Causes of obesity
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Obesity is a complex issue with many causes. It’s caused when extra calories are stored in the body as fat.
If you consume high amounts of energy, particularly found in high fat and high sugar foods, and do not use all of the energy through physical activity, much of the extra energy will be stored in the body as fat.
Calories
The energy value of food is measured in units called calories. The average physically active man needs about 2,500 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, and the average physically active woman needs about 2,000 calories a day.
This amount of calories may sound high, but it can be easy to reach if you eat certain types of food. For example, eating a large takeaway hamburger, fries and a milkshake can total 1,500 calories – and that’s just 1 meal. For more information, read our guide to understanding calories.
As well as this, many people do not meet the recommended physical activity levels for adults, so excess calories consumed end up being stored as fa...
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