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'''Obesity''' is excessive body weight. It is a more serious classification on the [[Body Mass Index]] (BMI) scale than ''overweight''. Some consequences of obesity include Type 2 [[diabetes]], strain on joints, and an increased risk of [[stroke]] and [[heart attack]]. Obesity has become more common in the [[United States]] and is increasing in many developed countries.

'''Obesity''' is a medical classification regarding an extreme and unhealthy level of excessive body weight. It is a more serious classification on the [[Body Mass Index]] (BMI) scale than ''overweight''. Some consequences of obesity include Type 2 [[diabetes]], strain on joints, and an increased risk of [[stroke]] and [[heart attack]]. Obesity has become more common in the [[United States]] and is increasing in many developed countries.

Obesity can be caused by overeating, which is sinful ([[gluttony]]).  It can also be caused by improper hormone production or other malfunctions of various brain structures, including in particular the [[hypothalamus]] (site of the reward pathways, [this action=release of serotonin=feeling of pleasure]) and [[thyroid]] gland.

Obesity has many causes, including some that are choice and controllable such as overeating ([[gluttony]]) and/or lack of exercise.  It can also be caused by improper hormone production or other malfunctions of various brain structures, including in particular the [[hypothalamus]] (site of the reward pathways, [this action=release of serotonin=feeling of pleasure]) and [[thyroid]] gland.

Obesity is most dangerous among the children and the elderly, whose bones, [[liver]]s, and [[lung]]s are too weak to deal with the excess weight and fat. Obesity can significantly shorten a person's lifespan.

Obesity is most dangerous among the children and the elderly, whose bones, [[liver]]s, and [[lung]]s are too weak to deal with the excess weight and fat. Obesity can significantly shorten a person's lifespan.

Some people consider obesity to be an illness. Whether it meets the definition of ''illness'' is an ongoing controversy in the medical world, however the medical world is nearly unanimously agreed that obesity is a big problem in the Western world. Liberals, however, [[liberal denial|deny]] this by saying hunger is a bigger problem among the poor.<ref>[[liberal denial]], Item 3 in general denials</ref>

The medical establishment considers obesity to be an illness, in the sense that it is a serious medical condition, but disagree about the root causes of non-hormone related obesity. The medical world is nearly unanimously agreed that obesity is a big problem in the Western world, and infact becoming a problem world wide.  

==See also==

==See also==