Obesity Caused by Environment

What are the biggest causes of obesity? Some may be more obvious than others (junk food and physical inactivity), but a new study suggests that environmental factors are related to the risk of becoming obese, as discussed in a recent article from Reuters.

Environmental factors that may lead to obesity include such things as sleep deprivation and indoor climate control. These are causes that may surprise many, because they don’t seem to have a direct correlation to becoming overweight or obese.

A new study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, followed nearly 1,300 middle-aged adults over six years. During that time, 103 became obese.

When the researchers looked at a number of environmental factors, they found sleep habits to be directly related to obesity. For each hour of sleep people typically got each day, the odds of their becoming obese declined by 30 percent, even when other factors like physical activity level and television watching were taken into account.

As far as indoor climate control, people who preferred a toastier home in the fall and winter were twice as likely to become obese, compared with people who kept their homes no warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Diet also played a critical role in the study, and is always an obvious factor in obesity. The more people ate at restaurants each week, the greater their likelihood of becoming obese. Those who got little fiber in their diets were at greater risk of developing abnormally high blood sugar levels, often a sign of type 2 diabetes.

The results of these studies don’t go both ways, however. Turning down your thermostat and sleeping more does not mean you’ll lose weight. These environmental factors are lifestyle factors that “you can play with” in managing your weight, according to Dr. David Allison, director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

So, why would indoor temperature lead to weight gain anyway? According to Allison, it’s because the body burns more calories when it has to work to maintain a stable temperature, which holds true in both hot and cold weather.

Regarding sleep as a factor of obesity, one theory is that the hormonal effects of sleep loss are to blame. Another theory is that sleep-deprived people may eat and drink more in an effort to boost their energy levels.

Regardless of what these studies show, it is imperative to maintain a healthy lifestyle of nutritious diet and physical activity regularly. If there were to be a “magic formula” when it comes to weight loss, this would be it.

What are your thoughts on the result of this study? Do you agree with its findings? How much do you think these factors actually contribute to obesity?

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