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=== 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 causal factors. 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 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.