The clinical definition of obesity is excessive body fat, defined as weight at least 20% more than optimum. It is usually caused by sedentary habits and a diet high in fat, alcohol, or total calories. Calories consumed but not used are stored as fat. Rare causes include glandular defects and excess steroid. This is usually expressed in terms of body mass index (BMI), which is derived by dividing one’s weight by the square of one’s height (Allison & Saunders, 2000).

· Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic link. Yet families also share diet and lifestyle habits that may also contribute to obesity. Separating these from purely genetic factors is not easy.

Obesity, Growth and Development: by Francis E Johnston and Gary D Foster: Pub Smith-Gordon and Company Limited: year 2000

There is a common perception that obese people have lower self esteem than do average people. Obesity has an impact on social aspects of an individual. As discussed, excess weight carries with it certain types of negative stereotypes including stupidity, laziness, dishonesty, and lack of ambition. Obese people may make less money for doing the same job as non-obese people, or they may not be hired at all.

· Psychological factors also influence eating habits. Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. Most overweight people have no more psychological problems than people of average weight. Even so, up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder. This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.

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