I love a good reason to sleep more, but as a south Georgia resident, I'm not turning off the air conditioning.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - "Super-sized" fast food meals and TV time shouldn't take all the blame for the U.S. obesity problem, according to a research review published Tuesday.

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr" + "ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.3.js></scr" + "ipt>");</SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=uwQlus6.I3oMK09aRKFaWRAYRNwytkSjvdYAB5Ny&T=17b35a3bh%2fX%3d1151581654%2fE%3d7666449%2fR%3dnews%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d4293078391%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PSJkaWV0O0hlYWx0aDtJdDtjaGlsZHJlbjt3ZWF0aGVyO2l0OyIgcmVmdXJsPSIiIHRvcGljcz0iIg--%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d4723BECE');yzq_a('a', '&U=139fb8112%2fN%3dMt0BB86.Isc-%2fC%3d378029.7424007.9670348.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d3800058');}</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>

In fact, a group of researchers contend, a number of aspects of modern living -- from lack of sleep to exposure to environmental chemicals to living with air conditioning -- may be feeding Americans' weight woes.

Writing in the International Journal of Obesity, they argue that obesity research and prevention efforts need to look beyond the "Big Two" -- food industry practices, like beefed-up portion sizes and added sugar; and reduced physical activity from factors such as cuts in school gym classes.

That's not to say that diet and exercise aren't important, said report co-author Dr. David B. Allison of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

However, he told Reuters Health, the evidence linking obesity to food industry marketing and lack of gym class is circumstantial.

It's equally plausible that a range of other factors are also involved, Allison and his colleagues point out.

Lack of sleep is one, they say. Research in animals and humans suggests that chronic sleep deprivation boosts appetite and eating, and studies also show that U.S. adults and children are sleeping less than they used to. In recent decades, adults have gone from sleeping for an average of 9 hours to about 7 hours, the researchers point out.

There is also evidence that industrial chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors may increase body fat. These chemicals, which are used in products such as pesticides and plastics, alter hormonal activity when they get into the body. Studies suggest that people have been increasingly exposed to these chemicals through the food chain in recent decades.

Another factor potentially weighing Americans down is air conditioning. The body burns calories when forced to regulate its own temperature and, Allison noted, people tend to eat less in hot, humid weather.

He and his colleagues cite 10 potential obesity risk factors in all, including: increased rates of older mothers, whose children may be more prone to excess weight gain; a range of medications, such as antidepressants, which can promote weight gain; and a decrease in smoking rates, because people often gain weight when they quit and the absence of nicotine, an appetite suppressant.

No one is suggesting that people should stop taking their prescriptions, keep smoking or swelter in the July sun, according to Allison. When it comes to any one person's weight, he said, "what ultimately matters is calorie intake and calorie expenditure."

That means diet and exercise is still key.

But, Allison argued, researchers and policymakers should be "open-minded" about the potential contributors to the obesity problem and not assume that the answer lies in simple fixes like ridding schools of vending machines or installing sidewalks in the suburbs to encourage walking.

SOURCE: International Journal of Obesity, June 27, 2006 online.

I'm not giving up my A/C either and think it's a joke that it's even mentioned as a source of obesity. Why didn't they discuss things like cell phones, shopping online, delivery services, paying for lawn service, etc.? We used to get up to answer the phone, go out and pick up things, go to the store and shop and work outside a lot more than people do today.

Childhood obesity is another concern. Kids don't play much anymore. They come home and sit in front of a TV, computer, video game with chips and soda and pack on weight. I think the authors of the "research" missed the boat on important factors leading to obesity but it was interesting to read.

Thanks for sharing it.

This makes me think of my childhood... I was super active growing up in Alabama- ( I lived there until I was 8), I swung on branches and ran free in the fields... I even had a tan! When I moved to Maryland, I still played outside and softball and such (My neighbors had 3 boys my age) and I had a trampoline which I loved! I remained really active until high school, when I went to a school that took an hour and a half to get back and forth each way... I would be so exhausted that I would just pass out after dinner. I wouldn't get home until 5:30 on a normal day and when I had after school activities I wouldn't be home til 10pm. It made it hard to come home and go outside. Thats when I really packed on the pounds. At college, I started drinking and partying but by then I was already in the 200s.

That's not to say I wasn't overweight to start with ( I was always a bit chubby, just not fat til then)... But I would say a lot has to do with genetics, food intake, and activity level, and I believe the band is a great tool to reverse the genetics, but you are still responsible for the other 2 factors.

Air conditioning as a cause? HA... they are trying to get us in every way possible making up excuses for our country-- when the writers of these articles, and the politicians are all also overweight.

makes you think they'll make anything into a reason why america is so fat.

I never had A/C till I moved to Vegas 6 years ago...and ya really have to have it living in HELL!!!! But lack of sleep...Oh yeah, I have seen that happen. I worked graveyard many years and on that shift ya just sleep eat, work and sleep, and try to sleep more...and wieght just creeps on...insidiously. LOL I still think fast food is from SATAN!!!! And it calls my name, usually at 7 pm.....will I ever be rid of this nightmare??? LOL no