Abnormal weight gain - How and why | Know all about it

Obesity problem worldwide has tripled since 1975, according to the World Health Organisation report. This medical condition affects people of all ages. The most common causes of obesity are overeating and physical inactivity. But other factors such as genetics, metabolism, environment and behaviour have also been known to cause obesity, according to science. A person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese.

This medical condition also causes a lot of ailments such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Although a change in lifestyle can control a person from being obese, it is crucial to know what causes obesity.

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These are some of the lesser known factors that causes obesity:

• Medications: Overeating, physical inactivity are often the most known perpetrators of causing obesity. However, there are certain factors which are beyond your control that can cause obesity, such as medications. According to studies, medication such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, diabetes medications and even certain hormonal medicine such as oral contraceptive, corticosteroids, high blood pressure medicines can cause weight gain. Consult your doctor if the weight increase doesn’t stop before you discontinue the medication.
• Psychological factors: Physiological illness are definitely one of the most difficult to-treat ailment because of the complexity of the brain. According to many studies, people have been known to eat more when affected with psychological ailment. And emotions can be one factor that influence weight gain with changes in eating habits such as overeating in times of boredom, sadness, stress or anger. About 30 per cent of the people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have been known to rampage eating.
• Diseases: While most diseases make you lose weight such as cancer, HIV, or parasite infection, some diseases can have a reverse impact. Thyroid disorder such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome are known to lead to obesity. 
• Childhood weight: Your childhood’s weight may have a later influence on your adult life according to studies. Being overweight during the teenage years is known to be a greater predictor of adult obesity and being overweight during older childhood is highly predictive of adult obesity. This chances of being obese are also a lot more probable when both parents are obese.
• Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes are most common during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy. This change specially happens with women during pregnancy, menopause which can cause tremendous weight gain. However, with the availability of the lower-dose estrogen pills, weight gain with menopause women hasn’t been a much health risk.

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