Five factors that affect weight, which you did not know
'01.06.2021'
Source: The idealist
It is believed that the struggle with excess weight depends solely on willpower, but medical research suggests otherwise. Here are five potentially surprising factors that can affect your weight from the BBC Truth About Obesity program.
Intestinal microbes
Jillian and Jackie are twins, but one of the women weighs kg more on the 41 than the other, writes The idealist. Professor Tim Spector monitors their condition over 25 years, as part of a twin study. Twins Research UK. He believes that many of their weight differences are reduced to tiny organisms - microbes that live deep in the intestines.
“Every time you eat something, you feed hundreds of trillions of microbes. You never eat alone, ”he says.
Each twin’s stool specimen showed that Gillian, the thinner of the two, has a very diverse range of microbes, whereas Jackie has very few species in her intestines.
“The greater the variety, the more slim you are. If your weight is too large, then the microbial sphere of your intestines cannot boast of diversity, ”says Professor Spector, who found the same model in the 5000 study man.
It has been proven that having a healthy and varied diet rich in various sources of fiber leads to a greater variety of intestinal microorganisms. Professor Spector warns that most Britons eat only half the amount of fiber they need.
Good sources of dietary fiber:
- dry breakfasts;
- fruits, including berries and pears;
- vegetables such as broccoli and carrots;
- beans;
- nuts, etc.
Gene Lottery
Why do some people diligently monitor their diet and exercise regularly, but hardly achieve results, while others do very little and do not gain weight? Scientists from the University of Cambridge believe that 40-70% of the impact on our weight comes down to variations of the genes that we inherit.
“This is a lottery,” says Professor Sadaf Faroki. "It is now clear that genes are involved in regulating our weight, and if you have a certain mistake in some of them, this could be a significant cause of obesity."
Specific genes can affect a person’s appetite, the amount of food eaten, and taste preferences. Genes can also influence how we burn calories and whether our bodies can effectively process fats.
At least 100 genes can affect weight, including - MC4R. It is believed that each of the 1000 people carries the defective version of the MC4R gene, which is responsible for hunger and appetite. People with a lack of this gene tend to be more hungry and like fatter foods.
Professor Faroki notes: “In fact, you can’t do anything with your genes, but for some people, knowing that genes can affect their weight can help them change diet and exercise.”
Mealtime
There is a certain truth in the old adage: “Have breakfast like a king, eat like a lord and eat like a beggar” - but not for reasons you might think.
Obesity expert Dr. James Brown says that the later we eat, the more chances we have to gain weight. Not because we are less active at night, as is commonly believed, but because of our internal body clock.
“The body is set up to work with calories much more efficiently in the daytime, when it’s light than at night, when it’s dark,” he says.
For this reason, people who work in shifts may face difficulties in maintaining optimal shape. At night, our bodies find it difficult to process fats and sugars, so consuming most of the calories before 19: 00 can help you lose weight or prevent you from gaining weight.
According to Dr. Brown, over the past decade, the average dinner time in the UK has shifted from 17: 00 to 20: 00, and this has contributed to an increase in obesity.
But despite today's work patterns and a hectic lifestyle, there are things that can help us keep our waists. Do not skip breakfast or deny yourself a piece of cake. Instead, the basis of your diet should be a greater amount of protein and some fats, as well as slow carbohydrates.
Brain deception
Team Behavioral Insights suggests that the British do not keep track of how much they eat, and that their calorie intake is underestimated by 30-50%.
The scientist Hugo Harper suggests several ways to subconsciously change your eating behavior, rather than relying on calorie counting. For example, removing visual temptations can be more effective than conscious willpower. So on the kitchen counter should be placed not unhealthy snacks, and fruit bowl. Do not sit down with the whole package of cookies in front of the TV, put on the plate only what you plan to eat and do not go for the addition.
Dr. Harper also encourages substitution behavior - swapping to reduce the number of calories in your favorite foods instead of completely abandoning them. Choose, for example, dietary versions of soft drinks. And reducing portions can also be more effective than trying to abandon the ritual afternoon tea with chocolate biscuit.
“People tend to overlook the difference when the size of their portions decreases by 5-10%,” says Dr. Harper.
There is a tendency to eat without thinking about it, therefore, following product recommendations and using a smaller plate can help you to limit calorie intake.
Hormones
The success of bariatric surgery is not only to create a smaller stomach, but also to change hormones. Our appetites are controlled by our hormones, and it has been found that bariatric surgery — the most effective treatment for obesity — affects hormones that make us feel hungry.
But this is a complex operation, which involves reducing the size of the stomach to 90% and is performed only in people with a BMI (body mass index) of at least 35.
Researchers from Imperial College London have recreated intestinal hormones that cause changes in appetite after bariatric surgery and use it for a new clinical trial. A mixture of three hormones is administered to patients as an injection every day for four weeks.
“Patients feel less hungry, they eat less, and lose from 2 to 8 kg (4-17 pounds) in just 28 days,” says Dr. Tricia Ten.
If the drug is shown to be safe, patients will be able to use it until they reach a healthy weight.
The material is published for educational purposes and is not a recommendation. ForumDaily Woman is not responsible for any diagnosis made by the reader based on the materials of the site, as well as for the consequences of self-medication, and may not share the point of view of the author or expert.
