15 Sneaky Ways Your Environment Is Making You Gain Weight
The things around us affect our weight more than we think. Things we can't see, like the way our homes are set up and the food around us, can slowly make us pick up bad habits.
- Tricia Quitales
- 5 min read
A lot of people have trouble losing weight, but it’s not because they lack willpower. Instead, their environment affects their habits without them realizing it. Everything around us, from big portions to not enough natural light, can make us eat too much, be less active, or make bad decisions. This article discusses 15 ways how environment could be making it harder for you to lose weight.
1. Portion Sizes Are Large
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Many restaurants and even home-cooked meals give us portions that are too much for our bodies. These bigger portions make it easier for us to overeat, making it harder to stick to healthy portion sizes. To keep this from happening, use smaller plates or containers to help you keep track of how much you eat.
2. The Overabundance of High-Calorie Foods
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Many foods are high in calories, fat, and sugar. They are often advertised as quick and easy, making eating them as snacks during the day tempting. Keep healthier foods close at hand, and try to make it harder to get junk food so you don’t have to.
3. The Influence of Food Ads
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Food ads are all around us, and they make us crave unhealthy foods. These ads aim to make us crave a snack or meal even if we’re not hungry. If you don’t want to eat when you see food ads, don’t watch them or try to look away.
4. Being Surrounded by Processed Foods
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Many people eat processed foods every day, even though they are full of artificial ingredients and calories that don’t do anything to the body. It’s simple to grab them and tough to say no. Eat whole, unprocessed foods to ensure you’re giving your body nutrients instead of empty calories.
5. Lack of Natural Light
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Being in dark places can throw off your body’s internal clock and make you more likely to gain weight. Not getting enough sunlight can also make you feel and want to eat less, making you overeat. You could spend more time outside or open your curtains during the day to let new light in.
6. Convenient Food Delivery Services
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Now that there are food delivery services, eating unhealthy food is easier than ever. Food delivered to your door is very convenient, making you want to do it more often. However, you can avoid these extra calories by cooking at home or making meals ahead of time.
7. Excessive Screen Time
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If you spend too much time in front of a screen, such as a TV or phone, you might eat without thinking. Long periods of sitting also make you less likely to exercise, which can lead to weight gain. To stay active and avoid overeating, take breaks often, stand up, and move around.
8. The Comfort of Sitting
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Sitting for long periods, such as at work or while watching TV, can cause weight gain. Our bodies are made to move, and not moving much can slow our metabolism. To improve your health, stand or walk around more during the day.
9. Too Many Sugary Drinks
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It’s easy to drink too many sugary drinks every day, such as soda, energy drinks, and fruit juices. Many people don’t know how much sugar they’re drinking, which causes them to gain weight over time. Drink more water, herbal teas, or low-calorie drinks to cut down on liquid calories.
10. Stressful Environments
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When you live or work in a stressful place, you may eat too much, especially comfort foods. Cortisol is a hormone that makes you feel more hungry and it is released when you are stressed. To stop eating when you’re upset, try stress-relieving activities like deep breathing, meditation, or exercise.
11. Sitting Down to Eat
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Eating at a table can help you pay attention to your food and avoid overeating, but many people eat in front of the TV or while they work. If you eat without thinking, you might eat more than you need to. To avoid this, try to sit down and enjoy your food without doing other things.
12. Overindulgence at Social Gatherings
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It’s easy to overeat at social events like parties and get-togethers with lots of tasty food and drinks. People may eat and drink more than they need to because they feel like they should. Watch how much you eat and bring healthier foods to share to keep from overindulging.
13. Unorganized Kitchen Spaces
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If your kitchen is messy or crowded, it can be difficult to find healthy foods. Healthy foods are less likely to be eaten when they are hidden in the back of the fridge or pantry. To help people make better food choices, ensure that healthy foods are easy to see and access in the kitchen.
14. Lack of Sleep
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Not getting enough sleep can make you want unhealthy foods more, especially ones high in sugar. The hormone that makes you hungry is made more by your body when you don’t get enough rest. Making a bedtime routine a priority will help you control your cravings and stay at a healthy weight.
15. Negative Influences from Friends and Family
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Sometimes, we don’t even realize it, but our close friends and family can change how we eat. They may promote bad eating habits or have different ideas about what is healthy and what isn’t. Spend time with people who support your healthy lifestyle and help you make good decisions.