The Causes of Obesity Are Not Just Overeating, Experts Say

Obesity is not just about overeating or a lack of physical activity. Health experts emphasise that obesity is a chronic disease that is far more complex than the mere ‘in-take’ and ‘output’ of calories. Doctor Diana Suganda, a clinical nutrition specialist, explained that obesity is influenced by multifactorial factors that are interrelated. ‘Obesity is very complex; it is not just about eating and exercise. There are many factors that influence it,’ said the graduate of the clinical nutrition specialty at Universitas Indonesia, as reported by Antara on Thursday (5 February). One of the most crucial internal factors is the role of hormones. In the human body there is a hormonal system that regulates appetite, satiety, and hunger. In people with obesity, this system often does not function as it should. This condition causes a person to still feel extremely hungry even though physiologically the body has already received sufficient intake. ‘That means there are signals inside our bodies that are not right. There are barriers that cause someone to regulate eating and exercise, but their weight comes back,’ Diana clarified. Based on research, there are memory cells in the body that play a role in the process of weight regain (the yo-yo effect). Hormonal changes and stomach capacity also affect the strong desire to keep eating even after weight loss. To break the obesity chain, Diana emphasised the importance of applying mindful eating. This pattern trains a person to be more attuned to satiety signals and actual nutritional needs. ‘The importance of mindful eating is so that you know portions. So during major occasions like Lebaran or Christmas, we can still eat anything but still know the limits of what we actually need, so it won’t be excessive,’ she concluded. Understanding that obesity is a medical problem that is complex can help individuals obtain appropriate treatment, whether through medical consultation or sustainable lifestyle changes.