Obesity often runs in families, although the exact nature of this apparent genetic influence on body weight is still unknown. Since you can't pick your parents, you can't control your predisposition to developing this disorder.
Obesity is also related to your economic background. Being overweight is more common in working-class groups than in the wealthy, possibly because less affluent people cannot afford the expensive diet and exercise programs favored by the rich. In addition, among the well-off, it is unacceptable to be obese or even moderately heavy, while working-class people are more tolerant of weight problems.
Gender and age also influence your weight. About twice as many women as men qualify as obese; and in both women and men, weight often increases with age.
Your ethnic background also makes a difference. Eskimos, for instance, tend to have slower metabolisms, burning energy more slowly than others and generally tending to be heavier. In this country, obesity is a greater problem for blacks than for whites.
