More and more people in the Western world are overweight or obese, and we have recently seen indications that the problem may be beginning to affect children and young people.
The issue is a complex medical one, and there is no single determining feature including a poor diet and lack of exercise. The reasons for the social trend, however, almost certainly do lie in our sedentary, modern lifestyles and taste for fast food.
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There are also factors such as the cheapness and availability of luxury foods, and our lack of time for evening meals and full lunch breaks.
Recent reports do suggest, however, that our genes may also be playing a role. Researchers at Imperial College London has isolated a gene known as GAD2 which appears to have influence over the appetite. One form of the gene is known to decrease the appetite and is usually found in thin or underweight people, the other is known to increase the appetite and is usually found in overweight people. The functioning of this gene is not yet fully understood.
Other influential factors include diseases such as Cushing's and hypothyroidism, which are known to induce weight gain, medications such as antidepressants, and early physical maturation. Many people eat more when they feel low, and the subsequent sugar rush (and then drop) can exacerbate the low mood which encouraged the overeating in the first place.