What are the causes of obesity - Etiology?

However simple the question may sound, the answer to it is not all that simple. We cannot deny that excess weight results from positive energy balance or consistent consumption of excess calories than the body is able to expend. This means that obesity can be corrected by balancing the intake and output of calories consumed and expended. Thus, it is not an easy task to accomplish because obesity is the net result of a complex interplay of genetic predisposition towards fat storage and a number of environmental factors that determine the weight status of an individual. We cannot change our heredity but we can, to a certain extent, exercise control over environmental factors by carrying out suitable modifications in our life style. Indians as an ethnic group are at a disadvantage. It is a fact that for a given degree of obesity or BMI, Indians have higher body 'fat percent and visceral fat (fat around internal organs) than other populations which increases the risk of chronic degenerative diseases in later life. Let's enumerate the various etiological factors for obesity. We will learn about each of them in detail also,

• Genetic susceptibility
• Dietary habits
• Physical activity
• Affluence and abundant availability of food
• Psychological factors
• Hormonal imbalance
• Birth weight and childhood growth pattern