Last week, I heard Dr. Molly Bray speak on this topic. She is a geneticist and researcher from the University of Texas. Her speech was intriguing. She spoke about overweight and obesity in the United States.
The questions: Why are about 2/3 people in the United States overweight or obese? Why has overweight and obesity increased so rapidly over the past 25 years? Is it because we do not exercise enough? Do we eat too much? Are we stressed and not sleeping enough? Is it genetic?
I would argue it is all of these. In recent years, certain genes have been identified that place people at a higher risk of being overweight or obese especially in the presence of certain environmental factors such as diet and exercise. Many people often ask, “Why is it my friend can eat whatever she wants and she doesn’t gain weight, but if I eat a doughnut I gain 10 pounds?!?”
The answer is not simple and I believe we still have much to learn about the obesity epidemic but also believe there are factors we have identified that tell part of the story. First, our decrease in physical activity over the years due to increase in motor transportation, change in employment energy demands and the introduction of the technology age has decreased the amount of calories we burn each day.
Then looking at our diet, many of us follow more of a Western diet that is high in fat, calories and refined sugar. It is calorie dense but not necessarily nutrient dense. We are eating more than we need.
Add to lack of physical activity and a poor diet, the lack of sleep and stress. We know that sleep is correlated with increased caloric intake and a decrease in leptin, a hormone that decreases hunger and an increase in ghrelin, a hormone that increases hunger. Stress increases cortisol levels, a hormone that influences metabolism and increase fat storage.
Lastly, we have our genes. Although about 99 percent of my genetic material is the same as yours, there is still the 1 percent that makes me different. We have genes that influence metabolism. Some genes in the face of certain lifestyle factors will promote weight gain.
So what should we do? One thing you can do is talk to your doctor about genetic testing to see if you have any genes that may promote weight gain in the presence of certain dietary-related factors. If you do not want to do such testing then you can start with the simple things — eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats; move your body often throughout the day; breath mindfully to decrease stress, and sleep at least 7 to 9 hours eachnight.
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