13 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Weight

We all know that eating too much makes us gain weight, and controlling what we eat helps us to lose it, but apparently there is some hidden wisdom on weight-related issues.

Let’s look at 13 things you probably didn’t know about your weight!

1. It’s Genetic

Yes, really! People with two copies of the FTO gene are 60% more likely to be obese than those without it, say scientists.

2. Fat Cell Count is Predetermined

Some people are destined to have twice as many fat cells than others, says Kirsty Spalding, PhD, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Losing or gaining weight will not change your fat cell count, but you are apparently better off with more fat cells than less – those with less fat cells run the risk of them becoming overstuffed and enlarged.

3. It’s Possible to Change Your Metabolism

Professors of nutrition at Helsinki University Central Hospital suspect that gaining as little as 11 pounds can slow your metabolism down, which makes it harder to lose weight. The good news is that exercise can change that, and speed your metabolism up again.

4. Stress Can Make You Fat

When we’re stressed, we tend to reach for carbohydrate-rich and sugary foods, which can help calm our stress hormones but isn’t helping our weight. Make some time for stress relief instead of snacking on junk.

5. What Your Mother Ate While Pregnant Could Make You Fat

Blame mom for your weight gain! There is a growing body of science that suggests that if your mom ate sugary and fatty foods while pregnant, you have a higher risk of becoming fat.

6. Sleep for Weight Loss

Most of us love sleeping, and here’s a legitimate excuse to sleep even more. The University of Chicago researcher reported that sleep deprivation triggers an increase in ghrelin, (a hormone that triggers hunger) while decreasing leptin (which helps you feel full). If you regularly burn the midnight oil, you may think you’re hungry when you’re not

7. Your Partner’s Weight Matters

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that if one partner is obese, the other is a whopping 37% more likely to become obese too. The family that eats together becomes obese together!

8. The Obesity Virus

This is a bit scary! Adenoviruses are responsible for things such as upper respiratory tract problems through to intestinal troubles. The fat link was found when researchers at the University of Wisconsin injected chickens with the viruses and found that certain strains made them fat.

9. Our Favorite Foods are Addictive

Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia ran a study where subjects were shown names of the foods they liked. The results showed that the parts of their brains that were activated by seeing these names are the same parts that are activated in drug addicts!

10. Taste Bud Problems

Researchers have discovered that ear infections can damage the taste nerves that run through the middle of the ear. This can mean a reduction in the ability to taste sweetness and fattiness, which can cause those affected to eat more.

11. Antioxidants are Fat Busters

Free radicals can make you look old before your time, but they can also weaken the ‘stop eating’ body signal. Antioxidant rich fruit and veg are the best way to fight back.

12. All Diets are Essentially the Same

All weight loss books, whatever their type, contain the same four basic rules to healthy eating:

• Avoid trans and saturated fats • Fill up on fruits and vegetables • Eat lean protein • Consume carbs in the form of whole grains and fiber

13. It’s Possible to be Fat and Fit

There is a growing amount of literature that suggests that you can be fat and fit at the same time. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that 51% of the overweight and almost 32% of the obese had mostly normal cholesterol and other measures of good health.