OVERWEIGHT: WHY WE bigger?

The numbers of overweight adults are thrilled and those children are considered a public health problem. Obesogenic society or impact of genetics, but what are the reasons for the aberrant numbers?

"I do not know if the worst is the contemptuous gaze of others or mine on my own body. I suffered and hate my body, my beads that separate me from the others, with a lightness of life. This hatred of my body pushes me to destroy more and more, eating. it's like that since the age of 8 years. Often alone in the school yard, I became the scapegoat of some. that's when I think that I bailed in food. Larger reassured me! I have since tried many diets without success! and all these distressing words and hammered on the risks of obesity for health ?? I do not care, today I give up, "said Sylvie, 36, 107 kg for 1.67 m.

Overweight and Obesity: A real impact on health

As Sylvie, more and more French are suffering from overweight and obesity. The frequency of obesity in France is two to three times more that 20 years ago, and cases of severe obesity are three to five times more frequent. The country of gastronomy and the Mediterranean diet is hit hard by the epidemic. "It is wrong to think that obesity is among others, for the children of neighbors or Americans ... No, she's at home, and highly! Today in France, the frequency of overweight and obesity reaches 15 to 20% of the child population, as in the USA, "laments Jean-Michel Lecerf, Head of the Nutrition Department at the Pasteur Institute in Lille. However, obesity and overweight pose real health problems: increased cardiovascular risk, diabetes, sleep apnea, bone and joint pain ?? not to mention the emotional and nervous disorders caused by the loss of self-esteem. Faced with these risks and especially overweight ?? this represents financial, public authorities are determined to fight obesity on all fronts. Information campaigns and candy machines withdrawal in schools warnings at the end of each advertising slogan, etc. The problem is that the causes of obesity are not always where you expect them??

An environment kilos!

Obviously, everyone can see that the modern lifestyle of the industrialized countries is accompanied by a significant increase in obesity, particularly among children. Haro so Mac Donald and other fast foods, junk food symbols on American sodas dressed in red and blue cans and advertisements for sweets, ready meals and fatty products. Health professionals also draw attention to the breakdown of food, growing portion sizes, the abandonment of the consumption of fruits and vegetables and foods with little or no refined (cereals and wholemeal bread, pulses ... ) and excess pastry. But, poor diet does not explain everything! "In fact, overweight and obesity are mainly the result of an imbalance between the costs associated with physical activity increasingly weak and food intake have not decreased proportionately," says Jean-Michel Lecerf. And industrialized countries, especially in the cities, we move less and less, because of the car and the increase in passive activities such as video games, computer work or television. For example, an additional hour of weekly television would increase by 2% the risk of obesity. Currently, however, in France, the average child spends 20 to 25 hours a week watching television! And increased supply chain or the presence of a screen in the child's room does not help the situation ??

And genetics in?

However, we are not all equal before the devastating effects of cream puffs and other overweight bombs. "Only children can constitutionally predisposed to become obese," says Patrick Tounian, professor in the department of gastroenterology and pediatric nutrition at the Armand Trousseau Hospital. Indeed, some children have a genetic predisposition contribute to the onset of obesity. The modern diet and lack of physical activity just come exacerbate this risk in these children.

Inadequate measures against obesity!

Given this situation, it is questionable whether the current efforts in France (and elsewhere) to fight against obesity are well suited. "Leave imagine that obesity threatens all children and multiply information campaigns in this direction may increase social discrimination against children who become obese despite these warnings. This also leads to eating disorders among many other children who are not concerned with the risk of obesity, "warns Patrick Tounian. Instead of targeting all French children, it would certainly be better to look young genetically at risk for obesity. Some health professionals would like it only targets children with at least one parent is already obese and who are overweight before the age of 6 years. Indeed, these risk factors are recognized by numerous studies and are easily diagnosable. "We would gain in efficiency and savings, and reduce psychosis related to obesity," suggests Patrick Tounian.

Obesity: other causes in the study ...

Aside from genetics, other factors predispose a child to obesity, from the uterine life. Thus, smoking, gestational diabetes and malnutrition of the mother during the first two trimesters of pregnancy would make children more likely to develop obesity. Similarly, during the first months of life, rather than the artificial breastfeeding, and contributions increased protein and omega 6 fatty acids also favor the later onset of obesity. Nonetheless, studies are still needed to prove the real influence of these factors. Another avenue is to seek the ?? microbes side. Thus, a virus (adenovirus 36 for short) injected into mice make them obese. Moreover, instillation of the intestinal flora of obese mice in lean mice results in weight gain in the latter. Finally, the curves of the evolution of obesity have the same profile as those unfortunate infectious epidemics! "These assumptions still seem extravagant, but it is likely that we have surprises in the future. In any case, they show that summarize the causes of obesity junk food is reductive and simplistic," concludes Patrick Tounian. Obesity and overweight have to behave themselves, researchers have at their heels ??

Recognize the sensation of hunger!

Attention hunger is sometimes confused with ?? thirst. "Quiet solid food consumption momentarily thirst. In addition, the fatigue caused by dehydration is wrongly regarded as a lack of sugar. This confusion creates a vicious circle because the more you eat, the more the body needs to water, "says Christopher Vasey, naturopath. Similarly, eating fills sometimes the feeling of boredom. The parade? Before throwing a snack, always ask if the sensation is that of hunger or boredom! In the latter case, better to call his friends rather than eat ??