The world is becoming more and more obsessed by the threat of obesity
as the weight of the average person continues to grow. However, the
exact science of gaining weight is not quite as straightforward as it
may seem. For instance, some people out there can eat anything that
they want without worry of packing on the pounds. On the contrary,
some people who cut all the good, tasty foods out of their diet still
fail to lose any weight.

Some scientists believe that all people possess a natural weight that
is determined biologically, and the body makes every effort to
maintain that weight, no matter if it is thick or thin. However,
experts agree that this is not all there is to it. They believe that a
number of other issues may also affect a person’s weight. Experts
claim that half the reason for each individuals weight comes from
genetics, the other half comes from environment. Although, with some
conditions and diseases you have a 100% chance of becoming susceptible
if you have the gene, it is not the same case for obesity.

Here is more insight into why some people can think about a doughnut
and gain five pounds, while others can eat all day long and experience
little or no weight gain at all:

Metabolism. DNA may have a lot to do with why some people tend
to stay slimmer than others do. Some people may see no fluctuations in
appetite, while others can eat and eat without getting full. In
addition, some people put on muscle, which weighs more than fat.
Researchers are working on experiments on the human growth hormone and
the role it plays in weight gain, or the lack there of. The theory is
based on the idea that with a higher level of growth hormone, an
individual burns more energy, preventing excessive weight gain.

Medical History. A number of different nutrient and vitamin
deficiencies may contribute to a person not gaining weight. The
nutrients in food make a major difference, as does the energy that you
use. Some medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and Graves’
disease tend to prevent people from packing on the pounds in spite of
their increased appetite. Chronic lung disease can also keep a person
thin.

Hunger. Thinner people eat when they are hungry. People who
never seem to get fat do not associate food with comfort from sadness
or stress. Their worlds do not revolve around the food that they eat.
Thinner people do not think about food and may even “forget” to eat.

Meal Planning. People who seem to stay thin take the time to
think about what they are going to eat, rather than just go in the
kitchen and catch whatever falls out of the cabinet. These people eat
what they want to eat. For example, if they are craving salty French
fries, a bowl of lettuce will not suffice.

Consciousness. People who never seem to get fat are conscious of
the food that they put in their mouth. They pay attention as they eat
and seldom find themselves scraping the bottom of the bag.

Discipline. People who never get fat stop eating when they are
no longer hungry. It does not matter if they are in an expensive
restaurant and only eat half an entrée; when they are full, they quit
eating.

Activity. One of the biggest differences between people who stay
thin and others who gain weight uncontrollably is the amount of
activity that fills each day. A person who has a job that requires
physical labor or a lot of walking and running will effectively burn
off more calories while they work. If that same person stops by the
gym on the way home, more calories burned. When that person comes home
and plays with his or her children, they burn even more calories. On
the other hand, someone who sits at a desk all day does not exercise
regular and eats dinner in front of the television will unsurprisingly
gain weight more easily.

Dena White is a freelance blogger and covers topics such as how to
choose among online degrees in nursing
and how to apply for college grants at an online school.