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How to know whether I am obese or not? What causes it?

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By Diksha Kapoor
New Update
How to know whether I am obese or not? What causes it?
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Almost 3 out of 4 Indians are overweight. Almost half the population of urban areas are obese. These statistics speak for themselves. The situation in India is very dire and we still eat ice-creams, pizzas and other varieties of junk food without bothering to see how all this are affecting our health and heart. The experts at Capitol will be discussing obesity and its effect on our health for us to have a clear picture. The first and foremost question which comes to our mind is how can we say a person is obese or not? Obesity is a condition in which we have excess fat accumulated on our body and which can have many repercussions for us. Obesity generally occurs when you consume more calories than you burn. To measure obesity,
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BMI (Body Mass Index) is used. It classifies the person as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese depending on the value obtained. If the BMI is between 18.5 and 25kg/m2, then that is considered the optimal weight. BMI less than 18.5 means person is underweight. A value between 25 and 30 indicated overweight and above 30, the person is considered obese. It is calculated by dividing the total mass of your body (in kilograms) with the square of your height (in meters). publive-image
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CAUSES OF OBESITY
  • Excessive Food Intake Especially Junk Food
Food is a vital part of our growth. If we eat the wrong kind of food, then it becomes a bane instead of a boon of survival. The wrong kind of food is the one in which we get just excessive calories and fats but not the vital minerals and nutrients that our body needs to function properly. Poor dietary choices are one of the main reasons for obesity. The extra calories that we consume mostly come from energy-dense, big portions of fast food. An obese person may eat less when compared to a person who is normal weight, but what they are eating also matters. Potato chips, sweetened carbonated beverages, pizzas, and burgers have become a choice for youngsters. This has led to an increase in the rise of obesity.
  • Lack Of Exercise Or No Exercise ( Sedentary lifestyle)
Our lifestyle has seen a subtle change from olden days. More and more work is getting automated and the physical exertion has reduced. Nowadays, even the younger generation doesn’t go out and play outside in urban areas. Everyone is more involved in televisions, internet gaming for entertainment. This lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle has resulted in rise of obesity
  • Genetic Factors
Obesity can occur due to the genetics too. Generally, on an average, people with two copies of the FTO gene have 3 or 4 kg of more weight than normal. Also, many studies show that a child of both parents who are obese is also obese 80% of the time.
  • Other Illness
Other illness like hyperthyroidism, growth hormone deficiency also may increase the risk of obesity among people. Certain medications can have an effect on the weight gain.
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