So , what is causing so many of us overweight?
It is explicitly emegred that there are many significants factors excessively causing the increasing of overweight and obesity.
We put onweight when the energy (calories of kilojuise) we consume in food exceeds the energy we expend in activities and bodily process. However, the cause of ennergy imbalance are not completely demonstrable, and the scientific research is attempting to provide an answer to this question. There are many factors should be notiably attention:
- Biological factors : Among the identified metabolic factors is a low resting metabolic rate for given body size and composition, a high respiratory quotient (RQ) indicating a low fat oxidation and a low spontaneous physical activity, all factors which are regarded as being under substantial genetic influence. Among the environmental factors, it is low levels of physical activity, increasing inactivity and a high fat diet that are probably the most important ones. In this review we have focused on controversies in this area. Understanding the interaction between the constitutional biological factors and the environmentally determined lifestyle factors it is important to produce better options for both the prevention and treatment of obesity.
- Sedentary Lifestyle : Obesity and type 2 diabetes have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It is well-established that increasing physical activity plays an important role in reducing risk of obesity and diabetes. Few studies, however, have examined the association between sedentary behaviors such as prolonged television (TV) watching and obesity and diabetes. Using data from a large prospective cohort study, the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study, we have demonstrated that increasing TV watching is strongly associated with obesity and weight gain, independent of diet and exercise. Also, prolonged TV watching is associated with a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Men who watched TV more than 40 h per week had a nearly threefold increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes compared with those who spent less than 1 h per week watching TV. The increased risk was not entirely explained by the decreased physical activity and unhealthy eating patterns associated with TV watching. Thus, public health campaigns to reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes should promote not only increasing exercise levels but also decreasing sedentary behaviors, especially prolonged TV watching.
- Social factos; In a study of over 12,000 members of a single social network in which individuals were surveyed repeatedly over a period of more than 30 years it was found that ” A person’s chances of becoming obese increased by 57% if he or she had a friend who became obese in a given interval, among pairs of adult siblings, if one sibling became obese, the chance that the other would become obese increased by 40% and if one spouse became obese, the likelihood that the other spouse would become obese increased by 37%.” (Tamburlini et al. 2007) It is clear that interpersonal relationships and social learning play a significant role in the spread of obesity. Micro-sociological causes include social eating, lack of group exercise, group transportation (driving vs. walking), and group popularization of sedentary recreation such as video games or tv. The same principles of social learning can be turned around, however, to promote health through group pressure to maintain an appealing body shape, nutritious social eating, athletic group activities, and choosing active recreation. If an individual finds themselves in a health-negative social network they should exert themselves to change group behaviors or, if that fails, join more positive networks such as athletic clubs and nutrition blogs, or find health conscious meal companions.
- On a more macro scale our society exerts pressures on us that are inescapable no matter our immediate social network. Advertisements may not be mal-intentioned as they pressure us to consume one product over another but the net effect is simply pressure to eat more. The rising standard of living means that many households have moved to two incomes to make ends meet, discouraging in-home preparation of nutritious meals. Increasing car ownership and distance from home to workplaces makes it easy to walk very little. Available work and entertainment are trending towards those requiring sitting in front of a computer screen for much of the day. “The proportion of income required to buy food in the United States is among the lowest in the world and has declined steadily since the 1950s”(6) Much of the most readily available foods such as those found in vending machines, given out at social events and cafeterias, or found in the nearest and cheapest restaurants are the worst types of foods we can eat.
Genetic factors: Studies of identical twins who have been raised apart show that genes have a strong influence on a person's weight. Overweight and obesity tend to run in families. Your chances of being overweight are greater if one or both of your parents are overweight or obese.Your genes also may affect the amount of fat you store in your body and where on your body you carry the extra fat. Because families also share food and physical activity habits, a link exists between genes and the environment.
Children adopt the habits of their parents. A child who has overweight parents who eat high-calorie foods and are inactive will likely become overweight too. However, if the family adopts healthy food and physical activity habits, the child's chance of being overweight or obese is reduced. - Environemtal factors: Emotional FactorsSome people eat more than usual when they're bored, angry, or stressed. Over time, overeating will lead to weight gain and may cause overweight or obesity.
SmokingSome people gain weight when they stop smoking. One reason is that food often tastes and smells better after quitting smoking.
Another reason is because nicotine raises the rate at which your body burns calories, so you burn fewer calories when you stop smoking. However, smoking is a serious health risk, and quitting is more important than possible weight gain.
Age
As you get older, you tend to lose muscle, especially if you're less active. Muscle loss can slow down the rate at which your body burns calories. If you don't reduce your calorie intake as you get older, you may gain weight.
Midlife weight gain in women is mainly due to aging and lifestyle, but menopause also plays a role. Many women gain about 5 pounds during menopause and have more fat around the waist than they did before.
PregnancyDuring pregnancy, women gain weight to support their babies’ growth and development. After giving birth, some women find it hard to lose the weight. This may lead to overweight or obesity, especially after a few pregnancies.
Lack of SleepResearch shows that lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity. For example, one study of teenagers showed that with each hour of sleep lost, the odds of becoming obese went up. Lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity in other age groups as well.
People who sleep fewer hours also seem to prefer eating foods that are higher in calories and carbohydrates, which can lead to overeating, weight gain, and obesity.: - lack of sleep
Sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of the hormones that make you feel hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin). When you don't get enough sleep, your level of ghrelin goes up and your level of leptin goes down. This makes you feel hungrier than when you're well-rested.
Sleep also affects how your body reacts to insulin, the hormone that controls your blood glucose (sugar) level. Lack of sleep results in a higher than normal blood sugar level, which may increase your risk for diabetes.
Pregnancy: - During pregnancy, women gain weight to support their babies’ growth and development. After giving birth, some women find it hard to lose the weight. This may lead to overweight or obesity, especially after a few pregnancies.