What causes obesity?

The simple answer: A caloric surplus.

Unfortunately, as simple as that is on the surface, it's not always easy to fix.

In the past, we had to move a lot to eat a little. Now we live in such a convenient overabundance that eating a lot takes little effort. Food is too easy, too cheap, too fast, and too tasty.

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What do we tell smokers? Quit smoking
What do we tell Alcoholics? Quit drinking alcohol
What do we tell Food-Aholics? Your busy life and society makes it too hard for you to be able to make good choices....

The real answer...eat less and move more.

So many sweeping generalisations, so little time.

The reasons for the obesity epidemic are complex and the fixes for it are going to be a long time coming.

Recent research into hunger hormones, genetics and even the role of viruses indicate there is more to the story than people simply being lazy, not to mention the socioeconomics of obesity.

Moralising about gluttony and blaming individuals shuts down inquiry and curiosity into a multi-factorial, complex problem with no easy answers.

Million dollar question. If anyone can effectively answer this they'll be rolling in the dough. Personally, there are many factors that cause obesity disease, environment, psychological, lack of knowledge, habits, poor community planing, stigmatization of obesity along with increasing acceptance, this "pull yourself up by the boot strap mentality" which does not serve to help an individual deep in the throws of an obesigenic lifestyle, addictive behaviors...ect ect.

That's just it, no one will be rolling in dough with the right answer because the right answer isn't sexy, it doesn't have a quick fix and people would much rather come up with a plethora of excuses.

Eat too much and don't exercise enough to offset the calories in that food is the answer. The right, simple, non sexy answer.

I still believe there are a million confounding factors that cause obesity. I guess I'm in the minority on this post because I dont think that telling someone they are obese simply due to being a lazy slob is helpful nor empathetic. But I'm weird I like to l try solve problems and help people. What caused me to be obese may be completely different from the next person, and I work every day to learn something new about myself and hopefully reverse the abysmal failure rate that every obese person faces. If it was that simple we'd all be "skinny."

Million dollar question. If anyone can effectively answer this they'll be rolling in the dough. Personally, there are many factors that cause obesity disease, environment, psychological, lack of knowledge, habits, poor community planing, stigmatization of obesity along with increasing acceptance, this "pull yourself up by the boot strap mentality" which does not serve to help an individual deep in the throws of an obesigenic lifestyle, addictive behaviors...ect ect.

That's just it, no one will be rolling in dough with the right answer because the right answer isn't sexy, it doesn't have a quick fix and people would much rather come up with a plethora of excuses.

Eat too much and don't exercise enough to offset the calories in that food is the answer. The right, simple, non sexy answer.

I still believe there are a million confounding factors that cause obesity. I guess I'm in the minority on this post because I dont think that telling someone they are obese simply due to being a lazy slob is helpful nor empathetic. But I'm weird I like to l try solve problems and help people. What caused me to be obese may be completely different from the next person, and I work every day to learn something new about myself and hopefully reverse the abysmal failure rate that every obese person faces. If it was that simple we'd all be "skinny."

Word! Well said.

The simple answer: A caloric surplus.

Unfortunately, as simple as that is on the surface, it's not always easy to fix.

In the past, we had to move a lot to eat a little. Now we live in such a convenient overabundance that eating a lot takes little effort. Food is too easy, too cheap, too fast, and too tasty.

I am liking this reply

What do we tell smokers? Quit smoking
What do we tell Alcoholics? Quit drinking alcohol
What do we tell Food-Aholics? Your busy life and society makes it too hard for you to be able to make good choices....

The real answer...eat less and move more.

That's lovely we tell other addicts to abstain, but we tell food addicts to just eat a little less of their addictive substance. It doesn't work to tell the alcoholic drink in moderation one to two glasses, so why do we assume it would work in the food addict? Have a little less crack, just gamble a few dollars, only have sex with 2 men a week, smoke a couple cigarettes, do coke once a month. Although I dont think the OP was referring to food addicts which need to be treated with a mental health professional...you all just made me go off onto a little tangent.

Eating too much and not getting enough exercise

my "sweet tooth!!

The simple answer: A caloric surplus.

Unfortunately, as simple as that is on the surface, it's not always easy to fix.

In the past, we had to move a lot to eat a little. Now we live in such a convenient overabundance that eating a lot takes little effort. Food is too easy, too cheap, too fast, and too tasty.

I am liking this reply

What do we tell smokers? Quit smoking
What do we tell Alcoholics? Quit drinking alcohol
What do we tell Food-Aholics? Your busy life and society makes it too hard for you to be able to make good choices....

The real answer...eat less and move more.

That's lovely we tell other addicts to abstain, but we tell food addicts to just eat a little less of their addictive substance. It doesn't work to tell the alcoholic drink in moderation one to two glasses, so why do we assume it would work in the food addict? Have a little less crack, just gamble a few dollars, only have sex with 2 men a week, smoke a couple cigarettes, do coke once a month. Although I dont think the OP was referring to food addicts which need to be treated with a mental health professional...you all just made me go off onto a little tangent.

We would..but they'd die!

So therefore it needs to be handled with a different approach? I see that some feel stigmatization and demoralizing are a great answer. I dont know my own answer just take it one day at a time.

I seen some on here blaming there parent's for them being over weight.. REALLY.. Your parent's didn't make you eat all your food after you was grown. We as adults make our on choices as to how we eat and what we put in our mouths. I COULD set all day long and blame my parent's but truth is I'M THE ONE TO BLAME not them I could have moved more ate less but I didn't so here I am at my heaviest. Now it's time to change all that for my better health.

So therefore it needs to be handled with a different approach? I see that some feel stigmatization and demoralizing are a great answer. I dont know my own answer just take it one day at a time.

OP asked what we "think" the most common reasons are for obesity. People gave their "opinions". No one is "demoralizing" anyone, no one came to you and said "You lazy, overeating" anything.

If you read my other post you'll see that I recognize it is a generalization and most likely an over-estimation of a much more complex issue. No one here is going to solve it.

I seen some on here blaming there parent's for them being over weight.. REALLY.. Your parent's didn't make you eat all your food after you was grown. We as adults make our on choices as to how we eat and what we put in our mouths. I COULD set all day long and blame my parent's but truth is I'M THE ONE TO BLAME not them I could have moved more ate less but I didn't so here I am at my heaviest. Now it's time to change all that for my better health.

Of course we all have responsibility, but you cant move foward unless you know on what ground you are starting from. If one didnt have the foundation of a healthy life and does not have the education you cant expect them to make a radical 180. If one grow up in a home and all they did was eat out you cant expect for him/her to start cooking. If you grew up eating chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese you can't expect that person will eat brussel sprouts. That's why its so critical as a parent to know about nutrition because those little people completely rely on you to nourish them and teach them. I applaud anyone on MFP, although sometimes misguided, he or she is seeking information or help to live healthier that his or her parent may have completely neglected to teach.

allergies

So therefore it needs to be handled with a different approach? I see that some feel stigmatization and demoralizing are a great answer. I dont know my own answer just take it one day at a time.

OP asked what we "think" the most common reasons are for obesity. People gave their "opinions". No one is "demoralizing" anyone, no one came to you and said "You lazy, overeating" anything.

If you read my other post you'll see that I recognize it is a generalization and most likely an over-estimation of a much more complex issue. No one here is going to solve it.

I didnt say you where demoralizing. I've read a few other posts I found demoralizing, and I would think that they would not say that to another persons face. I realize you were generalizing, and of course no one will solve it because it's a complex situation. Which was my original argument and therefore I am now crowned MFP weiner!

Definition



Obesity is being at least 30 percent over the ideal body weight for your height. This condition is defined as excessive amount of body fat, in relation to the lean muscle in your body. While consuming more calories then the body needs causes obesity, there are also internal mechanisms that can have an effect, including your appetite, metabolism and satiety from food. While many believe obesity stems from behavioral issues, hormonal and genetic problems can create deficiencies in internal body functions, causing obesity as well.


Main Causes



The two main causes of obesity in America are fast food and lack of exercise. Fast food contains extremely high levels of fat, calories and carbohydrates that your body doesn't need. As portion sizes at these establishments have risen, so has the caloric intake for those who eat there regularly.

Another major cause for obesity in America is lack of exercise. As work, school, television and video games have started taking up more time in the day, exercise and spending time outdoors as been squeezed out. Schools have taken physical education courses out of the required curriculum. Exercise is not a priority for many American adults.





Other Reasons



Getting too little sleep can increase your body weight. As Americans are sleeping less, obesity is rising. Hormonal changes are caused by lack of sleep, which can increase your appetite causing you to eat more than your body needs.

Doctors continue prescribing more prescription drugs to Americans, including steroid hormones, diabetes drugs, contraceptives and antidepressants. Many of these drugs cause changes in the body, which can lead to overeating and weight gain.

For many Americans, obesity tends to run in families. While family members share genetic links, other reasons include similar dietary, attitude, lifestyle, and physical exercise habits, which are all causes of obesity.



Read more: 5 Causes of Obesity in America | eHow http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5558417_causes-obesity-america.html#ixzz2TJTZ6Blm

What causes obesity?
130# of ob fat bump

Using apostrophes to pluralise words.