Diabetes, back pain, disc problems, shortness of breath, and impaired quality of life are greatly increased at this size. He found that those abdominal girths of more than 32 inches in women and 37 inches in men are worrisome, and action should be taken to prevent further increase. These clinical guidelines for physicians were issued after reviewing eighteen years of scientific studies of the health hazards of obesity. Genetic factors also contribute to obesity. Genes have been discovered that influence appetite, metabolism, exercise capacity, regional fat deposition, and even the amount of fidgeting one does.
Humans are well-adapted to starvation, but poorly adapted to over nutrition.
We live in an environment where we are exposed to 20,000 food commercials per year, where food is plentiful and relatively inexpensive, and where the need for physical activity is minimal. Therefore, genetically vulnerable people are at risk of becoming overweight in our society. Members of the NWCR documented that they had lost 30 pounds and maintained the loss for at least one year. However, NWCR participants were able to maintain their weight losses through a combination of changed diets and increased physical activity. Registrants burned an average of 2700-3500 calories per week respectively, the equivalent of walking 28 miles.