| Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting that it may | | | | reasons of obesity are genetics, behaviour and |
| have a genetic cause. However, family members | | | | endocrine. So far the infectious etiology has not been |
| share not only genes but also diet and lifestyle habits | | | | explored fully. The study of viral infection as a cause |
| that may contribute to obesity. Separating these | | | | of obesity was done on animals and humans. The |
| lifestyle factors from genetic ones is often difficult. Still, | | | | results were published in respected journals. It is quite |
| mounting evidence points to heredity as a strong | | | | clear that viruses can not be ruled out as a cause of |
| determining factor for obesity. | | | | fattening in humans. |
| Obesity rates have doubled in the last twenty years, | | | | Obesity may seem harmless enough, but when you |
| and in children the rate has tripled, according to | | | | investigate its health implications you realize just how |
| research conducted by the American Dietetic | | | | bad it is. Try these examples for size: |
| Association. Obesity is much more than simply a | | | | 1. Young people that have a Body Mass Index |
| cosmetic problem. Being considerably overweight | | | | (BMI) of 35 or more have double the risk of death |
| causes serious health problems, and when obesity | | | | compared with people the same age that have a |
| starts in childhood, unfortunately it often sets the child | | | | normal BMI. |
| up for a lifetime of poor health. | | | | 2. Obese people are much more likely than |
| Research indicates that the rates of obesity have, at | | | | 'normal' weight people to suffer from high blood |
| best, doubled with some sections of society. But | | | | pressure and other cardiovascular problems, increasing |
| among children, the rate of obesity has tripled. People | | | | the likelihood of dying prematurely due to Myocardial |
| who suffer from obesity cannot just slough it off as an | | | | Infarction (heart attack) enormously - 1.5 times the |
| appearance issue. They need to educate themselves | | | | normal risk for men and 3.2 times the normal risk for |
| about the possible health consequences of being | | | | women. |
| overweight. This is even more important in children | | | | 3. Being obese has been shown to greatly |
| who become obese at an early age. | | | | increase the risk of contracting many forms of cancer, |
| Childhood obesity is caused 77% by genetic makeup | | | | including cancer of the colon - 3.0 times the risk for |
| and only 23% by lifestyle and environmental factors. | | | | men and 2.7 times the risk for women, compared with |
| Newspapers love these Nature vs. Nurture arguments | | | | non-obese people. |
| as they can fill their pages with endless pontificating | | | | 4. Obesity greatly increases the risk of |
| and claim it's based on fact. | | | | contracting Type 2 Diabetes - by 5.2 times for men |
| The obesity is a world wide problem. It is increasing at | | | | and a massive 12.7 times for women. |
| an alarming rate among people of all ages, genders, | | | | You can blame your obesity on is genetics. Other |
| races and countries. When the Body Mass Index (BMI) | | | | members of your family may have or still do suffer |
| is greater than 30 kg/square meter in a person, that | | | | form obesity. |
| person is classified as obese. The officially accepted | | | | |