Causes of excess weight and myths. Causes of Overweight in Women

Obesity or overweight is an excessive increase in body weight due to fat mass, which can be harmful to health. According to the data collected by scientists over many years of observation, it was found that 90% of cases the main cause of excess weight is a violation of the balance between consumption and energy consumption. That is, there is a clear connection between overeating and a sedentary lifestyle.

Physiological Causes of Overweight

1. Food:   the quantity and quality of food in your diet has a strong effect on weight.

Immoderate   food consumption is the main scourge of modern civilization. Products have become easily accessible, stores are now within walking distance, like fast food, and relatively cheap, and cheap and finished products in which most of the harmful substances are the main culprits for overweight. Organic or organic products are much more expensive and you just can’t buy them, so there are almost no overweight people among the rich.

As a result, it turns out that the modern average person eats more than expected, and these products are worse in quality than before and moves less. According to statistics, more than 90% of cases of excess weight are associated with a violation of the balance between consumption and energy consumption. That is, with overeating and a sedentary lifestyle.

2. Genes:   some people are genetically predisposed to be overweight and, accordingly, gain weight more easily and faster than others and more quickly accumulate fat in the abdomen.

Studies of the human genome have identified genes responsible for obesity. To date, it has been precisely established that the "obesity genes" are responsible for every four cases of the disease out of a hundred, that is, 96% of excess weight is caused by other reasons. But! The human genome has not yet been fully deciphered, and it is unknown to kaike that the genes will be discovered by researchers.

Nevertheless, heredity plays an important role in the development of the disease. It is proved that if both parents are obese, the incidence of this disease in children reaches 66%. In other words, if the family has three babies, then two of them are likely to be obese. If one of the parents does not differ in harmony, obesity threatens 50% of the offspring, that is, one of two. But if the parents are slim, then the probability of this ailment in children is only 9%.

Genetic predisposition should not become fate, as studies show, sports, physical education, healthy eating, a complete rejection of alcohol and other unhealthy habits, will be able to reduce or completely level the genetic predisposition to being overweight.

3. Lack of physical activity: Sports training has many health benefits, including reducing the likelihood of developing heart disease, certain cancers, and other chronic diseases. Physical activity is a key element in controlling weight and health.

A modern lifestyle, that at work, that at home is mostly sedentary. At work, we sit at a computer and in most cases we work at it, at home we are also waiting for a computer, tablet or TV, at which we "sit" on social networks or watching TV shows, as someone who loves more, and there is still between work and home the car we are also sitting at. The modern lifestyle is a sedentary lifestyle. Yes, many are engaged in fitness, but on the whole, mankind has begun to move less and this is a big problem of the 21st century. I will not discover anything new for you if I say that being physically active is good. What is normal physical activity? it30-60   minutes of training in the fitness room per day, at least 3 times a week.

There is another important reason to include fitness in your daily schedule. Besides the fact that we sit a lot and move a little, we eat a lot! And this excess food and calories must be burned, and burn immediately, and not later, when these calories turn into fat and settle with fat reserves on our hips and stomach. In this case, the fat is much more difficult to “drive off” and this will require considerable effort. Never put off going to the fitness room for later, start burning fat as soon as possible.

4. Sleep: As studies have shown, there is a connection between how much people sleep and how much they weigh. In general, children and adults who get too little sleep tend to weigh more than those who get enough sleep.



Psychological Causes of Overweight

1. You seize emotions

You start to seize emotions or lack thereof. The “I'm stuck in stress” scheme is simplified and incomplete. Some of us chew on chips and rolls, upset, others - angry, others - from boredom, fourth - to please ourselves with something. Situations are different for everyone.

When seizing emotions, there is a huge probability of falling into a vicious circle. You are sad, lonely, hard, you have experienced a stressful situation and you begin to eat, tension and stress recedes for a while. It’s easier for you, you begin to rejoice at your victory over stress. But, at some point you understand that you have eaten too much and obviously too much, and that means extra pounds on the scales and at that moment you become sad and sad and you start eating again to drown out negative emotions.

Pleasant emotions that delicious food gives are struggling with guilt. At the same time, a person realizes that food raises his mood only for a short time, and then he will feel bad again, and therefore he should not eat only because of negative experiences. However, sometimes this is not enough to stop the habit of attachment ...

2. You eat out of habit, not when you are hungry

You do not know how to listen to yourself, your desires, do not understand when you really want to eat. But you know for sure that lunch is always at two o’clock, that most of the things you need to finish before dinner, and the plate after the meal must certainly remain empty. So mother taught you in childhood.

This hunger is false, this hunger is from habit, because it is created by the mind, not the body. Such hunger is 99% a matter of habit. Starve for several days and you will be surprised. If you have extra pounds, then you may not feel hunger even after 3 weeks. When the body uses up all the accumulated fat, only then can you feel real hunger. But it is very difficult. Such a reasonable step, few are willing to take. After all, most live without realizing how they eat, what they eat, and in what quantities.

3. Food replaces something important and desirable in your life.

A situation where you usually want not just sweet or salty, but quite specific and sometimes exotic things: sweet cherries in the winter, sweet donuts with beer, fish that you can’t stand since childhood. And you eat and you can’t eat too much.



Endocrine Causes of Overweight

Among endocrine diseases associated with overweight, hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome are most common.

1. Hypothyroidism   - with this disease, a decrease in thyroid function occurs. Hypothyroidism - this is the very "slow metabolism", which usually overweight people attribute all their problems to. In addition to moderate weight gain, this condition is manifested by poor cold tolerance (a person constantly freezes), dry skin, hair loss, constipation, muscle weakness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, low mood, up to the development of depression.

2. Cushing's Syndrome   - a disease, one of the symptoms of which is also overweight. Cushing's syndrome is characterized by the accumulation of adipose tissue in the central part of the body - in the abdomen and buttocks. Many symptoms of this disease are also characteristic of severe obesity, for example, high blood pressure, increased hair growth, menstrual irregularities, and an increase in blood sugar. But unlike obesity with Cushing's syndrome, there are crimson stretch marks on the skin, atrophy of the skin, and a low level of potassium in the blood.

The biological mechanism of overweight

The substances that make up our food are conventionally divided into three groups - fats, proteins, carbohydrates. The first thing the body seeks to turn into energy and use up is carbohydrates. If carbohydrates are lacking, our body breaks down stored fats. And in the most extreme case, proteins go to the “nutrition” of our body with energy, but they are the poorest in terms of conversion to energy.

In ancient times, finding or obtaining food for humans was a problem, therefore, evolutionarily, our body has learned to
to accumulate energy for future hunger strikes. For this, we have fat cells, adipocytes. They can increase quantitatively when a person grows, and then begin to change qualitatively, in volume. Adipose tissue is specifically designed to store energy for future use, which is the cause of excess weight. The time spent on physical activity is directly opposite to the level of body fat, so in most cases we can control the amount of fat in our own body.

Knowing how our biological mechanism works, it is easy to explain, for example, why liposuction is an ineffective cosmetic procedure and a waste of money. With liposuction, a certain amount of fat cells is mechanically removed. Will your body stop storing energy in the form of fat after surgery? No, other, not removed fat cells will simply be used. Remove all fat cells never
if it succeeds, it would lead to a catastrophic change in metabolism, since this is one of the oldest functions of the human body.

Why is the stomach growing? Why do I have full legs? Why is a man getting fatter? How to lose weight? Almost 60% of the population are asked these questions! And if you count among beautiful ladies - that's all 90%.

In fact, how is weight gain going? Extra, of course. Put aside the standard causes, such as: overeating, reduced physical activity, diseases, age, constant lack of sleep, laziness. Let's talk about the hidden psychological motives of the same overeating and the same, allegedly, laziness. Let's think together why a woman begins to eat a lot and how to cope with this continuous feeling of hunger, when the stomach says that it is full, and my eyes look for a piece, a plate, a bowl ... and they stick everything in their mouth that is not nailed.

In fact, overweight has much deeper reasons than just reluctance to keep fit.

The first reason for overeating. Recently, you have not received in your life something very important and significant

This is exactly the case when suddenly (or constantly) you want something exotic, unusual. As a rule, you want something specific, and not just tasty. For example, strawberries in winter or sweet buns with beer.

Let's try to figure out how to replace this desire. Think about what you associate with the particular food your body requires. For example, you want fish dishes, although you usually take them calmly. What is the reason for this? Perhaps with the fact that you were not able to go on vacation to the sea?

Tip. Go for a couple of days, even if not on the coast, but at least to a sanatorium or to a country house, where there is a lake, a river. Often this helps to get rid of obsessive desire.

If you want something very sweet, give yourself something pleasant and extremely fun. For example, going to a 3D movie theater for a comedy, and then wrap it in a spa.


The second reason is the habit of eating

Since childhood, you have been taught to eat at a certain time. At work, you have a lunch break from exactly 13 to 14. Accordingly, it was at this time that you were used to consuming food.

Advice to losing weight. Stop for a moment and think: Are you really hungry? Perhaps it is enough just to gnaw an apple or cabbage? Or drink a glass of water? Who wants to eat: your stomach or your habits? If this is not a stomach, then postpone the meal until another time and praise yourself for your prudence.

The third reason. You like fat people and you don’t really think that a complete person is bad

For many people, body weight is associated with weight in society. Think for a moment, what exactly do the words “big man” mean to you? Dignity? Confidence? Force? Kindness? If so, then subconsciously you dream of becoming bigger, bigger, more solid.

What to do in this case. Find worthy role models. Successful, kind, noble, self-confident people, and at the same time - thin.


The reason for overweight is the fourth. You are hiding from the world

What can one hide from in the body? From burdensome deeds and worries, from problems and sorrows, from constant lack of money and longing. You may have experienced violence and are afraid of men. Why you constantly want to eat and sleep, Just because avoiding reality seems to you the most simple and convenient. And not to you, more likely ... but to your wounded heart and tired body.

How to lose weight in this situation. Perhaps autotraining or meditation, affirmation can help here. Perhaps you should turn to a psychologist or go to trainings to restore your own self, to reunite with yourself, to bring confidence, good luck and love to life. Fortunately, now there is no shortage of offering such services.

And another great tip is to sign up for a belly dance at a dance club. Believe me, a lot of women pulled themselves out thanks to bellidance from the disgusting viscous bodlot of pain, unhappiness and fear.


Reason 5. You are trying to "seize" negative emotions. Or overeating due to stress

Or a complete lack of positive emotions, as an option.

Try to express your emotions, do not hide your moods, do not keep pain in yourself. Learn to swear correctly: not insulting and not turning to personalities, but reasonably and weightily. Chop a plate on the wall - it helps a lot. Some sober.

And also physical activity helps to throw out emotions. For some it’s spring cleaning, for some it’s jogging or fitness equipment. Many women are saved through needlework. clay and clay modeling are especially helpful.


The scariest of the reasons. Food is the only pleasure in life

Of course, objections may arise here: I walk with the dog twice a day, go to the cinema and the disco with friends on weekends, and often visit the sauna and cafe. But think about it: are all these sorties and adventures pleasing you? Perhaps you want something else?

What to do. Find new hobbies and hobbies. Change your lifestyle. Find old friends with whom you were once comfortable. Register on a dating site and meet men. For many women, this helps.

Try to remember what you dreamed of as a child. About the rollers and the bike? Buy them for yourself and ride your health. About a dog or rat? Get them for yourself if this will be your salvation.

The main thing - do not succumb to the constant desire to seize failures and a bad mood, because any overeating has a lot of psychological internal problems. Love yourself, pamper, cherish, but do not overfeed.

I wish you happiness and good mood!


   But before you make the obvious - to change your diet and increase physical activity, you should deal with the other reasons that led to excess weight - and they, as a rule, do not lie on the surface. What is it about?

  Genetic predisposition

Scientists from year to year find more and more genes responsible for the development of obesity. However, all currently known "obesity genes" are involved in only four out of a hundred cases of the disease. The remaining 96% are due to other reasons.

Nevertheless, heredity plays an important role in the development of the disease. It is proved that if both parents are obese, the incidence of this disease in children reaches 66%. In other words, if the family has three babies, then two of them are likely to be obese. If one of the parents does not differ in harmony, obesity threatens 50% of the offspring, that is, one of two. But if the parents are slim, then the probability of this ailment in children is only 9%.

However, our genes have not changed in the last 50 years, and obesity nevertheless has become a global epidemic. This means that some other factors, and not genetics, take first place among the causes of obesity. Which ones? Let's figure it out next.

  Endocrine disorders

Among endocrine diseases associated with overweight, hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome are most common.

Hypothyroidism - This is a disease that causes a decrease in thyroid function (unlike hyperthyroidism, when thyroid function is increased). Hypothyroidism - this is the very "slow metabolism", which is attributed to all the difficulties in losing weight, most overweight people. In addition to moderate weight gain, this condition is manifested by poor cold tolerance (a person constantly freezes), dry skin, hair loss, constipation, muscle weakness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, low mood, up to the development of depression.


In a state of hypothyroidism, body temperature becomes slightly lower, the heart beats slightly less, breathing slows down slightly. Due to all these changes, a person spends fewer calories to maintain life (in medicine, this is called the "main exchange"). Because of this, weight can slowly but surely increase. If you followed my advice and passed the examination, then the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) will show if you have hypothyroidism. But, of course, in order to finally be convinced of this, it is better to consult with an endocrinologist.

Cushing's Syndrome- a disease, one of the symptoms of which is also overweight. Cushing's syndrome is characterized by the accumulation of adipose tissue in the central part of the body - in the abdomen and buttocks. Many symptoms of this disease are also characteristic of severe obesity, for example, high blood pressure, increased hair growth, menstrual irregularities, and an increase in blood sugar. But unlike obesity with Cushing's syndrome, there are crimson stretch marks on the skin, atrophy of the skin, and a low level of potassium in the blood.

If you have even the slightest suspicion, be sure to consult an endocrinologist to rule out this diagnosis!


  Lifestyle

The lifestyle includes many aspects: where and in what environment we live and work (that is, who are our relatives, friends and colleagues), what kind of relationship we have with them, what, where, when and how much we eat, what clothes we prefer to wear , what kind of transport we use, what hobbies we have, etc.

Of all the factors, lifestyle has the greatest impact on the risk of developing excess weight. The obesity epidemic that has gripped the world is a consequence of modern lifestyle. Unlike our ancestors, who were mainly engaged in physical labor and eating natural homemade food, we live in the age of computers and fast food. Due to technological progress, the share of physical labor over the past 100 years has decreased from 95 to 5%. Nowadays, people rarely eat because of hunger, and in most cases they do so under the influence of external factors. It can be food for company, food as a habit (for example, a lunch break at work) or a way to get rid of internal discomfort.

  Eating habits

Eating habits play a major role in the development of overweight and obesity. Most eating habits are passed down from generation to generation. Children who are used to eating buns and fast food, chewing in front of the TV and drinking sweet soda, will transfer these “traditions” to their future families, thereby condemning their extra descendants to extra pounds.


Many bad eating habits inherent in residents of big cities are caused by the so-called Western way of life. When the pace of life grows and grows, the work schedule is very tight, rush and stress become the norm - people skip breakfast or lunch, eat on the go or at the wheel and relax over a plentiful dinner before bedtime.

  Unmet needs

Unmet needs increase the craving for food, which acts as a universal means of "everything." Very often, needs that have nothing to do with food are met with food. For example, food for a company is nothing more than an indicator of belonging to a certain group. In order to identify with his family, friends or colleagues, a person eats with them, even when he is not hungry, or chooses the same foods and dishes that this group prefers.

Another example is the satisfaction of a security need. When we feel some kind of external threat (for this it is enough to watch the news release), it is much easier for us to eat and feel imaginary security than to look for and, moreover, eliminate the source of the threat. Thus, over time, a conditioned reflex is formed, and a person begins to act automatically, without thinking about his true motives.

With the help of food any needs can be satisfied. So, a person satisfies the need for novelty by tasting new dishes, the need for high social status - by visiting expensive restaurants, etc.

  Stress

So many people eat in response to stress and tension. Strategies to combat this unpleasant state are active and passive. Active suggest the identification of the causes of stress and its elimination. When passive, all forces are thrown at the "liquidation of consequences", and not at the stress itself. Food is just one way to passively cope with stress.

It has been proven that stress increases the level of cortisol, a hormone that promotes the accumulation of excess adipose tissue and the development of abdominal obesity (when fat accumulates in the abdominal cavity around the internal organs), which, in turn, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension and other diseases.


As numerous studies show, overweight people most often use food to combat stress, unlike slender people who choose other strategies. There is evidence that in women with central obesity (that is, in the abdomen), abdominal fat accumulates as a manifestation of dissatisfaction with life.

  Inability to distinguish between physical and emotional state

Overweight people often get stuck in emotional outbursts. In other words, living some kind of emotion, they interpret it as hunger. For example, a person feels disappointment, a collapse of hope, and it seems to him that he is hungry.

Often, boredom, irritation, sadness are perceived as hunger. According to studies conducted in the dietetics clinic, women are especially prone to this. Overweight people are characterized by a symptom such as alexithymia - the inability to recognize and describe emotions. They do not really understand how anxiety differs from fear, and sadness from anger. Instead of living emotions, such people simply seize them. The inability to distinguish emotions greatly complicates the identification of the causes of excess weight, and therefore their elimination.


  Poor sleep and tiredness

Overweight is often accompanied by sleep disorders, which a person may not even pay attention to. Very often, overweight people suffer from nocturnal apnea - respiratory failure during sleep, which leads to a deficiency of oxygen entering the body. As a result, you feel overwhelmed and tired during the day. And this, as a rule, sticks. As a result, weight increases, which, in turn, leads to even more serious sleep disturbances. The vicious circle closes.


Sleep deficiency is also associated with elevated levels of cortisol and other hormones responsible for the development of obesity. Also, one curious study showed that fat people are perceived by others as lazy people, suffering from a lack of willpower. To counter unflattering public opinion, they begin to work longer and longer, sacrificing hours of sleep. The lack of a normal sleep and rest regime results in an accumulation of fatigue, which again seizes up. At the same time, the person is in the illusion that “enhanced” nutrition will give him strength and help withstand fatigue. And all this leads to even greater weight gain. Again, a vicious circle.

  Sexual problems

Sexual life is an important part of a person’s physical and emotional health. With physical contacts of varying degrees of intimacy: during massage, sexual arousal and orgasm, the hormone oxytocin, the “hormone of calm,” is produced. It is to him that we owe sexual satisfaction. It also stands out when a person eats fatty foods. Therefore, often sexual dissatisfaction is offset by the consumption of high-fat foods.

Unfortunately, in our country people are often subjected to sexual violence, and in most cases this is kept secret. It happens that a person who has experienced sexual violence, completely unconsciously gains weight to hide his sexuality and eliminate the risk of a similar situation. Studies show that victims of sexual abuse are harder to lose weight than those who have not been abused.


If a past sexual experience has been associated with feelings of anxiety, fear, or other unpleasant feelings, a person can unknowingly gain weight in order to “disguise” his belonging to a certain gender and thus avoid unpleasant relationships.

  Social environment

Another reason for overweight is the desire of a person to meet the expectations of his social group. Food intake is a social process. A joint meal brings people together. The traditions and rituals of any culture are connected with food: “breaking bread” means making friends, it’s customary to meet dear guests and the bride and groom with bread and salt.

Food is an important part of the communication process, a kind of cement that holds the relationship together. In each group (in the family, company of friends, work team) their own "gastronomic" traditions are formed. And if one of the participants decides to retreat from them, then he will certainly come across the resistance of all the others. After all, if someone alone changes their eating behavior, the rest of the group will also have to adjust it one way or another, which is clearly not part of their plans. This resistance of others can complicate the process of weight loss or even stop it.


  Low physical activity

Western lifestyle is a sedentary lifestyle. We are sitting at work, sitting in the car, sitting in front of the TV. I will not discover anything new for you if I say that being physically active is good. If even overweight people maintain a normal level of physical activity, their health can be much better than slender, but leading a sedentary lifestyle. What is normal physical activity? This is 30-60 minutes of exercise per day, the maximum possible number of times a week.


Now that we have examined in detail all the main causes of excess weight, make your list of factors that lead to an increase in your weight or prevent it from being reduced to normal. This list will help you concentrate on the reasons that are important to you and decide what you can do to address them.

Can I control my weight? Yes, says Dr. Ionova, author of a popular diet. But before you make the obvious - to change your diet and increase physical activity, you should deal with the other reasons that led to excess weight - and they, as a rule, do not lie on the surface. What is it about?

Genetic predisposition

Scientists from year to year find more and more genes responsible for the development of obesity. However, all currently known "obesity genes" are involved in only four out of a hundred cases of the disease. The remaining 96% are due to other reasons.

Nevertheless, heredity plays an important role in the development of the disease. It is proved that if both parents are obese, the incidence of this disease in children reaches 66%. In other words, if the family has three babies, then two of them are likely to be obese. If one of the parents does not differ in harmony, obesity threatens 50% of the offspring, that is, one of two. But if the parents are slim, then the probability of this ailment in children is only 9%.

However, our genes have not changed in the last 50 years, and obesity nevertheless has become a global epidemic. This means that some other factors, and not genetics, take first place among the causes of obesity. Which ones? Let's figure it out next.

Endocrine disorders

Among endocrine diseases associated with overweight, hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome are most common.

Hypothyroidism - This is a disease that causes a decrease in function (in contrast to hyperthyroidism, when thyroid function is increased). Hypothyroidism - this is the very "slow metabolism", which is attributed to all the difficulties in losing weight, most overweight people. In addition to moderate weight gain, this condition is manifested by poor cold tolerance (a person constantly freezes), dry skin, hair loss, constipation, muscle weakness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, low mood, up to the development of depression.

In a state of hypothyroidism, body temperature becomes slightly lower, the heart beats slightly less, breathing slows down slightly. Due to all these changes, a person spends fewer calories to maintain life (in medicine, this is called the "main exchange"). Because of this, weight can slowly but surely increase. If you followed my advice and passed the examination, then the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) will show if you have hypothyroidism. But, of course, in order to finally be convinced of this, it is better to consult with an endocrinologist.

Cushing's Syndrome   - a disease, one of the symptoms of which is also overweight. Cushing's syndrome is characterized by the accumulation of adipose tissue in the central part of the body - in the abdomen and buttocks. Many symptoms of this disease are also characteristic of severe obesity, for example, high blood pressure, increased hair growth, menstrual irregularities, and an increase in blood sugar. But unlike obesity with Cushing's syndrome, there are crimson on the skin, atrophy of the skin, and a low level of potassium in the blood.

If you have even the slightest suspicion, be sure to consult an endocrinologist to rule out this diagnosis!


Lifestyle

The lifestyle includes many aspects: where and in what environment we live and work (that is, who are our relatives, friends and colleagues), what kind of relationship we have with them, what, where, when and how much we eat, what clothes we prefer to wear , what kind of transport we use, what hobbies we have, etc.

Of all the factors, lifestyle has the greatest impact on the risk of developing excess weight. The obesity epidemic that has gripped the world is a consequence of modern lifestyle. Unlike our ancestors, who were mainly engaged in physical labor and eating natural homemade food, we live in the age of computers and fast food. Due to technological progress, the share of physical labor over the past 100 years has decreased from 95 to 5%. Nowadays, people rarely eat because of hunger, and in most cases they do so under the influence of external factors. It can be food for company, food as a habit (for example, a lunch break at work) or a way to get rid of internal discomfort.

Eating habits

Eating habits play a major role in the development of overweight and obesity. Most eating habits are passed down from generation to generation. Children who are used to eating buns and fast food, chewing in front of the TV and drinking sweet soda, will transfer these “traditions” to their future families, thereby condemning their extra descendants to extra pounds.

Many bad eating habits inherent in residents of big cities are caused by the so-called Western way of life. When the pace of life grows and grows, the work schedule is very tight, rush and stress become the norm - people skip breakfast or lunch, eat on the go or at the wheel and relax over a plentiful dinner before bedtime.

Unmet needs

Unmet needs increase the craving for food, which acts as a universal means of "everything." Very often, needs that have nothing to do with food are met with food. For example, food for a company is nothing more than an indicator of belonging to a certain group. In order to identify with his family, friends or colleagues, a person eats with them, even when he is not hungry, or chooses the same foods and dishes that this group prefers.

Another example is the satisfaction of a security need. When we feel some kind of external threat (for this it is enough to watch the news release), it is much easier for us to eat and feel imaginary security than to look for and, moreover, eliminate the source of the threat. Thus, over time, a conditioned reflex is formed, and a person begins to act automatically, without thinking about his true motives.

With the help of food any needs can be satisfied. So, a person satisfies the need for novelty by tasting new dishes, the need for high social status - by visiting expensive restaurants, etc.

Stress

So many people eat in response to stress and tension. Strategies to combat this unpleasant state are active and passive. Active suggest the identification of the causes of stress and its elimination. When passive, all forces are thrown at the "liquidation of consequences", and not at the stress itself. Food is just one way to passively cope with stress.

It has been proven that stress levels increase cortisol, a hormone that promotes the accumulation of excess adipose tissue and the development of abdominal obesity (when fat accumulates in the abdominal cavity around the internal organs), which, in turn, increases the risk of type II sugar, arterial hypertension and others diseases.

As numerous studies show, overweight people most often use food to combat stress, unlike slender people who choose other strategies. There is evidence that in women with central obesity (that is, in the abdomen), abdominal fat accumulates as a manifestation of dissatisfaction with life.

Why is this happening? The solar plexus is considered the center of accumulation of vital energy, therefore, the formation of a fat pillow in this area is a kind of way of protection from the outside world. And the stronger the dissatisfaction with life, the thicker the fat layer.

Poor sleep and tiredness

Overweight is often accompanied by sleep disorders, which a person may not even pay attention to. Very often, overweight people suffer from nocturnal apnea - respiratory failure during sleep, which leads to a deficiency of oxygen entering the body. As a result, you feel overwhelmed and tired during the day. And this, as a rule, sticks. As a result, weight increases, which, in turn, leads to even more serious sleep disturbances. The vicious circle closes.

Sleep deficiency is also associated with elevated levels of cortisol and other hormones responsible for the development of obesity. Also, one curious study showed that fat people are perceived by others as lazy people, suffering from a lack of willpower. To counter unflattering public opinion, they begin to work longer and longer, sacrificing hours of sleep. The lack of a normal sleep and rest regime results in an accumulation of fatigue, which again seizes up. At the same time, the person is in the illusion that “enhanced” nutrition will give him strength and help withstand fatigue. And all this leads to even greater weight gain. Again, a vicious circle.

Inability to distinguish between physical and emotional state

Overweight people often get stuck in emotional outbursts. In other words, living some kind of emotion, they interpret it as hunger. For example, a person feels disappointment, a collapse of hope, and it seems to him that he is hungry.

Often, boredom, irritation, sadness are perceived as hunger. According to studies in my clinic, women are especially prone to this. Overweight people are characterized by a symptom such as alexithymia - the inability to recognize and describe emotions. They do not really understand how anxiety differs from fear, and sadness from anger. Instead of living emotions, such people simply seize them. The inability to distinguish emotions greatly complicates the identification of the causes of excess weight, and therefore their elimination.

Sexual problems

Sexual life is an important part of a person’s physical and emotional health. With physical contacts of varying degrees of intimacy: during massage, sexual arousal and orgasm, the hormone oxytocin, the “hormone of calm,” is produced. It is to him that we owe sexual satisfaction. It also stands out when a person eats fatty foods. Therefore, often sexual dissatisfaction is offset by the consumption of high-fat foods.

Unfortunately, in our country people are often subjected to sexual violence, and in most cases this is kept secret. It happens that a person who has experienced sexual violence, completely unconsciously gains weight to hide his sexuality and eliminate the risk of a similar situation. Studies show that victims of sexual abuse are harder to lose weight than those who have not been abused.

If a past sexual experience has been associated with feelings of anxiety, fear, or other unpleasant feelings, a person can unknowingly gain weight in order to “disguise” his belonging to a certain gender and thus avoid unpleasant relationships.

Social environment

Another reason for overweight is the desire of a person to meet the expectations of his social group. Food intake is a social process. A joint meal brings people together. The traditions and rituals of any culture are connected with food: “breaking bread” means making friends, it’s customary to meet dear guests and the bride and groom with bread and salt.

Food is an important part of the communication process, a kind of cement that holds the relationship together. In each group (in the family, company of friends, work team) their own "gastronomic" traditions are formed. And if one of the participants decides to retreat from them, then he will certainly come across the resistance of all the others. After all, if someone alone changes their eating behavior, the rest of the group will also have to adjust it one way or another, which is clearly not part of their plans. This resistance of others can complicate the process of weight loss or even stop it.

Low physical activity

Western lifestyle is a sedentary lifestyle. We are sitting at work, sitting in the car, sitting in front of the TV. I will not discover anything new for you if I say that being physically active is good. If even overweight people maintain a normal level of physical activity, their health can be much better than slender, but leading a sedentary lifestyle. What is normal physical activity? This is 30-60 minutes of exercise per day, the maximum possible number of times a week.

Now that we have examined in detail all the main causes of excess weight, make your list of factors that lead to an increase in your weight or prevent it from being reduced to normal. This list will help you concentrate on the reasons that are important to you and decide what you can do to address them.



Discussion

Excess weight prevents many from living, and to me (((I can’t look at myself in the mirror, I’ve become very full. All the clothes go at the seams. I don’t want to weigh 90 kg, with such success I’m afraid to run so soon. I started running in the mornings, and more I bought a model form in green packaging, losing weight is going well, my stomach started to shrink and I feel lightened, life is getting better.

very helpful article. A lot of what is being said here can be attributed to myself.

Comment on the article "What prevents weight loss? 12 causes of obesity and excess weight"

February 18 at 19:00 on the STS channel starts the third season of the reality show "Weighted People". This time, 10 pairs of participants, the total weight of which is almost 3 tons, enter the fight against extra pounds, fears and complexes. They will do anything to defeat themselves and competitors, but the main prize - 2 500 000 rubles - will receive only one. And only he will decide whether to share money with his partner. Each pair is a team that has to pass the test of grueling training and ...

06/10/2016 I am 39 years old. Growth 1.60. Weight 60. No excess weight. Then why am I here? I want to lose weight. Sounds weird. I want to return my weight to my usual 53-55 kg. I will write about the process in my blog: [link-1] Last 17 years, my weight has always been in a "swing" state. She used to recover to 62 kg, but as soon as she "pulled herself together", in 2-3 months she returned to the treasured 55 kg, and sometimes to 52 kg. I am able to lose weight correctly, on a healthy, balanced diet and light athletic training ...

Discussion

well, how is it not, if there are 7-10 kilograms of excess weight, IKHMO, it’s the same (165 and weight 60 .. thick (It is written smartly, thank you !!!) and welcome, although I read more here lately than writing

I also decided, finally;) a cool summer, like that, and desire discouraged me from correcting my figure. But it should already be warm, and I decided to thoroughly, more precisely, comprehensively take on myself. Sport, proper nutrition, I also want to connect something from the salon procedures, go through full course   massage, maybe some kind of hardware stuff. Girls what salon procedures really effective in losing weight?

Obesity is a disease manifested by excessive development of adipose tissue, which in the progressive course is complicated by a violation of various functions and systems of the body. According to WHO, 22 million children under 5 years old and 10% of schoolchildren from 5 and 17 years old are overweight and obese. In Russia, more than 3 million children and adolescents (6-10%) are obese. Especially alarming is the trend towards a significant increase in obesity. The prevalence of obesity in the Russian Federation per 100,000 children ...

If you decide to lose weight seriously and for a long time, then you will not be able to avoid physical exertion. You will definitely have to do special exercises to reduce body fat on the back, waist, hips, chest. Hiking helps to lose weight. Walking should be no less than half an hour, but it is better for about forty minutes - an hour. What diets should you pay attention to? You can resort to some diets, but they should not be protracted. For example - carrot. Carrot diet Carrot diet Complied with 3 days. Breakfast...

Specialists of the PlazaSPAHotel, located in the city of Kislovodsk, in the immediate vicinity of the famous healing source “Narzan”, are ready to dispel the most common misconceptions that prevent us from losing weight or do not allow us to feel healthy, even if the hated kilos still leave. 1. Rarely eat \u003d lose weight quickly Figure correction is a complex individual process. However, first of all, you need to pay attention to the diet. Many are sure that ...

How many people out of a hundred are overweight or obese? To this question, the Russians answered that one third, although in fact being overweight or obese, is more than half of the Russians, 57%. These are the findings of a new study by Ipsos Mori and published in December. The main causes of obesity are known. In the first place - malnutrition, followed by lack of physical activity, stress, external factors and heredity. Now many are trying ...

The average human body weight has grown by 8% over 20 years, mainly due to the increased calorie intake. This is evidenced by the results of a large-scale study published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization in July. Scientists say what measures need to be taken to stop the obesity epidemic. A group of scientists led by Stephanie Vandeveweiler collected and analyzed data on caloric intake of the inhabitants of 69 countries over more than 30 years, as well as changes ...

The United States invented a new term for describing the extreme degree of obesity - "excessive obesity." The pace of obesity in the US and the world is forcing scientists and doctors to introduce a new scale for assessing this ailment. The result of abundant nutrition in the United States has been an increased percentage of obese people. At the same time, if before people had obesity of the first and second degree, today more and more men and women literally defy weight. In this state is 6% of the US population. To ...

Lose weight - it’s real. The formula of a slim figure is known: calorie restriction and increased physical activity. Both variables cause a good appetite. Sweet tooth is doubly tormented. As a result, overeating puts an end to plans to reduce excess weight. To curb this monster, powerful pharmacological drugs were invented that depress the centers of hunger in the brain. They are expensive, have a long list. side effects. Orto.ru offers its own appetite control program. The main ...

Recently in Ukraine, the show “Zvazhenі tchaslivі”, where obese people lose weight, has gained special popularity. It is noteworthy that in every area of \u200b\u200bthe television project there are both middle-aged people and very young boys and girls. Parents fed someone by force-feed since childhood, and the natural slow metabolism has done its dirty deed. Many simply stuck in stress that was caused by unhappy love, job loss, or a problem with peers ...

Once losing weight From a joke: - You see, doctor, I have metal fillings in my teeth, and magnets on the refrigerator. People share information on the network - who on what diet how much lost weight, argue - which one is better. Yes, they are almost the same. Everyone creates a calorie deficit, and if they do not, then they have no effect. Anyway - what kind of diet - whether it is a ducan, or a shmukan - you can lose weight at all. You hold on to the achievement try it! The latest news from my professional newsletter: once ...

Discussion

Yes. Therefore, we must not sit on a diet, but change the diet for life! And I don’t feel like it)))
Can I have an off-top question? You have lost as much as I want to lose))). What is the best way to achieve it first ideal weightand then hold it, or gradually, for example, lose 5-6 kg, then hold it for some time (2-3 months), then lose weight further? How much weight do you already have?

Somehow it became sad: (It is futile ... I really like to eat delicious food, but I have to fight with myself all my life :(
I finished it. I’m just one of those who lost weight, but could not keep. I dropped almost 30 (!!!) kg after the children, but everything returned. At first, the increase was slowly, 2-3 kg per year. Over the past 4 years, the increase is simply terrible: (And I am again at the beginning of the journey. Or rather, not at the beginning, closer to the middle, I’ve lost a lot, but still work and work. And all my life I should remember that a lot is not allowed :(

The World Health Organization has recognized the fact that the number of obese people has increased to 20% and has become a global epidemic. To date, 69% of Americans, 11% of the French, 23% of Germans, 18% of the British suffer from obesity. According to statistics, 2 times more time is spent on sports than before, the calorie content of the diet of many Europeans has decreased by 30 -35%, while the total percentage of people with obesity has grown by 400% over the past 50 years ...

Want to know the whole truth about obesity and solve this problem? Why are we gaining extra pounds? It is difficult to imagine yourself sick if only once a year the clothes change to a larger size, especially if the family has a tradition of tasty and satisfying food. Excuses on this score have long been thought up: a good person should be many, that full people are kinder, etc. Doctors of all specialties insist - lose weight! Obesity - excess accumulation of adipose tissue and metabolic disorders in the body ...

Good afternoon, dear Readers! My name is Kostyleva Irina Sergeevna. In my blog I want to touch on one of the most serious and common problems of all mankind - OBESITY, EXTRA WEIGHT and how to deal with them. You can find out more detailed information on my website [link-1] All questions, wishes and suggestions send to [email protected], I will be glad to help you.

In this post I want to dwell in detail on various factors and circumstances that stimulate the onset and development of obesity. I will start with the two most significant factors, namely: the availability of food and the introduction of technology into everyday life. The first factor - the availability of energy values \u200b\u200b- directly affects the incidence of obesity. There is a dependence of the occurrence of this disease on the increased consumption of high-calorie carbohydrates and fat-containing products. It has...

Someone had some kind of diet, someone didn’t, and so we try the following. And they try it until something helps. But there are times when neither dieting nor exercise helps. And I really want to lose weight! And what to do? First you need to find out - because of which excess weight was gained. There are many reasons leading to being overweight. Part of these causes are consequences of a wrong lifestyle, and the second part is more serious reasons. Serious reasons interfering ...

Olga Zubareva | Pediatrician of the Children's Clinical and Diagnostic Center MEDSI II Describes how the child is overweight. “I have to admit: indeed, many modern children are overweight. In this regard, parents need to know the risk groups for this disease. Traditionally, these groups include children who were more than 4 kilograms at birth, inactive children and children with a hereditary predisposition also babies who are breast-fed ...

What prevents to lose weight? 12 causes of obesity and overweight. Overweight in children: causes, prevention and treatment.

Discussion

How are you doing with the cycle / ovulation?

For example, I have polycystic and overweight just 5-7 kilograms (after five already thrown off). But most polycystic patients have serious weight problems.

It is overweight that affects the absence of ovulation. Losing weight with polycystic disease is very difficult (due to hormonal failure), but I have in my eyes examples when girls lost weight (by 15-20-30 kg) and became pregnant themselves, without stimulation!

In general, I see “chubby” pregnant women around — that is, there seemed to be no problems getting pregnant if the cycle was in order. But overweight is generally useless in life, so if there is an opportunity to at least a little lose, I would have thrown off :)))

being overweight affects conception. Another thing is that it is very individual and 20 kg is probably not very much ... what is your 20 kg, is it 80 instead of 60?
And so, in theory, the more weight, the greater the likelihood of lack of ovulation. The mechanism there is complex, the bottom line is that fat cells are hormonally active, they have receptors for various hormones, including to estrogen.

Since the topic of nutrition and obesity has resonated, I quote the official data. I give the floor to the expert: nutritionist, psychotherapist Natalya Lyutova, representative of the Nutrition Palette dietetics center: “According to statistics in the USA, one third of children over 2 years old are obese and overweight. Russia is not much behind in its indicators: 17% of Russian children are obese, 49% are overweight. According to the WHO European Bureau reported on a report at the Stockholm Dietitian Congress in 2010 ...

Discussion

I will not discuss with you, because:
1. During the last discussion, you did not answer any of my questions.
2. The problem of obesity among schoolchildren, firstly, didn’t cause any resonance, and secondly, I don’t personally care at all - another term is more likely to apply to my children - “weight deficit” * -)
3. The numbers given by you are strange. Particularly touching is the phrase about the lack of clear criteria - and some percentages * -)
And how is the "statistics for every taste", I advise you to ask Google or Yandex. I have no desire to explain this to a person with a liberal education.

how can Russia _not lag behind_ if 17 plus 49 is clearly more than one third?

Unwanted kilograms are a common problem these days. Regardless of age, a very large percentage of people around the world are overweight.

We often talk about how to deal with obesity, but few people wonder why these very hated kilos and extra centimeters appear? And the problem here is not only overeating, as many are accustomed to consider.

We examined some of the main causes of excess weight. Knowing the enemy in person, it will be much easier to control the mark on the scales and deal with the problem.

All reasons can be divided into three subgroups:

  1. Wrong way of life. This may include nutritional problems and lack of proper physical activity. Indeed, the transition to a balanced diet helps say goodbye to extra pounds, because from healthy diet   all the functions of our body depend, including those responsible for weight gain and the accumulation of body fat in the body.

    And without sports and systematic exercises, it is impossible to become the happy owner of a beautiful figure and relief muscles, on the contrary, without physical activity, the body begins to accumulate calories and does not waste energy, which negatively affects the figure.

    A sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, irregular meals, bad snacks - all these are the root causes for completeness.

  1. Psychoemotional state. Frequent stresses, depressions, feelings, sleep disturbances are also the main cause of weight gain. In times of stress and apathy, many people want to eat sadness and a bad mood with something tasty, which is immediately deposited on the waist and sides with extra centimeters.

    Sleep disorders and insomnia also contribute to overweight due to the production of a large amount of stress hormone - cortisol. If you are often nervous do not get enough sleep, you constantly feel tired, the level of cortisol goes off scale. In parallel with an increase in the level of cortisol, the level of glucose in the blood rises, our body begins to break down fats and break down proteins more slowly, which causes problems with being overweight.

    Therefore, so that the excessive production of cortisol does not prevent you from losing weight, try to sleep at least 8 hours a day, not be nervous about trifles, not worry about the accumulated problems and solve your psychological problems in time, preventing stress from accumulating.

  2. Another reason for gaining weight is health problems and the endocrine system . If you drive healthy way   life, eat a balanced diet, include a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet, your snacks consist exclusively of the right foods, while you do not neglect sports, and your weight stands still and does not shift towards the desired kilograms, you should consult a doctor .

    Perhaps the reason lies deeper than you think and a specialist consultation is needed to solve the problem. Also, your weight is directly affected by the consumption of hormonal drugs that cause endocrine disruption.

In order to avoid the appearance of excess weight, exclude from the usual diet:

  • too frequent or too rare food intake;
  • excess fat and carbohydrates;
  • the habit of snacking on the go and using foods that promote weight gain as a snack;
  • consumption of food at night (the last meal should take place at least 3 hours before bedtime);
  • binge eating.

Exercise systematically.

Without regular physical and sports exercises, the metabolism slows down, muscle mass goes away, and the fatty layer, on the contrary, increases markedly.

If you absolutely do not have enough time to enroll in sports sections or purchase a subscription to the gym, do morning exercises, do physical exercise   in between work or study, go up to the high floor on foot or walk a couple of stops once again, instead of driving them by bus or taxi.

There are a lot of variations to lead an active lifestyle, you just want to!

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