Factors contributing to obesity and age-related weight gain patterns

¶ … People work hard to lose pounds from their abs, with the persistence to make every step great and hard objective to lose few pounds each time they exercise. In fact, some of the encouragements are not more than rumors. Scientists revealed truths and opportunities in the article, aiming to give reachable goals and simpler methods to burn fat.

Accumulating body fat could be related to personality inertness and high fatty food intake for years, therefore it is important that people increase their awareness to reduce fatty components in their diets for regular basis, while at the same time increase active body movement from daily activities and mild exercises.

The article explained, while a number of people misunderstood that cutting fat intake and raising exercise frequency grow linear with body fat loss, in reality, half of the points may need second thought. There are many factors contributing to obesity.

Human develops fatty cells in the subcutaneous tissue. Such cells even present in children tissue, and they tend to change size as fat consumption increases or decreases, but never gone astray once the cells are formed. Therefore, a heavy-eating child may develop obesity when he/she grows as adult. To keep their weight constant, human should prevent overeating and keep balanced diet as well as regular exercises.

b. Analysis of Obesity and Weight Loss Studies

Studies were conducted to find how body fat composes human cells and tissue differently, and how they came into different profiles. Older people may gain fat more than young people.

Composition of body weight indeed varies with sex and age. The ageing cells most likely undergo different distribution pattern and forming. Between 20-50 years old, human's adipose tissue spread up more in central abdominal area. Men tend to follow the pattern more than women, with significant fat loss in the subcutaneous tissue due to "male android patterning. Also, people above 50 years old tend to lose fat free mass, rather than fat loss itself, hence they complain for being overweight (Bemben, 1998).

The data showed 208 in Anne M. Fletcher's Eating Thin for Life book study showed, 7 of 10 people of adults had been overweighed for years since their adolescence (Meyer, 1999).

Sometimes failure digestive tasks and uncompleted digestion cause materials to accumulate in the intestine column. Mucus and dried fecal matters may build up for years and block proper absorption of digested foods in later process. Researchers found that the material called, "mucoid plaque," became on of the reasons why people found harder to lose weight. Sometimes the mass lie semi-permanently, reduced the metabolism rate, and inhibited the intestinal movements including blocking nutrient absorption and normal secretion. (Anderson as cited in A Common Mistake That Prevents Most People from Losing Weight and How to Avoid It, 2003). Considering this fact, it is possible that some adults have another weight loss problem regarding the insufficient digestive problem that may build up for years.

However, it doesn't mean older people should give up weight loss programs. Fletcher's study also revealed among the 40-year-olds had recorded successful weigh loss after exercises. Older people with excessive weight tend to be less active and inert, and they simply need reasonable balancing between their diet and regular exercise. People with low-fat diet can convert their excessive fat into muscles by weight lifting. Other exercise did well.

e. Quality of information in the Article

The good information contained here; this article helps retrieving the truth about fat. Public should see the function of fat in their food composition. It is not recommended to simply discard fat from the menu since around 20-30% of the recommended dietary food should come from fat. Fat naturally accommodate fat-soluble vitamins function in human metabolism and cell membrane formation. In result, for example, human will find healthy skin texture and normal reproductive system since fat composes most elements of the tissue and organs (Alphin as cited in Meyer, 1999).

The article also included the common body fat tests that readers would be able to choose to find out their obesity status: skin fold, bioelectrical impedance, and underwater weighing. However it didn't explain more, why one should take body fat tests aside from knowing their body weight.

There is more important reason for detecting types of obesity rather than a mere esthetical matter. Types of fat measurement should be differed among young people, older people (men and women). Some patterns of fat forming are related to high-risk diseases such as coronary artery diseas, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Underwater weighing is less accurate in measuring body fat mass in seniors, since the density of fat-free body is decreasing, as seen from the lower content of bone mineral and water content. Younger people (20-49-year group may take advantage from all methods (Bemben, 1998). By choosing the correct assessment type, one will know the fat status and opt to the most appropriate dietary and exercise choice to lose weight, as well as preventing fat-related diseases.