Obese people are people who carry too much body fat. A healthy individual has between 30 and 35 billion fat cells in their body. If they get heavier, the cells start to grow and, eventually, increase in numbers. This is why it is also so much more difficult for obese people to lose weight, because they have more than the average amount of fat cells.
The human body needs calories in order to survive. These calories should contain vitamins and minerals as well. Someone who is obese is different from a non-obese person because they don’t eat food when they need to, don’t eat the right things, and don’t move enough.
Being of normal weight is very important for overall health. However, we also live in a society in which being thin is equated to being beautiful.
Causes of Obesity
The main cause of obesity is lack of physical activity and too much consumption of non-nutritious foods. However, genes, age, and a family history are also contributing factors. People have the wrong lifestyle and attitude towards their weight as well, and stress is also known to be linked to obesity. Because we live in such a stressful society, with unrealistic body images, it is no surprise that people become obese.
Effects of Obesity
Being obese is very bad for your physical health, but it also causes emotional suffering. People who request bariatric surgery often complain of social isolation and stigmatization. They also notice that they are less employable. This is in part due to the fact that an obese person is more likely to be off work due to illnesses, thereby lowering productivity and increasing cost for employers. Research has shown that the obese are more likely to be unemployed, less likely to be considered for promotion, and paid less than non-obese people, even compared to the same job.
Of course, another effect is that people have to deal with not looking like the societal norm of “beautiful”. People want to look good, and this means they judge people who are obese. As a result, those who are obese often have low self-esteem and a negative body image. Obesity is not just seen as unattractive, but also as lazy.
Common Physical Problems Obese People Experience but Non-Obese Do Not
- Breathing difficulties
- Problems with walking
- Knee and back pain
- Feeling very tired
- Having various comorbid health conditions
The difference between obese people and non-obese people is clear, therefore, and it extends way beyond what they look like. The obese are unhealthier, less employable, stigmatized, and more socially isolated. Unfortunately, only the fact that they are unhealthier is a real fact. They should not be stigmatized in any way, but the reality is that they are.
People often speak about the gap between the rich and the poor, citing that most people are just a paycheck away from being poor. The same is true for the difference between fat and thin: people are just a cream cake away from being obese.