Obesity

Obesity means weighing 30% or above the level appropriate for one's body structure and height, specifically 30% more than one's Body Mass Index (BMI). It is dangerous because it puts the person at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Among the psychological and biological factors that influence obesity are:

• History of food deprivation. Research shows that rats who were deprived of food, then allowed to eat to reach their previous normal weight, and then allowed to eat freely, significantly ate more than the rats with no history of food deprivation.
• Learning bad eating habits.
• Reactions to cultural pressure towards extreme thinness.
• Genetic predisposition to gain weight.
• Presence of Specific Stimuli. Research using the behavioral perspective in Psychology shows that certain stimuli, like watching TV, leads to relevant responses, like overeating. In order to reduce the chance to overeat, obese individuals are advised to avoid watching TV.