Chapter 40 – An example of metabolic disturbance: obesity

Publisher Summary The chapter investigates the possible causes of obesity. Affluence is an important cause of the condition because it is generally established that this correlates closely with the incidence of obesity. It is clear that increased spending on fattening foods and the use of so many mechanical aids for travel and work together lay the foundations for an obese society. An accurate measurement of obesity really requires that the total body fat be measured and compared with that for a normal nonobese adult of similar age and sex. Obesity may be a result of a desirable genetic trait: during man's early development, he would probably have had to develop resistance to both extreme cold in winter and food deprivation at any time. It is generally observed and proved scientifically that obesity increases with age and this fact has been demonstrated in many investigations. The chapter also depicts that lean individual has developed as the type best able to be efficient in thermogenesis and to withstand the cold, whereas the obese person has developed, being poorly adapted to withstand cold through inefficient thermogenesis.