Key factors contributing to obesity: dietary habits, lack of exercise, occupation, and medication effects.

Genetic factors contribute to obesity, which we should be aware of. However, uncontrolled eating and overeating are more significant contributing factors, therefore, we must eat healthily. By properly regulating our food intake, we can effectively control our diet. To control our diet, we first need determination; secondly, we need to feel full, which can be achieved by consuming some weight-loss-promoting medicinal diets. Medicinal diets have weight-loss effects, allowing obese individuals to achieve the dual benefits of feeling full and losing weight.

People who eat a lot and don't exercise a lot are prone to obesity due to excessive calorie intake and insufficient calorie expenditure. With social development and technological advancements, the intensity of physical labor has decreased. Tasks that previously required manual labor can now be easily accomplished using machinery and appliances. Even daily tasks like cooking, laundry, and walking can now be done with rice cookers, microwave ovens, washing machines, and cars.

This reduces physical labor, and with improved modern living standards, food becomes more delicious, appealing in color, aroma, taste, and presentation, making it easier to eat. If people engage in more physical exercise to burn calories, they are less likely to gain weight. Due to different occupations, some people who do mental labor, such as desk work, experience less physical exertion and are more likely to be obese; while those who do physical labor generally become less obese the more intense their work.

The degree of obesity varies depending on the nature of one's work. For example, workers in canteens and restaurants, as well as those in food factories and breweries, are generally more obese. Urban residents are more obese than rural farmers. Gender and age also play a role in obesity, with women being more likely to be obese than men. Women have more fat cells than men, which is a significant reason for the higher rate of obesity in women; the lower intensity of physical labor for women is also one of the reasons why women are more prone to weight gain.

Surveys show a close relationship between age and obesity. 11.5% of people start gaining weight at age 15, 1.4% between 15 and 17, 18% between 20 and 29, 33.8% between 30 and 39, 28.1% between 40 and 49, 6.5% between 50 and 59, and 0.7% over 60. This indicates that the largest number of people begin gaining weight between 30 and 39 years old. Therefore, people over 30 should pay attention to dietary control and increase exercise to reduce factors contributing to weight gain.

There are two main reasons why illness can lead to obesity: firstly, the illness itself can cause obesity; secondly, obesity can result from excessive calorie intake and reduced physical activity after illness. Obesity caused by the illness itself, such as inflammation, injury, or tumors, can lead to lesions in the hypothalamus, resulting in increased appetite and reduced energy expenditure, thus causing obesity. Post-illness obesity is mainly due to consuming delicious foods that are not normally eaten during illness, coupled with tasty gifts from family and friends, and overeating and reduced physical activity. This causes energy to be converted into fat and stored, leading to weight gain. Therefore, strict control of food intake is necessary after becoming ill to reduce the risk of weight gain.

During treatment, some medications can cause weight gain. For example, chlorpromazine, used to treat schizophrenia, isoniazid (irifon), used to treat tuberculosis, and reserpine, used to lower blood pressure, all have chemical effects on the hypothalamus, leading to increased appetite. Long-term use of these medications can result in obesity. Furthermore, corticosteroids, such as cortisone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone, can also cause weight gain.

Estrogen and estrogen-containing birth control pills can also cause weight gain in women. This is because estrogen increases appetite and causes water and fat retention, leading to weight gain. Other medications that cause weight gain include metoclopramide, yeast tablets, the protein synthesis agent nandrolone phenylpropionate, and insulin. All the diseases that can be treated with dietary therapy can also be treated through medicinal cuisine, achieving the ideal effect of treating the disease without causing weight gain.

Among obese individuals, some have particular food cravings. Some enjoy drinking alcohol; after alcohol is absorbed in the stomach and intestines, about 90% of it is oxidized in tissues, releasing heat. Even small amounts of alcohol can increase appetite, leading to weight gain. Those who enjoy beer are particularly prone to obesity; the common term "beer belly" is often attributed to frequent beer consumption. People who crave sweets and oily foods, prefer soft foods, and dislike fiber-rich foods are also susceptible to obesity. Furthermore, those who snack frequently and then lie down after eating are also prone to obesity. Those with these unhealthy habits can naturally lose weight by consciously overcoming them; combining this with appropriate weight-loss diets will enhance the results.