Factors Influencing Overweight or Obesity

Factors Influencing Overweight or Obesity

Overweight and obesity are primarily associated with diet, such as the excessive consumption of refined grains, refined oils, fried foods, and excessive saturated fats from animal sources. Refined carbohydrates are quickly digested into glucose by the body, leading to a rapid spike in blood sugar levels, which triggers the body to produce insulin in large amounts. One crucial role of insulin is to convert glucose into fat, resulting in weight gain, with these fats primarily accumulating around the abdomen, waist, and hips. Some fats also circulate freely in the bloodstream, causing high blood lipid levels and increased blood viscosity.

While obesity is closely related to a high-fat diet, fats can be categorized as good or bad. Unhealthy fats, especially artificial butter and shortening, can contribute to obesity as they are difficult for the body to metabolize due to their viscous nature. They can deposit directly in blood vessel walls and fat cells and promote fat cell production through toxin generation. On the contrary, good fats work oppositely; they help the body burn excess fat, promoting weight loss rather than causing obesity. Thus, the body requires good fats to metabolize bad fats and prevent their accumulation.

Furthermore, long-term consumption of sweets and refined starches can lead to insulin resistance in the body, where insulin is less effective in lowering blood sugar levels. To counteract elevated blood sugar, the body secretes more insulin, converting glucose into fat and contributing to obesity.

Another hormone related to obesity is leptin, which is secreted by fat cells. Leptin communicates with the brain, signaling when to eat, how much to eat, when to stop eating, and when to burn excess fat. Prolonged consumption of sugary foods and refined carbohydrates can lead to leptin insensitivity in the body. Normally, when we have consumed enough food, leptin informs the brain that energy supply is sufficient, resulting in a feeling of fullness and cessation of eating. However, when the body becomes insensitive to leptin, even though there is sufficient leptin to signal the brain, the brain fails to recognize it and continues sending hunger signals. As a result, we may continue eating even when full, leading to excessive consumption and eventual conversion of surplus food into fat, causing overweight or obesity.