Why Do People Gain Weight?

In daily life, many people often complain about gaining weight, sometimes even by drinking water. Weight gain not only affects one's appearance but also poses health risks, damaging organs like the liver, heart, and kidneys. There are numerous reasons for weight gain, including overeating, lack of exercise, and genetic factors. Only by identifying the causes and adopting a regular diet can we alter the predisposition to weight gain.

Here are the reasons why people gain weight:

1. Certain physiological diseases often lead to unexplained weight gain, even when a person eats very little. This can be due to imperfect gastric digestion, converting food calories directly into fat. Another possibility is an excessive secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland, leading to obesity.

2. Lack of regular exercise is another reason for weight gain. Many people consume large quantities of food but do not engage in sufficient exercise, especially those who spend most of their workday sitting. To lose weight, it is advisable to incorporate effective exercises like running and yoga into daily routines.

3. Genetic factors also contribute to obesity. If there is a significant obesity gene in a family, it is likely to lead to easy weight gain. For these individuals, seeking professional medical assistance to treat obesity is the most effective way to achieve weight loss.

After gaining weight, dietary considerations include:

1. Avoid excessive restriction of food intake. Mild to moderate obesity does not require strict dietary restrictions. Adjust intake based on personal needs, avoid extra food outside of regular meals, engage in regular exercise, monitor weight frequently, and adjust diet accordingly.

2. Limit the intake of fat and sugar. For mild to moderate obesity, strictly control the amount of fat and sugar in food, as these are the main causes of weight gain. Also, control salt intake as excessive salt can lead to weight gain.

3. Control the amount of staple food. Staple foods such as wheat, rice, and miscellaneous grains should be consumed in moderation. Avoid over-consuming starchy or sugary foods, and pay attention to the intake of side dishes like beans, fish, eggs, milk, various vegetables, and fruits.

4. Adopt a small and frequent meals approach. For moderate obesity, eating smaller meals more frequently, such as five or six meals a day, can help prevent excessive fat accumulation and weight gain. Avoid overeating at once, and snack on fruits or tea when feeling hungry.

The harms of obesity to the human body include:

1. Heart: The hearts of obese individuals tend to be loose and thick, weighing significantly more than the hearts of healthy individuals. The heart is responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the body through the blood. If the heart becomes overly thick and weak, its efficiency in pumping blood decreases. Obesity also leads to excessive fat deposition on the walls of blood vessels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.

2. Liver: The liver is the main organ responsible for fat metabolism in the body. Excessive fat content in the body increases the burden on the liver, leading to the accumulation of fat in the liver and the formation of fatty liver. If liver metabolism becomes abnormal, it can lead to the development of various diseases, such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

3. Kidneys: The kidneys are important organs for detoxification in the human body. While healthy kidneys contain very little fat, the fat content in the kidneys of obese individuals is significantly higher than that of healthy individuals. This affects their efficiency and weakens their ability to purify the blood, ultimately leading to renal failure due to long-term overload.

4. Lungs: Excessive fat deposition in the lungs can compress lung function, significantly increasing the risk of diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea syndrome. In severe cases of obesity, when the heart's pumping function weakens to the point of failure, blood can back up into the lungs' blood vessels, causing lung edema, which places obese individuals in a precarious situation.

5. Colon: Studies have found that obese individuals have a 5-10 times higher risk of developing colon cancer than healthy individuals. If your weight is already above the normal range, it is essential to regularly monitor changes in your colon. If you experience symptoms such as prolonged thinning or loosening of stool or abdominal pain, seek medical attention promptly.