Obesity

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Hormone – Leptin

58.     Scientists at Cambridge University have discovered that “leptin”, one of the key hormones responsible for reducing hunger and increasing the feeling of fullness, also controls our fondness of food. They studied patients with a rare genetic disorder resulting in a complete lack of leptin. These patients ate excessively, liked all types of food and developed severe obesity. After treatment with leptin, their hunger was reduced, they became choosier about food and they lost weight.

 Insulin Resistance (Syndrom X)

59.     When we eat food, glucose from the digestive breakdown of food is absorbed into your gut and blood. The body takes what glucose it requires and then produces insulin to lower glucose levels back to normal, converting the excess glucose into a compound called “glycogen” which is stored by the liver and muscles for energy use when required. On a healthy diet this process works perfectly, but excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates, particularly sugary foods, upsets the balance and everything starts to go haywire. Your body has to produce increasing amount of insulin to break down the sugars. Eventually you become resistant to insulin, and instead of converting excess glucose into glycogen, it turns into fat. An imbalance of the hormone insulin can often be the root cause of gaining weight. Too much sugar causes glucose intolerance in the body and when you are overweight, you breakdown sugar less efficiently. It becomes a catch 22 situation.

 Thyroid Disorder

60.     Metabolism, regulated by the thyroid hormone, plays a key role in weight management by regulating energy production and oxygen uptake. Continual stress can negatively affect the thyroid gland, depressing its normal function. Over stimulation of the thyroid gland is caused by the excessive consumption of sugar, coffee and alcohol, sending thyroid into an exhausted state (known as hypothyroidism) which can cause weight gain (inspite of eating very little), especially around your middle, hips and tops of legs that is very hard to shift. Foods rich in magnesium, calcium and potassium are recommended to avoid thyroid disorders.

Other Body Disorders

61.     Hormonal imbalances due to disruption of functions in the body’s organs, such as hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, adrenal, and pancreas can be the cause of weight gain. But glandular disorders account for only 2% of the total incidence of obesity. Sluggish liver, weak kidneys, poor digestive system, abdominal bloating, dirty colon and incoordination of assimilation and elimination of food can also trigger weight gain. Parasites and worms in the stomach can cause a voracious appetite leading to overeating and weight gain. Many gynaecological conditions like menstrual irregularity, the menopause phase, pregnancy, pelvic infections and yeast overgrowth can often lead to an obesity-like situation. A study in Japan has established that children whose mothers smoked in early stages of pregnancy are at nearly three times greater risk of obesity later in life.