more. 

• Genetics
  Although there’s still an ongoing discussion about whether or not genes impact obesity, it appears that they do; children of obese parents are more likely to be obese as well. Fortunately, other factors such as your diet choices and level of physical activity have a more significant impact on your weight and can help you overcome the predetermined weight.

Final thoughts

To successfully prevent obesity, it’s vital to understand and minimize the main factors that contribute to it. As you can see, some aspects are not entirely in your control, but that shouldn’t be taken as an excuse to give up on your desired weight and, more importantly, your health. Even if there are factors such as a specific health condition or medications that cause weight gain, there’s always room for a healthy diet and regular physical activity to reduce the risks of obesity. Many people have fought the odds and succeeded in preventing obesity by being dedicated and implementing healthy lifestyle changes, even though their genes or health conditions made it difficult. If you want to take the matter into your hands and reduce the number of factors contributing to you becoming obese, feel free to contact our weight loss clinic Chicago for further information.

Author

Nurse Walton

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Chanay received her Practical Nurse licensure and went to work in clinical specialties such as Home Health, Assisted Living, Long-Term Care and Dialysis Centers. Through this work, she realized the importance of diet, nutrition and weight loss among her patients. This led her to open A Better Weigh, Inc. Medical Weight Loss Center in 2009.