With 60 percent of Americans now classified as

overweight or obese, chances are that you are among

those who are heavier than you’d like to be — or worse,

heavier than is good for your health.

Obesity is linked to many chronic illnesses, including                                               

heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes,

and many forms of cancer.

Technically, overweight and obesity occur because

more calories are taken in than are burned off, but

research shows that the equation is not quite so

simple. Genetics, unhealthy food choices, and lack of                                           

physical activity contribute to overweight. Most

important, your metabolic rate — the pace at which

your body utilizes energy — determines how easy or

difficult it is to maintain a healthy weight. It has long

been known that metabolism changes with age. It is

also affected by other factors, including diet, activity

levels and the environment. Now startling new

scientific evidence points to another way that

metabolism may be negatively impacted: continuous

exposure to chemical toxins in our food, water, and air.

                                                     The Causes