Weight-related risks: Their identification and additional insights
Obesity is a health condition diagnosed when a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or higher. This complex health issue is influenced by a variety of factors, ranging from environmental and social circumstances to biological traits.
Environmental Factors
The dietary environment plays a significant role in obesity risk. High intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are energy-dense and promote overconsumption, directly contributes to obesity. Lack of exercise and sedentary behavior are also key contributors, while poor sleep or insufficient sleep leads to increased hunger and preference for sugary, high-calorie foods.
The environment a person lives in can also impact their likelihood of developing obesity. Factors include food availability, food perceptions, lack of access to physical activity areas, higher crime rates, changes in work environments, and social inequalities that can lead to food insecurity and disruptions in dietary patterns. Certain medications, such as antipsychotics, insulin, beta-blockers, antidepressants, some forms of birth control, and glucocorticoids, may contribute to weight gain.
A rise in sedentary lifestyles due to urbanization, access to transportation, changing employment, and lack of physical movement contributes to the global increase in obesity.
Social Factors
Socioeconomic factors can significantly influence obesity risk. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups may have limited access to healthy foods and safe environments for physical activity, increasing obesity risk. This is particularly true for urban populations and certain demographic groups, including females, particularly non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, or Hispanic individuals; people living in rural neighborhoods; people with low income; and people with less education.
Family and social environment also play a role. Children of obese parents are at a much higher risk due to shared genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Families with poor diet habits and low activity levels tend to have children following similar patterns.
Biological Factors
Thousands of variants in genetics make it difficult to treat and prevent genetically based obesity. At least 15 different gene defects account for monogenic obesity cases, which refer to obesity that results from a deficiency or mutation of one particular gene. High stress levels can affect the brain and cause a person to eat more and store more fat.
Obesity can lead to several health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers. Certain health conditions, such as Cushing's syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, underactive thyroid, and other conditions that limit activity levels or cause changes to metabolism, can increase a person's risk of having obesity.
Managing Obesity
Individuals can make small changes to start increasing their activity levels, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going for short walks, or playing a sport recreationally. Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, unsaturated fat sources, and complex carbohydrates can help manage weight. Consuming less than 10% of daily calories from added sugar and saturated fat is also recommended.
It's important to note that obesity affects approximately people in the United States. If you start to gain weight for unknown reasons, have obesity, or for regular health checks to prevent complications resulting from obesity, consider speaking with a doctor. A healthcare professional may be able to help manage your weight safely while they use medications.
In conclusion, obesity risk arises from a complex interaction of environmental (e.g., food and physical activity environment), social (e.g., SES, family habits), and biological factors. Disadvantaged groups often disproportionately experience these risks due to structural inequalities and lifestyle constraints.
- The consumption of ultra-processed foods can lead to obesity, as they are energy-dense and promote overconsumption, while lack of exercise and sedentary behavior also contribute significantly to the issue.
- A person's living environment can impact their likelihood of developing obesity, with factors such as food availability, food perceptions, and access to physical activity areas and safe environments playing a role.
- Certain medications can contribute to weight gain, such as antipsychotics, insulin, beta-blockers, antidepressants, some forms of birth control, and glucocorticoids.
- Social factors, including socioeconomic status, family, and social environment, can influence obesity risk, with lower socioeconomic status groups often having limited access to healthy foods and safe environments for physical activity.
