Many people blame obesity on poor dietary choices and inactivity, but that’s not the whole story. It’s true that in most cases obesity is caused by taking in more calories than the body needs to use in daily activities. However, there are other factors that can have an effect on body weight and obesity.
Here are some of the factors that may impact obesity:
Family history and genes – genetics and family history may contribute to a person’s tendency to gain weight. Your genes may affect the amount of fat you store in your body and where on your body you carry the extra fat. Your chances of being overweight are greater if one or both of your parents are overweight or obese.
Age and Sex – many people gain weight as they get older. Women tend to accumulate fat in the thighs and buttocks. Men usually accumulate belly fat .
Prenatal factors, birth, infancy, and childhood habits – a mother’s weight, unhealthy eating habits learned in childhood, environment, and family history can all increase the likelihood of childhood and adult obesity. That is why exercise habits and nutrition education during childhood may be the most valuable prevention against obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.
Race or ethnicity – some racial and ethnic minority groups like African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Caucasian people are more likely to have obesity. Social, ethnic, or religious group culture may also affect your weight. And cultural dietary habits and preparation practices consisting of foods high in calories, fat, and sugar may lead to weight gain over time.
Hormones – sometimes there is an imbalance in the hormones that regulate hunger and the feeling of fullness. These hormones can have a very powerful effect on the body, causing the person to eat more and gain weight.
Gut bacteria – intestinal bacteria play an important role in our health. It has been found that in obesity the intestinal bacteria store more fat.
The good news
Although some factors related to obesity are beyond our control, there’s no reason why most people can’t lose excess weight. Your healthcare provider can take into account all the above factors and advise you about how to lose weight safely.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-reasons-obesity-is-not-a-choice#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3
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