What is the cause of the obesity epidemic? Many believe that there is no other explanation than those stemming from biologic factors. These factors are out of the control of the individual and don’t provide much hope for overcoming the obesity epidemic. Subscribing to biologic theory means believing that exercise and dieting play little to no part in weight loss/gain/maintenance.
On the other side of the argument there are those who believe that the obesity epidemic is mainly caused by cultural factors. This means that they believe that cultural issues and lifestyle choices determine weight. So according to this group changes in lifestyle choices could be the solution to the problem. There are a plethora of bad habits accepted in the US and changing these bad habits could result in drastic weight loss. And drastic weight loss can result in drastic improvements in general health.
Overeating is a major issue in the US. The US produces enough food on a daily basis to provide every person in the country with 4,000 calories. And that includes men, women and children. That number far exceeds the caloric requirements and suggestions as laid out in the basic daily allowances.
A study conducted in 2002 supported the cultural theory. Subjects participating in the study carefully documented all food and drink ingested. They also documented all activity and psychological factors that could play a part in weigh fluctuations/losses throughout the time period of the study. The results were both surprising and glaringly obvious.
The results of the 2002 study indicated that people who gain weight eat more and indulge in larger serving sizes. Those who believe in the biologic theory were surprised by the results because they believe that the genetic makeup plays a larger part in weight gain/loss than lifestyle choices. In contrast…the results were obvious because they basically concluded that gaining weight occurs when people eat too much. It’s a basic principle that many overlook due to its obvious nature.
So in accordance with the study’s conclusion the general health of the nation would experience drastic improvement if the citizens of the nation would only eat less. In addition, change would begin if only Americans would decrease their portion sizes on a day to day basis.
Amelia Handley studied exercise science in college with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she’s found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.
