What causes class III obesity?

What causes class III obesity?

Class III obesity is a complex disease that has several contributing factors. The main cause of why your body stores fat is that there’s an imbalance between the number of calories (energy) you consume and the number of calories (energy) your body uses. In other words, consuming more calories than your body uses for essential bodily processes, such as digestion and breathing, and for physical activity in a day causes your body to store fat, resulting in weight gain.

However, there are several other factors that contribute to how much food we eat, the type of food we eat and how our body uses that energy. Every person’s body is unique and metabolizes energy differently. Some people are at a greater risk of weight gain than others, and class III obesity is rarely caused by a lack of willpower to lose weight or a lack of “control” in the amount of food you eat.

Several factors contribute to developing obesity, including:

• Genetic factors: Several studies have shown that obesity can run in families and that multiple genes are associated with weight gain.
• Hormone imbalances: Your body makes hundreds of hormones that each have unique and important functions. Many of those hormones can affect how your body signals that you need food and how your body uses energy. For example, cortisol (often called the stress hormone) stimulates your fat and carbohydrate metabolism, creating a surge of energy in your body. While this process is essential for survival (fight-or-flight) situations, it also increases your appetite. If you experience chronic stress, it can chronically increase your cortisol levels and increase your appetite and cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods, which can lead to weight gain. Another example is low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism). Thyroid hormone is essential for maintaining your body’s metabolism. If you have lower-than-normal levels of thyroid hormone, it can slow down your metabolism and cause weight gain.
• Socioeconomic and geographical factors: Having a low socioeconomic status and having easier financial and/or geographical access to unhealthy fast foods as compared to healthier whole foods can contribute to developing obesity. Having limited access to recreational facilities or parks and few safe or easy ways to walk in your neighborhood can also contribute to developing obesity.
• Cultural factors: Prevalent marketing and advertising for calorie-dense foods and increased portion sizes can contribute to developing obesity.
• Environmental factors: Exposure to chemicals known as obesogens can change your hormones and increase fatty tissue in your body.