regulated. Processed, refined and otherwise manufactured foods all increase insulin levels, and thereby
diminish the body's energy reserves. The following list includes other factors responsible for weight gain.
People who put on extra weight may have been weakened by the following factors:- Junk food (now the typical American diet).
- Overworking.
- Lack of exercise.
- Overstimulation of senses.
- Strenous lifestyle and exhaustion.
- Sleep deprivation (especially the two hours of sleep before midnight) increases hunger.
- Irregular eating habits.
- Heavy evening meals and frequent snacking.
- Overeating to compensate for intake of non-nutritious and low-energy foods.
- Stimulants such as coffee, tea, and cigarettes.
- Pesticides and other chemicals in foods change hormonal activity, which can boost body fat.
- Air conditioning and heating prevent sweating and shivering, so we don’t burn as many calories.
- Antidepressants and diabetes drugs have weight gain as a potential side effect.
- Most other medications cause weight gain; they tend to suppress digestive functions.
- Soft drinks and sports drinks (high in fructose corn syrup and salt).
- Less than adequate amounts of water drunk each day.
- Negative responses to stress.
- Alcohol consumption.
- Unresolved conflicts (impairing digestion).
- Fear and other emotional upsets.
- Any other weakening influence.
Sleep Well—Lose Weight
By some estimates, Americans average about six hours of sleep per night. That may be enough for
some, but not for the majority of people, especially for those concerned about their weight. According to
a study from Columbia University, presented at the annual scientific meeting of the North American
Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO), people need to get a lot more than six hours of sleep each
night to stay healthy and fit. Researchers used almost 10 years of data collected on nearly 18,000 subjects
who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study gathered
information on general dietary and health habits. After accounting for other factors that are known to
contribute to obesity, the Columbia team reported these estimates:
- Less than four hours of sleep per night increases obesity risk by 73 percent, compared to subjects
who slept seven to nine hours each night - An average of five hours of sleep per night increases obesity risk by 50 percent
- An average of six hours of sleep per night increases obesity risk by 23 percent
The researchers believe that the link between sleep deprivation and obesity is altered body chemistry.
According to the research, a lack of sleep increases grehlin, a hormone that sends a hunger signal to the