External factors that influence our eating habits

Advertising – Advertising affects our nutritional choices. The messages we hear influence our choices, and in both negative and positive ways. Some of the advertisements bring some knowledge about the importance of some nutritional elements, such as vitamins
and minerals. They can also give us inaccurate information. These visual messages are very powerful, as they appeal to our subconscious.

Restaurants and eating out – In social situations when eating as a group, more often than not we forget about the quality of the food we are eating, especially if we are drinking as well. We consume more high-fat foods, such as fried zucchini and high-sugar foods such as cake and ice cream. Worst of all are the “super sized” meals from fast food restaurants.

Education–The more educated people are, the more knowledgeable they are about nutrition, and the more attention they pay to their diet.
Income/Occupation – People in higher-ranked position pay more attention to their eating and can also afford to eat in better places with better food. However, these people are more socially involved and therefore as a group they drink alcohol more often and in larger amounts. Their fast-paced jobs don’t allow them time to cook each meal, so they tend to dine out more often, dine alone, and eat on the run.
The next blog more on external and internal factors...

Role of Leptin in Weight Loss

The protein hormone leptin is a neurotransmitter important to the homeostatic regulation of body weight. Leptin was identified as a gene in obese mice, in the genetic obesity syndrome (1994 New York University). Leptin influences hypothalamus and pituitary hormones and promotes secretion of growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone. It is produced by adipose tissue and synthesized in the placenta and gastrointestinal tract. Leptin influences the regulation of appetite, energy expenditure and fat reserve. The lack of secretion of leptin rarely causes obesity itself, though some people are less sensitive to its action. Leptin increases metabolism and decreases appetite, by binding to the satiety center in the hypothalamus, signaling that the stomach is full. Leptin signals your nutritional status to the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral organs. It influences the reproductive system and the release of insulin. Currently, researchers suspect that overweight individuals may have defective leptin utilization, causing satiety to be inhibited. Exogenous leptin (introduced from an outside source) administration may affect weight loss (debatable).

Willpower vs. Motivation

You have to realize that being overweight has nothing to do with your willpower, and has a lot to do with your motivation – and that motivation can be created. You can reprogram your subconscious mind to resolve addictive behavior.

Get excited and motivated by your personal reasons for wanting to lose weight and be fit, such as looking better, being healthier or having more energy. These all act as rewards for your subconscious. Minor changes in your eating habits, such as reducing fat and simple carbohydrates, adding fiber and replacing soft drinks with water can create great results.

Obesity is associated with a myriad of factors: socioeconomic status; familial conditions; your network of friends; busy lifestyles that discourage eating balanced meals; the availability of inexpensive, “super sized” high-fat food; your pattern of leisure activities; television time; excessive alcohol intake; eating meals away from home; and finally, genetic factors.
Genetic factors affect the way that energy surpluses are stored (either as fat or as lean muscle) and the relative production of fats and carbohydrates used by the body. Race is also a factor in obesity, as higher body weight may be more socially acceptable in some cultures. There are also regional factors: obesity is higher in areas where high-fat diets and sedentary lifestyles are more prevalent. Age is another factor, as excessive body fat is more common among adults and middle-aged people.

Role of the Hypothalamus in Obesity

It is important to make the distinction between the physiological drive of hunger, and the psychological drive to eat which is primarily an appetite. There are external influences that encourage us to find food and eat. However, appetite is externally influenced .Hunger is regulated by the hypothalamus gland in our brain and controlled by internal body mechanisms, hormones, and hormone-like substances. The hypothalamus is a command center in the brain and governs circadian cycles (the 24-hour day), emotions and behavior and homeostasis in the body. In order for the neurotransmitter in the brain to function properly, this gland must be able to process and regulate the signals generated by the nerves responding to various mediators of food intake. At any time, the hypothalamus communicates with sixty trillion body cells. This center not only signals us to eat; but when we eat, hunger decreases, and the satiety center in the hypothalamus signals us to stop.
A comparative research study on cell metabolism compared normal rats and rats prone to obesity, showed brain cell differences in the region of the hypothalamus that controls hunger and appetite. The genetic differences in overeater rats made them less responsive to the appetite controlling hormone leptin, causing them to eat more. It is also important to know that an imbalance in your sleep hours (less than 6 hours at a time) on a consistent basis may make you gain weight, because the leptin hormone signals your brain to take in extra calories by being hungry frequently and thus causing you to eat more (reference: Endocrine society Journal).

Craving /PMS

The benefit of losing weight gradually and naturally has no consequences, it doesn’t require investment, you can eat everything, and enjoy life, and the weight loss is permanent. You don’t experience physiological craving and are least likely to experience relapse if you continue following proper nutrition and exercise. Depriving yourself of food satisfaction, or as a chronic dieter with a quick loss of fat you can influence your brain chemistry, causing craving. Eating high protein, high fiber and complex carbohydrates your physiological cravings will be reduced Craving is unique with women with hormonal changes, since they may experience increased appetite during certain periods, or increase desire for salty and sweet food. This condition is called PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome).PMS can be corrected by proper nutrition and supplements. You must eat a high protein, high fiber diet with complex carbohydrates and eliminate simple starches. Nutritional supplements reportedly effective for reducing these symptoms are: vitamin B6, 50 mg magnesium, 400 mg and vitamin E,400 mg combinations of these vitamins are very effective in reducing your PMS symptoms, reducing cravings, irritability and stabilizing your mood. I recommend you consult your physician.