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Gone is the simplistic notion that obese people don't have willpower or they are too lazy to exercise. Although the basis of obesity is not only fully understood, the condition has been recognized since at least 1985 as a chronic disease caused by a complex set of factors.
Genes
Studies show that obesity runs in families. If one or both of your parents are obese, your obesity risk is higher because genes determine your body shape and, to some extent, your weight. Just because you are vulnerable to obesity, however, doesn't mean your fate is sealed. You can defy Mother Nature by learning to control your diet and by exercising regularly. In certain cases, medication or surgery also can help.
Fatty foods
Hot dogs, Big Macs, french fries, macaroni and cheese, nachos, potato chips, ice cream -- all these high-fat American favorites are cheap, accessible and delicious. Is it any surprise that fatty foods are contributing to the soaring obesity rates in this country?
Lifestyle
If you spend most of your time at a desk or on a sofa, your risk for obesity is higher. Likewise, the risk is higher for people whose fat intake makes up more than 30 percent of their daily calories. Studies show people who get 20 to 30 minutes of exercise most days are less likely to be obese. Your obesity risk is even lower if you combine an active lifestyle with a low-calorie diet.
Metabolic rate
This term refers to the rate at which your body uses food. If your metabolism tends to be slow, you are more likely to store excess calories in the form of fat. A slow metabolism means you probably need to work harder at losing weight. However, your efforts may ultimately increase your metabolic rate. Muscle burns more calories than fat, even at rest. So reducing fat and building muscle through weight-bearing exercise can help you burn calories more efficiently.
Psychology
Some people overeat (binge) when they feel stressed out or depressed. Research shows that about 30 percent of obese people are binge eaters. According to psychotherapist Shelia Harbet, Ph.D., binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of negative feelings. Unfortunately, binging is usually followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust and depression.
"Often, binge-eating episodes are followed by resolutions by the compulsive overeater to stop bingeing and adhere to diets," says Harbet, a professor in the department of health sciences at California State University, Northridge. "These resolutions are eventually broken, filling compulsive eaters with guilt and depression, leading them back to binge eating again."
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External Sources
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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American Obesity Association
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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