To determine if someone is obese doctors and healthcare professionals often use a measurement called Body Mass Index (BMI). It is also referred to as the Quetelet Number, after the Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet who developed it.

The BMI is a calculation that provides a measurement of a person's body fat content based on his/her height and weight. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of the person's height in meters. Mathematically,

BMI = Kg/m2

From this calculation a number is derived, which is deemed the BMI of the person. If the BMI is between 25 and 29.9, the person is said to be overweight. If the BMI is over 30, the person is considered obese.

One must remember that a high BMI does not necessarily always mean obesity; there are exceptions to the rule. Athletes come under this exceptional category of people. An athlete with a muscular build may also have a high BMI, but this does not classify him as obese, because in this case excess weight is caused by extra muscle, not fat.

Determining obesity in children

In the case of children, the term overweight takes into account a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the CDC growth charts for age and gender (as given in www.cdc.gov).

This is what this translates to: once the doctor has calculated a child's or teen's BMI, he plots this number on a specific chart to see how it compared to other children of the same age and gender. A child or teenager with a BMI that is more than that seen in 95% of other children or teenagers of the same age and same gender is usually considered overweight.

What Causes Obesity?

There can be many causes for obesity. One such is food intake. Usually the food we eat is measured in terms of calories. The energy that we use to do work is produced by burning these calories. Sometimes, due to various factors, the calorific intake exceeds the number of calories burnt, and this is when the problem starts.

This imbalance causes the excess calories to be stored as fat and excess presence of fat causes obesity. However, this doesn't happen overnight or over a short period of time. Obesity is the consequence of putting on extra calories over years.

Obesity can be inherited

Another cause for obesity is the genetic factor. A small portion of the DNA inherited from parents, that determine traits like hair or eye color can play an inevitable part in gaining weight. Some of the genes dictate the body to metabolize food and to use extra calories. Some people burn calories faster or slower than others do because of the genes.

Sometimes obesity can be the result of a combination of unhealthy food habits and genetics.

Other causes could be problems with the thyroid gland, or in certain cases, genetic disorders such as the Prader-Willi syndrome.

Obesity can also be due to emotional upheavals. Many people tend to get over emotional upheavals or deal with stress and anxiety by binging on food. The result is obesity.

Sedentary lifestyles are a major factor

One of the most important factors leading to obesity is a sedentary lifestyle. Obesity is seen more today because we are less active than we used to be. We spend all our spare time indoors, either in front of the computer or the TV. Very few people walk today.

There is no time to cook healthy and fresh food as lives are becoming busier day by day. So more people opt for eating at restaurants and buy prepared food to heat up at home. Those foods have more fatty ingredients than homemade food.

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