Obesity or adiposity, is a medical condition which is characterized by a large amount of excess weight due to fat mass. Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index larger than 30. A BMI of 40 or more is also known as morbid obesity.

Obesity is mostly caused by an energy intake which exceeds energy consumption. In other words, when a person eats more than he or she expends during the day. As a consequence, the amount of body fat increases and the body grows heavier. One of the problems in treating obesity is that outside eating and exercise problems, psychological problems play an important role in maintaining the unhealthy lifestyle which has led to obesity in the first place. Other causes are thyroid problems or other hormone related disorders, however these are a large minority. In addition, obesity causes among others, a decrease in serum growth hormone levels which may make losing weight and reaching a healthy body composition even harder.

People with obesity are at increased risk for developing several complications or lifestyle related disorders such as diabetes type 2, cardiovascular disease, cancer, COPD but also depression and dementia. These complications are most likely the result of the decrease of growth hormone secretion, an increase in abdominal or visceral fat or other hormonal disorders related to obesity. Central to these symptoms is that they are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle which leads to being overweight or obese. In addition, obesity hinders people in daily functioning and it may have consequences for psychological functioning.

References:

-World Health Organization