Cutting the popular belief of diet habits, the scientists in US has come forward with an argument that when the brain doesn’t sense enough gratification from food, people will hog more over the food.
According to Dr Eric Stice, a senior scientist at the Oregon Research Institute, who led the study, the more blunted the response will be, the more are the chances of chances of gain weight. It is the healthy diet and the exercise that decide whether someone is overweight. But scientists have put forward an argument that genes too have a role in deciding obesity. Dopamine, the brain chemical that’s key to sensing pleasure also has a role in deciding the weight of a particular person.

Eating does boost dopamine levels temporarily. The studies have revealed that obese have fewer dopamine receptors in their brains than lean people. A particular gene version, called Taq1A1, is linked to fewer dopamine receptors.

As per the words of Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institutes of Health, a dopamine specialist who has long studied the obesity link, the functioning of the brain do have a big role in deciding the food and causing obesity. The study by Stice’s team has figured out the immediate reactions of the brain to food.

Brain scanning showed that a key region called the dorsal striatum which is a dopamine-rich pleasure centre becomes active while tasting the milkshake, but not when the comparison liquid mimicked saliva is tasted. The study says that the brain region in overweight people is far less active than in lean people, and in those who carry that A1 gene variant.

This study shows that dopamine is not just about pleasure, but it also plays a role in conditioning and in the ability to control impulses. Now next time, when you are out to buy yummy food, remember, you are going to put weight.

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Obesity is a common health issue among people of all ages and genders. Especially these days teen obesity has become a major concern world wide. The situation is more intense in developed, some of the developing countries and few under developed countries as well. Teen obesity is leading to serious consequences not only to the present, but also to the future generations. Obesity is not a disease, it is a disorder, a disorder in terms of the diet we consume and life style habits that our teens practice. It is becoming very hard for the teens and even for adults too, to stick to a particular routine.
 
Let us delve into the details about what are the various causes of teen obesity, which is gradually taking the shape of a grave disease. Recent studies and surveys

suggest different causes of teen obesity, which needs to be considered with great concern. Scientists and medical professionals broadly categorize teen obesity under two main headings. The Environmental Causes and the Genetic Causes.
 
Further environmental factors can vary from dietary disorders, medical illnesses, microbiological effects, impact of sedentary lifestyle and socioeconomic factors.
 
Excessive consumption of junk and fast foods such as  candies, french fries, hot dogs, sausages, pizza and sweetened beverages add remarkable amount of fat to the body and causes imbalance in the Body Mass Index (BMI). Irregular food habits, late and improper eating contributes to the same. Sedentary lifestyles such as watching TV, sitting in front of the computer for long hours, late-night sleep, improper sleep and less activity or movement or less exercise dramatically add to the cause.  Also it has been observed certain medications used on teenagers to deal with their physical and mental illnesses also cause obesity in them.Various such medicines and drugs include; antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, certain anticonvulsants (phenytoin and valproate), insulin, pizotifen, some forms of hormonal contraception, steroids, sulfonylureas, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones. Socioeconomic factors such as drinking, smoking, economic freedom for consumption of

more food and more luxurious, less active lifestyle are the most significant causes of teen obesity in developed and developing countries today.
 
However, the genetic basis is quite a prevalent factor of obesity among teens, a common observation is that  obese parents tend to produce obese babies and these babies get overweight as they carry the same gene as that of their parents.
 
Obesity is becoming a serious health issue among people, especially teens, which needs immediate attention. It is imperative to check your daily food habits, maintain a regular routine, exercise and above all be happy and fight obesity with a smiling attitude. No battle is tough if you have a will of iron.

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It’s hard to believe in this crazy fitness world but two-thirds of American men are overweight or obese. While women often put on extra pounds in the hips, thighs and legs, men are much more likely to gain belly fat.

The “apple-shaped” obesity commonly referred to as belly fat, is the accumulation of visceral fat or in layman terms fat deposits on the belly. Our bodies are designed to store fat for release during times when there is not enough food. This was actually a safety mechanism that are bodies developed for survival, but these days this mechanism is backfiring on us as those times have become rare if not non-existent where we are unable to access food. 

So when we put on weight and never have these lean times, fat cells begin to release fat molecules into the blood at a higher rate.

Even though the connection between belly fat and health is not entirely clear, research and studies indicate that men with a lot of belly fat are at higher risk of health problems than those who accumulate fat in other areas. For most men, the risk factors for heart disease and other diseases increase with a waist size over 40 inches i.e. 102 centimeters.

The risk for disease becomes higher with big bellies resulting in problems like:
 Diabetes
 Some types of cancers
 High blood pressure
 Sleep apnea
 Abnormal lipids — high triglycerides and low HDL (”good” cholesterol)
 Insulin resistance
 Metabolic syndrome
 Heart Diseases

There are many things that cause belly Fat such as

 Sedentary life style
 Over eating
 Excess fast foods
 Excess of alcohol
 Genetics
 Stress
 Improper Digestion
 Slow Metabolism
 Eating Late at Night

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Here is a shocking truth- deficiency of fiber is to a great extent responsible for the present US obesity epidemic. So, the inclusion of dietary fiber in your diet has become even more vital. Let us know about the health benefits of fiber.
Fiber is the indigestible part of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Soluble fiber slows down the digestion in the stomach and small intestine. As a result, the conversion of other carbohydrates into glucose is slowed down. This stabilizes the blood glucose levels. By slowing down the digestive process in the stomach, the soluble fibers are actually helping the nutrients to spend more time in the digestive zone of your body. Hence, this increases the uptake of minerals and other nutrients in food.

It is also learned that soluble fiber can reduce blood cholesterol levels. To do this, the fiber binds with bile acids and cholesterol in the digestive tract and prevents them from being absorbed by the body.

Fiber is highly recommended by most of the weight loss dietary plans. This is because fiber food can actually impair the ability of the body to absorb sugars and fats. This also keeps the insulin low and allows the fat burning process to continue. Fiber in food absorbs water causing them to swell. As a result, you feel as if your stomach is full. This way, fiber also acts as an appetizer depressant.

This benefit of fibers is really looked upon by the diabetics- Fiber helps reduce blood sugar swings. Fiber gives a nice, long, steady release of sugar into the bloodstream, reducing hunger pangs, headaches, and fatigue produced by rapid drops in blood sugar.

Fiber also helps reduce the amount of insulin released by the pancreas by slowing down the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose entering the bloodstream.

What’s more? Whole grains and cereal fiber can lower the risk of heart disease by 30%!

So include dietary fiber in your food, reduce the chances of being overweight and keep a check on the blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels in your blood.

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If you think you have grown old and don’t have the motivation to start the physical training or you hide behind the veils of arthritis, old age, blood pressure or simply laziness then here’s an eye opener from you. How about watching a 72 years old man sweating it out in his garage gym?

For years you have been just dusting your running shoes, only to be worn ‘sometime’, that never comes! Have been eating the bars of chocolates, thinking that just a ‘little bit’ would do no harm. But sadly, you were wrong. It does take a toll off your health and your life. Watch the video and take some inspiration you desperately are in need of!

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This video is a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that displays the dangers and health issues that obesity arises. The video shows a simple example; a balloon is inflated bigger and bigger, till the time it could only take and then… BOOM! Don’t let you children or near ones be suffering from this pest called Obesity. America is synonymous to obesity. Research shows that most number of overweight people in the world reside in America- thanks to Mc Donald’s and such junk food producing eateries.

We all know the medical conditions that Obesity leads to. It inhibits activity in the area of the brain affecting language, memory, vision and speech. Causes high blood pressure, insomnia, depression, and low self-esteem. The sound of a balloon popping over this final message is meant to startle and wake up the audience to the dangers of early obesity.

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Here is a shocking truth- according to Arthritis and Rheumatism Research Council 105 million people lose working days every year. The reason is severe low back pain, which hinders the working hours of many the sufferers. Let us find out the causes of this ailment.
• Lower back pain can be caused by many different problems including forceful movement and trauma. Aging is also one of the factors leading to low back pains.
• Fractures can also cause the pain. If you are suffering from Osteoporosis, there are fair chances for low back pain as well.

• The back muscles need to be conditioned. Poor conditioning of these muscles triggers low back pain.

• Protruding disk also causes pain in the lower back.

• Pain occurring as a result of a problem elsewhere but ultimately felt in the back can also cause pain in the lower back.

• Obesity is a worse condition. This becomes even worse because this can be one of root causes for low back pain.

• Your poor posture also leads to low back pain.

• Bad cigs! You try your level best, but you can’t relate smoking to positive health conditions. Low back pain adds to the list of ailments caused by smoking.

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Can you see your toes while standing erect and looking down? If the answer is no, then take care of your health, because there are chances of being overweight.

Obesity is a health risk that affects men also. Men are considered to be more active. They tend to ignore their health because of work pressure and family tensions. The more tensed, the more is their ignorance about the health risks. Their ‘apple-shaped’ appearance due to excess fat getting accumulated in their abdomen makes them even more embarrassed.

There are simple steps by which you can avoid being humiliated by colleagues and your friends due to your obese figure.

i. Cut-off junk foods. It is a bit harsh to keep some distance from your favorite burgers, sandwiches and pizzas, but you will have to forget them to get rid of your obese stature.

ii. Eat only when you are hungry and try to take less intake of food. Don’t forget to do exercise.

iii. Regular work-out helps in reducing health risks and obesity.

Follow a healthy diet and you can go one step further in your struggle against obesity.

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