Everyday, it seems like a new study around obesity, weight loss, exercise, or dieting is released. And some are seemingly more credible than others; while many come from doctors, nutritionists, and scientists, others may come from sources as vague as “weight loss experts” or diet consultants.
One day, we’re told to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, and the next to forget exercise and focus our attention on diet. We’ve even been told to eat less carbs, eat raw food, eat like our ancestors, go vegan, give up TV, do pilates, or even fast to become our best selves.
But according to yet another study in the New York Times, you can forget all of that! Scientists say you might be obese because your brain is telling you to be. They are finding that the brain actually exerts a ton of control over your body composition and how much you want to consume. And even worse, we all probably have a genetically determined weight range spanning about 30 pounds. So no matter what you do, no matter which yo-yo diet or exercise routine you’re on, you’ll likely end up back somewhere within 30 pounds more or less of what you’re genetically pre-determined to weigh.
While I’m sure genetics play a large role in our body composition and behavior towards food, I would bet that most Americans are far over their pre-determined weight range and could use a little help convincing their brains that activity and healthy food actually do make them feel better than a bag of Doritos. Your genes may have something to do with how much you eat, but you can at least control what you put into your body, and what you get out of life.
