Ten Reasons Why Americans Are Overweight

The latest John Hopkins “health alert” reminds us of a study not too long ago that highlighted ten alternative reasons why most adults in this country are overweight. They go beyond calorie counting and less exercise and they may apply to you.  Here they are:

1. Less sleep - we’ve gone from an average of nine to seven hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation is linked to a more robust appetite.
2. Pesticides and other chemicals in foods- These substances can change hormonal activity, which can boost body fat.
3. Air conditioning and heating – we don’t sweat and shiver as much as our ancestors, so we don’t burn as many calories.
4. Fewer smokers (!) – Nicotine is an appetite suppressant.
5. Greater use of medications such as antidepressants and diabetes drugs, which have weight gain as a potential side effect.
6. Population changes - There are now more older people as well as more Hispanics in the U.S. and these groups have higher rates of obesity.
7. Older birth mothers - whose children are more prone to excess weight gain than the offspring of younger mothers.
8. Genetics - Obese moms may pass the trait onto their children in utero.
9. Higher body weight = greater fertility – Heavy people produce more offspring than thinner people.
10. Assortative mating- Heavy people tend to mate with each other and produce heavy children.