Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition

Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition 3(2+1)

Lesson 31:Over weight and Obesity – causes, symptoms and dietary management

Theories on obesity

1. Fat cell theory: The number of fat cells is determined during early in life to provide space to store fat. Juvenile obesity - increase in the number of fat cells, increase adult obesity due to increase in size of fat cells.
2. Set point theory: Once the body reaches ideal body weight or set point, body gets signals for food intake.
3. Leptin: Obesity gene called ob codes for protein, leptin, acts as a hormone of hypothalamus to promote negative energy balance.