Causes of obesity

There are many environmental, social, physiological & behavioural reasons why people can be overweight & obese.  The most basic reason however, is that the energy balance between what an individual eats (the energy in) & how that energy is used (the energy out) is uneven leading to excess energy being stored in the body as fat. 

Because of this energy balance principle, people who eat a high-fat, high-energy diet & do not exercise will almost certainly gain weight.  There are also a number of other reasons why some people gain excess weight more quickly than others.  These include1: 

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Body weight
  • Food preference
  • Medications
  • Hereditary factors/genetics
  • Ethnicity
  • Socio-economic factors/status
  • Psychological factors

Overweight & obesity are more common in lower socio-economic groups, in rural & remote populations, in certain ethnic groups, & in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people2, 3.

Find out more about obesity:

References

  1. www.aso.org.uk - The Association for the Study of Obesity.
  2. NSW Centre for Public Health Nutrition. State of Food and Nutrition in NSW Series: Report on the Weight Status of NSW: 2003. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2003.
  3. National Health and Medical Research Council. Acting on Australia’s Weight: A Strategic Plan for the Prevention of Overweight and Obesity. Canberra: AGPS, 1997.

Meet Dr Reza Adib

In 2006 Dr Reza Adib established & founded the Brisbane Obesity Clinic.

more >

Enquiry Form

BMI Calculator

your weight (kg)
your height (cm)
your BMI your category