Why are people overweight?
The reason why people are overweight goes beyond poor diet, it has to do with scientific and psychological factors.
Everyone knows some people who can eat ice cream, cake, and whatever else they want and still not be overweight. On the other side are people who seem to gain weight no matter how little they eat. Because? What are the causes of obesity? What allows a person to stay slim effortlessly? * On a very simple level, your weight depends on the number of calories you consume and how many you burn. But each of these factors is influenced by a combination of genes and what you eat. Both can affect your physiology (such as how quickly you burn calories) as well as your behavior. The interaction between all of these factors begins at the moment of your conception and continues throughout your life.
The caloric equation
The balance of calories stored and burned depends on your genetic makeup and your level of physical activity. By consistently burning all the calories you consume over the course of a day, you will maintain your weight. If you consume more energy (calories) than you expend, you will gain weight. Excess calories are stored throughout the body as fat. Your body stores this fat within specialized fat cells (adipose tissue). Either by enlarging fat cells, which are always present in the body, or by creating more of them. By decreasing your food intake and consuming fewer calories than you burn, or by exercising more and burning more calories. Your body will reduce some of its fat reserves. When this happens, the fat cells shrink, along with the waist.
Genetic influences
To date, more than 400 different genes have been implicated in the causes of overweight or obesity. Genes contribute to the causes of obesity in many ways, affecting appetite or feelings of fullness. The distribution of body fat and the tendency to use food as a way to cope with stress. The strength of genetic influence on weight disorders varies greatly from person to person. Research suggests that for some people, genes account for only 25% of the predisposition to being overweight. While for others the genetic influence is up to 70% to 80%. Having a rough idea of how important genes are to your weight can be helpful in treating your weight problems.
How much of your weight depends on your genes?
Genes are probably a significant contributor to your obesity if you have most or all of the following characteristics: You have been overweight most of your life. One or both of your parents or several other blood relatives are significantly overweight. If both parents are obese, your chance of developing obesity is up to 80%. You won’t be able to lose weight even when you increase your physical activity and stick to a low-calorie diet for many months.
What are thrifty genes?
When prey escaped or crops failed, how did our ancestors survive? Those who could store body fat to live during lean times lived, and those who couldn’t perished. This evolutionary adaptation explains why most modern humans - about 85% of us -. They carry so-called thrifty genes, which help us conserve energy and store fat. Today, of course, these thrifty genes are a curse rather than a blessing. * Not only do we have food available almost 24 hours a day, we don’t even have to hunt or harvest it! In contrast, people with a strong genetic predisposition to obesity may not be able to lose weight with the usual forms of diet and exercise therapy. Even if they lose weight, they are less likely to maintain the weight loss. For people with a very strong genetic predisposition, sheer willpower is ineffective in counteracting their tendency to be overweight. Typically, these people can maintain weight loss only under the supervision of a doctor. They are also the most likely to require weight loss medications or surgery. The prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States has been increasing since the 1970s. Genes alone cannot explain such a rapid increase. Although the genetic predisposition to being overweight varies widely from person to person, increased body mass index appears to be nearly universal, affecting all demographic groups. These findings underscore the importance of changes in our environment that contribute to the overweight and obesity epidemic.
The diet factor as one of the causes of obesity
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans are eating more calories on average than they did in the 1970s. Between 1971 and 2000, the average man added 168 calories to his daily rate, while the average woman added 335 calories a day. What is driving this trend? Experts say it’s a combination of greater availability at larger portions. Virtually everywhere we go – shopping malls, sports stadiums, movie theaters – food is readily available. You can buy snacks or meals at roadside rest stops or 24-hour convenience stores. Americans are spending a lot more on fast food foods: Today, portion sizes have increased, a trend that has spread to many other foods. A single “super large” meal can contain 1,500 to 2,000 calories – all the calories most people need for an entire day.
Stress and related issues
Stress is a common thread that intertwines these factors. Time pressures—whether for school, work, or family obligations—often lead people to eat on the run and sacrifice sleep. Which can contribute to weight gain. Some researchers also think that the mere fact of eating irregularly may be another cause of obesity. * Irregular eating patterns can alter the effectiveness of these signals in a way that promotes obesity. Similarly, research shows that the less you sleep, the more likely you are to gain weight. Lack of sleep tends to disrupt the hormones that control hunger and appetite and could be another cause of obesity. Stress and lack of sleep are closely related to appetite. As anyone who has gorged on cookies or chips when feeling anxious or sad can attest. If you want more information on nutrition and health topics, or need advice to find the healthiest eating plan to help you lose weight, **click here.
