The Epidemic of Obesity in Adults and Children

The definition between overweight and obese is the line between twenty nine and thirty for adults. This refers to the body mass index (BMI) as calculated by weight divided by height. A similar distinction is true for children and teens though the calculation of the BMI is slightly different for individuals in those age groups.

There are three factors that are known to play important roles in obesity for both child and adult. There are also other factors that seem to play a role. These are continuing to be studied and will be touched on later in this article. The three known factors are:

• Genes
• Diet
• Activity

These three factors are significant in each individual. Understanding their role in obesity and your own condition relative to overall health can prove useful. Shaping a healthy lifestyle is a long term commitment. It involves education and determination.

In some cases genetic factors can result in conditions that directly cause obesity. This is true in the child and the adult, Prader Willi syndrome is one example of this. In instances of genetic problems it is recommended that you consult a doctor. In some cases detecting the genes before the syndrome fully develops may be helpful. There may also be ways to combat the obesity that occurs with such syndromes.

Diet has come to be known as an obvious factor. However, it is often an underestimated factor. While realities such as genetics and even activity will determine how your body processes food, the number of calories that you consume has a simple and direct impact on your weight. What has come to be referred to as the Caloric Balance Equation is a good way of understanding the relation.

If you imagine that on one side of a scale you have the calories that you consume and on the other side of the scale you have your body functions and the activities that you engage in then you have an image of what occurs in the body. If more calories are consumed than used then weight can increase; if fewer calories are consumed than used then weight will likely decrease. This makes a healthy diet important for adult and child.

Activity affects your obesity in a number of ways. First, as seen in the caloric balance, an increase of activity may tip the scales in a downward direction itself. In addition though activity often results in the burning of fat and the building or toning of muscle. These may contribute to an overall increase in metabolism (or calories used for body function). That can further increase the calories that your body uses simply to function and further reduce your weight.

Unfortunately diet and activity are not often healthy in child or adult within the United States. Likewise, worldwide obesity has reached a disturbing level. As a result studies are beginning to examine such things as environment as possible factors in child and adult obesity. The group occurrence of many of the high level populations seems to suggest that environment does play a role.

Hopefully with continued study, medicine will become better able to help both child and adult populations to live healthier and happier lives free from obesity.