Obesity

Essay by Ca$hViLLeHigh School, 10th gradeA, April 2006

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There are many different causes of obesity, but three main causes of obesity are eating too many high-fat or refined sugary foods, reduced energy expenditure and the genes one is born with. People who tend to eat foods that are high in fat or contain a lot of calories in just a small portion are more likely to gain weight than people who fill their plates with large amount but low-calorie foods such as bread, potatoes and vegetables. People who eat more calories need to burn more calories, otherwise their calorie surplus is stored as fat. In order to burn those calories they need to exercise more. If one does not do any type of exercise they will gain weight and people who do exercise tend to be fit and less obese. Some people have a tendency to gain weight easily, whereas others seem to stay the same weight for many years without any conscious effort.

These differences may be due to genetic factors. Many genes have been identified that either increase or decrease appetite. This means that some people are hungrier than others or need to eat more food before they feel full. This increases the chances of obesity.

There are many health risks of obesity. Four major health risks of obesity are increased risk of heart disease, increased health risk of stroke, increased health risk of breathing problems and increased health risk of cancers. There is a greater chance for an obese person to get heart diseases such as heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death and angina or chest pain. Also high blood pressure is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who are healthy. Atherosclerosis or narrowing of the arteries, which may lead to the formation of an arterial...