More than 500 million people worldwide are obese, but our weight is the result of many factors, and junk food is not always responsible. We decided to investigate the causes of overweight and obesity, and we have compiled results from various scientific studies. Here are nine amazing causes of weight gain that you should know about.
What Causes Weight Gain
9. Avoiding Family Meals
Studies show that family meals can protect us from obesity and being overweight. The reason is that food gathering can offer opportunities for emotional connections between family members and encourage healthy eating habits.
Based on the study results, children who shared family meals at least three times a week were 24% more likely to eat healthy foods than those who shared meals less frequently.
8. Year Of Birth
If you were born after 1942, pay attention. The researchers found that the risk of obesity largely depends on the year you were born.
People with an obesity-prone FTO gene mutation are more likely to be overweight if they are born after 1942.
7. Classical Music In Restaurants
One study found that more food and coffee are consumed in restaurants where classical music is played in the background. Something for you to consider if you also want to reduce your expenses.
6. Working At Night
People are programmed to sleep when there is no light and eat during the day. Working at night makes you gain weight because it interrupts the physiological cycle, causing a decrease in total daily energy expenditure. If you work at night, the solution to avoid weight gain is to eat less.
5. Too Little Sleep
It is scientifically proven that lack of sleep makes you fat. The explanation is that sleep plays an important role in energy metabolism; therefore, when we do not get enough sleep, we eat more, as it is a physiological adaptation mechanism to maintain wakefulness.
4. Environmental Pollution
Exposure to certain environmental pollutants has been shown to increase the risk of obesity. The reason is that some contaminants accumulate in the adipose tissue. These pollutants reach the body through fatty foods, such as fatty fish and meat.
3. Watching Too Much TV
Spending more than two hours sitting in front of the television every day increases the risk of obesity by 23%. Sleeping with the TV on also increases the risk.
According to a study, exposure to artificial light at night, while sleeping, reduces the levels of melatonin, a hormone that protects us from metabolic disorders that cause obesity and diabetes.
2. Stress, Depression, Anxiety…
Women who suffer from post-traumatic stress gain weight more quickly and are more prone to obesity than those who do not.
But there is good news: By reducing the symptoms of this disorder, the risk of obesity is greatly reduced.
On the other hand, more than half of people react to stress by eating, especially foods rich in fats and sugars. The scientific explanation is that this type of food influences the brain’s reward center.
1. Eating ’low-fat’ Foods
One study found that eating high-fat dairy products correlates with a lower risk of developing central obesity, as they are more satiating than fat-free or light-weight products. Additionally, studies say that many products advertised as low-fat have more calories than those that are not.
Preview photo credit depositphotos
Based on materials from El País
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