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Obesity and overweight are a result of an imbalance between food consumed and physical
activity. National data have shown an increase in the calorie consumption of adults and no change in physical activity patterns.
But obesity is a complex issue related to lifestyle, environment, and genes. Many underlying factors have been linked to the
increase in obesity, such as increasing portion sizes; eating out more often; increased consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks;
increasing television, computer, electronic gaming time; changing labor markets; and fear of crime, which prevents outdoor
exercise. Obese adults are at increased risk of type II diabetes, hypertension, stroke, certain cancers, and other conditions.
Overweight adolescents often become obese adults.
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