Like it or not, weight gain is tied to your family genetics. How you will you be able to change this genetic connection and obesity is under examination.
Experts from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada have made some interesting discoveries. Michael Wilkinson, professor in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Dalhousie, leads a group of researchers that discovered important hormones produced by adipose tissue are also created by the brain and pituitary gland.
In a recent study, supported by the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation (NSHRF), the group went on to explore what effect the hormones produced in the brain have on appetite and body weight compared to those produced in adipose tissue.
"The study showed these brain hormones do play a role in regulating appetite and body weight, and that mixed signals from the brain and from the adipose tissue may lead to significant weight gain and obesity," said Dr. Wilkinson in a press release on February 24, 2009.
Many people have more body fat than they would like, but few people think about it in terms of where it is stored. Experts indicate body fat is stored in your adipose tissue.
Adipose tissue is a loose connective tissue directly under the skin and surrounding many of your major organs. However, adipose tissue does more than store fat; it also produces hormones that regulate appetite and body weight by targeting the brain.
Obesity More than a Psychological Disease
Obesity increases an individual's risks for certain conditions and shortens life-spans. Childhood obesity is a particularly critical issue for Nova Scotians. "For the first time in our history the country's younger generations are expected to live shorter lives than their parents because of obesity," said Dr. Wilkinson.
"Obesity is more than a psychological disease it has a significant genetic component, notes Dr. Wilkinson. "Our hope is that by learning to control this hormone production we will be able to treat obesity in an entirely new way."
Other Research - Stress and Compulsive Eating
In any event, other experts suggest there is a connection with stress and what you chose to eat or how you eat and this may also be dangerous to your health. For some people, stress may make them less likely to keep compulsive eating under control.
Many people may agree that when under stress or pressure they find themselves reaching for a bag of cookies or potato chips. Researchers point out compulsive eating related to stress is more likely to result in fat accumulation around the internal organs of the torso. This is not good since weight gain around the torso is a risk factor for many diseases like heart disease and type II diabetes.
Other researchers examining cortisol indicate, while cortisol is a powerful appetite stimulant that can trigger excessive eating, it may actually encourage the body to accumulate fat in the abdominal region, especially in pear-shaped people.
Pear-shaped people are people who tend to gain weight around the middle rather than in the buttocks and legs.
Foods that some people reach for when under stress are from the high sugar and fat food groups. They include foods like:
- Cakes
- Donuts
- Muffins
- Potato chips
- French fries
Having said that, dieticians point out what we should be reaching for are foods that are in their most natural state like fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, and nutrient dense. And don't forget to add regular daily physical activity for your overall health and wellness.
For more information on healthy eating visit Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating.
