Is it genuinely the case that others can diminish their body mass index and I am unable to do so?
Tomasz Jankowski
2026-03-24
8 min. read
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Excess weight is a serious issue on a global scale, such that it is referred to as a pandemic. According to the National Health Fund, as many as 60% of Poles are affected by overweight, and even 25% suffer from obesity. Unfortunately, a BMI exceeding 25 kg/m² is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, lipid disorders, and many other diseases. In the internet, we constantly hear that losing weight is as simple as eating less and moving more, however, in reality, it is not always that straightforward, as a multitude of factors contribute to the development of obesity.
All initiates in the mother's womb
In human development, there are so-called critical periods during which the body is programmed, which can impact later health. This process commences in the mother's womb, hence it is not insignificant how she nourishes herself. In epidemiological studies, it has been observed that excessive adipose tissue in mothers predisposes offspring to higher birth weight, which in turn is a factor that increases the risk of obesity. Fascinatingly, a parent's underweight can lead to the same outcome. This is explained by the fact that the child's body, accustomed to nutritional deficiency, requires more food in the presence of sustenance to prepare for a potential deficiency in the future. The presence of type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes in mothers is also of great importance, as they contribute to higher birth weight and an increased risk of obesity in children, as well as reduced glucose tolerance (E. L. Sullivan, K. L. Grove 2010).
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