5 causes of weight gain

Although weight gain is largely a result of eating behavior and lifestyle, some people are at a disadvantage when it comes to controlling their eating habits. The thing is, overeating is driven by various biological factors like genetics and hormones. Certain people are simply predisposed to gaining weight.

1. Genetics

Obesity has a strong genetic component. Children of obese parents are much more likely to become obese than children of lean parents. That doesn’t mean that obesity is completely predetermined. What you eat can have a major effect on which genes are expressed and which are not.

2. Junk Foods

Heavily processed foods are often little more than refined ingredients mixed with additives. These products are designed to be cheap, last long on the shelf and taste so incredibly good that they are hard to resist. By making foods as tasty as possible, food manufacturers are trying to increase sales. But they also promote overeating.

3. Food Addiction

Some people experience strong food cravings or addiction. This especially applies to sugar-sweetened, high-fat junk foods which stimulate the reward centers in the brain.

4. Certain Medications

Some medications may promote weight gain by reducing the number of calories burned or increasing appetite. For example, antidepressants have been linked to modest weight gain over time.

5. Misinformation

People all over the world are being misinformed about health and nutrition. Many websites, for example, spread inaccurate or even incorrect information about health and nutrition. Some news outlets also oversimplify or misinterpret the results of scientific studies and the results are frequently taken out of context. Food companies also play a role. Some promote products, such as weight loss supplements, that do not work.