Weight Disorders

Consuming more calories than you burn leads to being overweight and, eventually, obesity. The body stores unused calories as fat. Obesity can be the result of:

• Eating more food than your body can use
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Not getting enough exercise

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) may lead to weight gain, but usually only 5 - 10 pounds of weight. Some antidepressants and antipsychotic medicines may also contribute to weight gain and obesity. Genetic factors play some part in the development of obesity -- children of obese parents are 10 times more likely to be obese than children with parents of normal weight.
People who are at higher risk for obesity include:

• Lower income groups
• Former smokers
• People with chronic mental illness
• People with disabilities
• People with a sedentary lifestyle

More....Yahoohealth.com