The Meeting of Two Pandemics

Obesity is a chronic disease that has as its origin a complex causal chain of multifactorial etiology, where genetic, social and environmental factors interact; that is, both the lifestyle of the individual and the social and economic determinants are involved. It is characterized by an increase in body fat deposits and therefore weight gain, caused by a positive energy balance, which occurs when food intake exceeds energy expenditure; and, as a result, the excess is stored as fat in the form of fat.excess is stored as fat in the body. (Lomas, 2000)