Causes of Obesity
Many adults achieve an energy balance in which caloric intake matches energy expenditure. Body fat does not change very much under these conditions. Excessive body fat could be related to eating more calories or to small energy expenditure, or both. Energy expenditure refers to the calories spent for body functions, physical activity, digestion, and food metabolism. Both heredity and the environment play a part in obesity and, therefore, there is no single approach to treatment. Overeating, differences in metabolism, AGING, genetic predisposition, and excessive food consumption during early childhood have been implicated. Overeating Clearly the prolonged consumption of excessive calories, when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, leads to obesity. Energy expenditure refers to the calories spent for body functions, physical activity, digestion, and food metabolism. Body fat can be reduced only when energy expenditure exceeds caloric intake....