This week is National Obesity Awareness Week, the aim of which is to help improve the nation’s health. The definition of 'obese’ is a person who is very overweight with a lot of body fat.

Obesity Facts

Obesity is a growing health concern, affecting roughly one in four adults and one in five children aged between 10 and 11. It significantly increases the risk of developing serious, potentially life-threatening conditions, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers, such as bowel cancer.

Beyond its physical impact, obesity can take a heavy toll on emotional wellbeing. It can diminish quality of life, strain relationships with family and friends, and contribute to feelings of depression and low self-esteem. The severity of obesity often determines its long-term effects, with more extreme cases reducing life expectancy by an average of 3 to 10 years.

In Europe alone, it is estimated that obesity and being overweight play a role in at least one in every 13 deaths. These figures highlight the pressing need for greater awareness, prevention, and support around this complex health issue.

Causes of Obesity

Obesity typically develops when the body takes in more calories than it burns, especially from fatty and sugary foods. The unused energy is then stored as fat, leading to weight gain.

Obesity is becoming increasingly common. Modern lifestyles encourage long periods of inactivity, whether it’s sitting at a desk, on the sofa, or in the car. Coupled with easy access to cheap, high-calorie food, this lack of movement makes it harder for the body to burn off excess energy. As a result, weight gain is an all too familiar struggle for many. Emotional eating happens when mental health takes a knock. It is worth identifying the reason for emotional eating and taking the appropriate steps to avoid it.

Conclusion

There are also misconceptions about people’s weight. Many people assume that when they see someone who is overweight, it’s simply because they eat too much, or make poor food choices. However, that’s not always the case.

A medical issue such as a thyroid problem can cause weight gain, a hormone imbalance may be another reason for weight gain. There are many reasons. But whatever problem with weight gain, it is important to ask for professional help if you're unable to lose weight by yourself.