What Really Causes Weight Gain?
In recent years, scientists have begun intensively studying how people gain and lose weight. While there’s still a lot to figure out, many of their findings have overturned long-held beliefs.
For example, they’ve found that:
- Two people can eat the same food, in the same quantities — but one may gain weight and the other won’t.
- Not everyone who’s overweight is inactive. It’s entirely possible (and definitely good for you!) to be physically active regardless of what you weigh.
In the process, they’ve also discovered that the root causes behind weight gain are much more complicated than “willpower” or “self-discipline.”
Root Causes of Weight Gain
Research has revealed a remarkably extensive list of factors that affect what we weigh, including:
- A genetic predisposition to gain weight, which protected us centuries ago when food was scarce but encourages unneeded weight gain now, when food is plentiful
- Cheap, convenient “hyper-palatable” foods designed by food marketers to make us want more and more…and more
- Medical conditions, like hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Cushing’s syndrome
- Certain medications, including steroids and common medications prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, migraines, depression, anxiety and other diagnoses
- Stage of life-related changes, like menopause in women and andropause in men
- Life stressors, like working long hours while caring for young children and aging parents
- Fatigue, inadequate sleep, or poor sleep quality
- Anxiety, depression and other mood-related concerns
- Changes in the “gut biome” — the microorganisms that live in our digestive system and help our bodies digest food and store and use energy from food
Willpower: So Overrated
When you scan this list, you’ll start to see why outdated beliefs about weight are so harmful.
After all, how can willpower ever overcome genetics? Or weight gain from medication?
The answer, of course, is that willpower by itself can’t overcome these things.
Fortunately, scientists have also found that when we have the right tools — like cognitive-behavioral strategies and emotional eating, hunger and craving strategies, for example — we can overcome these very real external issues and take control over our health again, with confidence that we’re tackling these challenges in the smartest possible way.
The bottom line: with the right tools and mindset, you can take charge of your health and feel great about yourself again. You CAN be the best version of yourself.
That’s why individualized health coaching is the centerpiece of the Well Mind ~ Well Body program. Our health coaches are nationally certified experts in all the tools that help you get a handle on the factors that affect YOUR health and weight – and help you put the blame game behind you for once and for all.