Diet, exercise and nutritional supplementation – keys to weight management
It is apparent that some physiological and genetic factors contribute to weight gain, however, our food choices and exercise habits have a more pronounced effect on our body weight. There is no doubt that many Americans eat too much of the wrong kinds of foods, and that these food choices have partly contributed to the epidemic of obesity in the United States. The typical American diet: high in fat, sugar and processed foods and low in fiber, is a prescription for weight gain. In addition, the stress of a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle leaves little time for physical activity and recreation and can lead to depression and anxiety, which causes many people to overeat.
Overeating just small amounts daily can accumulate in dramatic weight gain. For example, recent surveys (which are most likely under reporting actual caloric intake) indicate that on average, men consumed 216 more calories a day in the mid 1990’s than they did in the late 1970’s. For women, it was 112 additional calories per day. The impact of this can be more significant than one could imagine. For instance, a man weighing about 175 pounds who consumed an extra 216 calories a day without getting additional exercise would gain about 22 pound over the course of one year (Wall Street Journal).
