Why are we obese ? Some scientific reasons
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why some people tend to be more obese than others? Sometimes you think you eat the same as others, but you gain weight while they don’t. Although there are obvious reasons like excess calories and a sedentary lifestyle, in this article, we will try to explain some scientific reasons behind this in a simple way.
The history of humankind is relatively recent. Twelve thousand years ago, we were nomads and relied on gathering and hunting; there wasn’t a constant availability of food like there is today. The body developed ways to save energy. Eight thousand years ago, agriculture and livestock farming began, and with them came the first signs of abundance and obesity. In some cultures, obesity was a symbol of economic status. By the mid-20th century, obesity became more common; if we look at family photos from 70 years ago, there is no marked obesity.
Never before has there been such an abundance of food. During evolution, the body developed a thrifty genotype, which favors energy storage and reduces its consumption. One of these genes is MCR4. Up to 20-40% of people may have alterations in this type of gene. There is also another gene, FTO, which is involved in appetite and the response to leptin, the hormone of satiety. Not everyone feels the same level of hunger.
You might wonder why you gain weight if you eat the same as your spouse or partner. The answer is that not all of us have the same metabolic rate, and not everyone has that thrifty genotype that stores energy.
There are also factors that predict weight gain. Among them are having obese parents, being born as a macrosomic baby, multiple pregnancies, a sedentary lifestyle, and stress. Additionally, there are triggers of obesity like recent marriage, quitting smoking, stopping exercise, and some pharmacological treatments.
Conclusion
If we have a sedentary attitude, genetic predisposition, and greater availability of food than in any other era, this is why we are obese.
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