Obesity crisis: From home-cooked meals to sleep deprivation
Only 13% of Americans were obese in the 1960s, and today, that number has risen to around 43%. Nutritionist Autumn Bates explains to the Daily Mail what has driven this increase.
Modern society grapples with obesity, which was far less prevalent in the 1960s. Autumn Bates, a nutritionist from California, highlights several key factors that have contributed to this trend.
The first factor is the decline in the number of home-cooked meals. In the past, these were the norm rather than the exception. Bates notes that traditional meals contain high-quality protein, fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
This is a pressing question, as in the 1960s, the obesity rate in America was about 13%, Bates tells the "Daily Mail". Today, fast foods and ultra-processed foods dominate the diet, leading to excessive calorie intake.
Ultra-processed products, such as ready meals or ice cream, are widespread. Bates explains that these products "significantly reduce feelings of fullness and increase our dissatisfaction with food, which leads to consuming more calories." It is estimated that 70% of the American diet consists of these products.
In the 1960s, people were generally more physically active, even if they weren't involved in sports. Bates notes that many people held jobs that required more physical effort, and children spent more time playing outside.
Kids back in the 60s really didn't have anything inside that would entertain them as much, so they had to go outside and be active and play, adds Bates.
Lack of adequate sleep
Sleep is one of the crucial pillars of a healthy lifestyle, alongside a balanced diet and physical activity. Unfortunately, in today's world, more and more people are sleep-deprived. We work late, use electronic devices before bed, and the fast pace of life causes chronic fatigue.
Meanwhile, inadequate sleep directly impacts our body weight and can lead to overweight or even obesity.
When we sleep too little or restlessly, the secretion of hormones that regulate hunger and fullness is disrupted. The level of leptin—the hormone responsible for feeling full—decreases, while the level of ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, increases.
In practice, this means that a sleep-deprived person feels hungry more often and finds it harder to stop eating, even if the body does not require more energy. Furthermore, poor-quality sleep can increase cravings for high-calorie, sweet, or fatty foods, making it even more challenging to maintain a healthy weight.
