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Why Overweight/Obese

Overweight and obesity develop over time when you take in more calories than you use, or when energy IN is more than your energy OUT. This type of energy imbalance causes your body to store fat.

 

Your body uses certain nutrients such as carbohydrates or sugars, proteins, and fats from the foods you eat to:

 

  • make energy for immediate use to power routine daily body functions and physical activity.

  • store energy for future use by your body. Sugars are stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. Fats are stored mainly as triglycerides in fat tissue.

  • The amount of energy that your body gets from the food you eat depends on the type of foods you eat, how the food is prepared, and how long it has been since you last ate.

obese, overweight, diet, slimmng

COMMON CAUSES

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Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits

Lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, not enough sleep, and high amounts of stress can increase your risk for overweight and obesity.

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Unhealthy Eating Habits

Some unhealthy eating behaviors can increase your risk for overweight and obesity.

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Lack Of Physical Activity

Lack of physical activity due to high amounts of TV, computer, videogame or other screen usage has been associated with a high body mass index. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as being physically active and reducing screen time, can help you aim for a healthy weight.

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Eating More Calories Than Usual

The amount of calories you need will vary based on your sex, age, and physical activity level. Find out your daily calorie needs or goals with the Body Weight Planner.

Eating too much saturated and trans fats

Eating foods high in added sugars

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Not Enough Sleep

Many studies have seen a high BMI in people who do not get enough sleep. Some studies have seen a relationship between sleep and the way our bodies use nutrients for energy and how lack of sleep can affect hormones that control hunger urges. Visit our Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency Health Topic for more information about lack of sleep.

 

High Amounts Of Stress

Acute stress and chronic stress affect the brain and trigger the production of hormones, such as cortisol, that control our energy balances and hunger urges. Acute stress can trigger hormone changes that make you not want to eat. If the stress becomes chronic, hormone changes can make you eat more and store more fat.

COMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

  • Metabolic Syndrome

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • High blood cholesterol and high triglyceride levels in the blood

  • Diseases of the heart and blood vessels such as high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and stroke

  • Respiratory problems such as obstructive sleep apnea , asthma, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome

  • Back pain  

  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

  • Osteoarthritis, a chronic inflammation that damages the cartilage and bone in or around the affected joint. It can cause mild or severe pain and usually affects weight-bearing joints in people who are obese. It is a major cause of knee replacement surgery in patients who are obese for a long time.

  • Urinary incontinence, the unintentional leakage of urine. Chronic obesity can weaken pelvic muscles, making it harder to maintain bladder control. While it can happen to both sexes, it usually affects women as they age.

  • Gallbladder disease

  • Emotional health issues such as low self-esteem or depression. This may commonly occur in children.

  • Cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, colon, rectum, kidney, endometrium, ovaries, gallbladder, breast, or liver.

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