1. Genes play a role. Scientists have discovered that individuals who inherit two copies of the FTO gene are 60 percent more likely to become obese than those who only inherit one copy. This has led researchers to conclude that there may be a number of genes which play a similar role in weight gain and weight loss.

2. We each have different fat cell counts. This stays the same regardless of whether we gain or lose weight.

3. Exercise can increase your metabolism (which helps you burn calories more efficiently at the cellular level).

4. There is an association between high levels of stress and weight gain. This is because stress provokes us to reach for high carbohydrate foods – which contain stress relieving hormones.

5. Sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain. This is because lack of sleep is associated with lower levels of leptin (which causes us to feel full) and higher levels of ghrelin (which causes us to feel hungry). Thus, we feel hungry – even although we’re not hungry.

6. Ear infections can damage taste nerves found in the middle ear. This can hamper our ability to taste sweetness and fattiness. The effect can be eating more of those kinds of foods because we want to taste the food!

 7. Foods that are high in antioxidants can also help us to manage our weight. The reason? Free radicals have been linked to a weakening of the “stop eating” signal. However, eating fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants can help to combat this effect.

8. When it comes to health, fitness is more important than weight. A growing body of research indicates that overweight people often have normal levels of cholesterol, and other indicators of good health. What matters more, is how much we exercise as that has a greater effect on our health.