The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.
Globally, there has been:
An increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars; and
An increase in physical inactivity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization.
Changes in dietary and physical activity patterns are often the result of environmental and societal changes associated with development and lack of supportive policies in sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, food processing, distribution, marketing, and education.
The roots of obesity run deep.
Together we can create a healthier future.
Simplifying the disease to any one cause can make treating it even harder. So we must raise awareness and improve access to the appropriate information
BIOLOGY The human body has in-built mechanisms to protect itself from starvation – this can make it hard to maintain weight loss.
FOOD Ultra-processed food, now seen across the globe, is contributing to the rapid rise in obesity.
GENETIC RISK Our genes account for somewhere between 40-70% of likelihood of developing obesity.
HEALTHCARE ACCESS Without access to trained healthcare professionals, most people who suffer from obesity won’t reach and maintain a healthy long-term weight goal.
LIFE EVENTS Prenatal life, early adulthood, pregnancy, illnesses and medications can all influence weight gain.
MARKETING There is a complex relationship between food systems and health, with marketing of foodstuffs having a known link to obesity.
MENTAL HEALTH Symptoms of some mental health disorders, and their associated medications, can lead to weight gain.
SLEEP Lack of sleep disturbs hormones which can affect your weight – as can high levels of stress.
STIGMA Weight discrimination and stigma can have significant consequences for somebody with obesity
Risk factors of Obesity:
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death worldwide.
Being overweight can also lead to diabetes and its associated conditions, including blindness, limb amputations, and the need for dialysis. Carrying excess weight can lead to musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis.
Obesity is also associated with some cancers, including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney and colon. The risk of these noncommunicable diseases increases even when a person is only slightly overweight and grows more serious as the body mass index (BMI) climbs.
Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature onset of related illnesses. Studies have found that without intervention, children and adolescents with obesity will likely continue to be obese into adulthood.
