What Causes Obesity?
July 17, 2023
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is a “complex disease that occurs when an individual’s weight is higher than what is considered healthy for his or her height.” Obesity affects children and adults, and there are many factors that can contribute to this excess weight gain. Some factors are eating patterns, physical activity levels, sleep routines, genetics, medications, health issues, and our social environment. What can you do? There are several things you can do to help prevent excess weight gain.
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Manage your eating patterns – Healthy eating means consuming a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean protein food, low-fat and fat-free dairy products. It also limits your sugar intake, solid fats, and sodium.
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Participate in physical activity daily – It is recommended that children 3-5 should be active throughout the day. Children aged 6-17 need at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Adults need 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week.
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Make sure to get the necessary amount of sleep every night – Depending on your age and level of activity, the number of hours you need to sleep changes.
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Make sure you surround yourself with a healthy environment – health care and education systems can promote standards that address nutrition, physical activity, and screen time. Another environment would be your community, programs, and public health practitioners.