HCA 240
May 7, 2011
Public Awareness and Human Diseases

Introduction
Obesity is an issue that is growing rapidly every day. According to WebMD (2010), “Obesity is an excess proportion of total body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above normal weight.” More and more adults are overweight, but what is worse is that there are more and more children who are obese, or are on the fast track to becoming obese. Families are more inclined to eat out because of its convenience and often do not realize the consequences. Television and video games have replace outside activities such as riding a bike and playing sports.

There are many different factors that cause obesity. If one has improper eating habits such as eating fast food often, eating larger portions than what is recommended, or eating to relieve stress or boredom then they are more likely to be obese, or become obese, than someone who eats a healthier diet. “While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight, about 30% of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating.” (WebMD, 2010) Obesity can also be genetic. If one has a family history of obesity, then their chances of becoming obese are greater than someone who does not have a family history of obesity. According to WebMD (2010), “If your biological mother is heavy as an adult, there is approximately a 75% chance that you will be heavy. If your biological mother is thin, there is also a 75% chance that you will be thin.” Also, as we age, our bodies ability to burn fat tends to decrease, and our metabolism slows down which can lead to obesity. Another factor that can cause one to become obese is lack of physical activity. “Physical activity tends to decrease appetite in obese individuals while increasing the body's ability