Causes and Consequences of Obesity

Obesity, simply defined, is the state of being excessively overweight. It afflicts a significant and possiblygrowing proportion of people in developed as well as developing societies. It has emerged as the most prevalentserious public health problem of the new millennium. Obesity may not be regarded simply as a cosmetic problem affecting certain individuals, but a crisis that threatens global well being. An estimated 300 million people around theworld are obese. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) conservative estimates, based on current trends, show that obesity levels will continue to rise in the early 21st century with severe health consequences unless urgent action is taken now. It is half a century since obesity was introduced into the international classification of diseases.In the 21st century it has become an epidemic. Obesity levels in some countries have doubled in recent years and arerising in developing countries too. Several factors may contribute to the development of obesity. Obesity develops over time and, once it develop, is difficult to treat. Certain detrimental effects to health are attributed to obesity.Obesity is clearly associated with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, NIDDM, and excess of certain cancers and other medical problems. The risk to health increases with the degree of obesity. The consequences of ignoring obesityare increasing levels of serious illness and rising health costs. Obesity research efforts should be directed towardelucidation of biologic markers, factors regulating the regional distribution of fat, studies of energy regulation, and studies utilizing the techniques of anthropology, psychiatry, and the social sciences. Authors’ Addresses: Dr. Kaushik Bose, Reader & Head, Department, Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapur – 721 102 West Bengal, India.E-mail: [email protected] Bhadra, Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapur, West Bengal, Indiaand Howrah Rabindra Deshbandhu Vidyalaya, Howrah, West Bengal, IndiaTroiano, R.P., Flegal, K.M., Kuczmarski, R.J., Campbell, S.M. and Johnson, C.L.: Overweight prevalence and trends for children and adolescents. The NationalHealth and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1963to 1991. Arch. Pediatr. Adolsc. Med., 149: 1085– 1091 (1995).Troiano, R.P., Frongillo, E.A. Jr., Sobal, J. and Levitsky, D.A.: The relationship between body weight and mortality: a quantitative analysis of combinedinformation from existing studies. Int. J. Obes., 20: