What is obesity?
Obesity is a complex health condition involving excess body fat that increases a person's risk for other diseases and health problems. Some key points about obesity include:
- Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is calculated based on your weight and height.
- It is caused by many factors like behavior, environment, genetics, emotions, and culture. Some major risks include eating high-calorie foods, lack of exercise, medical problems, family habits, stress, and socioeconomic status.
- Excess body fat leads to serious health complications like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing issues, and certain cancers.
- Losing as little as 5-10% of your body weight can have meaningful health benefits and reduced disease risk.
So in summary, obesity is not just about how you look on the outside but also greatly impacts health on the inside. Small sustainable lifestyle changes to eat healthier and be more active can make a big difference.