Obesity
What is Obesity? Obesity results from the excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body's skeletal and physical standards. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase in 20 percent or more above your ideal body weight is the point at which excess weight becomes a health risk. Causes of obesity Obesity results when there is an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. In other words, you consume more calories than you expend in your daily activities. Weight gained during certain critical periods of your life more commonly lead to an increased number (as opposed to increased size) of fat cells and make obesity more difficult to treat. These time periods are: • Between 12 and 18 months of age. • Between 12 and 16 years of age. • Adulthood when a person gains in excess of 60% of their ideal body weight. • Pregnancy. During these periods, an excessive amount of weight gain causes an increased number of fat cells. Once a fat cell is