You ask the question, "What's making me fat?" as you diet year after year, lose weight and gain it back. If permanent weight loss sometimes seems impossible, there might be some surprising reasons why you are having trouble losing weight. The good news is, it’s may not be all your fault! The bad news is that some factors that are difficult to control could cause you to gain weight despite your best efforts.

Things in your environment can make you fat

You might think that the list of 10 things that make you fat would include calorie laden foods like pie, potato chips, chocolate or your morning Danish. While these things definitely are not diet fare, you may be surprised to learn of the innocent seeming things in your daily life that increase your risk of obesity.

Below are some surprising answers to the question, "What's making you fat?"

1. Your spouse and your friends could be making you fat

Eating fattening foods is a bad habit that you can "catch" from your spouse. John Gray, PhD, the recognized expert on relationships and author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus and Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice, says that spouses have a strong influence on each others habits. If your spouse loves rich deserts, gravy and pastries, you could “catch” those fattening habits and gain weight – even though your spouse isn’t fat!

Or you can blame it on your friends! If just one of your friends becomes obese, you are 57% more likely to gain weight, too. If a friend of a friend gains weight, you are still 20% more likely to gain weight. Really, you’re getting second-hand fat!

2. Your air conditioner could be making you fat

No, there are no calories in cool air, but one study found that women burned 250 more calories a day in 80° air than they do in 70° air. Sweating may not be as comfortable as relaxing in a cool 70° environment, but it will help you to burn calories. On the same number of calories, a woman in the cooler environment will gain a half pound a week. That’s 26 pounds a year for enjoying your temperature controlled environment!

Poor posture is the most common reason many people will complain about neck pain during their lifetime. Luckily, several lifestyle habits that cause neck pain can be reversed. Most typically experience pain in the back of the neck where the postural muscles are located. Trapezius, splenius capitis, erector spinae, and the suboccipital group are a few of the muscles continuously working to hold the head upright. These postural muscles become tight, tense, and overworked when the head is too far forward.

When muscles are continuously contracted and overstretched they become depleted of water and nutrients usually creating trigger points. Tension headaches are the result of trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle that refer pain to the temples. When the head is too far forward, the ear is in front of the shoulder, the muscles in the front of the neck such as the scalenes and sternocleidomastoid are shortened pulling the head forward. Those who treat themselves at home with a sports cream or a hot or cold pack usually don't think about the front of the neck. Unfortunately some massage therapists may overlook these muscles as well. Assessing one's lifestyle and habits, especially when a considerable amount of time is involved performing a given task, can help alleviate the potential causes of neck pain.