WEIGHT GAIN? IF THIS WAS DUE TO AN EVENT OF LIFE?

Snacking, excess, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are the first risk factors singled out to explain the increase in overweight and obesity. But some life events, whether psychosocial or family, also play an important role in weight gain.

Some life events increase the risk of obesity

French researchers have studied a sample of the French population consisted of 3000 adults living in Paris area. After indicating their weight and any variations in body size, the subjects were asked about the events that occurred in their lives, including family events experienced during childhood, adolescence or later in adulthood.

What are the events that promote overweight?

It is found that 36.5% of patients are overweight.

Men are more often affected by overweight and obesity in women.

Overweight risk is higher in women:

- Whose parents are of African or North African nationality

- Having had children,

- Having lived an unhappy childhood, followed by a happy adolescence.

Conversely, women are more often thin when they:

- Known separation or divorce,

- Lived a happy childhood followed by an unhappy adolescence.

As for men, their risk of overweight increases:

- If they had children,

- If they live or have lived with a partner suffering from a serious illness.

Conversely, men are thinner:

- If they have experienced the death of a spouse,

- If they had a serious illness before the age of 18.

How this information they are useful?

Faced with the alarming increase of overweight, the health consequences are dramatic, all avenues must be explored. Understanding the mechanisms and elements that contribute to weight gain are many avenues to explore to develop effective strategies that can prevent obesity. Risk factors, including events in the life precisely represent interesting avenues available to doctors to prevent and manage obesity.