The Main Causes And Factors Of Obesity In Adults

For the most part, the cause of obesity and being overweight is not having your energy in balance. In short, this means that the calories you take in don’t match the energy you use in any given period. When you consume more than you use, you gain weight. If you do this long enough, you will become overweight and eventually obese.


Obesity has become a global problem, mostly because of modernization, globalization, and urbanization. It’s estimated that more than 1 billion people worldwide are overweight and approximately 300 million can be considered clinically obese.
An inactive lifestyle is an invitation to becoming overweight and obese. Genetically, our bodies are driven to be active and our fuel (food) burning system is designed to use energy efficiently. But we often lead sedentary lifestyles, sitting in front of computers at work and the television at home. Of course, the juggernaut of ads for high-calorie, low-nutrition snack foods doesn’t do much to keep our waistlines in check. Neither do the huge portions served in restaurants.

To a much lesser extent, other factors may also be at work. This can include our genetics and family history. For example, if you have a parent who is overweight or obese, you have a greater chance of becoming that way too. Genes can affect how we process, store and carry extra fat.

Hormonal issues can also cause weight gain and obesity. This includes hypothyroidism, where low production makes you feel tired and weak because your metabolism has slowed down. Cushing’s syndrome, where the adrenal glands make too much cortisol (a hormone), and polycystic ovarian syndrome, where high levels of hormones known as androgens, can also increase your tendency to become overweight or obese.

Certain medicines can cause weight gain as well, including prednisone, some antidepressants and seizure medications. If your doctor prescribes these for you, you may want to discuss their side effects, including weight gain.


Discussing your weight gain with your doctor is always a good idea. By addressing your weight issues early on, you can make changes to medications, exercise routines, eating habits, or lifestyle choices such as smoking before your weight becomes a serious health issue.