There are many who insist that the current obesity epidemic is due in large part to biologic factors. This is important because biologic factors are out of our control. They are in the basic genetic makeup of every individual. Subscribing to the biologic theory regarding the obesity epidemic means believing that no amount of exercising or dieting will make a noticeable difference.
On the other side of the argument there are those who believe that the obesity epidemic is mainly caused by cultural factors. This means that they believe that cultural issues and lifestyle choices determine weight. So according to this group changes in lifestyle choices could be the solution to the problem. There are a plethora of bad habits accepted in the US and changing these bad habits could result in drastic weight loss. And drastic weight loss can result in drastic improvements in general health.
Food production in the US reflects the overeating trend cited by experts that indicate the obesity epidemic is due to cultural factors. The US produces enough food daily to provide every man, woman and child in the country with almost 4,000 calories each day. This far exceeds the daily requirements for sustaining life.
In 2002 a study was conducted that supports the cultural theory. Food and drink was carefully documented for all study participants. Activity and applicable psychological factors were also carefully documented. The results were surprising yet obvious.
The study concluded that people who gained weight during the study ate more and had larger serving sizes. The results were surprising to those who subscribe to the biologic factor theory because there was no evidence to suggest that biological factors played a significant role in weight gain/loss during the course of the study. The results were glaringly obvious because they concluded that weight gain was due to eating too much; which is such an obvious conclusion that we tend to overlook it at this late stage of the obesity epidemic.
According to these conclusions the general health of the nation could be drastically improved if Americans stopped eating too much. If Americans, in general, could just learn to decrease their portion sizes…we’d see drastic change.
Amelia Handley studied exercise science at university with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she’s found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.