Obesity could be caused by a combination of the following:

  • The genes you inherited from your parents
  • How well your body turns food into energy
  • Your eating and exercising habits
  • Your surroundings
  • Psychological factors.

What are the consequences from Obesity?

If you are obese, severely obese, or morbidly obese, you may have:

  1. Major health risks
  2. Psychological and social well-being risks, and
  3. Difficulties with day-to-day living.

 

 

Major health risks

  • Shorter life expectancy
  • Compared to people of normal weight, obese people have a 50% to 100%
  • increased risk of dying prematurely
  • Obese people have more risk for:
  • Diabetes (Type 2)
  • Joint problems (eg. arthritis)
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Certain types of cancer (eg. breast, uterine, colon)
  • Digestive disorders (eg. gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GORD)
  • Breathing difficulties (eg. sleep apnea, asthma)
  • Psychological problems such as depression
  • Problems with fertility and pregnancy
  • Urinary Incontinence

 

Psychological and social well-being risks

  • Normal tasks become harder when you are obese, as movement is more difficult
  • You tend to tire more quickly and you find yourself short of breath
    Public transport seats, telephone booths, and cars may be too small for you
  • You may find it difficult to maintain personal hygiene