Briefly describe the set-point theory and its role as a cause of obesity

Answer 1

One popular theory of why a person may store too much fat is the set-point theory. The set-point theory proposes that body weight, like body temperature, is physiologically regulated. Researchers have noted that many people who lose weight quickly regain it all. This suggests that somehow the body chooses a preferred weight and defends that weight by regulating eating behaviors and hormonal actions. After weight losses, the body reduces its metabolic rate. The decrease in metabolic rate after weight loss is greater than would be expected based on body composition alone. This adaptation helps to explain why it can be difficult for an overweight person to maintain weight losses. While set point answers some questions regarding the biology of energy balance, it fails to explain the many other influences contributing to the population's obesity epidemic.