14 DAY TRIAL // According to the conclusions of a new investigation, it would appear that social and public health programs meant to promote the reduction of stress in the general population may also be effective against obesity.
Researchers say that losing weight is one of the unexpected benefits of being stress-free, or at least less stressed than before treatment. What this appears to indicate is that mental fatigue is one of the factors that may favor obesity and being overweight.
These issues affect about 67 percent of the United States population. Only 33 percent of all people living in the America are of normal weight, whereas a third is overweight and the other third are obese or morbidly obese.
The situation is made worse by the fact that the obesity epidemic appears to be extending to children as well. As being fat becomes socially accepted, more and more parents are feeding their kids in a way that promotes the disorders.
Experts figured out a long time ago that lack of exercise and fast/fatty foods are not the only factors leading to the spread of childhood obesity. Declining social safety nets and other psychosocial factors have also been identified as culprits in a new research.
This investigation was carried out by experts at the University of Illinois, who were coordinated by study author Craig Gundersen, PhD. The work is published in the latest issue of the scientific journal Obesity Reviews, PsychCentral reports.
“Energy-in, energy-out is important, but energy imbalance isn’t the only thing leading to overweight status among children,” Gundersen explains. He and his team attempted to figure out the intricate mechanisms affecting children who grow obese.
“We also know that people have very different ways of responding to the same amount of food intake and exercise, and one of the factors that may influence how people react to eating and exercise is through the amount of stress they’re under,” the expert adds.
Low-income children are especially at risk of becoming obese, since they are subjected to a lot of stress every single day. Fear for their very survival, combined with a damaging home environment, may be contributing to making them incredibly stressed.
“As a society, we’re always looking for different ways we can address public health issues, whether it’s reducing food insecurity or reducing obesity,” the team leader explains.
“Although there have been many different ways to reduce obesity, what we’ve found is that stress is a leading cause of obesity among children,” Gundersen concludes.