1. Unhealthy eating habits
(i) People become obese if they consume excess fat and calorie rich food.
(ii) Consuming more than normal amount of food leads to obesity.
(iii) Excessive consumption of fast food is responsible for obesity.
(iv) Excessive fluid intake leads to obesity.
(v) Obesity is caused by eating sweet foods (carbohydrates), sugary desserts, drinking alcohol, fast food etc.
2. Life style
(i) Living in luxury and spending idle time.
(ii) Consuming excess outside food.
(iii) Minimizing physical exertion. Not exercising regularly.
(iv) Long hours of watching TV, working on computer and browsing internet.
(v) To engage in non-manual employment. Going by car instead of walking.
3. Genetic factors: obesity tends to run in the same family members. This is also observed in twin siblings. The number of fat cells in the body is high due to obesity. Because genes control the similarity between them. Gene Polymorphism Regulates Human Appetite and Metabolism Increases Obesity. People who carry the FMO (Fat Mass and Obesity Associated) gene are overweight. Again, genetic defects also cause obesity. Mutations in melanoctin and leptin genes cause obesity.
4. Social preferences: In many societies around the world, fatness is considered a matter of nobility and pride. They consider obesity a symbol of good health and happiness. So they want to gain weight by consuming more food. However, modern society does not support this misconception.
5. Effect of smoking: The effect of smoking on obesity is negligible. But those who quit smoking gained an average of 4.40 kg (9.7 lb) for men and 5 kg (11 lb) for women over a 10-year period.
6. Pregnancy: Most women gain 5-6 pounds with each pregnancy. Conceiving at an older age is more likely to gain weight. Many women do not lose that weight after childbirth. As a result obesity increases.
7. Emotions: Depression, hopelessness, anger, boredom, irritability, inferiority complex etc. lead to obesity.
8. Temperature: If the temperature variation of the environment decreases, people can become fat.
9. Gender: Men have more muscles than women. Muscle tissue uses more calories. Therefore, women accumulate more fat and gain weight than men even if they eat the same amount. 64% of men and 77% of women suffer from diabetes due to obesity.
10. Diseases: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Cushing’s Syndrome, Hypothyroidism, Prader Willi Syndrome etc.
11. Insomnia: Sleeping less than seven hours a night causes hormonal changes. Hunger increases. Body weight increases due to excess food intake.
12. Medications: Certain medications can cause weight gain or changes in body composition. These include insulin, steroids, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, birth control pills.
13. Lack of education: Many are unaware of the harmful effects of obesity. This is happening due to lack of knowledge about balanced diet and good health, lack of understanding about the causes and problems of obesity, overfeeding of children etc.