Foodwhisper: 5 surprising facts about obesity

Obesity often, if not always, develops silently, like a mysterious guest who sneaks up on you over the years without you noticing. The recipes for getting rid of it sometimes seem so simple and easy, but none seem to work. So consider the following facts:

Obesity sneaks up on you completely unnoticed
Professor Claude Bouchard from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center says that people typically gain 1–2 kg per year over a period of 15–25 years. When you look at 365 days, it seems trivial, but over the years, it adds up to tens of kilograms. And that's what we call the obesogenic potential - the brain, environment, diet, and lifestyle combine forces, and the kilograms creep up slowly but steadily.

And studies say that up to 70% of differences in body weight are attributed to genetics.
Genetics – do we have it in our genes
We can say that 5% of children who develop extreme obesity have a mutation in the MC4R gene, responsible for appetite regulation.
Then we have genes like FTO, ankyrin-B – for example, mice with this variation have glucose stuffed into fat cells despite the same food intake. In other words, genes can set up a "fat" microsystem without your knowledge.

Meta-analyses have listed over 100 genetic mutations that together carry the risk of fat accumulation.
Obese mothers – risks for children
When a woman with a high BMI – body mass index – enters pregnancy, risks rise like an unspoken force. A Swedish study from 2001 to 2014 on over 1 million births showed:
- The global risk for major congenital malformations is 3.5%.
- In women with a BMI over 35, the risk increases by 23%, and over 40 by 37%.
So the key is the weight during pregnancy - the peripheral influences are evident and proven.
Macrosomia – obese children born from obesity
Another story: giant babies. There is a clear connection between maternal obesity and increased birth weight. From the 21st week on ultrasound, longer bones, bigger bellies, heads... Women with insulin resistance during pregnancy have a child who literally overfeeds itself and grows faster and stronger.

This brings the risk of birth fractures and cesarean section – as well as bleeding in the mother.
Heritability through epigenetics – yes, fathers count too
Not just maternal genes – transgenerational life epigenetic imprints – e.g., the mother's diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding – make permanent changes that drive the child towards obesity. Professor Mark Vickers from Auckland describes that maternal overeating causes decreased insulin responsiveness in the child.

Even paternal sperm epigenetic changes pose a risk. So don't solely blame mothers: biological influences of both parents are at play.

Numerically – why is obesity such a significant phenomenon

WHO 2022 reports:

1 in 8 adults live with obesity, with adults exceeding 2.5 billion; of which nearly 900 million are obese.
The prevalence of overweight adults more than doubled between 1990 and 2022; among adolescents, it has quadrupled.
35 million children under 5 are overweight (2024), with 390 million adolescents; of which 160 million are obese.
Globally, in the USA, 39% of men and 40% of women are overweight, of which 13–15% are severely obese.

CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – 2017–2020 reports:

41.9% of adults in the US are obese; 9.2% suffer from severe obesity, BMI > 40.
Healthcare costs per individual with obesity are $1,861 higher, and with severe obesity, as much as $3,097 higher – a total burden of $173 billion.

WHO 2016: globally, 39% of men and 40% of women are overweight, with 11% of men and 15% of women being obese.

What do traditional medicine and traditional healers say?

From folk tradition, we know: a plant that regulates appetite, a root for metabolism, tea for insulin, the warmth of movement... These practices stem from the observation that when digestion drags on, problems accumulate. Even folk sayings like “the cause of obesity is rooted in blood and stomach” can be understood as a combination of genetics and accumulated lifestyle habits season after season.

Starting from natural paths

Here is something the folk world has known for centuries – and now science is slowly proving:

Birch tea (betulae folium): a mild diuretic that is said to support the removal of excess water and fat metabolites.
Dandelion (taraxacum officinale): the root stimulates liver and bile function, contributing to fat metabolism.
Cinnamon: regulates insulin sensitivity, people report that even half a teaspoon daily acts as natural support for blood sugar.
Inulin prebiotic from garlic root: activates gut microbiota and helps regulate metabolism.

Classic traditional healers knew before BMI tables existed that if something works slowly but consistently, it will yield results – just like those hidden kilograms in 25 years.

What does modern science say?

Studies on mice with ankyrin-B genetic mutation demonstrate the silent mechanism of obesity.
The MC4R gene is key to appetite regulation – mutations of this gene are found in 5% of acute childhood obesity cases.
Maternal prenatal obesity begins to show in ultrasound: larger heads, bones, bellies – this is an epigenetic imprint that brings risks.

Obesity can also creep up on you unknowingly

You see, obesity is not just about overeating. It is also a result of an obesogenic environment, a combination of social, genetic, and lifestyle factors that come together in silently adding kilograms. And those quietly grow.

All of this challenges the belief of moral guilt and laziness – because it's not always a sign of eating poorly or not exercising enough. The answer may also lie in genes and hormones. Dealing with obesity is not just about blame but understanding risk. When trying to formulate a plan to tackle it, be sure to include the following guidelines:

Natural green line (teas, roots, spices) – complement informal small steps, already supported by folk traditions.
Movement – also a folk saying, "moves the blood to the rhythm of the heart."
Awareness of family patterns – what has been passed down from grandfather that continues?

Nutritional-medical supervision that also understands genetics and epigenetics – for example, if there is an MC4R mutation, a different approach is needed.