An update on Overweight

According to CDC data, more than 66 percent of Americans are overweight, the number of obese women in the United States appears to be holding steady at 33 percent, but for most Americans the risk is growing.  The researchers show that sedentary living, and a ready supply of rich food may not be entirely to blame for rising obesity rates. In fact, new research suggests that the environment that most strongly influences body composition may be the very first one anybody experiences: the womb.   According to several studies, conditions during pregnancy, including the mother’s diet, may determine how fat the offspring are as adults. Human studies have shown that women who eat little in pregnancy, surprisingly, more often have children who grow into fat adults. More than a dozen studies have found that children are more likely to be fat if their mothers smoke during pregnancy.  The body establishes its optimal weight early on, perhaps even before birth, and defends it vigorously through adulthood. As a result, weight control is difficult for most of us.
Diet and exercise do matter, but these environmental influences alone do not determine an individual’s weight. Body composition also is dictated by DNA and monitored by the brain. Bypassing these physical systems is not just a matter of willpower.  Scientists now believe that each individual has a genetically determined weight range spanning perhaps 30 pounds. Those who force their weight below nature’s preassigned levels become hungrier and eat more; several studies also show that their metabolisms slow in a variety of ways as the body tries to conserve energy and regain weight. People trying to exceed their weight range face the opposite situation: eating becomes unappealing, and their metabolisms shift into high gear.
Pittsburgh Plastic Surgeon - Dr. Wooten explains to her patients the importance of a good diet and exercise, which will produce longer lasting results when considering surgical procedures like liposuction, tummy tuck in Pittsburgh.