Why is the obesity epidemic exploding. Is it that the biology of human beings changed in the last 50 years?

We are surrounded by a “Weight Gain Enablers”. It is a term I use to describe technological, environmental or social factors that facilitate weight gain.

Unless you address and identify these “weight gain enablers” in your life it will be difficult to maintain or lose weight.

So, lets try to identify some common weight gain enablers to you can start thinking about your individual situation to make positive health changes in your life.

Technological Enablers:

1. Food delivery apps. These have decreased the time and effort required to order unhealthy foods. Before you had to commit to either walk or drive to the restaurant. There was an effort hurdle to pass. Now with a few clicks you can have effortless delivery at all hours. You don’t even have to walk to buy a bag of milk anymore or drive to the grocery store.

2. E-bikes and scooters. I am constantly seeing young adults using e-bikes or scooters. You no longer are burning calories pedalling

3. Streaming services have allowed us to become more sedentary. Waiting for an episode weekly is gone. You can sit down, and binge watch a show. Often, you will combine this with mindless snacking as you devour the latest drama.

Environmental Factors:

1. Increased densification and city living means we no longer grow natural foods. There is no space to have a garden. Sourcing natural organic foods is more difficult and costly.

2. Vending machines are everywhere with calorie dense foods. Soda machines in schools with sugar sweetened beverages are commonplace.

Social Enablers:

1. Sometimes friends or family may not be supportive of your weight loss journey and create temptation for you to make unhealthy food choices. Spend some time thinking if you have people encouraging you to overeat and not exercise. Sometimes people are holding you back as they do not want to be the only one making unhealthy choices.

2. Are there social activities that you participate in tied with overeating? Are you drinking too much when you go to watch the game at the bar? Be aware of social settings that can lead to overindulging.

Losing weight is hard. Our obesogenic environment makes it very easy to gain weight without realizing it.

Being mindful and identifying “Weight gain enablers” can help you make more conscious decisions to make changes to live a healthier life.

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