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Causes and Effects of Obesity in Humans

The Causes and Effects of Obesity in Humans

There is an epidemic in this country. It is a condition that is easily treatable and curable. The condition is obesity. Obesity is a condition in which a person has an obscene amount of excess body fat. (NIDDK) Studies now show that of all Americans over age 20, 60% are overweight, and 25% are obese. (NIDDK)

Determining what a person's healthy weight is somewhat subjective, and is generally based on height. Being overweight is to fall above some healthy range, being obese is to fall far above this healthy range. (NIDDK) In 1995, new standards were established to define a healthy weight range. The American Heath foundation and the U.S. National Institutes of Health to compiled a formula that relates height and weight as one number: called the Body Mass Index (BMI). (National) The formula states that the BDI is equal to weight (kilograms) divided by the square of height (meters): BMI = W / (H * H). (National) A healthy BMI is defined as being between 18.5 and 25. (National) Being overweight is defined as having a BMI of 25-29.9. (National) Being obese is defined as having a BMI above 30. (National) The formula is extremely broad, making no distinction between male and female, or people of different races. A BMI of above 25 is not always a bad thing. If the extra weight is muscle, that is not unhealthy. (National)

Becoming obese in it's purest form is caused by over-eating and/or an unhealthy lifestyle. To gain weight in fat, one must consume more Calories in food and drink than they expend. A pound of body fat is equal to 3500 Calories. To gain one pound of fat in one week requires one to consume 500 more Calories per day than they expend. Any activity will require Calories. More activity requires more Calories. Intense exercise will require many more Calories per hour than lying still. Losing weight is simply the opposite: one must consume fewer Calories per day than they expend. It

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