Weight Gain Prevention Strategies

Excerpt

Obesity is defined as an increase in body weight when compared to height. To classify obesity, the standard practice is to use a Body Mass Index scale which puts weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. An individual is considered obese at BMI level of 30 except in Asian where a BMI of 27 or higher is considered obese. When we look at the cause of weight gain it is essentially excess energy consumption. Energy intake is through food, and energy expenditure is through physical activity. These two main factors need to be in balance for an individual to remain weight neutral. In the population, the energy balance can be misaligned due to a variety of factors such as genetics, behavior, environment, and socioeconomic factors.