Let's leave fat people alone.

[OldWiseGuy]

Yet another article citing the failures of people who are overweight. When will they realize that being overweight is a result of a lifestyle that just doesn't include the best foods or exercise, a lifestyle enjoyed by millions, and growing. These people have accepted being overweight as a small price to pay for the enjoyment of certain foods and a leisurely life uncomplicated by extraneous physical activity. Leave them alone.

States With the Highest Obesity Rates

 

[brinny]

....almost seems like a campaign...

despicable.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

"The sky is falling, and we must tell Jenny Craig."

 

[Monk Brendan]

Yet another article citing the failures of people who are overweight. When will they realize that being overweight is a result of a lifestyle that just doesn't include the best foods or exercise, a lifestyle enjoyed by millions, and growing. These people have accepted being overweight as a small price to pay for the enjoyment of certain foods and a leisurely life uncomplicated by extraneous physical activity. Leave them alone.

Being fat is also a condition. Some people are born with more fat cells than the average. Okay, so far, but as soon as one goes on a diet, the brain start screaming "FAMINE" and the fat cells become super efficient at scrounging ANY excess fat in the diet, and taking it in. When the diet is ended, then the super fat cells cram every extra erg of energy that goes into the body and begin converting it to fat. Thus, dieting is a poor way to lose weight.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Being fat is also a condition. Some people are born with more fat cells than the average. Okay, so far, but as soon as one goes on a diet, the brain start screaming "FAMINE" and the fat cells become super efficient at scrounging ANY excess fat in the diet, and taking it in. When the diet is ended, then the super fat cells cram every extra erg of energy that goes into the body and begin converting it to fat. Thus, dieting is a poor way to lose weight.

True. Some people are destined to be fat all their lives. They just have to make the best of it and try to maintain some modicum of health regardless.

 

[Monk Brendan]

True. Some people are destined to be fat all their lives. They just have to make the best of it and try to maintain some modicum of health regardless.

Yeah, I'm one of them. My best results for weight loss happen when I eat a little less than my normal, and, if I think of exercise, I lay down until the though passes. (LOL) Doing things this way, I am down to 300 lbs from a high of 425.

 

[PropheticTimes]

I'm not fat I'm fluffy

 

[archer75]

Yet another article citing the failures of people who are overweight. When will they realize that being overweight is a result of a lifestyle that just doesn't include the best foods or exercise, a lifestyle enjoyed by millions, and growing. These people have accepted being overweight as a small price to pay for the enjoyment of certain foods and a leisurely life uncomplicated by extraneous physical activity. Leave them alone.

States With the Highest Obesity Rates

Food is actually not enjoyable. It's just stimulating. We have come to associate stimulation with enjoyment.

I agree that people who are overweight have enough problems and should not be hassled socially, though.

In fact, maybe we should hassle people who are not overweight for a couple decades to make it even.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Yeah, I'm one of them. My best results for weight loss happen when I eat a little less than my normal, and, if I think of exercise, I lay down until the though passes. (LOL) Doing things this way, I am down to 300 lbs from a high of 425.

Good for you. You have proved that one can indeed lose weight by limiting food intake. Many don't believe this. Also, exercise is greatly overrated and contributes to needless hunger pangs. One does need some physical activity however.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I agree that people who are overweight have enough problems and should not be hassled socially, though.

Would be nice.

I'm overweight. I had undiagnosed metabolic issues for years, and now I'm not sure if it can be fixed, but given other health issues, that's not my biggest concern.

And I typically eat about 700 calories a day, 1-2 meals. I'm not dieting, I just don't get hungry often. I very frequently forget/fail to eat until near nightfall.

Doctors assume I need to diet. They assume various health issues, but my cholesterol is fine, my blood pressure is good, I'm not even pre-diabetic. Unfortunately, I have developed several cancers, and the necessary surgeries have rearranged my shape, and I'm developing arm swelling from damage to lymph nodes, and abdominal swelling. No normal clothing fits - I have body parts that range from size small to XL, with surgical protrusions created where people shouldn't have them. If I cover all that up, people probably assume I'm just fat all over and lack self-control.

Sigh ... yes, it would be nice not to be judged and marginalized. The WORST was when my PC physician referred me to a sports medicine clinic for a tendon issue, and I had to spend a day in a clinic surrounded by athletes. That made me feel like pond scum, and I'm not.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Food is actually not enjoyable. It's just stimulating. We have come to associate stimulation with enjoyment.

Food 'stimulates' the enjoyment center of the brain.

In fact, maybe we should hassle people who are not overweight for a couple decades to make it even.

A century ago overweight people were considered healthy, especially during the lean years of the depression. Even today not all overweight people will suffer serious illness because of it. There are many other contributing causes of sickness.

 

[Gene2memE]

Let's leave fat people alone

Let's not.

In Australia, the direct and indirect costs of being overweight or obese are more than alcohol, illegal drug abuse and smoking COMBINED. It's a similar statistic for every other OECD state.

In Australia, the leading cause of death was coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease - which is a direct result of being overweight.

I'm fine with discouraging people from being overweight. Just like I'm fine with doing that for smokers, illegal drug takers and alcoholics.

All of these are behaviours that not only have negative repercussions for individuals and those they come into contact with, but they also have major negative effects on the rest of society.

Being obese in Australia adds up to direct costs of about $1500-1900 (Australian dollars) per person per year in things like medical bills, missed work, ineligibility/inability to perform certain work, ect, ect.

Being a healthy weight and living in a society where 30-40% of the population is overweight or obese costs me about $700-900 per year in additional taxes and higher health insurance premiums.

You want people to be happier, better off financially and have lower taxes - tell them to get their act together, cut down on the soda and go for a walk.

 

[Tallguy88]

Let's not.

In Australia, the direct and indirect costs of being overweight or obese are more than alcohol, illegal drug abuse and smoking COMBINED. It's a similar statistic for every other OECD state.

In Australia, the leading cause of death was coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease - which is a direct result of being overweight.

I'm fine with discouraging people from being overweight. Just like I'm fine with doing that for smokers, illegal drug takers and alcoholics.

All of these are behaviours that not only have negative repercussions for individuals and those they come into contact with, but they also have major negative effects on the rest of society.

Being obese in Australia adds up to direct costs of about $1500-1900 (Australian dollars) per person per year in things like medical bills, missed work, ineligibility/inability to perform certain work, ect, ect.

Being a healthy weight and living in a society where 30-40% of the population is overweight or obese costs me about $700-900 per year in additional taxes and higher health insurance premiums.

You want people to be happier, better off financially and have lower taxes - tell them to get their act together, cut down on the soda and go for a walk.

Some of us do those things and are still overweight. But thanks for the tip.

 

[bekkilyn]

Good for you. You have proved that one can indeed lose weight by limiting food intake. Many don't believe this. Also, exercise is greatly overrated and contributes to needless hunger pangs. One does need some physical activity however.

I can't recall the exact statistic, but it's something like 80% (maybe more) of weight loss is due to diet. And I don't mean diet as in starving oneself, or Atkins, or some other program, but diet as in whatever it is you eat. If you eat healthy, nutritious food within your calorie range, then you'll lose even if you never do any exercise at all.

However, exercise is crucial for good health in general. Otherwise, you lose muscle mass, are more prone to diseases like osteoarthritis, have lack of endurance and lethargy and all sorts of other issues.

Would be nice.

I'm overweight. I had undiagnosed metabolic issues for years, and now I'm not sure if it can be fixed, but given other health issues, that's not my biggest concern.

And I typically eat about 700 calories a day, 1-2 meals. I'm not dieting, I just don't get hungry often. I very frequently forget/fail to eat until near nightfall.

Doctors assume I need to diet. They assume various health issues, but my cholesterol is fine, my blood pressure is good, I'm not even pre-diabetic. Unfortunately, I have developed several cancers, and the necessary surgeries have rearranged my shape, and I'm developing arm swelling from damage to lymph nodes, and abdominal swelling. No normal clothing fits - I have body parts that range from size small to XL, with surgical protrusions created where people shouldn't have them. If I cover all that up, people probably assume I'm just fat all over and lack self-control.

Sigh ... yes, it would be nice not to be judged and marginalized. The WORST was when my PC physician referred me to a sports medicine clinic for a tendon issue, and I had to spend a day in a clinic surrounded by athletes. That made me feel like pond scum, and I'm not.

The 700 calories a day may be why (or at least part of the reason) you're not losing, as in you're not eating *enough*. There's a lot of agreement that the minimum calorie intake for a woman needs to be at least 1200 calories. If you drop less than 1200, then your body goes into starvation mode and clings to every bit of fat it can get because it thinks the body is starving and so hoards fat cells.

There are some sites you can go to like SparkPeople where you can go and it will help you figure out your calorie range for your current height, weight, and activity levels. These sites tend to have good communities that help each other with motivation and discussion, kind of like here at CF but with health and fitness.

 

[Gene2memE]

Some of us do those things and are still overweight. But thanks for the tip.

You can be facetious all you want, but the basic formula of 'reduce calories and increase exercise' works for the vast majority of cases where people are overweight.

The US Dept of Agriculture estimates that the average daily calorie intake of an American adult has gone from about 2000 calories in 1970 to about 2650 calories in 2015.

Most of that increase is from two causes:

Increase in eating out of home and pigger portion sizes when eating out;
Increase in consumption of flour and cereal products and added fats and oils and dairy fats, specifically salad and cooking oils (which increased from 115.5 to 402.3 calories per day from 1970-2010).

Meanwhile, the average adults daily energy expenditure has fallen by about 150 calories.

It's not actually a difficult problem, we just make it one.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

You want people to be happier, better off financially and have lower taxes - tell them to get their act together, cut down on the soda and go for a walk.

They've been told, over and over and over. They just don't care.

 

[Gene2memE]

They do, if not for themselves, then for their children.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

They do, if not for themselves, then for their children.

Watch the 'fat people' shows on tv. The whole family including the kids are fat. The kids don't have chance if fat mom is doing the cooking. I knew such a family, watched the kids grow fatter over the years until they were just like their parents. They just don't care.

 

[ImAllLikeOkWaitWat]

Some people are destined to be fat all their lives.

It is true that some people if they don't make any dietary change and eat what the average person eats will be obese. It's written in their dna. However no one has to be obese, even those who have bad luck when it comes to the genetic pool of weight control. When obese people only eat foods that doesn't trigger a serious glucose response, they don't get fat. Obviously you are going to run into a food that triggers a glucose response if you eat the average american diet, but the obese person needs to figure out which foods doesn't trigger this response, and will be lean if they eat accordingly.

So in short people with genes that accumulate fat at a higher rate than average, can still be lean as long as they avoid food that doesn't trigger a serious glucose response. If an obese person is eating in a way where there blood sugar is stable all day they won't get obese. I know this from personal experience having gone from 305 to my current weight of 215 and looking to get even lower.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

It is true that some people if they don't make any dietary change and eat what the average person eats will be obese. It's written in their dna. However no one has to be obese, even those who have bad luck when it comes to the genetic pool of weight control. When obese people only eat foods that doesn't trigger a serious glucose response, they don't get fat. Obviously you are going to run into a food that triggers a glucose response if you eat the average american diet, but the obese person needs to figure out which foods doesn't trigger this response, and will be lean if they eat accordingly.

So in short people with genes that accumulate fat at a higher rate than average, can still be lean as long as they avoid food that doesn't trigger a serious glucose response. If an obese person is eating in a way where there blood sugar is stable all day they won't get obese. I know this from personal experience having gone from 305 to my current weight of 215 and looking to get even lower.