Browse: Home / Obesity / How do smart capable competent people get FAT ?

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Better Body Chemistry School
  • Book a health conversation
  • Speaking query
  • The “Big” Spoons
Header image

BBC

Small things can make a big difference to your health

advertisement

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Free Resources
    • 31 days to Better Body Chemistry
    • Willpower Report
    • Weight loss e-course
    • The ups and downs of insulin resistance
    • Candy Floss Boards
    • Weight tracker
  • Library
  • Shop
  • Baobab Adventures
  • Lucky dip
  • Buy me a coffee
  • Video gallery
  • Contact

How do smart capable competent people get FAT ?

Posted by Dr Sandy on in Obesity | 455 Views | 1 Response

The world is obsessed with weight and weight watching, but to avoid putting on the weight you do need to be watching. Lots of young women – aren’t.

Click to listen to the audio…

A low cost health move EVERYONE should be doing

img-2

The world is obsessed with weight and weight watching, but to avoid putting on the weight you do need to be watching. Lots of young women – aren’t.

You swallow hard, fighting back the tears………as you take in the news that you are pre diabetic.

As your doc talks about diet and exercise and the importance of losing weight, you’re not really listening, the only thought that is flooding through your mind is….

How did this happen to me ?

How could I not have seen this coming and DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT, before it came to this ?

It is actually a question health gurus should be asking.

It’s assumed people can see the writing on the wall, after all…

You should know better

No matter where you look, there is plenty of information out there WARNING of the dangers of weight gain and the importance of NOT LETTING IT HAPPEN.

And yet………… it does.

Super smart sassy competent capable people suddenly find themselves FAT and battling the consequences of those extra pounds.

Bad advice

Now, one could argue one of the reasons is a lot of the advice about how to be healthy, is fundamentally  flawed.

Yes, bad advice abounds…

But the quality of the advice is not the only problem.

This was highlighted by a study conducted by researches from the University of Texas Medical branch over a decade ago.

Putting on weight

Our team studied the weight fluctuations – real and perceived, in a group of 466 women between the ages of 16 and 33 years. Now the official purpose of the study had NOTHING to do with weight, the women who signed on, thought they were helping the team to assess the effects of hormone contraceptives on bone mineral density……..

As part of the study, the women were assessed at 6 monthly intervals over a 3 year period.

The assessment included a weigh in and a comprehensive questionnaire, probing for possible side effects of the therapy.  Among the questions…..

question do you feel like you have gained weight in the last 6 months

So the team was able to gather data on REAL weight gain and perceived weight gain.

And if you think they are the same thing, they’re NOT.

Weight tracking

Ultimately they had 1744 observations during the 36 month period.

So what happened……

Well, unsurprisingly many of the women did put on weight, for most it was trivial, but for some it was far more significant.

table showing the percentage of women who put on weight

Eish !  It’s an eternal struggle of the modern women !

And how does that make you FEEL ?

So did the women putting on the weight actually notice.  Most of them did feel a little fatter, particularly when the number was quite substantial.

table showing the percentage of women who were aware of the weight gain

But before you get all excited, when the number was relatively small, it was quite eye opening how many women, simply didn’t notice.  The team found a third to a quarter of the women did not recognize a 2-3 kg weight gain.

Not counting leaves you clueless

Now to be honest, I’m not sure alarm bells should ring, if you gain/lose a kilo in 6 months, this can typically represent normal physiology, rather than actual fat mass.

But when the number is inching beyond 3 kilograms, your body chemistry is shifting.

IN THE WRONG DIRECTION !

Who is clueless ?

The researchers tried to establish who was dialled into weight gains and who was blissfully unaware of their impending heffa-lump status.

Weight perceptions did show differences across the different ethnic/race groups – with the black women in the sample being more dialled into weight gain than white and hispanic  women.  These differences  probably reflect factors specific to these communities, rather than real differences in behaviour.

Interestingly enough…… skinnier women, were not significantly more sensitive to the weight increase.

Weight consciousness was influenced  by contraceptive choice

What was more interesting was that the choice ofl contraceptive, had a big impact on the ability of women to “notice” weight gains.   The women who were particularly tuned into weight fluctuations were those using  depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA).

the impact of different contraceptive approaches to perceived weight gain

Proportion of women who recognized weight gain accurately by  contraceptive method.  Copyright Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

The reason this contraceptive was able to evoke a weight consciousness, is probably because it comes with a bit of a black box warning – it is associated with weight gain.  Women using this contraceptive had been sensitized to the idea, that they could end up packing on pounds, so they were paying attention.

For the record…. contraceptives are not the only drugs associated with weight gain.

If you’re taking one of these, the dice is loaded against your waist line.

drug categories associated with weight gain

Don’t be caught napping

Sometimes life is so busy, you just don’t NOTICE.

This study is pretty old………….the research was done in the early 2000s.  Life has got a lot more crazy since then.

We’ve had

  • Lockdowns
  • Lockouts
  • More stress
  • More saboteurs

Weight gain, especially rapid weight gain in a very short period, is a sign something is amiss.

Catching the “trouble” early, makes dealing with it much easier.   The effort to get rid of a kilo or two, is significantly less than the effort to burn off layers of superfluous fat.

Be tuned in

fat cells creeping up

 

So make the commitment to weigh and measure yourself on a regular basis.

I think a good interval to do this………… is around once a month, for someone not actively weight managing.  I recommend you pick a Friday to do it………say the first Friday of the month.

Because, for most people, Friday is the day of the week, they’re at their THINNIST.

Watch this video to learn more…

Hop on  the scale and record your weight. Repeat, throughout the year.

To make it easier, here is a weight tracker you can download.  Here is the link. I have designed one for the Northern hemisphere and one for the Southern hemisphere, choose the one that is appropriate for your neck of the woods.

weight tracker

Watch for significant changes, a kilo up or down, is just water, but a difference of 2 or 3 kilograms, is a wake up call.

Maybe before I continue….it’s worth pointing out unexpected weight loss is also a sign of a body chemistry problem.

As a healthy NON DIETING adult, your weight should be stable !

Be proactive………………..

Don’t join the Weight Worries club

If you notice your weight is trending up or down, sit up and take notice.  If the trajectory is up…….

Consider signing up for our free e-course.

enrol is zero to one course

It full of science based tips & strategies that can help you move the dial back down.   Did I mention………….. it’s FREE.  And super easy to consume.  You get everything you need to know, at a glance.   And if you want to dive deep into the science, you can do this too, by hitting the link.

Begin the journey today to creating BETTER BODY CHEMISTRY and BETTER HEALTH.

Self-Perception of Weight Gain Among Multiethnic Reproductive-Age Women.  Journal of Women’s Health (2012)21(3):340-6.   Mahbubur Rahman, Abbey B. Berenson. 

Further reading

allergy belly

Is your anti-histamine making you fat ?

Antihistamine pills are considered benign, so you don’t need a script, to get your hands on one – but, the evidence is growing, regular use, can impact your waistline

monkey participating in the obesity epidemic

The obesity epidemic – it’s not just a human problem

WE’RE getting fatter……………. macaques, chimpanzees, velvets, marmosets, dogs, cats, lab rats, wild rats, lab mice…………. even dolphins are getting fatter

getting married causes weight gain in women

Is your marital status responsible for those extra pounds ?

Marital transitions shake up lives. Re-writing the rule book to accommodate the presence/absence of the other individual can generate a “weight shock”.

Want to discover more ways to create BETTER BODY CHEMISTRY ?

Posted in Obesity | Tagged calories, contraceptive, depot medroxyprogesterone, exercise, hormonal contraceptive, obesity epidemic, weight

Sugar gremlins are REAL

Connect with us

facebook you tube pinterest 40 Linkedin

Instagram

betterbodychemistry
@betterbodychemistry
Follow
💊 You swallowed the supplement. 

But most of it didn’t make it past your gut. In fact, 95% of your CoQ10 supplement is likely pooped out.

Here’s why Q10’s size, structure, and your meal choices make a BIG difference in whether it actually helps.

🎯 Get digestible science stories—crafted with care and cartoons—to help you outsmart your symptoms and know more than your doctor (most days).. Hop on my list. The link is in my bio.

#CoQ10 #Statins #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #Q10Supplements #ScienceNotSupposition #PharmacologyFacts #GutHealth #SupplementSmarts #InsulinResistance
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
💊 You swallowed the supplement. But most of it didn’t make it past your gut. In fact, 95% of your CoQ10 supplement is likely pooped out. Here’s why Q10’s size, structure, and your meal choices make a BIG difference in whether it actually helps. 🎯 Get digestible science stories—crafted with care and cartoons—to help you outsmart your symptoms and know more than your doctor (most days).. Hop on my list. The link is in my bio. #CoQ10 #Statins #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #Q10Supplements #ScienceNotSupposition #PharmacologyFacts #GutHealth #SupplementSmarts #InsulinResistance
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
🧠 What exactly is Q10… and why is it always mentioned with statins?

It’s safe.
It’s popular.
But it’s still misunderstood.

This short is your quick intro to a molecule that gets a lot of attention — especially if you’re taking a statin.

🎥 Want the full story on statins, muscle loss & Q10?
👉 Watch the video — link in bio

🔬 Follow @betterbodychemistry for bite-sized science that actually makes sense.

#coenzymeQ10 #Q10supplement #ubiquinone 
#statins #musclehealth #cholesterollowering 
#mitochondria #metabolichealth #betterbodychemistry 
#healthscience #scienceexplained #insulinresistance
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
🧠 What exactly is Q10… and why is it always mentioned with statins? It’s safe. It’s popular. But it’s still misunderstood. This short is your quick intro to a molecule that gets a lot of attention — especially if you’re taking a statin. 🎥 Want the full story on statins, muscle loss & Q10? 👉 Watch the video — link in bio 🔬 Follow @betterbodychemistry for bite-sized science that actually makes sense. #coenzymeQ10 #Q10supplement #ubiquinone #statins #musclehealth #cholesterollowering #mitochondria #metabolichealth #betterbodychemistry #healthscience #scienceexplained #insulinresistance
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
A health “nut” (classified as a lean mass hyper-responder) dropped his cholesterol by adding 12 Oreos a day to his keto diet.

Sounds delicious, right? 

But if you’re insulin resistant, this cookie hack could backfire.

🍪 Curious about how it actually worked? I break it down in this short.

And if you want more quirky science stories that help you understand your metabolism — 💌 I send them out via email. Link in bio to join.

#oreoexperiment #insulinresistance #cholesterolfix #ldlcholesterol #lowcarblife #metabolicsyndrome #healthcurious #betterbodychemistry 
#LMHR #leanmusclehyperresponder
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
A health “nut” (classified as a lean mass hyper-responder) dropped his cholesterol by adding 12 Oreos a day to his keto diet. Sounds delicious, right? But if you’re insulin resistant, this cookie hack could backfire. 🍪 Curious about how it actually worked? I break it down in this short. And if you want more quirky science stories that help you understand your metabolism — 💌 I send them out via email. Link in bio to join. #oreoexperiment #insulinresistance #cholesterolfix #ldlcholesterol #lowcarblife #metabolicsyndrome #healthcurious #betterbodychemistry #LMHR #leanmusclehyperresponder
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Ever wonder why your LDL spikes on keto?

It’s not the bacon. 🥓
It’s your liver — working overtime to fuel your body.

On keto, your cells switch from burning sugar to burning fat.
Your liver responds by sending out VLDL particles — packed with fat.
Once the fat is dropped off, what’s left becomes LDL.

⚠️ And that’s what shows up on blood work.
😱 Cue panic.

But if your liver is healthy, those LDLs are just passing through.
If not? They hang around. That’s when trouble starts.

🎥 Watch to understand the science behind rising LDL on keto — and why context matters.

#KetoScience #LMHR #LeanMassHyperResponder #LDLcholesterol #LowCarbLife #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #RootCause
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
Ever wonder why your LDL spikes on keto? It’s not the bacon. 🥓 It’s your liver — working overtime to fuel your body. On keto, your cells switch from burning sugar to burning fat. Your liver responds by sending out VLDL particles — packed with fat. Once the fat is dropped off, what’s left becomes LDL. ⚠️ And that’s what shows up on blood work. 😱 Cue panic. But if your liver is healthy, those LDLs are just passing through. If not? They hang around. That’s when trouble starts. 🎥 Watch to understand the science behind rising LDL on keto — and why context matters. #KetoScience #LMHR #LeanMassHyperResponder #LDLcholesterol #LowCarbLife #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #RootCause
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Is your LDL sky-high… but everything else looks great?

If you’re lean, athletic, and insulin sensitive — you might be what researchers are calling a Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR).

In this reel, I unpack new research comparing LMHRs to everyday folks. The LDL in LMHRs is often >190 mg/dL — a number that would alarm most doctors — but their CAC scores suggest their hearts are doing just fine.

The takeaway?
LDL might be loud, but it’s not always telling the truth.
The full picture matters.

🎬 This is Part 2 in my LMHR cholesterol series. Follow so you don’t miss Part 3, where we dive into the Lipid Energy Model — a theory that may explain what’s going on in LMHRs (and maybe in you too)

#LDL #Cholesterol #LMHR #InsulinResistance #CACscore #HeartHealth #LipidEnergyModel #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #TyGIndex #HealthEducation #LowCarbScience
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
Is your LDL sky-high… but everything else looks great? If you’re lean, athletic, and insulin sensitive — you might be what researchers are calling a Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR). In this reel, I unpack new research comparing LMHRs to everyday folks. The LDL in LMHRs is often >190 mg/dL — a number that would alarm most doctors — but their CAC scores suggest their hearts are doing just fine. The takeaway? LDL might be loud, but it’s not always telling the truth. The full picture matters. 🎬 This is Part 2 in my LMHR cholesterol series. Follow so you don’t miss Part 3, where we dive into the Lipid Energy Model — a theory that may explain what’s going on in LMHRs (and maybe in you too) #LDL #Cholesterol #LMHR #InsulinResistance #CACscore #HeartHealth #LipidEnergyModel #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #TyGIndex #HealthEducation #LowCarbScience
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Your numbers say danger zone — but your body says everything’s fine.
You might be an LMHR.

🎥 This is part 1 of a bigger story. Follow for what happens next.

#LDL #Cholesterol #LowCarbLife #MetabolicHealth #InsulinResistance 
#HeartHealth #KetoProblems #HealthExplained #BodyChemistry #BetterBodyChemistry 
#HealthTips #WellnessJourney #Biohacking #FunctionalMedicine #KnowYourNumbers
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
Your numbers say danger zone — but your body says everything’s fine. You might be an LMHR. 🎥 This is part 1 of a bigger story. Follow for what happens next. #LDL #Cholesterol #LowCarbLife #MetabolicHealth #InsulinResistance #HeartHealth #KetoProblems #HealthExplained #BodyChemistry #BetterBodyChemistry #HealthTips #WellnessJourney #Biohacking #FunctionalMedicine #KnowYourNumbers
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
🎯 One number.

One test you’ve probably never had… even though the data is already in your blood work.

It’s called the TyG Index—and it’s one of the best ways to see if insulin resistance is quietly messing with your metabolism.

🔍 My Metabolic Check makes it easy to calculate, understand, and use this number—and right now, you can get it FREE inside the Next Level Life Bundle.

💡You don’t need to figure everything out today.
But you do need to grab access before the bundle closes.

🕛 Deadline: Tonight at midnight (March 27)
🎁 100+ personal development tools
💻 Yours forever—if you sign up in time.

🔗 Link in bio

#NextLevelLifeBundle #MetabolicCheck #TyGIndex #InsulinResistance #MetabolicHealth #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTools #HealthResources #ScienceBasedHealth #KnowYourNumbers #SugarCrashFix #EnergySupport #FreebieAlert #BetterBodyChemistry #DeadlineAlert
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
🎯 One number. One test you’ve probably never had… even though the data is already in your blood work. It’s called the TyG Index—and it’s one of the best ways to see if insulin resistance is quietly messing with your metabolism. 🔍 My Metabolic Check makes it easy to calculate, understand, and use this number—and right now, you can get it FREE inside the Next Level Life Bundle. 💡You don’t need to figure everything out today. But you do need to grab access before the bundle closes. 🕛 Deadline: Tonight at midnight (March 27) 🎁 100+ personal development tools 💻 Yours forever—if you sign up in time. 🔗 Link in bio #NextLevelLifeBundle #MetabolicCheck #TyGIndex #InsulinResistance #MetabolicHealth #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTools #HealthResources #ScienceBasedHealth #KnowYourNumbers #SugarCrashFix #EnergySupport #FreebieAlert #BetterBodyChemistry #DeadlineAlert
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
It’s not Tai Chi... 🥋
It’s the TyG Index that brings balance to your metabolism.

🐾 If you’re wondering whether insulin resistance might be behind your sugar crashes, stubborn weight, or low energy—there’s a number that can help.

🧪 It’s based on ordinary blood work.
📊 It’s called the TyG Index.
💻 And you can calculate it yourself using my Metabolic Check tool—available now for FREE in the Next Level Life Bundle.

But hurry...
⏳ The bundle closes tomorrow at midnight (March 27)!
🔗 Link in bio

#TyGIndex #MetabolicCheck #InsulinResistance #NextLevelLifeBundle #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTool #MetabolicHealth #KnowYourNumbers #BetterBodyChemistry #ScienceBasedHealth #EnergyFix #HealthTools #BundleCountdown
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
It’s not Tai Chi... 🥋 It’s the TyG Index that brings balance to your metabolism. 🐾 If you’re wondering whether insulin resistance might be behind your sugar crashes, stubborn weight, or low energy—there’s a number that can help. 🧪 It’s based on ordinary blood work. 📊 It’s called the TyG Index. 💻 And you can calculate it yourself using my Metabolic Check tool—available now for FREE in the Next Level Life Bundle. But hurry... ⏳ The bundle closes tomorrow at midnight (March 27)! 🔗 Link in bio #TyGIndex #MetabolicCheck #InsulinResistance #NextLevelLifeBundle #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTool #MetabolicHealth #KnowYourNumbers #BetterBodyChemistry #ScienceBasedHealth #EnergyFix #HealthTools #BundleCountdown
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
🩸 Did your metabolism ace the test?

There’s a surprising number hiding in your standard blood work…

It’s called the TyG Index, and it could be your first clue that insulin resistance is quietly messing with your energy, weight, or sugar levels.

🎯 Want to know your number?

Metabolic Check is my contribution to the [Next Level Life Bundle]—and right now, you can grab it for FREE (along with 100+ other personal growth resources).

But don’t wait—
🕛 Bundle closes Thursday at midnight (March 27).
🔗 Link in bio!
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
🩸 Did your metabolism ace the test? There’s a surprising number hiding in your standard blood work… It’s called the TyG Index, and it could be your first clue that insulin resistance is quietly messing with your energy, weight, or sugar levels. 🎯 Want to know your number? Metabolic Check is my contribution to the [Next Level Life Bundle]—and right now, you can grab it for FREE (along with 100+ other personal growth resources). But don’t wait— 🕛 Bundle closes Thursday at midnight (March 27). 🔗 Link in bio!
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
View on Instagram
willpower report
  • Popular
  • Featured
  • Recent
  • asprosin the sugar plum fairy

    Why sugar levels are high despite NOT eating

    22927 views / Posted
  • oatmeal breakfast being beaten by egg

    Which is a better breakfast, egg or oatmeal ?

    22701 views / Posted
  • poop getting stuck

    The fix for constipation is to go on a low fibre diet

    22272 views / Posted
  • chewing gum relieving postoperative ileus

    A stick of chewing gum gets the gut going after surgery

    16976 views / Posted
  • carbonated water bubbles fill you up

    Fizzing up the water flattens your appetite

    15849 views / Posted
  • sun extracting cholesterol

    Make sure you have your “annual” check-up in the summer time

    / Dr Sandy
  • sending your kid to bootcamp won't stop childhood obesity

    Moving more won’t stop your kid from getting fat

    / Dr Sandy
  • cholesterol at the scene of the accident

    Bone cells are stiffening up your arteries not cholesterol

    / Dr Sandy
  • brain size the problem in ADHD

    Are kids with ADHD just acting according to their brain age

    / Dr Sandy
  • plastering the blood vessel with calcium

    Calcium supplements are building bones and breaking hearts

    / Dr Sandy
  • Plant baring hamburgers

    Does Soy Build Muscle? Exploring the Science Behind Protein Choices

    / Dr Sandy
  • img-48

    The Dark Side of Weight Loss Drugs

    / Dr Sandy
  • Mother Nature stealing from peter to pay paul

    Are You Losing Muscle Without Realizing It? Here’s How to Protect It

    / Dr Sandy
  • img-50

    Your Resting Heart Rate could be a Red Flag for Metabolic Trouble

    / Dr Sandy
  • baby muscle mesmerized by the TV

    Tots watching too much TV end up being muscle flops

    / Dr Sandy

RSS Recent posts

Dr Sandy Dr Sandy Evans, PhD

Located in Johannesburg, South Africa

Disclaimer : The stories and articles are provided as a service. Dr Sandy's opinions are for information only, and are not intended to diagnose or prescribe. For your specific diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor or health care provider.
 

Book an appointment

Calendar icon
 

Connect with Dr Sandy

facebook 40
you tube 40
pinterest 40
linkedin 40
 

Categories

Featured posts

  • asprosin the sugar plum fairy

    Why sugar levels are high despite NOT eating

    22927 views / Posted
  • oatmeal breakfast being beaten by egg

    Which is a better breakfast, egg or oatmeal ?

    22701 views / Posted
  • poop getting stuck

    The fix for constipation is to go on a low fibre diet

    22272 views / Posted
 

©2011-2025 Spoonful of Science

Menu

  • Meet Dr Sandy
  • Disclosure/disclaimer
  • Privacy policy
  • Comment policy
  • Contact