Why Is It So Much Harder To Lose Weight Today Than It Was 30 Years Ago?

Unbelievable but true: we lose weight more slowly and weigh more than our peers in the 1980s. And there are three objective reasons for this.

Research published in the American medical journal Obesity and Clinical Practice cites disappointing statistics – there are 10% more obese people on earth today than in the mid-1980s. At the same time, even for those who monitor their weight, getting rid of extra pounds is much more difficult than, at one time, their parents. Another thing is surprising: according to experts, the amount of basic microelements in the diet of both is quite comparable, as is the level of physical activity. What is the riddle?

“If you look at the nutrition and the number of calories consumed by a 25-year-old person in 2006 and 1988, it turns out that they will be very similar – the same amount of proteins, fats and other elements. But at the same time, it is 2.3 times more difficult for a modern person to lose weight, and the risk of exceeding acceptable norms and getting obese is several percent higher, ”concludes Jennifer Cook who led the study. The answer to the phenomenon lies in three important hypotheses.

The first is the changes in the chemical composition of many modern products that have occurred in the past few decades. From new pesticides to special substances in food packaging, they all have a direct impact on our hormonal processes and, as a result, on weight.

Scientists also voice the second version – over the past 30 years, the number of people who take antidepressants, which can also change the hormonal background, has significantly increased.

Finally, Cook, like other authors, suggests that the microflora of modern inhabitants of megacities could somehow change during this period. After all, it is well known that certain types of bacteria in the intestines make a person prone to weight gain. For example, we eat more meat today than we did a few decades ago. It’s no secret that many animal products have been produced using hormones and antibiotics. Under their influence, over time, the more vulnerable bacteria in our body have changed.