Sundry Causes of Obesity

Socio-Economic Factors

Obesity is more common in lower socioeconomic groups of affluent countries, but in developing countries obesity is more common in the prosperous elite class. Occupations of cooks and barmen are more prone to obesity while front desk receptionists, fashion designers, models, air hostesses, airline pilots, society girls have to keep slim and trim figures. Similarly, film actors and actress, extras, society girls, call girls, prostitutes have also to keep themselves slim to ensure themselves a longer stay in their respective professions.
In some societies fat women and men earn a place of status and are respected but, in others, fat people are neither respected nor considered attractive.

Drugs

Use of oral contraceptives, steroids, insulin andphenothiazines is generally followed by weight gain due to stimulation of appetite. When indoor patients are kept on medication for longer period, their weight normally does not increase but, after their return to homes, they start to take prescribed medicines—it is as if a convict has been released from a jail and. in a spirit of vengeance, he throws all the earlier imposed restrictions to winds and feels free to eat any type of food.


Alcohol

Alcohol as such, may not be a precipitating factor in causing rise in body-weight but drunkards usually follow drinks with meat / fish, fried and heavily spiced vegetables, rice or bread, extra fats in the form of butter, clarified butter, dry fruits. Heavy meals is not uncommon in drunkards as, when in a drunken state, they cannot distinguish between good or bad food, which food is harmful and what quantity is actually needed. Operating is a consequence of drinking, followed by rise in body weight, acidity, vomiting, sour and acidic eructations, flatulence, abdominal colic etc.

Fasting

Fasting is a cleansing process which helps to divest the body from harmful toxins and also affords well deserved rest and holiday from diet consumption, even though for a specific period only. It is held that no food should be taken during fasting but some people do take ice-creams, cold drinks, sweetmeats, sweets, chocolates, so that 'they don't feel weak'. Ladies, though not all, utilise fasting as an effective means to satiate their hunger for abundant rich diet, and also do not hesitate to ingest even the prohibited foods. All these habits lead one to obesity.

Tendency to obesity

In certain families obesity can be commonly seen and the reasons for putting on extra weight are too many to count. Despite best efforts, there is no shedding of weight. Here genetic factor could be the possible factor in adding to body weight. It is not that excessive food intake is generally the contributory cause, apart from sedentary life style. Obese parents can, at least, educate, motivate and guide their siblings about hazards of overweight. It would be still better, if parents and elderly people invite the young ones to join them in weight reducing exercises