The definition of obesity is having an excessive amount of body fat. It is not only a cosmetic issue it is a major health issue leading to health risks such as heart attracts, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Doctor use a formula called "body mass index" or BMI to calculate the levels of body fat. Adults with BMI’s over 30 are considered obese. Extreme obesity, which is sometimes called severe or morbid obesity, is when the BMI levels are 40 or higher. With morbid obesity, people are more likely to have serious health issues.

In America, one in three people are considered obese. The seriousness of this causes many to start a weight loss program to avoid the hazards of the excessive weight.

The symptoms associated with obesity are difficulty sleeping, snoring, sleep apnea, pain in the joints and back, excessive sweating, always feeling hot, rashes or infections in the folds of the skin, feeling out of breath with minor activity, daytime sleepiness or fatigue and depression. If you have any of these signs or symptoms, seek medical attention. Your doctor can counsel you how to decrease you risks related to the obesity. Through dietary changes and increased activity, you will be able to reduce the symptoms and health risks. In some cases, medication is prescribed as well as weight loss surgery can be performed.

The causes of obesity is directly related to the over consumption of calories compared to the amount of calorie burned with physical activity. There are genetic and hormonal influences with some people that are obese. The main causes for obesity are inactivity in the daily life. The inability to burn the excess fat consumed, leads to the body storing the fat instead of ridding the body of it. Watching television is one the leading causes to obesity.

Unhealthy diet and eating habits high in calories from fast foods, skipping breakfast, eating most of the calories at the evening meal or for a late night snack, consuming high calorie drinks, and eating too large of portions. Learning to change the eating habits will help combat obesity.

When a woman is pregnant, they gain weight yet after the birth, they find it difficult to lose the excess pounds. The weight from the pregnancy often leads to obesity when it is not lost in the future.

Getting less than seven hours of sleep at night causes the hormones to change by increasing the appetite leading to the person to crave foods high in calories and carbohydrates. This results in weight gain.

Some medications lead to weight gain when the weight is not compensated with diet and physical activity. The types of medications leading to weight gain include antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medication, steroids, beta-blockers, and antipsychotic medication.

Medical problems can cause obesity such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome to name a few. Arthritis can also lead to obesity due to the inactivity levels.