Why am I overweight but not fat
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Why Do I Have a Double Chin When Im Not Overweight?
Having submental fullness, commonly referred to as a double chin, is typically associated with being overweight, but even those who are slim or skinny can have this cosmetic concern. There are a variety of factors that can lead to the appearance of a double chinsome of which are in our control, others that are not. The type and cause of your submental fullness will ultimately determine the best double chin treatment for your needs.
Maintaining a healthy weight through exercise and diet can help you avoid developing a double chin, but this is only one contributing factor. Many people may not realize it, but poor posture can also lead to a double chin. From looking down at your phone to sitting slumped over, spending much of your time with your head bent in this position can cause muscles in the chin and neck to weaken. Over time, this can also cause the skin to become more lax.
While people typically have some control over their weight and posture, other factors that are out of a persons control can contribute to a double chin. This includes a persons genetics, because having a family history of poor skin elasticity or extra fat storage under the chin can often be inherited. In addition, the aging process makes it more likely that a double chin will form. Skin can start to sag, and fat can buildup or shift to create a fuller under-chin area.
As explained above, a double chin can be caused by either lax skin or excess fat cells, each requiring a different method of treatment. Loose skin, for instance, may be able to be slightly tightened with certain non-surgical treatments, or neck lift surgery may be needed for more dramatic improvement. For those with unwanted fat deposits under their chin, however, non-surgical treatments include CoolSculpting and KYBELLA, or liposuction surgery for those with more significant fat reduction needs.
10 Leading Causes of Weight Gain and Obesity
Obesity is one of the biggest health problems in the world.
Its associated with several related conditions, collectively known as metabolic syndrome. These include high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and a poor blood lipid profile.
People with metabolic syndrome are at a much higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, compared to those whose weight is in a normal range.
Over the past decades, much research has focused on the causes of obesity and how it could be prevented or treated.
Many people seem to think that weight gain and obesity are caused by a lack of willpower.
Thats not entirely true. Although weight gain is largely a result of eating behavior and lifestyle, some people are at a disadvantage when it comes to controlling their eating habits.
The thing is, overeating is driven by various biological factors like genetics and hormones. Certain people are simply predisposed to gaining weight (
Of course, people can overcome their genetic disadvantages by changing their lifestyle and behavior. Lifestyle changes require willpower, dedication and perseverance.
Nevertheless, claims that behavior is purely a function of willpower is far too simplistic.
They dont take into account all the other factors that ultimately determine what people do and when they do it.
Here are 10 factors that are leading causes of weight gain, obesity and metabolic disease, many of which have nothing to do with willpower.
Obesity has a strong genetic component. Children of parents with obesity are much more likely to have obesity than children of lean parents.
That doesnt mean that obesity is completely predetermined. What you eat can have a major effect on which genes are expressed and which are not.
Non-industrialized societies rapidly develop obesity when they start eating a typical Western diet. Their genes didnt change, but the environment and the signals they sent to their genes did.
Put simply, genetic components do affect your susceptibility to gaining weight. Studies on identical twins demonstrate this very well (
Summary Some people appear to be genetically susceptible to weight gain and obesity.
Heavily processed foods are often little more than refined ingredients mixed with additives.
These products are designed to be cheap, last long on the shelf and taste so incredibly good that they are hard to resist.
By making foods as tasty as possible, food manufacturers are trying to increase sales. But they also promote overeating.
Most processed foods today dont resemble whole foods at all. These are highly engineered products, designed to get people hooked.
Summary Stores are filled with processed foods that are hard to resist. These products also promote overeating.
Many sugar-sweetened, high-fat junk foods stimulate the reward centers in your brain (3,
In fact, these foods are often compared to commonly abused drugs like alcohol, cocaine, nicotine and cannabis.
Junk foods can cause addiction in susceptible individuals. These people lose control over their eating behavior, similar to people struggling with alcohol addiction losing control over their drinking behavior.
Addiction is a complex issue that can be very difficult to overcome. When you become addicted to something, you lose your freedom of choice and the biochemistry in your brain starts calling the shots for you.
Summary Some people experience strong food cravings or addiction. This especially applies to sugar-sweetened, high-fat junk foods which stimulate the reward centers in the brain.
Junk food producers are very aggressive marketers.
Their tactics can get unethical at times and they sometimes try to market very unhealthy products as healthy foods.
These companies also make misleading claims. Whats worse, they target their marketing specifically towards children.
In todays world, children are developing obesity and becoming diabetic and addicted to junk foods long before theyre old enough to make informed decisions about these things.
Summary Food producers spend a lot of money marketing junk food, sometimes specifically targeting children, who dont have the knowledge and experience to realize they are being misled.
Insulin is a very important hormone that regulates energy storage, among other things.
One of its functions is to tell fat cells to store fat and to hold on to the fat they already carry.
The Western diet promotes insulin resistance in many overweight and individuals with obesity. This elevates insulin levels all over the body, causing energy to get stored in fat cells instead of being available for use (
While insulins role in obesity is controversial, several studies suggest that high insulin levels have a causal role in the development of obesity (
One of the best ways to lower your insulin is to cut back on simple or refined carbohydrates while increasing fiber intake (
This usually leads to an automatic reduction in calorie intake and effortless weight loss no calorie counting or portion control needed (
Summary High insulin levels and insulin resistance are linked to the development of obesity. To lower insulin levels, reduce your intake of refined carbs and eat more fiber.
Many pharmaceutical drugs can cause weight gain as a side effect (
For example, antidepressants have been linked to modest weight gain over time (
Other examples include diabetes medication and antipsychotics (
These drugs dont decrease your willpower. They alter the function of your body and brain, reducing metabolic rate or increasing appetite (
Summary Some medications may promote weight gain by reducing the number of calories burned or increasing appetite.
Leptin is another hormone that plays an important role in obesity.
It is produced by fat cells and its blood levels increase with higher fat mass. For this reason, leptin levels are especially high in people with obesity.
In healthy people, high leptin levels are linked to reduced appetite. When working properly, it should tell your brain how high your fat stores are.
The problem is that leptin isnt working as it should in many people who have obesity, because for some reason it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier (
This condition is called leptin resistance and is believed to be a leading factor in the pathogenesis of obesity.
Summary Leptin, an appetite-reducing hormone, doesnt work in many individuals who have obesity.
Another factor that dramatically influences peoples waistline is food availability, which has increased massively in the past few centuries.
Food, especially junk food, is everywhere now. Shops display tempting foods where they are most likely to gain your attention.
Another problem is that junk food is often cheaper than healthy, whole foods, especially in America.
Some people, especially in poorer neighborhoods, dont even have the option of purchasing real foods, like fresh fruit and vegetables.
Convenience stores in these areas only sell sodas, candy and processed, packaged junk foods.
How can it be a matter of choice if there is none?
Summary In some areas, finding fresh, whole foods may be difficult or expensive, leaving people no choice but to buy unhealthy junk foods.
Added sugar may be the single worst aspect of the modern diet.
Thats because sugar changes the hormones and biochemistry of your body when consumed in excess. This, in turn, contributes to weight gain.
Added sugar is half glucose, half fructose. People get glucose from a variety of foods, including starches, but the majority of fructose comes from added sugar.
Excess fructose intake may cause insulin resistance and elevated insulin levels. It also doesnt promote satiety in the same way glucose does (
For all these reasons, sugar contributes to increased energy storage and, ultimately, obesity.
Summary Scientists believe that excessive sugar intake may be one of the main causes of obesity.
People all over the world are being misinformed about health and nutrition.
There are many reasons for this, but the problem largely depends on where people get their information from.
Many websites, for example, spread inaccurate or even incorrect information about health and nutrition.
Some news outlets also oversimplify or misinterpret the results of scientific studies and the results are frequently taken out of context.
Other information may simply be outdated or based on theories that have never been fully proven.
Food companies also play a role. Some promote products, such as weight loss supplements, that do not work.
Weight loss strategies based on false information can hold back your progress. Its important to choose your sources well.
Summary Misinformation may contribute to weight gain in some people. It can also make weight loss more difficult.
If you have concerns about your waistline, you should not use this article as an excuse to give up.
While you cant fully control the way your body works, you can learn how to control your eating habits and change your lifestyle.
Unless there is some medical condition getting in your way, it is within your power to control your weight.
It often takes hard work and a drastic lifestyle change, but many people do succeed in the long run despite having the odds stacked against them.
The point of this article is to open peoples minds to the fact that something other than individual responsibility plays a role in the obesity epidemic.
The fact is that modern eating habits and food culture must be changed to be able to reverse this problem on a global scale.
The idea that it is all caused by a lack of willpower is exactly what food producers want you to believe, so they can continue their marketing in peace.
Love dilemmas: Im not attracted to my fat husband
Love dilemmas abound, and here, in our second installment of a weekly advice column, a TODAY.com panel answers questions from a reader dealing with a weighy relationship issue. Have your own question? Submit it here.
First, lets introduce our panelists:
The wise grandma: Kitty Schindler At age 87, retired nurse Kitty Schindler is TODAY.coms oldest regular contributor. One of 10 children raised by a Pennsylvania coal miner during the Depression, she offers advice from the perspective of a successful long-term relationship a 61-year marriage.
The relationship expert: Dr. Gilda Carle Dr. Gilda Carle at is an internationally known psychotherapist and relationship expert. She is Match.coms Ask Dr. Gilda advice columnist. She is also author of 15 books, including "Don't Bet on the Prince!"
The sex therapist: Ian KernerIan Kerner, Ph.D, is a reknown sex therapist and author of "She Comes First" and "Love in the Time of Colic." Ian's journey to counseling grew out of his own personal battle with sexual dysfunction and his desire to help others.
Q: When I first met my husband we were both fit and active. Since then marriage and kids have taken a toll on both of our bodies. I have maintained a slightly overweight body weight for over five years now (since the birth of our daughter), but my husband has been steadily gaining weight for the last five years as well. He is now well over 300 pounds on a 6-foot frame. Aside from the health problems, it has also taken a huge toll on our sex life. I find that I am just not attracted to his current body type. Even though I am slightly overweight, is it fair for me to hold his weight against our sex life? He says that he loves me the way that I am, and wished I did the same for him. I am also concerned about the example we are setting for our daughter. We both have a desire to lose weight and get healthier, but have no idea where to begin. Rachelle
Kitty says: Good health is necessary for good sex and obesity can be a real turn-off. Face the fact that inactivity and dangerous weight gain (especially your husband's) are your main problem. On TV, in magazines and online, we're bombarded with good information about how to get and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Pay attention and decide which kind of program is for you. Once you make the decision to do something, I'm betting your husband will be inspired too. The bottom line is that losing weight and getting more active require determination and will power. It helps if you have a partner on that journey, so why not enlist your husband?
Put your health (and your husband's) first: That's setting a great example for your children. And when you and your husband share this challenge and its rewards that will lead to greater intimacy between you. And to great sex!
Dr. Gilda says: As is the case of many long marrieds, the two of you have gotten into some sloppy physical habits. When you were singles seeking a mate, you knew you needed to maintain your appeal. But after marriage, your I do was followed by I dont, as in I dont have to care for my looks anymore because I already snatched my catch. Girlfriend, this is skewed thinking. Caring about yourself has to be a selfish act. Yes, its selfish because it necessitates self-love. Unfortunately, when you look at your 300-pounder, youre turned off not so much because youre not attracted to his current body type, but because his current body type reflects your own out-of-condition sex appeal. And this reminder is painful.
But theres good news! As my Gilda-Gram says, If you had the heat once, you can always get it back. Since you say the two of you were fit and active when you met, lets return you to that point in time. Join a gym together, become each others supportive coaches, and make your workouts part of new and exciting marital goals.
Ian says: First of all, its really normal for married couples to gain weight together. This phenomenon is known as synchronous eating and in a recent study of 2,000 people aged between 16 and 55, a direct correlation was found between marriage and weight gain, whereas single people were likely to be slimmer. In terms of your sex life, I would encourage you to still make an effort to be intimate. In my experience, sex ruts can quickly undermine a marriage. Of course, you still need to feel a level of attraction, but sexual desire is about more than just the physical connection its about an emotional connection, and having the sort of overall relationship that makes you want to have sex. Dont let the emotional connection fall to the wayside. Know that the brain is the biggest sex organ and there are all sorts of ways to stimulate desire: you can share fantasies with each other, enjoy erotic materials together, even look through old photos that remind you of your former attraction. Also, its okay to turn off the lights and have sex in the dark. Once you get your fingers walking, your hands groping and your lips touching, Ill wager that desire, gratification and a loving connection will soon follow.
Do you agree wtih the panelists' advice? Do you have your own? Share it in the comments below.
Want the TODAY.com panel to answer your relationship questions? to send them in!
