Factors Which May Cause Obesity - Research Paper Example

The diet behaviors cause the accumulation of fats in the body and thus raise the body mass index. Although alcohol and smoking are not very common in children, some children have these behaviors. Alcoholism and smoking have proven to be a cause of obesity.

 Environmental factors

The environment in which the minor is brought up can lead to obesity. Advertisements influence the kind of things that children are attracted to. In the food market, there is a lot of advertisement for fast food. This leads to children taking more junk food, and thus they become obese. Lifestyles have also changed. Parents offer their children little healthy food. In the current world, many parents will prefer buying drinks and snacks for their children rather than preparing healthy meals. There is little walking as people move in vehicles. Such characteristics of modern lifestyles lead to children being obese.

Disability factors

Disability is a factor that can lead to obesity, but it is commonly overlooked. Certain mental disabilities such as schizophrenia can cause eating disorders. Moreover, disabled people have little exercise due to the nature of their bodies. Therefore, there is an imbalance between the energy taken in and the energy released by disabled people. This imbalance leads to obesity

Physiological factors

The amount of energy that a child takes in the form of food can lead to obesity. Parents give their children high-energy foods in large quantities. The body does not require excess energy, and all the excess energy is stored in the form of fats. The accruement of fats in the body leads to obesity. The amount of energy expenditure has a close relation to obesity. If a kid takes in a lot of energy and does not involve their body with physical exercise, the child is likely to be obese. The current Western lifestyle contributes a lot to causing obesity. Most children spend their leisure time playing computer games rather than real games. Little time for physical exercise leads to a build-up of calories, and thus the child becomes obese.

Genetic factors

Certain genes present in the body can lead to obesity. Scientific research has proved that there is a link between health conditions and genes. Some genes can influence body weight. In such cases, the child can become obese naturally.

Psychological factors

Psychological factors such as stress and depression can lead to obesity. When a child is either stressed or depressed, their body releases hormones such as serotonin and cortisol that increase the child’s appetite for food. The child ends up taking more than enough food and thus develops excess weight. Stress also causes the body to release Neuropeptide. This hormone causes the body to store more fat and thus leads the child to being obese.