The percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight has more than doubled over the past 30 years.  An estimated 15 percent of children and adolescents are now overweight. 

There are a variety of factors that play a role in obesity and overweight. Behavior, environment, and genetic factors all can have an effect in causing people to be overweight and obese.  Overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance. This involves eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity.  Body weight is the result of genes, metabolism, behavior, environment, culture, and socioeconomic status.  

Overweight and obesity are a result of energy imbalance over a long period of time. The cause of energy imbalance for each individual may be due to a combination of several factors. Individual behaviors, environmental factors, and genetics all contribute to the complexity of the obesity problem. 

Some illnesses may lead to obesity or weight gain. These may include Thyroid, Cushing's disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may also cause weight gain.

Overweight and obese individuals (BMI of 25 and above) are at increased risk for physical problems such as:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
High levels of insulin in the blood
Asthma
Arthritis
Coronary heart disease
Angina pectoris
Congestive heart failure
Stroke
Gallstones
Gout
Sleep apnea
Respiratory problems
Endometrial cancer
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Colon cancer
Complications of pregnancy such as;
        gestational diabetes
        gestational hypertension
        preeclampsia
        complications in operative delivery such as c-sections
Menstrual irregularities
Infertility
Irregular ovulation
Bladder control problems
Uric acid nephrolithiasis
Depression
Eating disorders
Distorted body image
Low self-esteem
Poor general health

Your mind responds to, and is directly related to your body.  No one wants to be overweight or obese, but many of us just don’t know how to make the changes needed to reach a healthy weight.