10 More Reasons Why We’re Fat

New Scientist has a fascinating discussion of what else besides overeating and inactivity might be causing the obesity epidemic.

1. Not enough sleep – Less sleep means higher ghrelin and lower leptin levels = excessive caloric intake.
2. Climate control – Maintaining a comfortable temperature in environment means our bodies don’t have to work as hard to maintain our core body temperature.
3. Less smoking – Smokers tend to be thinner. Argh.
4. Prenatal effects – Especially true for children whose mothers were obese and had gestational diabetes.
5. Fat equals fecund – But how fat is fat?
6. A little older – Our aging population is also our fattening population.
7. More drugs – Antipsychotic medication, anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, protease inhibitors, and diabetes medications all make a person more likely to gain weight.
8. Pollution – Industrial chemicals could lead to weight gain.
9. Mature mothers – The older a woman is when she has her first child, the more overweight she’s likely to be or become.
10. Like marrying like – Thank goodness for my son that his father is skinny?!

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