Millennials Struggle More With Weight Loss Than Baby Boomers

If you feel like you are a facing an uphill battle with your weight loss, it may be more than just a feeling!

A new study from York University found that it is biologically more difficult for millennials to lose weight than it was for their parents when they were in their 20s.

What an unfair reality!

“Our study results suggest that if you are 25, you’d have to eat even less and exercise more than those older to prevent gaining weight,” said Jennifer Kuk, Ph.D., a professor of kinesiology and co-author of the paper.

 

The research team found that if a 25-year-old today ate and exercised the same as a 25-year-old in 1970, the millennial would weigh 10% more. Kuk is careful to explain that “there may be other specific changes contributing to the rise in obesity beyond just diet and exercise.” She also says that weight management is more complicated than the calorie in/calorie out model we’re so used to.

“It’s similar to saying your investment account balance is simply your deposits subtracting your withdrawals and not accounting for all the other things that affect your balance, like stock market fluctuations, bank fees, or currency exchange rates,” she said.

Kuk points out that bodyweight is also impacted by environmental and lifestyle factors like, increased medication use, environmental pollutants, genetics, timing of food intake, stress, gut bacteria, and nighttime light exposure.

“Ultimately, maintaining a healthy bodyweight is now more challenging than ever,” she said.

Don’t give up! Eating whole, unprocessed foods, getting enough sleep, de-stressing, and getting consistent exercise can make all the difference. But you already knew that! The only thing this study means is that you shouldn’t judge your success by the size of your grandmother’s wedding dress!

What are your thoughts on this study’s findings?

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Source: Shape

 

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