Obesity is an important cause of mortality around the world so many scientific studies concentrate on this condition.
Experts have discovered that eating fast-foods is not the only cause for weight gain, surprisingly the emotional state of a person can cause this, it is not only about the power of will to avoid unhealthy foods. In the article, you will find a list of reasons for weight gain.
- Eating alone
Sharing a family meal is about connecting and creating emotional links between people. It also encourages healthy eating and creates a long-term habit that can prevent weight gain. The absence of a meal schedule can lead to obesity and the inclination to eat unhealthy foods. Studies show that children who participated in family meals 3 times a week are 24% more likely to develop healthy eating habits.
- Birthday facts
An interesting fact is that if you were born after 1942 you are more likely to have weight problems. It has been discovered that people born after this year developed a mutation of the gene that controls fat mass, so they can become overweight.
- Listening to classical music when you eat
If you eat in restaurants that play classical music, you will feel the urge to consume more food and coffee. Keep this in mind if you are on a strict budget, too.
- Night shifts
This working schedule is very bad for your health because you will feel exhausted all the time and will eat large quantities of food to compensate for lack of energy. The explanation is that our body is programmed to sleep when it’s dark outside and eat during the day. Breaking this cycle will cause problems.
- Not sleeping enough
This issue is linked to the one about night shifts. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body tries to compensate by finding energy in outside sources, for example, food. In the long run, this habit will make you gain weight.
- Exposure to pollution
Certain contaminants are released in the environment and eventually get inside our body through meat and fish. Long-term exposure will cause health problems and increases the risk of obesity.
- Sitting in front of the TV
Besides the fact that it damages your posture, sitting in front of the TV for more than 2 hours every day increases the risk of overweight by 23%. This is true also for sleeping with the TV on. In general, exposure to artificial light at night, whether it is your phone, TV, iPad, etc. reduces levels of melatonin, a hormone that protects from diabetes and obesity.
- Too much stress
When you feel stressed, you eat unhealthy foods, rich in fats and sugar. Keeping this habit will just make you gain weight until it’s too late. Also, women with post-traumatic stress disorder gain weight faster, but with the proper treatment, the risk of obesity is reduced…
- Low-fat diets
If you want to lose weight fast, you choose a low-fat diet but this is tricky because these kinds of products contain more calories than the normal ones. It has been demonstrated that consuming high-fat dairy products reduces the risk of obesity.
Read also: What Is Gerd: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Meet the Experts
- Dr. William Li – Dr. William Li is a physician and researcher focusing on how diet can impact diseases, including cancer prevention. He leads the Angiogenesis Foundation
- Dr. Joel Fuhrman – Dr. Joel Fuhrman advocates for nutrient-dense diets and is the creator of the Nutritarian diet. He runs his own wellness programs.
- Dr. Cynthia Sass – Dr. Cynthia Sass is a sports dietitian and nutritionist helping individuals achieve health goals through personalized plans. She collaborates with major sports organizations.
- Dr. Terry Wahls – Dr. Terry Wahls is a physician and researcher known for her dietary protocol to manage autoimmune diseases. She works with the Wahls Protocol programs.
- Dr. Gundry – Dr. Gundry is a heart surgeon and author advocating for the elimination of lectins in the diet to optimize health. He runs the Gundry MD platform.