Weigh2Health

Weigh2Health

Let food be thy medicine and medicine
be thy food. - Hippocrates

Overview
Having excess weight is “multifactorial”, or due to more than one cause. This is because regulation of weight is a highly complex system involving the brain and many other organs throughout the body, which “talk” to each other via the many chemicals they secrete. And this regulatory system in turn is determined by many factors: genetics, intrauterine environment, family environment, physical environment, dietary composition and intake, activity level, and medical conditions. These factors all play a role in excess weight, the importance of each depending on the individual.

Some of these causative factors are not in our control which makes it very difficult to lose excess weight and keep it off. In particular, since as far back as we know for important evolutionary reasons, our bodies are highly efficient energy conservers. At the same time, our physical environment has changed drastically over the last 100 years so that it is increasingly easy to take in many more calories than we expend. This is a main reason for the world’s population becoming increasingly overweight over the past few decades – it’s not that our genetic makeup has changed but instead our environment has changed. Fortunately, many factors which determine weight are in our control and addressing these can help someone with excess weight “reset” their regulatory/hormonal system and current weight closer to what it was when they did not have excess weight. Each day new discoveries are being made regarding how weight is regulated and determined. This new knowledge will continue to increase our ability to effectively treat excess weight. At the same time it is important to understand that excess weight is a chronic condition, and like other chronic conditions such as asthma or hypertension or diabetes, it requires regular attention throughout our lives. From information sources such as the National Weight Control Registry, however, we know that one can positively affect one’s weight for the long-term.

Medical conditions causing excess weight
There are many medically treatable causes of excess weight. Evaluation for and treatment of these potential causes of excess weight should be a part of any weight control program.

Medications. Some medications in the following categories can lead to excess weight over time:
- Anti-seizure medications
- Anti-depressant medications
- Anti-psychotic medications
- Anti-diabetes medications
- Steroids

Hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones which increase the overall metabolic rate and enhance carbohydrate and fat metabolism. When one does not have sufficient thyroid hormone activity, the body’s metabolism slows down and this can lead to excess weight. Some cases have no identifiable cause but it is important to evaluate for any potentially treatable causes of hypothyroidism as well as to supplement with thyroid replacement hormone.

Cushing’s Syndrome. This condition results when the adrenal glands (located on top of each kidney) produce an excess amount of a steroid hormone called cortisol. This leads to a build-up of fat in characteristic sites such as the face, upper back, and abdomen.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome. This is a condition characterized by high levels of androgens (male hormone), irregular or missed menstrual cycles, and in some cases, multiple small cysts fluid-filled sacs) in the ovaries.

Emotional conditions. These include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Emotional eating
- Night eating syndrome
- Binge eating
- Chronically excessive psychological stress

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