Why do we get hungry at regular times during the day even we don’t even see or smell food?
The reason may be another hormone of interest to researchers called Grehlin. It is the powerful appetite stimulator. Under normal circumstances, grehlin levels rise before a meal and go down after we have eaten. When grehlin is injected into human volunteers, it makes them very hungry. This suggests that grehlin is a key part of the appetite control system. People with a rare condition called Prader-Willi syndrome have chromosomal abnormalities that create many problems, one of which is very high levels of grehlin. Sufferers are extremely obese and often die before 30 from obesity-related causes. Although this genetic disorder is very unusual, findings such as this highlight the role of genetics in the regulation of eating behavior and weight.
There are various family and social influences that leads to obesity in people. Family food habits, early developmental lifestyle of the child, parenting, early family relationships and harmony all contribute towards the growth and development of a child. It does not only affect people physically but also psychologically. Whether it is a child or an adult or an old person, obesity is a problem that can occur at any stage and so it affects differently. Family attitudes to food are important because their consequences are likely to remain with us for a longer time. People who are obese have markedly more adipose cells than people of normal weight.
There are various family and social influences that leads to obesity in people. Family food habits, early developmental lifestyle of the child, parenting, early family relationships and harmony all contribute towards the growth and development of a child. It does not only affect people physically but also psychologically. Whether it is a child or an adult or an old person, obesity is a problem that can occur at any stage and so it affects differently. Family attitudes to food are important because their consequences are likely to remain with us for a longer time. People who are obese have markedly more adipose cells than people of normal weight.
STRESS AND ‘COMFORT FOOD’
We are all conditioned to eat in a number of situations including when watching television or going to movies or to parties. However, obese people are conditioned to many more cues that may lead to overeating. For example, anger, anxiety and boredom. The taste of food is pleasurable, it lessens anxiety and as a result if encourages more eating. When you are stressed or unhappy, what kind of food do you eat? Do you eat pieces of carrots or chocolates? Food that are high in fat or carbohydrates are the food that console us when we are feeling bad. Certainly many people who are obese experience pathological problems such as depression (Sadness or downswings in mood are normal reactions to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments). Also, studies suggest that 26% of people who suffer from obesity also have mood disorders (Illness under mood disorders include: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder (mania – euphoric, hyperactive, over inflated ego, unrealistic optimism). Anxiety, anger, boredom may lead to over eating. Eating in response to such feelings or cues is then reinforced because the taste of good food is pleasurable and because the individual’s emotional tension is reduced.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT
Behavioral weight-loss programs are being strengthened by their increased emphasis on low fat intake and exercise, by more direct intervention on behavioral antecedents and consequences of eating, by the use of very low calorie diets (VLCDs) and by the adoption of a chronic disease model and the concomitant lengthening of treatment programs. With these approaches, initial weight losses of 10-20 kg can be achieved, and maintenance of weight losses of 5-10 kg can be expected. Treatments may also be strengthened by the identification of subgroups of the obese. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for obesity. It addresses various problematic aspects of the condition – eating behaviour (including the emotions that underlie eating patterns), the level of involvement in physical activity, body image dissatisfaction and participation in social life.
Psychological interventions including psycho-education, stimulus control strategies (to counteract triggers for eating), self-monitoring, behaviour modification i.e. to reduce excessive eating and promote a pattern of regular eating behavior through reinforcements , token economy etc. and cognitive therapy work towards implementing lifestyle changes and addressing underlying psychological issues.
