Obesity occurs when you have an excessive amount of body fat. Usually obesity occurs hand in hand with overweight, but it is possible to have a "normal" weight or body mass index and still carry an excessive amount of fat on your frame. Have a health professional test your body fat percentage and work with your doctor, nutritionist or exercise specialist to develop a solution.
Caloric Imbalance
Weight gain and fat accumulation primarily result from imbalances from eating more calories than you burn off during the day. Calories that you don't use are stored as fat, and over time, those calories add up. If you're concerned that you're eating more than you're burning off, you may want to have your resting metabolism tested by an exercise physiologist at a university, fitness center or hospital. Metabolism is a highly individual number affected by factors such as sex, muscle mass, physical activity and genetics, and knowing your number can help you track your calories-in and calories-out more effectively.
Genetics
While scientists haven't figured out all the associations, obesity appears to run in families and does have a genetic association. If your mom and dad have a large frame and gain weight quickly, you may struggle with keeping weight off as well. This doesn't mean that you're destined to develop excess fat. The Weight-control Information Network points out that overweight families tend to share eating and exercise habits that could contribute to obesity as well. If you're worried that you're genetically susceptible to obesity, take steps to minimize risk by making sure you exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.
Environment and Community
Look around and you'll quickly see that you have technology available to you that weren't available 20, 30 or 50 years ago. While these machines and gadgets have improved quality of life in some ways, they've also contributed to a more sedentary lifestyle. Cars have minimized the need for walking. Television, computers and video games have changed the way people interact and recreate. Also, neighborhoods without access to trails, parks or bike lanes make physical activity less accessible and safe. The more factors that prevent you from readily participating in physical activity or choosing healthy, low-calorie meals, the more likely you are to become obese, the Weight-control Information Network states.
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