Adults are now heavier than in the 1980s, research reveals
A new study suggests that today’s adults find it more difficult to maintain the same weight as those who were living 20 to 30 years ago, even with the same eating and exercise patterns. Researchers from York University in Canada found that adult bodies now are approximately 5 percent heavier than in the 1980s, without factoring in diet and exercise.
The study, which appeared in the journal Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, analysed data from more than 36,000 adults in the U.S. between 1971 and 2008. The team noted that the average Body Mass Index, or BMI, levels were up to 2.3 kilogrammes per square metre higher in 2006 compared with 1988. Participants in the study had the same levels of leisure time, physical activity, caloric intake and macronutrient intake, such as proteins and fats.
“Our study’s results suggest that if you are 40 years old now, you’d have to eat even less and exercise more than if you were a 40-year-old in 1971, to prevent gaining weight. However, it also indicates there may be other specific changes contributing to the rise in obesity beyond just diet and exercise,” said Jennifer Kuk, one of the study’s authors, in an article released by York Univesity.
According to the researchers, although a number of studies have shown that eating less and exercising more results in weight loss, they are proven to be ineffective in the long term. Kuk says this is because weight management is actually much more complex than just "energy in" versus "energy out."
Kuk explained that an individual’s body weight is affected by one’s lifestyle and environment, such as medication use, environmental pollutants, genetics, timing of food intake, stress, gut bacteria and even nighttime light exposure. Ultimately, Kuk added, maintaining a healthy body weight is now more challenging than ever.
While the researchers admitted that they failed to find out why BMI increases over time, they said that discovering the exact reason may lead to better addressing a growing obesity problem worldwide.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, or AIHW, rates of overweight and obesity are continuing to rise in the country. In a health survey between 2011 and 2012, it was reported that almost two out of three Australian adults are overweight or obese. There are also 10 percent more adults who are overweight or obese in 2011 and 2012 than in 1995.
A high BMI is the second-highest contributor to the burden of diseases after dietary risks, the AIHW reports. Excess weight, especially obesity, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, some musculoskeletal conditions and some cancers.
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