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Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of 30 or more. This condition is considered as an
epidemic in first world countries such the US. Even poor countries where thousands are suffering
from malnutrition have their share of obese people. According to recent studies, there are over
300 million people worldwide who are obese. Statistics also show that more than 300,000 people
in the US die every year because of obesity. Unfortunately, it seems like the increasing rate of
obesity in many countries will continue. This alarming situation is brought about by several factors
although unhealthy diet is the main cause. Diet and obesity go hand and hand because what we
eat will definitely affect our weight.
Causes of Obesity
As mentioned above, there are several causes of obesity. These are metabolism, environment,
medical or psychiatric condition, genes, culture and lifestyle. Genes can cause obesity based on
recent studies done. People with two copies of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO
gene) are more at risk to obesity. In addition, some theories such as the thrifty gene hypothesis
assume that some ethnic groups are more at risk to obesity.
Culture, behavior, environment and lifestyle can also cause obesity. These four factors are usually
interrelated. A sedentary lifestyle can be affected by the culture, environment and behavior of a
person. This is the reason why most children whose parents are obese will probably become
obese in the future. Lack of exercise and physical activity greatly contributes to people becoming
obese.
Diet and Obesity
Diet and obesity are interrelated because whatever we eat and drink will have an effect to our
body. Normally a person just needs 3,500 calories per day to function properly. The problem is
most people these days consume more than 3,500 because they eat foods which have high
calories. Sweets, sodas and fast foods are a few examples of calorie-rich foods that people love to
eat. Most people think that obesity is caused by too much fat consumption. Fat especially
saturated fat can indeed add more pounds however; it is the intake of too much carbohydrate is
the main culprit of obesity. Diet and obesity are definitely connected so people should watch out
for what they eat. Even babies these days can become obese. The fact that people these days
prefer eating fast foods, sweet foods and processed foods instead of fruits and vegetables
definitely contribute to the dramatic increase of obesity rate.
Prevention
Since the connection between improper diet and obesity has been established, it is therefore

2. necessary for individuals to change their diet into a healthy one. Eating healthy such as eating
more fruits and vegetables is recommended instead of processed foods. In addition, avoid
sweetened drinks because they contribute greatly to the calorie pile up. Eating regularly is also
better than eating in between meals. There are many possible options when it comes to regular
eating. Some dietitians recommend small frequent meals (5 meals) everyday instead of three big
ones. Some people also say that not eating after 6 pm is also very effective. Obese people can
also ask their doctors for a weight loss plan. Aside from dieting, exercise as much as possible to
burn your extra calories. A 30 minute exercise everyday is recommended.
James has been writing articles about health issues for over 5 years. Please visit his latest website
about Obesity at Obesity Articles, with information relating to Diet and Obesity, and with ideas and
discussions that anyone suffering from this condition would be interested in.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Turner
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