Podcast 29: Book Club 1: Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes Chapter 1-4
We have increased weight in our country throughout the last 100 years. Many times we think that this increase in weight has really been since the 1950s but truly we have started to gain weight well before that. In 1939, there was a childhood obesity clinic at Columbia University. 50 years ago 1 in 8 people were obese, now 2 in 3 are obese.
Gary Taubes talks in these first four chapters about how it is not about calorie-in vs calorie-out. It is more of a hormone control with growth hormone, thyroid hormone, reproductive hormones, insulin, and leptin. Insulin and leptin resistance play a role in increased weight gain.
Marion Nestle states that gaining weight is natural in this environment because companies are in the business of selling more and having you eat more.
Yale University psychologist Kelly Brownell states “Do we live in a toxic environment that encourages overeating and physical inactivity?” Are our bodies being driven to eat more because they are undernourished. This also speaks to the fact that we are seeing that there is a link to obesity and poverty NOT a correlation of obesity and prosperity. It has become a socioeconomic problem where we are starting to see a higher rate of obesity in the poor. Also, some cultures, such as the Pima Indians, had fine weight management with an overabundance of food but gained weight when they were given different and processed foods.
Remember to be kind to others, take care of yourself and make good choices.
