The Cause and Effect of Obesity

The best answer to the cause and effect of obesity is simple, but nothing you want to hear! The definition of obesity is rather straightforward too. The definition of obesity, as defined by the National Health Institute (NHI) is:

"Obesity has been more precisely defined by the National Institutes of Health (the NIH) as a BMI of 30 and above. (A BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight.)"

You can learn more about the Body Mass Index (BMI) here.

The cause and effect of obesity in children and other facts are listed here. I suggest you go read about the childhood obesity statistics as well as the effects of childhood obesity to get a broader understanding of what this 'epidemic' is really about.

What is the Real Cause and Effect of Obesity?

calorie intake, bad calories

Are you ready for it? Are you sure? The real cause of obesity has nothing to do with the FDA, the number of calories in a Twinkie, or the number of sit-ups you can't do. Instead it has something to do with all of the above. Actually, it has everything to do with all of those!

Huh? I thought you said it was simple!

Well, it is really. You see, there is only one thing you need to understand, and you probably already know the answer, you just won't admit it to yourself. Here is the simple equation:
Category 1. Calories in less than Calories out, you eventually get a flat belly and toned butt!

Category 2. Calories in the same as Calories out, you keep your love handles, but don't get anymore

Category 3. Calories in greater than Calories out, You get love handles


How do you quantify this? Well, if you sit on your ass all day and eat potato chips, guess what? You fit in Category 1.

Eat relatively healthy and been at the same weight for a while, but you don't work out regularly? You probably are a Category 2.

Have you been working out and exercising regularly, eating less, and losing weight? Congratulations, you're a Category 3!

The cause of obesity isn't genetics (99.9% of the time), and it isn't because our food is filled with fat and chemicals (though that is true to an extent).

It's because of the fact that:

  • Our overall calorie intake has increased as food has become more accessible
  • Our activity levels have dropped due to our shift from manual labor to desk-jockey jobs
  • The ratio of bad foods to good has exponentially increased in recent decades.


    • Simply put, we have done this to ourselves! That's right, the cause of obesity is us! Not the government (though they aren't helping), not the Chinese (they're actually on the band wagon too, but not as bad as the US), and certainly not your PE teacher in high school (but a lot of them need training too). You should go read about how Gandhi's philosophy fits in here, and learn how to be the change for your children.

    So what are the effects of obesity?

    Glad you asked, but we have devoted an entire section to that because of the enormity of the problem. Click the headline above, to read about the cause and effect of obesity in children. The effects of obesity are the same whether you're a child or an adult, but the severity of the problem can be worse the older you get. Plus, as a kid, it is easier to reverse these effects. Read here to learn how to reverse the effects of obesity.

    To learn more about the Causes of Obesity, click here.

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