Fit or Fat: Seven Reasons Diet Alone Can’t Conquer Obesity

Weight loss isn’t easy. Setting goals, changing diets, and exercising regularly requires commitment and discipline. Yet while everyone embarking on a weight loss journey faces challenges, those difficulties are magnified for people dealing with obesity who hope to lose more than 50 pounds.

Weight loss is a never-ending battle. That’s because even once excess pounds are shed, keeping them off remains a challenge. Battling obesity is about more than willpower and food restriction. In fact, focusing on food alone is a mistake. Weight is often triggered by hormones, the environment, and a host of other factors. Here are seven reasons why the best way to lose weight is about more than food. 

1. Start by Knowing Your Body Mass Index 

The Body Mass Index helps an average person determine if they are at a healthy weight. Taking your height and weight into account, the BMI index provides a rough measure of body fat. It’s inaccurate for very muscular individuals, like bodybuilders and football players, who while weighing more than the guidelines for their height actually have low percentages of body fat. For most people, however, the BMI chart delivers clear guidance. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, one over 30 is obese. America faces an escalating number of people who fall into one or the other category.

The CDC estimates that three out of four adults in the U.S. are overweight. Around forty percent of those people actually have an obese BMI –– which means it’s over 30. In the year 2000, one-third of Americans were in that category. Today it’s over 42%.

One significant concern is that half of the people who are considered overweight by the CDC actually believe they are actually at a healthy weight. Because of this, they are unlikely to consider lifestyle changes like diet or exercise. That’s a mistake. It’s important to accept reality on reality’s terms and an obese BMI is a warning sign. Before exploring weight loss programs or hoping to lose weight fast, learn where you fall on the BMI Index. After all, every marathon has a starting point. 

Anyone who qualifies as overweight on the BMI index has an elevated risk for a condition called “metabolic syndrome.” This lethal stew combines a heavier than is healthy weight with an excessive amount of belly fat along with high blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Metabolic syndrome carries an elevated risk for a variety of health problems including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. That’s why taking charge of your weight loss is so important. The first step is getting the right information about your body so you can take action. 

2. Hormones and Weight Gain

Certain hormones trigger fat retention. One of the best known, insulin, literally tells your body to store fat. This mechanism evolved during a period of scarcity when having adequate fat stores was often essential to survival. Today it has the opposite effect. Excessive fat storage can be lethal. 

When a diet is high in simple carbohydrates and highly processed food, it does more than just elevate insulin levels. It actually signals the hormone to store the food’s excess energy in the form of fat cells. This is a component of insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes. 

When your body’s cells don’t react to insulin as they once did, and are unable to absorb the blood sugar, the pancreas has to make ever increasing quantities of insulin to accomplish the same job. This is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is one of the biggest early warning signs for diabetes. 

Along with weight gain, during insulin resistance there will also be a substantial decrease in the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Consistently elevated blood sugar levels will also damage other organs. One recent study suggested that “modest reductions in circulating insulin prevent weight gain, with sustained effects that can persist after insulin levels normalize.” So getting control of your insulin is vital for sustained weight loss. 

Insulin isn’t the only hormone to be aware of. Leptin usually acts as a shut-off switch, triggering feelings of fullness after a meal. In people with an obese BMI, leptin doesn’t work as it should. The irony is that the hormone is produced by fat cells, so heavier people tend to have more of it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier leading to leptin resistance and potential obesity. 

No one should embark on a weight loss journey without first understanding their hormone levels. That doesn’t mean enduring a crowded medical facility. The information you need is literally at your fingertips. Start by taking a short health quiz from Kyla Clinics. Then select an at-home blood test. For example, at just $99 the male or female hormone and vitamin panel covers a variety of tests that can help determine hormonal imbalances, including stress hormones along with fertility markers and thyroid function.  

In a few days, the test and instructions for sample collection will arrive at your home. So you can take steps to discover your hormone levels from the comfort of your couch. Collect a sample and mail it to Kyla Clinics. You’ll soon get results that can include blood sugar and hormone levels along with information on cardiovascular, liver, and kidney health. 

Whether or not you have an obese BMI, Kyla’s anti-aging treatments are designed to produce long lasting results. After testing, you’ll have an opportunity for a one-on-one consultation with a Kyla doctor. Together you’ll develop proactive steps to improve your chances for sustained weight loss. The key is addressing the root cause of your weight gain, not just the symptoms. If hormones aren’t a contributing factor, there are a host of other reasons why you may be gaining weight – and knowing them can really help you lose weight fast. 

3. Constant Stress and Inadequate Sleep 

It’s ironic that weight gain can cause anxiety when anxiety is often a contributing factor to weight gain. If you are dealing with consistent anxiety or stress, it must be dealt with before you embark on a diet. This is even more important if you are considered overweight or obese according to a BMI chart. 

Humans evolved a flight-or-fight response system that shoots hormones like cortisol and adrenaline throughout the body. Along with increasing energy and heart rate, these hormones also prevent blood sugar absorption by cells. Instead, blood sugar flows freely through the bloodstream whenever the body endures a stress response. Insulin is also less effective when cortisol has been released. As a result of this hormonal surge, you’ll likely experience intense cravings for simple carbohydrates and sugar. 

One study noted that, “…men and women that are overweight or at the upper limits of ‘normal’ weight are more likely to gain weight in response to stress than those that are of lower weight. It is believed that elevated insulin levels observed in heavier individuals are responsible for greater weight gain in response to stress. Many people who increase food intake in response to stress report craving foods high in fats and sugar. This “comfort food” effect is thought of as non-homeostatic feeding and is proposed to activate brain reward systems and dampen stress responses.”

If you have been experiencing sustained levels of stress, getting your cortisol checked through a simple at-home test from Kyla Clinics is a good idea. Making sleep a priority is also important. Not only does inadequate sleep amplify stress, but when you are tired levels of the hormone ghrelin rise. This hormone stimulates appetite centers in the brain – causing a tired person to feel hungry. 

Unfortunately, lack of sleep also suppresses leptin levels – so eating doesn’t lead to feelings of fullness as soon as it would with a well-rested person. As reported by News Medical:Life-Sciences, “Many workers report that when the average duration of daily sleep is less than 7.7 hours, individuals of all age groups show a higher mean BMI, as well as leptin reductions and ghrelin increases that are independent of age and sex.”

Of course being obese or overweight can make comfortable sleep challenging. Investing in the proper mattress and pillows along with sleeping on one’s side with the back and knees supported will pay dividends. 

4. Where We Live

There’s a popular saying about real estate that the three most important things are “location, location, location.” In many ways this also applies to obesity. Where we live has a profound effect on how successful we are on our weight loss journey. Many communities in America are car-centric. That means it’s almost impossible to shop, get to work, or do much of anything without using a vehicle. These areas may not only lack parks but decent sidewalks, bike lanes, and even crosswalks or pedestrian signals. In many towns, fresh fruits and vegetables may be hard to come by. Instead, most dining options involve either fast food or heavily processed foods sold at convenience stores and low-priced markets. 

Our communities have a huge influence on us. Living in a neighborhood where most people exercise and eat right can change individual behavior. Researchers examined half-a-dozen counties that based on environmental influences should have had a large percentage of residents who would have an obese BMI. Instead, they discovered that their average rates of adult obesity were considerably lower than anticipated. As Maureen Canavan, one of the researchers, explained to Yale News, “We found that counties with self-led initiatives to promote healthy living saw reduced rates in obesity, and fostered more ability for individuals to sustain healthier lifestyles.” 

Although moving in order to lose weight fast may not be the best solution, it’s worth considering how active a community is when considering future neighborhoods.

5. Genetics Can Play An Outsized Role

Obviously if your parents are overweight, there’s a good chance you will be as well. If both of your parents would have registered on an obesity chart then you have up to an 80% chance of also being obese yourself. Some 85% of us have “thrifty genes” – a genetic predisposition to store fat. Many of the weight loss challenges we endure as adults can be linked to our early childhood. Breast-fed babies are less likely to be obese adolescents than babies who received formula during the first three months of their life. Sedentary children who consume food that is high in sugar or ultra processed will likely crave those same foods as adults. 

Although over 400 different genes have been identified as playing a role in whether or not someone is obese, genetics aren’t the only factor. That’s because your parents may have had a drastically different diet than you do. When other countries adopt our Western diet, their citizens become obese or overweight at around the same percentage as in the U.S.. There are underlying, hidden genetic triggers that only happen when certain foods are consumed. That’s why one of the best ways to lose weight fast is often by switching to a plant-based diet where fruits and vegetables make up the majority of calories with the remaining coming from whole grains and lean protein. Focusing on whole foods that have not been processed is an excellent weight loss strategy. 

6. Addiction 

Studies have shown that certain foods trigger the brain’s reward center. Dopamine helps control emotional and motivational behavior. As one study noted, “Recent evidence now suggests that as with drug addiction, obesity with compulsive eating behaviors involves reward circuitry of the brain…Increasing amounts of data from human imaging studies, together with genetic analysis, have demonstrated that obese people and drug addicts tend to show altered expression of dopamine receptors in specific brain areas, and that similar brain areas are activated by food-related and drug-related cues.”

It’s easy to see how people who are experiencing elevated stress along with easy access to calorie-dense foods that are ultra-processed or high in sugar may struggle with weight loss. There are treatments and support groups available but it’s important to first identify the issue. Speaking with a qualified medical professional is vital. Many have found that the AI-driven data combined with the personalized, one-on-one consultations offered at Kyla Clinics is the perfect solution not only for food addiction but their overall weight loss journey. 

7. Lack of Exercise

Exercise burns calories and increased caloric expenditure can result in weight loss. Trying to lose weight through diet alone is a losing proposition. Adding just 15 minutes of moderate exercise like biking or swimming to your daily schedule can make a huge difference. 

Studying nearly 4,000 people who had lost more than 30 pounds in the National Weight Control Registry, researchers discovered that the average person in the group burned around 400 calories per day in physical activity. Half an hour of jogging or an hour of walking at an accelerated pace would achieve that. While a lofty goal for beginners, in a few months most people who begin exercising can easily accomplish this – which works out to more than 2,000 calories a week!

Just exercising puts you ahead of the curve. Less than one out of three Americans report getting regular physical activity. Not only will exercise help you with weight loss, it will also help reduce stress and even curb cravings for unhealthy food. 

Because while there are many reasons for why growing numbers of people are overweight in America, there’s no question that food is a driving factor. Much of what we eat has been engineered to trigger our reward centers (and our taste buds). It’s calorie dense and laden with sugar and salt. 

It’s possible to overcome obesity – but it’s much harder alone. Kyla Clinics provides ongoing consultations and one-on-one meetings where you can set goals and improve your results. 

Obesity is a life shortener. Some studies suggest it can be as dangerous as smoking. Some people consider weight loss surgery or drugs to be their only option. Unfortunately neither treat the underlying cause. If you’re dealing with a hormonal imbalance, addiction, or other issue, weight loss surgery could be a drastic but still temporary solution. 

At Kyla Clinics we believe everyone should have the opportunity to extend not just their lifespan but their healthspan as well. This is the number of years you enjoy without disease or illness. Begin your weight loss journey today by downloading the Kyla App and discovering how our anti-aging program can not just lengthen your life but your love of it as well. 

Sources:

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“Physical Activity: The Nutrition Source,” Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/physical-activity-research