Other causes
There are numerous reasons why we gain weight. And while obesity can be considered as a highly hereditary disease, overweight can be caused by certain environmental problems which should be carefully considered in order to avoid the risks of the condition.
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Genes Vs. Fat?
Nowadays obesity is a mere epidemic since over six million Americans are morbidly obese (BMI 40+) which is nearly twice as much as in 1980, while 9.6 million are overweight (BMI of 35-40). Comparing the statistics in 1980 heredity should be discounted as the major cause of the disease. It seems that certain changes in the environment we live play the key role. Since obesity runs in families it suggests a genetic link. Furthermore, the family shares the same eating habits, the same way of life and attitude towards health that may be a cause of overweight even without a history of obesity. 
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Calory intake - more than enough
The following lines aim at delineating the main premises for gaining weight as well as suggesting ways of controlling our weight in healthier limits.
1. Overconsumption The major reason for the modern obesity epidemic nowadays is considered to be the receiving of more calories than our body needs. Now, the United States of America produces 3,800 calories of food per day for each resident. This is 500 calories more compared to 30 years ago and yet at a much lower price per calorie. The consumption of calorie-dense foods has also increased as we can notice from the growing fast-food chains. This and the increased soft drink consumption also show a higher energy-intake.
2. Eating Too Many High-Fat/Sugary Foods The kind of food we eat is another major cause for the rise of obesity. Recent statistics show that people tend to suffer more digestive and metabolic disorders which are due to the overconsumption of high-fat and refined sugary foods and a low fibre intake. Such an eating pattern interferes with the body’s food and energy metabolism and leads to an excessive fat storage. Thus the \"modern\" diseases as type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity appear. They are called “modern” since this is an increasing worldwide tendency these days.
3. Decreased Energy Expenditure The more calories we eat the more energy we should use to burn these calories, otherwise they are stored as fat in our body. If one eats 100 more food calories per day than s/he burns, the person is likely to gain about 1 pound for a month which further makes up to 10 pounds for a year. From here the calculation of 200 pounds weight gain per two decades follows. Recent statistics show that only 20 % of the population exercises regularly, while only a small percentage of children does sports. Compared to 1990, these percents are almost as twice as less. It is a fact that severe clinical obesity causes serious mobility problems due to certain musculoskeletal and respiratory disorders.
4. Family Influence The influence of the family in terms of eating, shopping, cooking and lifestyle as a whole is of great importance for the child\'s energy balance and weight. Thus family influence on the diet is a major reason for the modern child obesity. Furthermore, obese children and overweight young adults frequently tend to grow up as obese adults.
5. Suburban lifestyle Suburban life means facilitation in any way – we get everywhere by car, can order food by internet, we can watch a movie on the TV instead of going out to the cinema, and children prefer playing computer games instead of playing sports outside. Statistics show suburban residents are fitter unless their parking and shopping areas are closer. But it surely is up to us to make certain efforts to practice some physical exercises if we have such a sedentary lifestyle. Even a daily 30 minutes of walking is helpful for reducing our weight and is surely good for our heart as well.