Essay on Obesity: Excess body fat that creates unhealthy body condition is called obesity. It leads to excessive and abnormal body fat storage and creates health complications like heart diseases, hypertension, increased cholesterol levels etc. Lack of physical activities, sedentary lifestyles, consuming excessive junk food and wrong medications can lead to obesity. Eating nutritious food and activities like walking, jogging, meditation, and yoga can reduce obesity.
Essay on Obesity 500 Words in English
Below we have provided Obesity Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.
Obesity is a medical condition of accumulation of excessive body fat that may be detrimental for health. It is considered a lifestyle disease. It is one of the most neglected health problems which have lasting impacts on health. The body fat is measured with a tool known as BMI (Body Mass Index). It compares the height & weight of a person.
BMI is calculated as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. This screening tool helps in determine the degree of health risks associated with the person. BMI indicates whether someone is an underweight or healthy weight or obese. Body Mass Index of greater than 30 is considered to be obese, and anything between 25-29.9 is deemed to be overweight. Obesity is becoming a rising global health problem which is a considerable health burden.
Causes of Obesity
When the calories consumed in food and drinks exceed the energy used for exercise and metabolic processes in the body, weight gain occurs. The excess energy is stored as fat. There can be plenty of reasons which result in this health condition. Few major are discussed as follows.
- Lifestyle & Physical Inactivity: With the invention of more modern gadgets, we are getting acquainted with doing everything at ease. It has significantly reduced the number of hours in a day for which we used to be active. Nowadays people enjoy watching TV, playing video games etc. over any outdoor activity which results in calorie burns.
- Food Habits: Consumption of unhealthy diets which includes junk foods, processed foods, red meat, sugary drinks, unhealthy fats, etc. has contributed majorly to obesity.
- Genetic Factor: Genetics also plays a significant role in controlling the factors of developing obesity. Genes play an active role in metabolism, storage & distribution of body fats. If there is a history of obesity in your family, you are likely to be on the higher side of weight.
- Medical Conditions: Underactive thyroid, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are the few medical conditions which contribute to obesity.
- Sleeping Habits: Research suggests that sleep deprivation can cause hormonal imbalance which increases the appetite; it pushes up the risk of weight gaining.
Effects of Obesity
Laziness is one of the consequences of obesity which leads to unproductiveness. Obesity causes diabetes, and the body may become resistant to insulin. Adults are more vulnerable to this—the developed resistant lead to a high level of blood sugar, which is fatal. With an increase in body fat, the body requires more nutrients and oxygen to support. The blood transports it through blood vessels to various parts of the body.
The heart starts pumping more blood with an increase in pressure on blood vessels, leading to hypertension. The increased heart rate is also dangerous due to its inability to supply blood to various parts, which ultimately leads to heart failure. It also leads to respiratory disorders as obese people have reduced lung capacity. These people are at higher risk of respiratory infections like asthma.
As the BMI increases, so does the risk of cancer which is a fatal disease. Obesity also causes coronary heart disease. The arteries around the heart get blocked due to fatty deposits. It prevents the passage for blood flow. Besides health complications, obesity also causes psychological effects. Obese people are prone to depression, social rejection, negative self-esteem, body shaming.