Understanding Obesity: Causes, Effects, and Prevention

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Obesity is a condition that causes one to have excess fat in the body. In some cases, obesity is
caused by genetics and environmental elements which makes controlling dieting very difficult.
It's characterized by a Body Mass Index of more than 30. BMI is a parameter that is used when
measuring obesity. Obesity makes people vulnerable to dangerous diseases such as stroke, heart
disease, high cholesterol, heart diseases, and some types of cancers, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea
and gallbladder disease.
Genetics, behavior, and environment cause obesity:
Environment- The environment structures a person's lifestyle and routines. There are
environmental factors that affect an individual's negatively and positively (Mauvais,2015). Most
people in this era have adopted an inactive lifestyle; they have abandoned jogging,(Skinner et
al.,2016) walking and all other forms of exercise. They drive cars and use lifts instead of stairs;
technology has replaced physical activity.
Behavior- adopting unhealthy behaviors leads to obesity like poor eating habits. The food that
people eat is filled with unhealthy fats( Mozaffarian,2016). Eating junk food and not exercising
is hazardous to one's health. The food that people eat today have few nutrients required for a
healthy diet due to the increase in calories, and yet they are not engaging in physical
activity(Ogden et al.,2016). Exercise is essential in rectifying people's behavior. Televisions,
computer games and other forms of technology encourage obesity since people sit for long hours
playing computer games and watching Television without exercise.
Genes-Scientists have proven that genes contribute to obesity. Specific disorders that are
developed by genes led to obesity.

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For obesity to be avoided there is need to modify one's behavior. By substituting junky feeds and
other feeds fill with too many calories, with nutritious feeds like vegetables(Ng et al., 2014).
Increasing physical exercise-jogging, walking, using stairs and doing house chores. Learn to
nourish the body properly. Engaging in extracurricular activities like the participant in the local
competition in your area and setting achievable on weight management.
Deciding to change a habit or a lifestyle is very challenging. People trying to change should get
support from family members and friends (Dettori et al., 2009). It is important because it impacts
positively on someone's health. Starting physical exercise programs is also important because
most people live a sedentary lifestyle (Flattum et al.,2015).The programs can be commercial or
non-clinical, they could be privately owned, or physician supervised weight loss program,
provides medical treatment in a clinic set up run by professional health officers such as a doctor,
a nurse, and a dietitian. The programs offer education on nutrition, exercise, and how to modify
unwanted behaviors. The KOALA program is an example a program that provides training on
weight loss.
The KOALA program ran research to investigate the physical appearance and physical ability of
over-weight and non-overweight kids. Its primary purpose was to conclude in a randomly
organized attempt the impact of the three Ps, Positive parenting program, Eat Well Be Active
Scouts Camp Program on BMI in overweight children and family.
Cognitive elements
The study showed there was a need for behavioral change ( behavioral capability this is defined
as one's ability to do a task via essential skills and knowledge). To perform a duty successfully,
one has to understand what is required of him and how the work is done. Through this, they
observed children who were overweight scored lowly on all strength abilities, for example,