Body Fat Distribution Factors

Written by Laura Ciocan


Most men and women put on weight differently. But on what makes fat settle in a preferential way, there is little evidence.

Scientists ascertained thatrepparttar specific body shapes are:repparttar 131423 android shape, or apple shape, common among men (fat deposits onrepparttar 131424 middle section ofrepparttar 131425 body, mostly onrepparttar 131426 abdomen) andrepparttar 131427 gynoid, or pear shape, more common among women (fat deposited on hips and bottom). There is alsorepparttar 131428 third type of body shape:repparttar 131429 ovoid shape, not differentiating between men and women. With this type we can speak of an over-all general coverage of bodyfat.

Thinking of many cases of exceptions, I try to find out in what follows if there is a strict specific fat pattern distribution for men and women and what arerepparttar 131430 factors influencing fat distribution. And I find this interesting not in as much asrepparttar 131431 aesthetic side is concerned but fromrepparttar 131432 health perspective.

Being overweight or underweight are characteristics depending on many factors: you are genetically overweight if you have a family history of overweight parents/relatives. Also,repparttar 131433 nervous system plays an important role in balancingrepparttar 131434 body weight: serotonin and endorphins send signals torepparttar 131435 brain that inducerepparttar 131436 need to eat or onrepparttar 131437 contrary. There is alsorepparttar 131438 CCK hormone which transmitsrepparttar 131439 brain signals onrepparttar 131440 state of satiety - it decreases hunger.

While generally, body weight is influenced genetically, hormonally and byrepparttar 131441 body maintenance condition (the activity routine), it seems thatrepparttar 131442 fat distribution is influenced by age, genetic inheritance, race, but to a greater extent by gender specific hormones. They are responsible forrepparttar 131443 distribution of fat in certain zones of our bodies: thus, estrogens which are responsible ofrepparttar 131444 typical female sexual characteristics will influencerepparttar 131445 fat deposition inrepparttar 131446 pear format, favouring its laying onrepparttar 131447 hips, thighs, and belly, while testosterone will "lead" fat mostly towards tummy and upper body.

Latest studies show that men's tendency towardsrepparttar 131448 gynoid format has increased inrepparttar 131449 past 30 years (one study shows a growth of 2 inches in men's hips inrepparttar 131450 past 30 years). According to researches as John R. Lee, M.D (specialist in natural progesterone therapy), Dr. Jesse Hanley and Dr. Peter Eckhart, it seems that modern life exposes people to increased amounts of estrogen and estrogen-like substances (xenoestrogens or foreign estrogens). Sources of these substances can be plastics, plastic drinking bottles, commercially raised beef, chicken and pork, personal care products, pesticides, herbicides, birth control pills, spermacide, detergent, canned foods and lacquers. The problem is that increased estrogen levels in men not only make their hips fatten but arerepparttar 131451 main risk factor for disease such as prostate enlargement and cancer.

Also, for women,repparttar 131452 android pattern fat distribution should raise questions with regard to hormonal imbalances, such situations being a potential cause for health problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Eating Instinctively

Written by Laura Ciocan


I start fromrepparttar premise that eating instinctively means eating healthily. I strongly believe thatrepparttar 131422 body hasrepparttar 131423 capability of transmittingrepparttar 131424 brain accurate information regarding its nutrition necessities: a moderate amount of food, and only foods that are benefic for health.

The problem is that most of these natural eating instincts are lost onrepparttar 131425 way. Usually, duringrepparttar 131426 growing process, adults project their unhealthy habits on children, offering them a range of foods that are not always best choices. As adults, we have formed our eating habits, more or less healthy and usually worry about our children's eating habits, but their instinct is often correct.

My theory has as starting point my own experience as a child, when I recall rejecting foods that I found too greasy or too deeply fried. Observing babies and children behaviour towards feeding might give us an idea about what eating instinctively means. Small children that did not haverepparttar 131427 time to get influenced by adults, haverepparttar 131428 natural eating instinct unspoiled. Contrary to adults' opinion about eating, they want to eat many smaller meals and only when they are hungry.

To support my thesis, I resort torepparttar 131429 recommendation made by specialists in baby nutrition who advise on feeding babies at request, not forcing a program on them, thus a meals program will be generated by their inner scheduler according to their needs.

So, from children we learn that one should eat when hungry and inrepparttar 131430 amount striclty required by body necessities, not driven by social cues such as eating out with friends even if not hungry or taking a lunch break just because it's noon.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use