Obesity – It’s more than diet & exercise

[1955]

Several threads have been talking about loosing weight and I just wanted to point out there is more going on than just limiting calories & exercise.

Another issue is the onslaught of hormone-disrupting chemicals that we are exposed to has been increasing over the decades and scientist are just now starting to understand the effects related to obesity & diabetes. These effects are most noticeable in children being exposed at a younger ages.

Endocrine Disruptors
What Are ‘Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals’?
Obesogens: Chemicals that cause weight gain

It’s tough to eliminate (almost impossible) our exposure to these chemicals. Industry response in one case has been “BPA free” implying chemical free when in fact the replacement chemical may be worse than the BPA was.

BPA-Free But Still Dangerous? Replacement Chemicals Linked to Childhood Obesity

Probably the worst type of exposure are foods that prepared (heated) in their packaging that occurs in many fast food & restaurants.
There is noway to eliminate all of these sources but the more cognizant we are the better one can reduce them.
If we don’t already have enough to think about.

 

[NorthernLight]

Thank you, @1955. I get tired of reading that it's "simply" a matter of eating fewer calories. It really isn't that simple for some people.

 

[Pepper]

European art ca. 1500s depicts peasants & burgeoning middle classes who are very overweight; 500 years ago! I think it's become, or always was, one of our genetic traits.

 

[Lavinia]

Many people don't realise how high in calories alcohol is. A beer belly didn't get its name for no reason.

 

[win231]

Many people don't realise how high in calories alcohol is. A beer belly didn't get its name for no reason.

Most of a beer belly doesn't come from the calories. It comes from forcing the liver to do more that it's capable of doing, which causes it to enlarge. The liver has to detoxify all drugs & alcohol we take in & when people take in too much, it gets bigger & bigger, pushing out the abdomen. I've seen this in women who drink heavily, as well as men. It's easy to tell because the belly is large, out of proportion to the arms & legs.

 

[hearlady]

There's more to it then just calories. The new buzzwords are "gut health" and hormones.

 

[1955]

There's more to it then just calories. The new buzzwords are "gut health" and hormones.

Absolutely, "gut health" is also referred as the Microbiome - Happy gut happy body & mind ...

 

[Remy]

Childhood abuse can also cause lifelong issues with food. Children exposed to abuse elicit the fight or flight response. Something that is meant to be a rarity if ever experienced. But with children of abuse this response can be elicited over and over again. It's going to have a negative effect.