Environmental Causes of Morbid Obesity Are Far Reaching

Morbid obesity is no laughing matter, especially to the over nine million Americans who are suffering with this condition. Add this to the millions in other developed countries around the world and morbid obesity is a significant health issue. By definition, a person can be diagnosed with obesity if they weigh at least 100 pounds over their ideal body weight and if they also have a BMI (body mass index) over 40. What makes someone morbidly obese as opposed to someone who is obese is the fact that those who are classified as morbidly obese have had the problem for many years so that the problem is termed as chronic.
What about Genetics?
When an individual suffers with obesity, they often want to figure out the cause, other than "eating too much" which is often the first thing people blame it on. This is not always the case but is very often a significant part of the problem. It's true that many professionals believe that genetics play a part in those who are obese, or fat. There was an article recently published in the Sunday Mail newspaper in Brisbane Australia about new studies declaring that the diet of the pregnant woman, can actually be a factor in whether or not her child has a future problem with obesity. So, what this means is that a child born with the predisposition to obesity will have to learn how to avoid developing it from a very early age. This is where the environment steps in.
Environmental Causes
After a child is born, their environment consists of their parents and family. They learn everything from them. So it's important that the family practices good, healthy eating and exercise programs as part of the family activities. It's not necessary to scare the children into eating right, but if from the beginning they are taught good practices for healthy living, they may head off the problem, at least for awhile.
When the child gets a bit older and is exposed to the activities of their peers and of course TV, well, then these more unhealthy environmental factors can influence the behavior of the child. Again, this is where the family and schools have to play a greater role in educating children about having a healthy lifestyle.
Other environmental issues can come into play as well. You have genetics which can affect metabolism, other medical conditions that can cause one to be obese, you have the culture and society into which one is born which can also influence the eating and lifestyle habits which can be good or bad. The socioeconomic status can be an environmental cause of morbid obesity because often the less healthy foods are less expensive to buy that the fresh, and healthy alternatives. So, if a family is simply not financially well off might feel they have no choice but to provide the unhealthy alternatives to their family members.
Health Problems Relating to Morbid Obesity
Many health problems can be in part attributed to by morbid obesity. These include but certainly aren't limited to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, gallbladder problems, arthritis, and sleeping problems, like sleep apnea for example.
Lifestyle Decisions Can be Complicated
Most everyone in the western world (unless they've been living under a rock) are aware of the obesity epidemic. The issue then becomes, if we know all this, why is the problem getting worse and not better? Environmental influences contribute to the difficulty in making the healthy decisions because the person is influenced by their family, friends, TV, and other media. They want to feel "normal" and be able to have a lifestyle full of junk food and no exercise and still look like all the media stars they see on a daily basis. Then what happens, is they find out that they're getting fatter by the day , get depressed and then try to fill the void with even more food. It's quite a dilemma.
Changing your lifestyle is always a challenge at the best of times. Making the better decisions can be as simple as walking to the store instead of driving. Stop using the elevator and take the stairs. Get out into the fresh air for a half hour in the morning and afternoon and walk around the neighborhood. Simple but effective ways to alter your environment.
Help Doesn't Come Cheap
If you're one of the "rich and famous" and can have your own chef, personal trainer, and lifestyle coach then changing your life may seem to be easier. You can afford all the gym memberships and weight loss programs you want to help you achieve your goals.But if you're not one of "them", then you are left with the tried and true way of eating less than you you're used to, exercise more and make better food choices. Support for these changes is always important and the individual may again need their "environment" to change in order to get the support. They will need the help of friends and family and maybe even help through the Internet or diet and exercise programs. But, no matter what the environmental cause of morbid obesity is, the solution remains pretty much the same.
No Escaping Diet and Eating Behavior
No matter what the cause of morbid obesity, diet and eating behaviors are issues that can't be avoided. Even if genetics are the major culprit, the solution is inevitably diet and eating behaviour. Diet itself is one of the most significant environmental causes of morbid obesity. Fast food outlets have gradually increased the portion sizes so that over time people have come to believe that these large portions are in fact normal. This is so untrue but the impact on diet has been profound.In addition, the public has come to rely on fast food and junk food for their convenience and this high caloric intake has done a lot of damage.
Now What Do You Do?
If environmental causes of morbid obesity is of concern to you either for yourself or for your family, then finding a way to change to a healthier lifestyle is paramount. Find a weight loss program you can stick to and incorporate physical activities to your daily routine. There are literally thousands of weight loss programs available. There is no "one size fits all" program but with a bit of searching you can find one that appeals. Do your homework, commit to changing your life and it will happen. It's always a good idea to consult a physician if you feel their are significant health issues that need to be addressed. And, finally, don't wait until the problem gets worse. Do something about it today.
Sue Sanders is a contributing author on a variety of topics. Of special and personal interest is the subject of obesity and weight loss where she has had a lot of experience.
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