A research report published in the International Journal of Obesity says that a number of aspects of modern living – such as lack of sleep, exposure to environmental chemicals and living with air conditioning -- may be contributing to obesity in America.
Among the other factors, lack of sleep is one. Research in animals and humans suggests that chronic sleep deprivation boosts appetite and eating. In recent decades, adults have gone from sleeping for an average of 9 hours to about 7 hours, the researchers point out.
There is also evidence that industrial chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors may increase body fat.
Another factor contributing to obesity among Americans is air conditioning. The body burns calories when forced to regulate its own temperature and people tend to eat less in hot, humid weather.
The report argues that obesity research needs to look beyond the obvious culprits to more insidiuous reasons and cites 10 potential obesity risk factors in all, including: increased rates of older mothers, whose children may be more prone to excess weight gain; a range of medications, such as antidepressants, which can promote weight gain; and a decrease in smoking rates, because people often gain weight when they quit and the absence of nicotine, an appetite suppressant.
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