Obesity is a very serious problem in the United States. Obesity has been linked to many chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. In this blog post, we will discuss some causes of obesity, including lack of exercise and too much food consumption.
1) Lack of Sleep
Factors that can contribute to obesity are lack of sleep, stress, and how many hours a person works. In the US, about 25% of adults reported that they sleep less than 7 hours on average per night. According to Harvard, researchers have found that those who slept only 4 to 5 hours a night for two weeks had an increased risk of obesity due to insulin resistance as well as having elevated cortisol levels which can lead to insulin resistance, causing diabetes and weight gain. Cortisol is the stress hormone that is released in greater amounts when a person is sleep deprived.
This may interest you: Sleep Duration and Weight Gain
2) Eating Out
When people eat out at restaurants, they tend to eat more calories because most of the time, they are unaware of how much fat, oil, sugar, etc., are included in the meal they are eating. Eating out also makes people eat more because it takes them longer to finish their food which means they are sitting down for a long time. This can be influenced by factors such as quality of service, how much the person likes the restaurant, and even unconsciously being served larger portions because bigger plate sizes have become popular.
3) Junk Food Advertising
Junk foods are usually very high in fat and sugar, which makes them very appealing to children. Studies have shown that children who watch a lot of TVs, especially advertisements for junk food, have a higher risk of obesity due to the fact that these two nutrients can cause weight gain when consumed in excess. Most people are exposed to advertisements on TV at least once per day, which is enough time for the brain to create associations between products and feelings of pleasure.
4) BPA in Cans and Plastic Bottles
Bisphenol A or BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used since the 1950s to make certain plastics and resins. BPA is found in the lining of canned foods and plastic bottles, as well as cash register receipts. A study was done by researchers reported that those who had higher levels of BPA were more than twice as likely to be obese than those with lower levels which can be attributed to the fact that BPA disrupts how hormones function and can cause insulin resistance.
5) Sugar Drinks and Alcohol
Sugary drinks such as soda, sweet tea, and energy drinks not only contribute to weight gain but also obesity. It is recommended that a person should have no more than one drink per day if they are at an increased risk of developing certain chronic diseases. Alcohol consumed regularly can contribute to weight gain by causing people to eat too much as well as slowing down the body’s ability to use sugar as energy.
Learn more: How Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease Are Linked
6) Unregulated Hormones in Meat
Hormones given to animals when they are young can pass into their meat in very small amounts, which can cause their consumers to become obese. This is because many of the hormones in beef, pork, and poultry greatly affect hunger levels by increasing or decreasing appetite in people who consume them. Although there is no scientific evidence that eating hormone-treated meat causes obesity, it is still a possibility.
7) Inactivity
Inactivity can become a cause of obesity when people do not move around much during the day and even sit down for several hours, which has been shown to increase the risk of developing certain chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. There are also psychological factors that can encourage a person to be inactive, such as boredom and laziness.
8) Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can influence obesity because people who have this condition tend to lose their sense of hunger during the day, which in turn causes them to eat less than usual. Although sleep apnea is not necessarily caused by obesity, weight gain has been linked to this condition because being overweight or obese can cause it.
If you are looking to lose weight, the best way is with a lifestyle change. However, if you have a BMI of above 35-40 and have been unable to lose weight through natural measures, then you should seek out medical options like a medical weight loss in AZ.
