Influences on overvatness and obesity: biological influences

INFLUENCES ON OVERVATNESS AND OBESITY: BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES
Biological factors which influence body fat levels are generally not amenable to modification. The main biological factors known to influence obesity are genetic (including sex and race), age, hormone status, illness and disability.
Heredity accounts for about 25-40 per cent of the variance of body mass index suggesting that obesity has a strong genetic base, and according to evidence to date, is polygenic (influenced by many genes rather than a few). Sex differences are also known to affect fat/energy balance. In general, adipose stores are more hormonally controlled in females, particularly during the reproductive years. Fat loss and maintenance of lower equilibrium fat stores also becomes more difficult with age. Differences occur between the sexes early in life, become greatest with the onset of menses, then tend to decrease with the changes in female hormone status in post-menopausal women. Finally, there is increasing evidence of racial influences on body composition. The implications of these biological influences are in accepting factors beyond the wilful control of the obese person. Obesity should no longer be thought of as being due solely to either sloth and/or gluttony.

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