Obesity
Alternative names:
fat - obese; overweight
Definition:
Excess fat stored in the body. See also diet and calories.
Considerations:
The body cannot store protein or carbohydrates, so the excess is converted to fat and stored. One pound of fat represents about 3,500 excess Calories.
About 25% of the U.S. population is overweight. But being obese is different from being overweight. An individual is considered obese when weight is 20% (25% in women) or more over the maximum desirable for their height. When the excess weight begins to interfere with vital functions such as breathing, it is considered morbid obesity.
About 5 to 10% of children are obese. Between 13 and 23% of all adolescents are obese; 80% of obese teenagers are likely to grow into obese adults.
The basic nutritional needs of most people are approximately 2,000 Calories a day for women, and 2,500 for men. However, a professional athlete or manual laborer may need 4,000 or more.
Obesity will increase the risk of illness and death due to diabetes, stroke, coronary artery disease, and kidney and gallbladder disorders. The more overweight, the higher the risk becomes. Obesity has been implicated in increased incidence of some types of cancer.
It is thought that genetic factors play a part in the development of obesity; children of obese parents are 10 times more likely to be obese than children with parents of normal weight.
Common causes:
Note: There may be other causes of obesity. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for obesity, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.
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