Life Style and Obesity.

As mentioned in the previous post, causes of obesity are grouped under three heads: Life style causes, genetic causes and medical causes of obesity. We discuss here and below the life style habits that result in obesity.

Life Style Causes of Obesity.

1. Diet and Obesity.

• Consuming more calories in food causes weight gain  which over time results in obesity.
• Over eating and eating foods high in fats causes weight gain. Obesity and overeating are very strongly connected and almost always coexist. This is an important obesity cause, which is often identified by the evergreen scene of an obese person frequently chewing on food.
• Portions of food served at eating places are so high that a person consumes at one time what can be sufficient for the day.
• One of the important obesity causes is eating fast food or processed foods which are high in fats especially trans fats.
• Not eating high fiber foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
• Depression and low self esteem makes a person look for comfort in some activity and he or she finds this comfort in eating. This makes a person spend more time on eating, resulting in consuming more food.
• A diet high in carbohydrates especially simple carbohydrates (bad carbs) causes weight gain. Simple carbohydrates are found in sugars, fructose, soft drinks, beer, wine, etc. These are rapidly absorbed into the blood and cause spike in blood sugar levels. The excess blood sugar is converted into fat and stored as such. Complex carbohydrates, the good carbs,  on the other hand, are gradually absorbed and the sugar from these foods are absorbed gradually and used as energy. Complex carbohydrates are found in bananas, beans, chickpeas, lentils, nuts, oats, sweet corn, whole grain cereals and yams.

2. Alcohol and Obesity.

Alcohol causes obesity especially when drunk daily and in large amounts. Alcohol becomes an obesity cause because alcohol contains calories, which get stored as fat. Secondly, people do eat a lot of fried snacks with alcohol  which again becomes a contributing factor.

3. Exercise and Obesity.

Lack of exercise and obesity are very frequently seen together. Those of us with a desk job spend most of our time sitting. We travel in cars and at home we watch television or read. There is no physical activity. As a result, calories consumed do not get utilized and get stored as fat. Over time you gain weight and ultimately you become obese. A normal adult must exercise or walk for 30 minutes every day while a young adult could increase this to 45 to 60 minutes. Television has been responsible for lack of that evening physical activity and children and adults have likewise been affected. Lack of physical activity and obesity are often seen to coexist.

4. Sleep and Obesity.

Sleeping less does cause obesity according to a recent study. This study indicates that people who slept for 5 hours every night were 73% more likely to become obese while people who slept for 6 hours every night were 27% more likely to become obese as compared to those who slept 7 to 9 hours daily. Explanation for this sleep and obesity link is yet to be found out, but what is said is that lack of sleep could trigger an increased intake of food which gets stored as body fat.

Secondly, it is during sleep that certain hormones which control appetite and use of energy are released. An example would be insulin which controls blood sugar. Lack of sleep results in less insulin and increased blood sugar. This excess of sugar gets deposited as fat in the body. Another example would be the hormone leptin which controls your appetite. Lack of leptin does not curb your appetite when your fat stores are high resulting in excess food intake.

5. Stopping Smoking Causes Weight Gain.

Some people tend to gain weight after they stop smoking. This is because the food starts to taste better because of the better functioning of the taste buds and sense of smell. Another reason cited is that nicotine in tobacco increases the metabolic rate so that more calories are burnt as compared to when you stop smoking. However this should not be construed as a plus point for smoking as effects of smoking are very dangerous to health.

6. Age and Obesity.

As you age, you lose muscle mass which can slow down the burning of calories. If you do not control your calorie intake, extra calories that do not get burnt are stored as fat, which can lead to being over weight and obese. In women, menopause is an additional cause of weight gain and obesity.

Previous: Obesity Causes.

Next:

• Genetic causes of Obesity.
• Medical causes of obesity.

 

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2. Causes of Obesity.
3. Obesity Causes|Genetic Causes.
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5. Obesity and Infertility.
6. Obesity and Liver.
7. Obesity in America.
8. Pregnancy – A Milestone in a Woman’s Life.