An alternative hypothesis to the obesity epidemic: obesity is due to increased maternal body size, birth size, growth rate, and height.
A new hypothesis for dealing with the obesity epidemic is based on changing several factors normally considered desirable by the medical community. These factors include reductions in pre-pregnancy maternal weight, modest reduction of infant birthweight, slower childhood and adolescent growth and reduced caloric intake from infancy through adulthood. The underlining roots for the obesity epidemic involve raised levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and cell proliferation which are subject to human control. The implication of this hypothesis is that current measures are inadequate unless a much more comprehensive response is implemented to deal with the obesity epidemic.
Samaras
Thomas
T
Reventropy Associates, 11487 Madera Rosa Way, San Diego, CA 92124-2877, USA. SamarasTT@aol.com
Elrick
Harold
H
D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors