Obesity - causes and consequences

The environmental and genetic factors play a very important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. The excessive body mass results mainly from an impaired energy balance, i. e., when the energy intake exceeds the energy expenditure. Epidemiological studies facilitated specifying the environmental factors favourable to overweight and obesity. They, first of all, include a sedentary lifestyle. The most common form of leisure in Poland is passive relaxation, as an average Pole spends a few hours a day in front of their TV set. Moreover, a diet based on the very common products with a very energy density (fat-rich products containing high amounts of simple sugars and insufficient amounts of fiber), irregular meals and fired meals lead to an excessive intake of needless calories. The development of obesity in children is additionally stimulated by the increased soft drinks consumption and insufficient dairy intake. Eating out, especially in fast food restaurants, becomes more and more popular, which is conducive to gaining excessive body weight. Obesity is a serious health threat. It is a significant cause of premature mortality, e.g., in the United States 300 000 premature deaths connected with obesity is reported every year. The main causes of premature mortality among obese persons are cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The results of epidemiological studies showed that obese patients are more susceptible to hypertension, with a few times higher risk of myocardial infarction than in patients with appropriate body mass. Obesity increases the risk of type II diabetes up to 3-7 times, as well as the incidence of most cancer types (colorectal, prostate gland, breast, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer). Other health disorders related to obesity include osteoarthritis, cholelithiasis, sleep apnea syndrome, reproductive system diseases and psychosociological disorders.