Читать книгу Textbook of Lifestyle Medicine - Labros S. Sidossis - Страница 29

The “globesity” phenomenon may have contributed to the rise in the global incidence of major NCDs.

The genetic background plays a crucial role in the development of obesity and obesity‐associated comorbidities. However, genes cannot be changed. Among several modifiable risk factors, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, sleep deprivation, and chronic stress overload are the main contributors of overweight and obesity. These lifestyle behaviors not only acutely affect weight status but may also cause epigenetic modifications; i.e., these habits hold the potential to affect the expression of certain genes in the long term, which, in turn, can influence the predisposition to some chronic diseases.

Obesity is the consequence of a long‐term energy imbalance, whereby energy intake is higher than energy expenditure. A dramatic change in the way people consume food, ingest drinks, and move has been recorded during the past decades. A significant increase in the consumption of energy‐dense foods and simple sugars has been recorded worldwide. At the same time physical activity has decreased, due to the sedentary character of the working environment, changes in transportation, and urbanization. Moreover, short sleep duration (i.e., less than 7 hours/day) has been associated with an increase in BMI and the risk for developing obesity. Hormonal changes seen with sleep deprivation could potentially increase food intake and contribute to weight gain. The increase of the glucocorticoid stress hormone cortisol may also play a role in the development of obesity by increasing the appetite with a preference for energy‐dense foods (“comfort food”).