It seems certain people require more physical activity and fewer calories to maintain a healthy body weight than their peers.
This is sometimes referred to as a slow metabolism. In the face of food abundance and a sedentary lifestyle, such are at greater risk for overweight, obesity and chronic disease.
Extremely low calorie diets serve only to make matters worse as they signal the body to move into conservation mode, further showing metabolism.
Yet while a slow metabolism is a reality for some people, may others mistakenly believe that the blame for their problem rests here.
Obesity researchers have found that, in truth, overweight and obese people commonly consume double the number of calories that they believe they are eating. For most people, overeating trumps a slow metabolisms when it comes to weight gain.
Less commonly, overweight and obesity are triggered buy medications or endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid reduces metabolic rate).
While such causes are relatively rare, they do occurs and can make it extremely difficult or succeed at weight loss.
Another factor that is just beginning to emerge as a major player is appetite control. When our appetite control center is overwhelmed, desensitized or otherwise impaired, the system can be thrown off balance, resulting in weight gain.
Physical Factors in Obesity
