Socioeconomic status is a significant contributing factor to obesity. Individuals in poorer neighborhoods or urban areas may lack access to or be unable to afford healthy foods, forcing them to rely primarily on inexpensive, widely available, high-fat, and high-calorie fast food as their main source of nutrition.

Socioeconomic Status and Obesity

An individual's physical environment can influence their risk of obesity by affecting their opportunities for physical activity. For instance, living in a neighborhood with high crime rates and few local amenities may deter people from walking or biking, thereby limiting their overall energy expenditure.

Physical Environment and Obesity

The condition of being overweight or obese is caused by an energy imbalance where more calories are consumed than expended, leading to excess energy being stored as fat. This biological imbalance is influenced by a combination of factors, including genetics, the physical environment, and socioeconomic status.

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Obesity is characterized by an individual weighing more than what's defined as a "healthy" weight for their gender and height. It can be broken into three classifications based on Body Mass Index (BMI):
- Overweight
- Obese
- Severe Obesity 

Obesity 

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

According to the CDC, severe obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher. This classification is typically used for individuals whose excess weight puts them at a significant risk for death.

Severe Obesity 

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure utilized by medical doctors to determine if an individual is obese. It uses the formula of weight (kg) divided by height (m^2) squared.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Being extremely overweight or obese serves as a significant risk factor for a variety of negative health outcomes. These potential consequences include, but are not limited to, an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, liver disease, sleep apnea, infertility, arthritis, and certain types of cancer such as colon and breast cancer.

Health Consequences of Overweight and Obesity

An adult is considered overweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 30. For instance, on a standard BMI chart, this category can apply to a person who is 4'11" and weighs between 120-140 pounds, or a person who is 6'6" and weighs between 220-265 pounds.

Overweight (BMI 25-30)

An adult is classified as obese if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or higher. As an example from a BMI chart, this category could include an individual at 4'11" weighing between 140 and 350 pounds, or an individual at 6'6" weighing between 265 and 350 pounds.

Obese (BMI > 30)

The prevalence of being overweight or obese is a major public health concern in the United States. According to 2018 CDC estimates, approximately 40% of the adult population is obese. Furthermore, nearly three-quarters of all adults and one out of every six children are classified as overweight.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States

The primary recommended approach for managing and improving health related to body weight involves a combination of diet and exercise. However, these methods are not universally successful. For individuals who do not achieve weight loss through these means or whose obesity presents a life-threatening risk, more intensive medical interventions like bariatric surgery may be considered.

Treatment for Obesity

Read the following scenario. Analyze the potential interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors that could be contributing to Alex's weight gain.

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