To add in, yes it returns to the super stimulus idea. For vast swaths of time finding eating as much sweet and fat as you could when you could, storing it as fat for when needed later, served creatures, including humans well. Ample fiber and even enough protein was almost unavoidable along the way. Modern world providers of product exploit those responses with virtually unlimited availability of sweet and fats nearly devoid of fiber, out of the packaging with hosts of healthier stuff.
Additional potential contributors:
Antibiotics, in the food and water supply as well as administered in childhood in particular. Our microbiomes are major factors in obesity risk and metabolic regulation. We start off with some from our mothers obtained during birth and soon after; we thereby inherit some of her predisposition, another trans generational risk factor. Alter it further with frequent environmental antibiotic exposures and distort its developmental trajectory with wanton antibiotic use and obesity risk rises.
Hyperprocessed foods. Junk with excess sugars and fats and little good stuff is of course part of that, but those who are big on it as a cause point at other additives as well, such as emulsifiers. The fraction of a typical modern human’s diet, especially during childhood, made up of these foods is shocking.
Adults as individuals can limit their harms. Yeah altering the systems of our food consumption and production would be effective but is hard to accomplish.
Parents can however have impact on their children’s risks.
Let your kids’ docs know you care about good antibiotic stewardship, only using them when definitely needed. Lots of mild to moderate ear infections will resolve with meds; try watchful waiting.
Limit exposure to hyperprocessed foods serving a variety of real food options and little sweet beverages. Look out for high amounts of added sugar. Do not force or fight but also do not bribe or cater. This is what is available. Eat or don’t is up to you. Hungry still? There is a pile of fruit and some snacking vegetables over there. Help yourself.