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→Causes: additional information
Although obesity is usually the result of overeating and lack of exercise, in a small percentage of cases excess weight gain is a symptom of a [[disease]] such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's syndrome.<ref>[http://www.webmd.com/diet/medical-reasons-obesity Medical causes of obesity], WebMD</ref>
Although obesity is usually the result of overeating and lack of exercise, in a small percentage of cases excess weight gain is a symptom of a [[disease]] such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's syndrome.<ref>[http://www.webmd.com/diet/medical-reasons-obesity Medical causes of obesity], WebMD</ref>
== Causes: additional information ==
=== Causes: additional information ===
Obesity has many causes, including controllable personal choices 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. A 2003 Duke University study shows a possible relationship between the number of children a person has and an increased risk of obesity. A woman's risk of obesity is raised 7% with each child; a man's risk is raised by 4%.<ref>[http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/154099904322836492 Number of Children Associated with Obesity in Middle-Aged Women and Men: Results from the Health and Retirement Study]</ref>
Obesity has many causes, including controllable personal choices 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. A 2003 Duke University study shows a possible relationship between the number of children a person has and an increased risk of obesity. A woman's risk of obesity is raised 7% with each child; a man's risk is raised by 4%.<ref>[http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/154099904322836492 Number of Children Associated with Obesity in Middle-Aged Women and Men: Results from the Health and Retirement Study]</ref>