All around the world, Obesity has become an epidemic and is viewed as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity, "Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. People are considered obese when their body mass index (BMI) exceeds 30 kg/m. Obesity itself it not the only issues, people that are considered obese have a higher risk of other health issues such as: heart disease, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, cancer and osteoarthritis. Those who lack physical activities, intake an excessive amount of food and are genetic susceptibility are most commonly those who suffer from obesity. .
A study found in Science Daily, titled, "White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity ", provides evidence that obesity can be formed from genetic and chemical makeup. Many recent studies have suggested that obesity is associated with chronic inflammation in fat tissues. Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have discovered that an imbalance between an enzyme called neutrophil elastase and its inhibitor causes inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. The Sample population in the study was obese humans and mice. The researches hypothesis stated "the imbalance between neutrophil elastase and its inhibitor, α1-antitrypsin, is likely an important contributing factor in the development of obesity, inflammation, and other health problems " (White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity). The researchers found that obese humans and mice have increased level of neutrophil elastase and a decreased level of α1-antitrypsin. When the team leveled out the neutrophil elastase and of α1-antitrypsin, and fed the mice a high fat diet, the mice did not gain weight (Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute).