Most everyone has heard the news reports about the alarming increase in obesity over the last twenty years. Contributing factors include lack of exercise, oversized portions of food, sedentary jobs, cars to get us where we need to go and many modern labor-saving devices.  Most weight control programs focus on cutting calories and increasing physical activity. Even the best weight control programs have only moderate success with the majority of participants regaining lost weight within five years.
   Researchers at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health decided to look for other possible causes for the increase in our waistlines over the past few decades. It might surprise you to hear that lack of sleep might be an overlooked risk factor for weight gain. Previous studies have shown fewer hours of sleep are associated with higher body weights. The average adult now sleeps only 7 hours per night as compared to a little over 9 hours per night just twenty or thirty years ago.  Children are sleeping less as well. There is no clear connection between the lack of sleep and increased weight, but getting adequate rest so your body can recharge is a good goal.
I wonder if distractions like televisions or computers keep us awake later leading to more nighttime snacking.
    I can’t really imagine how tough a Mississippi summer would be without air conditioning.  Our great-grandparents worked in the heat and then tried to sleep with   just a ceiling fan at night. The UAB researchers pointed out that our bodies use more energy (burn more calories) when temperatures are above or below a comfortable range.
Animals and people alike will eat less when the heat gets oppressive.  Here in the south where obesity rates are the highest, the number of homes with air conditioning increased from 37% in 1978 to 70% in 1997. In the summer, the number one excuse for not getting enough exercise is the heat. The more comfortable the temperature, the fewer calories we burn.
    The number of people who smoke has been declining. Public health campaigns about the dangers of smoking have worked. A common problem for those who quit smoking is gradual weight gain. Snacking often becomes a substitute activity for smoking. I have often heard ex-smokers say that comfort foods help calm frazzled nerves. Don’t get me wrong, they are still better off gaining a few extra pounds than continuing to smoke. Physical activity relieves stress and helps prevent weight gain for those trying to quit.
    In addition, lots of wonderful new medicines have been developed in the last 30 years to treat depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure but many of these can have the unwanted side effect of weight gain. It is wise to discuss any new medications with your physician and ask about side-effects. Weight gain caused by medications can usually be minimized with more physical activity.
    Obesity is a complex issue with many potential causes so we need to treat the whole person to increase our chances of success.