Obesity: Symptoms, Classes, & Causes

In 2022, there were an estimated 37 million overweight children who were only under five (5) years old. There were also 390 million overweight and obese kids and adolescents aged from five (5) to eighteen (18). In terms of adults, 2.5 billion were overweight and 890 million were obese. These numbers will only go higher from here. 

At this point, there is a lot of misinformation about obesity going around. It’s an intricate global concern, not one person’s failing. In this piece, we will review the facts about obesity, including definitions, symptoms, classes, & causes.

What Is Obesity?

Obesity is a chronic complex medical condition which is characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat. Due to the presence of these extra fat deposits, it can increase the risk of other pressing medical issues including: 

• Sleep apnea
• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Kidney problems
• Liver disease 
• Stroke 
• Some types of cancer

What Are the Causes of Obesity?

Obesity can start from a variety of factors intermingling with each other. Some people are genetically predisposed to gain more weight while others have other underlying conditions.

Genetics

Genetics can both directly and indirectly be a cause of obesity. A direct link can be found in cases such as Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic condition that affects a child’s metabolism. In a recent clinical review, scientists have identified over 500 genes that can indirectly impact your risk of obesity. 

Certain genes can dictate how your body craves food, how it uses it, and where it stores fat. These obesity-related genes can influence your body by facilitating specific changes in processes like: 

• Fat circulation levels 
• Fat depositions
• Blood pressure  
• Inflammatory responses metabolism 

The data here shows more of a trend instead of a definitive lead. In particular circumstances, genetics could only make it more likely for individuals to gain weight. No one gene can globally cause obesity. 

Everyday Activity

A person’s habits and everyday activity can greatly impact their ability to gain or maintain a certain weight level. These include sleep quality, physical movement, and eating patterns. Insufficient quality sleep, for instance, promotes hormone imbalance, causing you to overeat. 

With regards to eating patterns, there’s a 20% higher obesity risk if you have a high meat/fat pattern. There are also higher odds if you don’t have a diverse diet or consume excess calories. Moreover, the excess calories stay in your system without the benefit of healthy physical activity.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

The social determinants of health (SDOH) are the environmental conditions surrounding a person or a group of people. It showcases where they are born, learn, play, work, age, and live. They generally show the factors that can guide health outcomes. 

Everyone is in a different environment and has their individual or group conditions. In most cases, these conditions don’t fully support them health-wise. These differences affect the risk levels of chronic disease outcomes like obesity. Some examples of SDOH are as follows:

• Access to affordable quality health services
• Basic amenities 
• Early childhood development 
• Environment 
• Education 
• Food insecurity 
• Housing 
• Income protection
• Job insecurity and unemployment 
• Non-discrimination and social inclusion 
• Social protection 
• Structural conflict 
• Working life conditions

Medications

A lot of medications do have some underlying side effects that can occasionally make you gain more weight. For example, many steroids increase your appetite when you take them. They also affect how your body deposits fat and its metabolism. 

Other medications that can cause unwanted weight gain are: 

• Diabetes medication 
• Antidepressants 
• Antipsychotic medicines 
• Heartburn drugs 
• Anti-seizure medication 
• Beta-blockers
• Hormone therapy/contraceptives

Illnesses

Some people have certain medical conditions that make them predisposed to put on weight. An example of such a condition would be hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland). Hypothyroidism gives you low thyroid levels, slowing down your metabolism and making you burn less fat for energy. Other conditions include Cushing syndrome and arthritis, like knee osteoarthritis.

What Are the Symptoms of Obesity?

One of the main determinants healthcare providers use to diagnose obesity is the body mass index (BMI). It can measure whether a person has a healthy weight relative to height. BMI uses weight in pounds and height in inches, or weight in kilograms and height in metres. 

You first multiply your weight in pounds by the number 703. Then, divide the sum by your height in inches. Lastly, divide that sum by your height in inches one more time. Another way to calculate BMI is by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared.

What Are the Ranges of BMI?

Regular BMI is based on the average weight and height of Caucasians or people of European descent. The typical BMI scores and ranges are as follows:

Individuals with a Middle Eastern, Asian, African-Caribbean, or Black African background will have a different range. Usually, a lower BMI score is used to measure overweight and obesity.

What Are the Classes of Obesity?

Medical professionals use a system using BMI to categorise obesity into several classes. The levels in and above the Obese categories are divided into three (3) more parts: Class I, II, and III. 

Please note that these classes and BMI scales are general ways to measure levels of obesity. BMI doesn’t precisely predict health levels and liabilities. 

What Should We Do About Obesity?

We can’t curb the obesity epidemic all in one go. We can start with small steps by ourselves or with our group. Nobody can solve this complex predicament overnight, but each act counts. Look over the following suggestions and see which ones will work for you.

Physical Activity

Ideally, three (3) to five (5) year-old kids should be active per day. While they age, sixty-plus (60+) minutes of physical activity should be enough. For adult-aged individuals, 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity should be part of their weekly routine. 

It’s also great when as many people as possible have access to environments that promote them. Talk to local groups about how to adapt more walking and bike riding in your and other neighbouring communities.

Sleeping Patterns

The amount of sleep that individuals lessen over time. Infants need around fourteen (14) to seventeen (17) hours of sleep. Once in your teens, that number drops to eight (8) to ten (10) hours. Adults only need seven (7) to nine (9) hours of sleep to properly function.

Eating Habits

Try to add more diversity to every meal. Make things more colourful with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Lean meats, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products are good options to add as well. Keep in mind that dietary fibre helps with weight management, and additional protein sources make you feel full for longer. Manage foods with excess solid fats, sugar, and sodium. 

You can discipline your food intake at home, but some establishments like schools and workplaces might not have these options. See what you can do to change that by meeting with officials and managers of said places.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

It’s best to start healthier alternatives as early as possible. There are early care programs that show parents what children need as they grow up like infant feeding. Education systems should also have nutrition standards, physical activity, etc. 

Moreover, residents of particular communities can reap the benefits of initiatives and programs in their neighbourhoods. Community members can work with public health practitioners and officials to break health barriers for everyone.