Weight gain can be a tough battle to fight, but understanding the causes behind obesity and weight gain can help you better navigate how to avoid it. While simple calorie intake vs output is one factor, there are actually multiple environmental and genetic influences that contribute as well. Everything from our lifestyle choices to our family history plays a role in obesity and weight gain. So let’s take a closer look at what might be causing us to pack on the pounds.

Genetically speaking, we all have different body types and metabolisms that play an important role in obesity risk. For example, some of us may carry more fat than others no matter how much we exercise or watch our diets — this could be thanks to slower metabolisms or even genetic coding. Obesity isn’t just determined by calorie intake; it can also be triggered by hormones and genes that control hunger, fullness, and cravings.

Our environment also has a huge impact on obesity risk. The modern world is filled with convenient processed snacks, large portion sizes at restaurants, and plenty of opportunities to sit around all day — none of which are conducive to a healthy weight. Add in the fact that many parents don’t have enough time to cook meals from scratch or teach their kids about nutrition, and you can start to see why obesity rates are so high today. It’s not simply about willpower; lifestyle choices also play an important role.

Weight gain often results from a combination of factors, so it’s important to be aware of how your lifestyle and genetics impact obesity risk.

That said, you can also use plenty of strategies to keep your weight in check – things like

Eating healthy, Staying Active and Getting enough sleep can go a long way in keeping obesity at bay.