Things You Might Not Know About Your Weight
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Most of us are at least somewhat concerned about our weight. Even if you answer the call of the corn dogs at the State Fair of Texas this month, you'll probably try not to completely gorge yourself on Fletcher's finest.
But beyond the obvious, there are a lot of factors that affect how much weight you carry. Reader's Digest Magazine put together this list of things you might not know about your weight.
- It really is genetic. Scientists have found a fat gene. That's not the proper scientific name for it, but that's what it does. People who have two copies of it are 60 percent more likely to be obese than people who don't. Even those who just have one copy of it are likely to weigh more.
- The fatter you are, the harder it is to lose it. Scandinavian researchers found that gaining weight changes your metabolism in ways that make it harder to lose weight. Even a small amount of weight—11 pounds—appears to make a difference.
- The more you sleep, the more you lose. Scientists say sleep deprivation messes up our hormone balance. It can make us feel hungry even if we're not.
- Antioxidants are anti-fat. Oxidizing molecules, often called free radicals, can damage the cells that signal our brains that we're full. Eating more fruits and vegetables like blueberries, pomegranates and broccoli is the best way to get these free radical killers into your system.
Click here to learn nine more things you might not know about your weight.
