Knowing the Differences and Similariti

Knowing the Differences and Similarities between Homeostasis and the “Set Point Theory”, and Settling Point Theory
Excelsior College

Author Note:
This paper was prepared for SOC221: Why We Overeat: Perspectives on Nutrition
Module 2 Taught by Dr. Strugatz

How many diets are there in America today? The answer to this question is too many to count. But one thing that we do know is that more than one-third of adult Americans are overweight, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. This fact brings me to my next question. If there are so many diets in America today, why are we so obese? There are many theories out there today that try to explain why Americans are obese and if the human brain has anything to do with it. Three concepts that tackles this subject are homeostasis and the “set point theory”, and settling point theory. These concepts will be explained below, as well as their differences and similarities to each other. The first concept is homeostasis. Many people identify homeostasis with body temperature and blood pressure. Homeostasis in the body can be looked at as a regulator that keeps the body well balanced. A great example of this would be, as mentioned before, body temperature. If the body is hot, homeostasis allows the body to sweat so that it may cool off. If the body is cold, homeostasis makes the body shiver to warm up. In looking at homeostasis we see that the human body is a wonderfully working machine. Homeostasis relates greatly to the “set point theory”. The “set point theory” is explained with the use of homeostasis. “The capacity to compensate for either inadequate or excess food intake reflects the homeostatic system in action. The theory (of “set point theory”) is that if I lose weight, my body tries to get it back, slowing down my metabolism until I return to my predetermined set point” (Kessler, 2009, pg. 22). The "set point theory" has a way of explaining why most diets do not work. After a person that is on a diet is happy with their weight loss, they usually stop the diet- and it usually isn't long before they are back at their pre-diet weight. If you are a believer of the "set point theory", than you will believe that the regulator in the brain is causing the person that lost the weight from a diet to gain all their weight right back so they will be back at their predetermined weight. The next theory is known as the settling point theory. This theory explains that there are many other influences that has been proven to increase weight gain in people. In this theory body weight is determined by a balance of these influences. This theory is different than the “set point theory” because it “goes beyond homeostatic mechanisms to make room for a number of independent influences on weight” (Kessler, 2009, pg. 23). These influences primarily includes a balance of “motivation and availability- how much we want to seek out food and how readily we can obtain and eat it” (Kessler, 2009, pg. 23). Though the “set point theory” and settling point theory are very difference. I have found one similarity between them. Both of these theories view the cause of weight gain as more than just eating too much of the wrong foods. They both have the idea that there is more to it than not exercising. Both of the theories also feel that eventually going on a diet will be a failure. With the “set point theory”, believers feel that diets will fail because the body has a predetermined weight. And the settling point theory believes that diet failure will be the end result due to the person returning back their old patterns, like eating the wrong foods, returning the person to their old settling point. Scientists formulated both ideas and came up with these theory or hypothesis based of observations. Both of these ideas are still theories because neither have yet to be proven. There are many different theories out today that try to explain why Americans are struggling with obesity. Scientists are moving towards other theories as to the cause of obesity, including if our brains play a roll in it. If dieting was the cure-all, we would be a healthy, skinny country. Homeostasis and “set point theory”, along with the settling point theory are the theories that have tried to bring about an understanding of this epidemic. Though they have their differences, they also have a few similarities. Hopefully in time we will better understand this epidemic and help Americans become healthier for themselves as well as their families.

Resources
Kessler, D.A. (2009). The end of overeating: taking control of the insatiable American appetite. Emmaus, PA.: Rodale.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/facts.html