An Obesogenic Society
We live in a time when the environmental conditions are such that they create an obesity problem. Consider that 65% of American adults are overweight and more than one third are obese. Our lifestyles support these statistics. Our environment causes us to gain excess fat and makes weight loss difficult at best.
Social Features that Contribute to Obesogenics and Excess Fat Storage
There are many factors in our environment that cause us to gain weight and make losing weight a real challenge.• People eat too many prepackaged foods.
• People get less exercise due to busy lifestyles (and sometimes due to the safety issues of being outdoors.)
• The market is flooded with cheap, energy-dense foods.
• Portion sizes continue to increase.
• Climate changes prevent us from getting enough natural sunlight and having a safe walking environment.
• Overweight people drink too much soda and other sugary drinks.
• People are glued to their TV and computer screens far too many hours per day.
• People rely on the technological advances that generally make their lives easier and require less movement.
• There is an over-reliance on fast foods.
Until recently, researchers have focused on many different aspects of weight loss. They have studied diets, genetics, hormones, exercise patterns, metabolism, behavioral therapy and ways to increase energy to burn more fat. It is a constant struggle to find the answer to long and lasting weight loss. Take a closer look at obesogenics and how environmental factors that affect our weight loss and weight gain is the missing piece.
Changing the Environment to Lose Weight
If our environment is to blame for our obesity problem like obesogenics suggests, weight loss is possible through environmental changes.• Stop buying into the fast food craze.
• Stop purchasing prepackaged foods at the grocery store.
• Take a back-to-basics approach to life.
• Make exercise a priority in your daily life.
• Limit TV and computer time.
• Carefully watch your portion sizes.
• Increase the number of fruits and veggies you eat each day.
• Eat foods in their most natural form.
• Take note of the shortcuts you've grown accustomed to and stop taking the easy way out. Use a push lawnmower and stand up to change the channel on the TV, for example.
The bottom line is that making simple changes within your environment will give you the opportunity to eat smarter and exercise more, which is the magic combination for weight loss. Leading a healthy lifestyle is the only way to lose weight and permanently manage a healthy weight.
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