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There are certain elements to Western privilege that have resulted in increasing numbers of people becoming overweight or obese. Many people now have cars and public transport is more prevalent than it was – resulting in fewer people walking. Many of us take shorter lunch breaks and do not have evening meals, leading to higher consumption of high-calorie snack foods. The average age of physical maturation is also lower than it was, and there is some evidence to suggest that this leads to a greater potential for obesity in later life.
Other known causes of weight gain include various diseases (such as Cushing's and hypothyroidism), some medications (such as antidepressants) and binge eating as a result of depression or a low mood.
There is also new evidence which seems to suggest there are genes which influence the level of appetite and strength of the feeling of 'fullness'. The National Obesity Forum have suggested 250 genes which may have effects of this type; and GAD2 is one of them.
Research has been conducted at Imperial College London which assessed the genetic make-up of 1200 people, and discovered two forms of the GAD2 gene. The form usually present in thin people appears to decrease the appetite and increase the strength of the feeling of 'fullness'; another form of the gene, largely found in overweight and obese people, appears to increase the appetite. These findings indicate that some people may become overweight much more easily than others, through no fault of their own.