I'm reading the news about the fat obesity rate in the United States and how 1 and 4 people are obese.

One interesting factoid about the fatsos is the State of Colorado is considered the least fattest state with an obesity rate of 19.8% (the only state below 20%) and they said that if Colorado had that same rate back in 1995, it would been considered the fattest state in the nation.

What the hell happened in the last 15-years that shot up the obesity rate?

Besides questioning the methodology and all, we all know that obesity is prevalent in our culture, But I'm astounded at the rate and the percentage of obesity.

Taking away that fat people smell bad, they do increase healthcare cost tremendously with increases in diabetes and heart disease. It is an epidemic.

It's what we eat, the portions of what we eat and the lack of exercise... I get that. And there is always going to be fat people. But what can we really do about this epidemic? Should we start to shame them or try to see if education can reduce this trend?

[This message has been edited by Wichita (edited 07-09-2011).]

stop treating illnesses that are a result of obesity (aside from obesity caused by genetics or some disorder that can be diagnosed). idc if people get fat, but if what I am allowed to eat starts to get regulated, i WILL leave the country and harbor a strong hatred for people obese from over eating and lack of exercise. and yes, IMHO that is a fair reason to leave the country. how can we call it a free country when even the food we are allowed to eat and buy is regulated?

Nah, but maybe snack food makers should be forced to put pictures of exploding hearts on their packaging.

quote Originally posted by Khw: Nah, but maybe snack food makers should be forced to put pictures of exploding hearts on their packaging.

or alternatively parents could teach their kids whats ok to eat and what not to pig out on and to go outside every now and then etc....


aside from making the food illegal, the only way to combat this is less crappy parents. but neither of those will ever happen (well...the first one might...) so someone will probably invent some BS medication to help children eat less. america sure loves giving children unneeded meds

[This message has been edited by faaaaq (edited 07-09-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Wichita: What the hell happened in the last 15-years that shot up the obesity rate?

The Internet

I'm only half joking.

I get what your all saying but sometimes this is due to genetics. I have a friend is severely obese and can honesty say it dosent have to do with his diet. His mother is also severely obese and its just the way it has ran in his family.

+ 1 for genetics being a factor, speaking from personal experience on behalf of the "fatsos". there are people who make one bad decision after the other, and there are people who have something like a slower than normal metabolism.

Just a few opinions I have formed over the years.I haven't read or researched any of the following, but I believe the 'University of Life' is the best education we can get
Hope Frontal Lobe comes along and gives his educated opinion of my ' observations'

The actual mechanics of eating have changed. Seriously
Most foods nowadays are soft, and require very little chewing. Chewing actually STARTS the digestion system, mixing enzymes etc into the food as we chew. The enzymes also act as a trigger to induce the 'full' feeling in the stomach. So , if we don't chew for long enough, and swallow soft foods too quickly, the stomach becomes too full, too quiickly. This leads to the 'stuffed' feeling experienced every time we eat, simply because the warning from the stomach to the brain that we have eaten enough and to stop, is delayed, so we eat too much as a result. Secondly, because the degistive enzymes in our saliva glands do not get 'mixed in' to the food in sufficient quantity, the stomach takes longer to digest the food.
If you watch somebody eating a hamburger or chips or whatever, you will see maybe 5 or 6 mastications..and then swallow. Not good
Drinking WATER whilst eating, is also a good idea. It helps to mix up the food and distribute the digestive juices into the food.
Next, we have the 'convenience' aspect of modern food. No longer do we have to use up energy to 'hunt and harvest' food before we eat it.
Chemicals in modern food do not help either. Enhanced flavours encourage us to want to eat more, and more quickly, than we really need. All this 'visual appeal' nonsense in food presentation adds to the desire to eat more than we need.
Just 65 yrrs or so ago, the Western World went through a protracted War, resulting in severe shortages of 'GOOD' food, and when the 'days of plenty' returned, we were encouraged to again eat more than we need, as a result of the mild famine cuased by the War.' Eat it up, and don't leave a THING' was the admonishment parents were always telling their children, because they remembered what it was like not to have enough to eat. A clean plate was the neccessary requirement at the end of every meal. We were educated to eat too much.
Three square meals and supper every day is FAR too much to eat, and totally un-neccessary.
Cooking food is not natural. We don't eat enough raw food.
MEAT is no longer a luxury, nor is fish. Having become readily available, we eat it every day. Even in such recent times as when I was a child, we had meat only two or three times a week, and fish only on friday.
Bread.Shop bought bread is fuill of preservatives which are difficult to digest.
Cakes and sweets, which again were once a week if we were lucky have become a daily food item.
Minimal excercise. (No more energetic hunting to get food)
Modern transportation makes us lazy.
Electricity. We are able to stay awake ,and therefore eat more food, than when we didn't have 'synthetic' light.
We have been led to believe that a 'good hearty breakfast' is all important. I believe it causes hunger throughout the day, because the stomach has been distended too early, and as the food gets digested and passes through the alimentary canal, we get the 'hunger' feeling throughout the day, making us want to eat more often than we need.
The myth that eating before going to sleep is bad for us is completely OPPOSITE to what Nature intended. Watch a lion or any other predatory creature; once it has eaten enough, it lies in the shade, and goes to sleep, allowing the digestive system to do its work properly, and thoroughly, and in its own time. It is NATURAL to sleep after eating; We need to wake up replenished, full of energy, and ready to spend the day hunting thre NEXT meal. Breakfast dulls the senses. A full stomach, too early, makes animals lethargic...including US
Smoking. A well-known appetite suppressor. Quitting smoking ( as we are being FORCED to do ), causes raised appetites, for various reasons. We therefore want to eat more as a result. People who quit smoking generally pile on pounds of fat, and rarely does the body ever recover enough to get rid of it, and reduce sppetitie. Most ex-smokers I know have never shifted that weight gained ever again.
Alcohol. Sugar is turned uinto alcohol. The body duly turns the alcohol back into sugar as it is digested.
Milk. Nature's building blocks to enable babies to grow quickly and healthily. When Nature decides we don't need milk any more, the milk ducts cease to produce milk, the teeth grow so we can eat everything else we need to continue to grow at a reduced rate.
But we go on drinking milk all our lives, and eating dairy produce too.
Additives to enhance flavour are bad. Sugar and salt are added WAY beyond what Nature put into our 'natural' foods.

I have put all these personal concepts into the way I eat nowadays. I have lost over 20% of my body weight (30 lbs), feel great, and am keeping it off easily. Only thing I DON'T do is chase my food all day before I can eat it
Oh, and one more thing Concentrated ANYTHING is totally wrong. To be able to drink one glass of orange juice, I would have to eat 5 oranges I couldn't do that if I tried And by concentrating the 'goodness' (fructose etc), you are throwing away the balancing and healthy aount of fibre you would otherwise have to eat to achieve a glassful of orange juice. The same sapplies to ALL concentrated food and drink.

Doctor Nick
PS...Parents A fat mother will generally have fat children...it eases their conscience about being fat themselves, and then confirms the false belief, or excuse, that being fat is hereditary

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 07-09-2011).]

Calorie intake and exercise... that is what it comes down to. You can blame genetics, but it still comes down to these basic things. If you tend to put on pounds, then eat less or exercise more. And yes, obese people cost insurance a "ton" of money

Could not have stated that any better Nick! Spot on.

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Just a few opinions I have formed over the years.I haven't read or researched any of the following, but I believe the 'University of Life' is the best education we can get Hope Frontal Lobe comes along and gives his educated opinion of my ' observations' The actual mechanics of eating have changed. Seriously Most foods nowadays are soft, and require very little chewing. Chewing actually STARTS the digestion system, mixing enzymes etc into the food as we chew. The enzymes also act as a trigger to induce the 'full' feeling in the stomach. So , if we don't chew for long enough, and swallow soft foods too quickly, the stomach becomes too full, too quiickly. This leads to the 'stuffed' feeling experienced every time we eat, simply because the warning from the stomach to the brain that we have eaten enough and to stop, is delayed, so we eat too much as a result. Secondly, because the degistive enzymes in our saliva glands do not get 'mixed in' to the food in sufficient quantity, the stomach takes longer to digest the food. If you watch somebody eating a hamburger or chips or whatever, you will see maybe 5 or 6 mastications..and then swallow. Not good Drinking WATER whilst eating, is also a good idea. It helps to mix up the food and distribute the digestive juices into the food. Next, we have the 'convenience' aspect of modern food. No longer do we have to use up energy to 'hunt and harvest' food before we eat it. Chemicals in modern food do not help either. Enhanced flavours encourage us to want to eat more, and more quickly, than we really need. All this 'visual appeal' nonsense in food presentation adds to the desire to eat more than we need. Just 65 yrrs or so ago, the Western World went through a protracted War, resulting in severe shortages of 'GOOD' food, and when the 'days of plenty' returned, we were encouraged to again eat more than we need, as a result of the mild famine cuased by the War.' Eat it up, and don't leave a THING' was the admonishment parents were always telling their children, because they remembered what it was like not to have enough to eat. A clean plate was the neccessary requirement at the end of every meal. We were educated to eat too much. Three square meals and supper every day is FAR too much to eat, and totally un-neccessary. Cooking food is not natural. We don't eat enough raw food. MEAT is no longer a luxury, nor is fish. Having become readily available, we eat it every day. Even in such recent times as when I was a child, we had meat only two or three times a week, and fish only on friday. Bread.Shop bought bread is fuill of preservatives which are difficult to digest. Cakes and sweets, which again were once a week if we were lucky have become a daily food item. Minimal excercise. (No more energetic hunting to get food) Modern transportation makes us lazy. Electricity. We are able to stay awake ,and therefore eat more food, than when we didn't have 'synthetic' light. We have been led to believe that a 'good hearty breakfast' is all important. I believe it causes hunger throughout the day, because the stomach has been distended too early, and as the food gets digested and passes through the alimentary canal, we get the 'hunger' feeling throughout the day, making us want to eat more often than we need. The myth that eating before going to sleep is bad for us is completely OPPOSITE to what Nature intended. Watch a lion or any other predatory creature; once it has eaten enough, it lies in the shade, and goes to sleep, allowing the digestive system to do its work properly, and thoroughly, and in its own time. It is NATURAL to sleep after eating; We need to wake up replenished, full of energy, and ready to spend the day hunting thre NEXT meal. Breakfast dulls the senses. A full stomach, too early, makes animals lethargic...including US Smoking. A well-known appetite suppressor. Quitting smoking ( as we are being FORCED to do ), causes raised appetites, for various reasons. We therefore want to eat more as a result. People who quit smoking generally pile on pounds of fat, and rarely does the body ever recover enough to get rid of it, and reduce sppetitie. Most ex-smokers I know have never shifted that weight gained ever again. Alcohol. Sugar is turned uinto alcohol. The body duly turns the alcohol back into sugar as it is digested. Milk. Nature's building blocks to enable babies to grow quickly and healthily. When Nature decides we don't need milk any more, the milk ducts cease to produce milk, the teeth grow so we can eat everything else we need to continue to grow at a reduced rate. But we go on drinking milk all our lives, and eating dairy produce too. Additives to enhance flavour are bad. Sugar and salt are added WAY beyond what Nature put into our 'natural' foods. I have put all these personal concepts into the way I eat nowadays. I have lost over 20% of my body weight (30 lbs), feel great, and am keeping it off easily. Only thing I DON'T do is chase my food all day before I can eat it Oh, and one more thing Concentrated ANYTHING is totally wrong. To be able to drink one glass of orange juice, I would have to eat 5 oranges I couldn't do that if I tried And by concentrating the 'goodness' (fructose etc), you are throwing away the balancing and healthy aount of fibre you would otherwise have to eat to achieve a glassful of orange juice. The same sapplies to ALL concentrated food and drink. Doctor Nick PS...Parents A fat mother will generally have fat children...it eases their conscience about being fat themselves, and then confirms the false belief, or excuse, that being fat is hereditary

I do think the economy is also to blame a bit. There is a young family to whom we rent a cottage on our property. I see them eating from McDonald's two or three times a day. It is cheaper for them than going to the shops and buying real food. They are both obese and their three year old daughter is learning a bad lesson early on. To help their financial situation I have allowed the father to work on the estate in lieu of rent. They are still far too financially hard pressed to afford rather expensive "good food." Sad.

At the local McDonald's a fatty double cheese burger is only $1.00!

I also believe that the content of the "fast food" has changed to include more fat. Odd that once the fat of the meat was more expensive and now it is the cheapest bit. Ground up and added to all kinds of food fat (and worse yet, trans fats) is an ongoing problem in the west as well.

[This message has been edited by tutnkmn (edited 07-09-2011).]

The last 10 years there seems to be an increasing phenomenon of people no longer cooking and instead eating "take out" from chain restaurants. Not McDonalds, but places like Outback, Applebees, etc. Eating a lot of food at those places will mean people eat portions too large, too greasy, too fattening, etc. Add to it the treats and deserts.

As an aside, I do believe diet pop has something to do with it too. I used to be a heavy drinker of diet sodas up until around last November. Since I stopped drinking it (or any artificial sweetener) I have lost 25 pounds. No other changes to my diet or exercise routine (I was already running 4 miles a day at the time, and continued that).

Something against Fat Guys?



Brad

quote Originally posted by faaaaq: stop treating illnesses that are a result of obesity (aside from obesity caused by genetics or some disorder that can be diagnosed).

I really hope that was sarcasm.

A lot, and I mean a LOT of it has to do with income.

Some here may experience it, I hope not. You reach a point in life where you have to "save" somewhere. Sure, if you have disposable income to burn you can get the "healthy" food that is good for you. Most likely these days people cannot afford that. When it comes down to healthy food, or electricity most people will choose electricity.

What is cheap?

• McDonald's dollar menu.
  
• Pasta
  
• Ramein
  
• Mac-n-cheese
  
• hamburger helper
  
• cheap fatty hotdogs
  
• Velveeta (compared to other cheeses)
  
• cool aid
  

What is expensive?

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
  
• whole wheat
  
• good cheese (that's not processed to death)
  
• lean meat
  
• nuts
  
• Turkey and chicken even though it legitimately shouldn't be more expensive.
  
• fish/seafood
  

Do a quick experiment. Go to the grocery store and get two meals, make one meal hamburger helper. Make the other something similar, but with wheat pasta, lighter cheese, fresh vegetables, and lean hamburger. You will spend almost double making it healthy.
Now go feed the same people dollar burgers from McDonald's, you could save a few more dollars.

The same works for everything. If it's good for you it's going to cost more. If sugar is removed, and high fructose corn syrup put in it's place it lowers the price. And almost all of the cheap stuff has HFCS, even soda has it.

If I was tracking the weight gain in America, I would start with HFCS. The stuff has been adopted into our lives in everything we eat. And all in the past 15-20 years. Look in those cookies sitting next to you, that soda. The stuff is even in bread, the cheap bread anyway. If you can afford the "good stuff" you avoid the HFCS.

Someday, when I win the lottery I am going to try eating like I used to when I cared about healthy. Those were good times.

Brad

quote Originally posted by Wichita: ...And there is always going to be fat people. But what can we really do about this epidemic? Should we start to shame them or try to see if education can reduce this trend?

I don't know.
You could segregate them in camps, and not let them reproduce, and perform medical experiments, and...

shame? really? wow... don't you think that people with weight issues deal with enough "Shame"? education would be the key. My mother has delt with her weight all her life as my brother and I have, my children, however are both 18 now and bordering on being too skinny (size 4's, 5'6" 120ish) most of the people i know who are ""morbidly obese" are secret eaters we all can see there's a problem but until they deal with their issues theres not going to be any change... so ya.. shame's a good idea... not...

=todd=

quote Originally posted by Fformula88: The last 10 years there seems to be an increasing phenomenon of people no longer cooking and instead eating "take out" from chain restaurants. Not McDonalds, but places like Outback, Applebees, etc. Eating a lot of food at those places will mean people eat portions too large, too greasy, too fattening, etc. Add to it the treats and deserts. As an aside, I do believe diet pop has something to do with it too. I used to be a heavy drinker of diet sodas up until around last November. Since I stopped drinking it (or any artificial sweetener) I have lost 25 pounds. No other changes to my diet or exercise routine (I was already running 4 miles a day at the time, and continued that).

its how we live today. No time to do anything for ourselves.

Myself i eat 'out' i don't make a point of trying to clean my plate.. i eat the amount i need to be full and stop.

Wait..... I smell bad?

In a word: yes. This coming from a fat kid. Alcoholics too. This coming from a guy who loves to drink, but I don't get drunk, I just get awesome! ...and pedophiles...rapist...I am sure there are others too.

------------------
I will lay waste to your promise land.

quote Originally posted by twofatguys: Turkey and chicken even though it legitimately shouldn't be more expensive.

Ya i remember when it was far cheaper ( easily 1/2 ) than cheap hamburger AND was better for you to boot.. Me and my first wife rarely ate red meat.. Now its a lot more..

quote Originally posted by Blacktree: The Internet I'm only half joking.

No you are 100% correct. Console gaming, the internet, and "cocooning".. the act of fearful parents keeping their children under wraps so the big bad world does not come get them. Its a major contibutor... maybe not the only reasons (see post below) but a couple of REAL GOOD reasons. I love seeing 200 lb. 12 year olds. I will be te first to admit that I spent my teenage years between 12 an 15 playing Nintendo games. That did NOT help my physique one bit.. I eventually lost that weight, but I have always been a rollercoaster anyway.

[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 07-09-2011).]

quote Originally posted by tmur115: shame? really? wow... don't you think that people with weight issues deal with enough "Shame"? education would be the key. My mother has delt with her weight all her life as my brother and I have, my children, however are both 18 now and bordering on being too skinny (size 4's, 5'6" 120ish) most of the people i know who are ""morbidly obese" are secret eaters we all can see there's a problem but until they deal with their issues theres not going to be any change... so ya.. shame's a good idea... not... =todd=

Good post.. does anyone here think fat people want to be that way? Other than the obvious health issues, does anyone really think the teasing and discrimination they have endured their entire lives is desirable and thats why they stay fat?

Has anyone critical of "fat people" ever had a hard time losing weight? I bet not. You have no idea how difficult it is, it is a LOT MORE than just easting healthy. Exercise, for one is important. What about disabled people? You think its easy for them to work off weight? Maybe we should take everyone in a wheelchair who has a bit of a belly and throw them off a cliff, obviously their fattness offends us too much. Who cares if they cant do anything about it?

Every downs syndrom person I have ever met has been tubby or fat. Yes, lets go shame them.. I am sure it will do a lot of good.

Speaking of medical conditions, thyroid problems and food allergies DO keep people from having proper metabolisms. For example, I am deathly allergic to seafood of all kinds. Everyone tells me the healthiest thing I can eat on my diet is seafood. "Its great for your metabolism!" I hear.. yeah, I would not have to worry about over eating again after one piece of Salmon. I wouldnt have to worry about eating at all.

Anyone else see the problem in "wide brush" discrimination against overweight people who may have no choice in the matter? Tell you what, if any of you who are critical of those who are overweight are so bothered by it, why not pay for every fat person you see to have gastric bypass, liposuction and tummy tucks. Hey, its your complaint , why not do something about it?

I've been working my ass off trying to lose weight since December. I am losing an average of 5 lbs a month... not fast, but healthy. Sure glad I dont have someone complaining about my girth, why would I be inspired to do anything based on criticism?

I think we should shame anyone who wants to shame others and not worry about themselves. It would be so awesome if people stayed out of the business of others when they dont have anything positive to contribute.

[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 07-09-2011).]

What about those that aren't ashamed of their weight? I have 2 VERY close friends that are morbidly obese, but wear it with pride as a side effect of "good, homemade food". I've been to their house for dinner, and it's not unhealthy, greasy food; it's fresh fruits and veggies with lean meats, but there's a LOT of it, and there's no leftovers. They rarely go out to eat and when they do, it's to Olive Garden or someplace similar, not a buffet, and not takeout/fast food.

Maybe we should "shame" people who try to change other people's behavior?

You want to smoke? Smoke.
You want to be fat? Go ahead.
You want to bungee jump? Your right.
You want to run 10 miles a day, and then expect a hip replacement and therapy for your bad ankles? You're allowed.

You want to stop telling other people how to live their lives in their own bodies? I thought we answered this question during Roe Vs. Wade.

If we can't "shame" unwed mothers or gays, why should we "shame" anybody? Where's the tolerance for diversity now?

Lots of things caused it, and Blacktree is correct about the internet being a part of it, or more correctly, social media in general. There was a time--not too long ago--when we all did lots of things more often. Now, we spend most of our time (myself included) just talking about doing things via facebook and internet forums like this one, and I suspect it has become, in our minds, the same as actually doing them. The other part is the shift away from manufactoring and the migration to a consumer based economy. We just don't do the "menial" type work (most of us anyway) that we used to.

As far as eating goes, you can eat whatever you want to, as long as you burn most of it off. Few do anymore. When you eat a pound of food and 8 hrs later go pooh out 3/4 lb, that should tell you you just consumed waaay more fuel than your body needs for the work you are doing--you're running a rich mixture just as if you do if you were to put way too large a set of jets in a 4 bbl carburator.

As far as shaming obese people, it's been done thru stigma for decades and has very little effect, and as a smoker, it bothers me not in the least about what anyone says or thinks.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 07-09-2011).]

Obesity is a problem with poor people because quality, nutritious food costs more. Double cheeseburger costs $0.99 at McDonalds (last I checked) and you dont even have to bother cooking it.

Yes, I see many problems leading to obesity, and diet and exercise are only part of the equation. Access to quality healthy food is key. But that gets everyone up in arms when we suggest children eat healthier, like in schools, doesnt it?

Solution: Stop eating

Wow, shame someone for being different, start a war because their religion is different from ours, where and when would you stop. Maybe when we are all blonde, blue eyed, white folks. As a former fat, screw it obese person who had a BMI of 44, I can honestly say shame is not the answer, it is education, and not just kids. I had to relearn how to eat after 20 years. Short story, graduated hs at 180 lbs and 6ft, left college at 220 lbs, 2 years ago was told at universal studios i couldn't go on a roller coaster bcuz the harness wouldn't close. Went to the dr. for check up (turning 40) and found I weighed 347 lbs, quite the shock. I then proceeded to loose 60 lbs by myself, through eating correctly and walking, but i wasn't happy with myself at that weight, and proceeded to have a lap band placed. (At my own expense, not insurance even though they covered it), and have since lost another 40 lbs, and I still want to lose another 40. So looking at from both perspectives now, Shaming someone for being different is not the answer, might as well shame me for wanting to conform.

dan

quote Originally posted by Zeb: Maybe we should "shame" people who try to change other people's behavior? You want to smoke? Smoke. You want to be fat? Go ahead. You want to bungee jump? Your right. You want to run 10 miles a day, and then expect a hip replacement and therapy for your bad ankles? You're allowed. You want to stop telling other people how to live their lives in their own bodies? I thought we answered this question during Roe Vs. Wade. If we can't "shame" unwed mothers or gays, why should we "shame" anybody? Where's the tolerance for diversity now?

Good post!

Basically this and all the other divide tactics are an attach on the American way, the American dream and basic freedom. That said, I think I have the right to point and laugh too

Those that support controls of diet, behavior and the mandatory reporting of your BMI to the feds will also love the governments fully nutritional past that we all will be forced to consume, and only your allowed and appropriate portion, Far fetched? Mob rules and lowest common denominator, what else could happen.

quote Obesity is a problem with poor people because quality, nutritious food costs more. Double cheeseburger costs $0.99 at McDonalds (last I checked) and you dont even have to bother cooking it. Yes, I see many problems leading to obesity, and diet and exercise are only part of the equation. Access to quality healthy food is key. But that gets everyone up in arms when we suggest children eat healthier, like in schools, doesnt it?

I don't think so Tbone. I don't see a problem with kids eating more healthy meals in school. The eating habits one developes in youth tend to stay with you most of your life--unless ya end up marrying someone who doesn't cook or likes to eat differently.

otoh, I think T-bone steaks should be outlawed.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 07-09-2011).]

Sounds like bullying types are looking for justification to pick on fat kids.
"I mean come you can't make fun of blacks or gays anymore. Give us a break!"

quote Originally posted by Wichita: Taking away that fat people smell bad, ...

Gosh, how magnanimous of you.

quote Originally posted by Wichita: Should we start to shame them...

What do you mean "start?"

If you really want to know the root cause you have to look at why the U.S. has such a disproportionately high obesity rate compared to the rest of the world.
Look at the quality of food. Things like High Fructose Corn Syrup - which is just as safe and healthy as sugar, or so we're told, have gone up in use tremendously in the last generation compared to refined sugar. Refined sugar use has gone down dramatically by comparison even as total sweetener use increases.


Then there's the diet industry selling us chemicals to replace sugar... only there's now evidence "diet drinks" etc. can actually be making obesity worse.
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/92905

quote Researchers from San Antonio Health Science Center looked at data from 474 participants in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA). When subjects enrolled in SALSA, researchers recorded their height, weight, waist circumference, and diet soda intake. Over the next decade, researchers conducted follow-up exams and compared diet soda drinkers to non-diet soda drinkers. Diet soda drinkers saw a 70 percent increase in waist circumference (compared to non-diet soda drinkers). Users who consumed two or more diet sodas a day saw their waistlines increase 500 percent more than the non-diet soft drinking group. Excessive abdominal fat correlates with a higher risk of diabetes and also increases the chances of diseases such as colorectal cancer or high blood pressure. “These results suggest that, amidst the national drive to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks, policies that would promote the consumption of diet soft drinks may have unintended deleterious effects,” the researchers wrote. They presented their findings at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions. In a separate study, researchers looked at how aspartame influenced mice’s fasting glucose levels. Typically, a person’s glucose level is lowest after eight hours of fasting and doctors sometimes test the amount of glucose in the blood at this time to determine diabetes. The researchers, also from San Antonio, fed two groups of mice chow—both varieties included corn oil, but one had aspartame. After three months of guzzling sweetened, fatty chow, the mice in the aspartame group showed increased level of fasting blood glucose and diminished insulin levels, which indicates early decline in pancreatic beta cell function. Beta cells produce insulin, which naturally regulates blood glucose. Faulty beta cells negatively impacts insulin production, leading to Type II diabetes.

When you can't tell "meat" from "ice cream," that should be the first warning that there's a problem with the food supply.


When a person tries to lose weight, the most important thing is to regulate the metabolism. If your endocrine system and hormones are out of whack, you can diet all you want and end up being malnourished - and fat. Yet, we put hormones in most of our foods. So much growth hormone is in our food supply now that we're seeing it affect the onset of puberty in children. There are reports that hormones in food are causing "Precocious Puberty" - the term given to early onset puberty. There is also some evidence that childhood obesity is linked to it, which brings us back full circle.

As for your brilliant idea of using shame to "help" fatsos, you might was well try to shame a person out of clinical depression.
It'll be about as effective as an Obama jobs bill.

The answers are probably much simpler.
Eat "real" food. - organic, no chemicals and no preservatives. Good luck finding it and affording it. It can be done, but it's not easy in today's market.
Eat "normal" portions. This gets back to education. America is the land of "more is better." The idea of "enough" is lost on most people.
Drink lots of clean water. Again, the stuff out of your tap doesn't count. Even bottled water may or may not be better.
Get plenty of exercise.
Get plenty of sleep.
Limit stress and find ways to release stress you do experience.

And if all that fails, try mace. It should be just as effective as shame.

[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 07-09-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Formula88: If you really want to know the root cause you have to look at why the U.S. has such a disproportionately high obesity rate compared to the rest of the world. Look at the quality of food. Things like High Fructose Corn Syrup - which is just as safe and healthy as sugar, or so we're told, have gone up in use tremendously in the last generation compared to refined sugar. Refined sugar use has gone down dramatically by comparison even as total sweetener use increases.

That can be traced to the American Sugar Cartel (that is an interesting topic).

In the U.S., HFCS is among the sweeteners that have primarily replaced sucrose (table sugar) in the food industry. Factors for this include governmental production quotas of domestic sugar, subsidies of U.S. corn, and an import tariff on foreign sugar; all of which combine to raise the price of sucrose to levels above those of the rest of the world, making HFCS less costly for many sweetener applications. Critics of the extensive use of HFCS in food sweetening argue that the highly processed substance is more harmful to humans than regular sugar, contributing to weight gain by affecting normal appetite functions, and that in some foods HFCS may be a source of mercury, a known neurotoxin

I run every day and eat healthier than many 20 year olds, but I can't lose freaking weight. I've been trying, but it just doesn't happen.

My family is all fat, and I'm the thinnest of the herd. So I know genetics is huge because I'm doing everything I can, and still can't lose it all.

I wish I could.

We need to start tracking them. Anyone with a BMI that's slightly higher than normal, we should start tattooing a serial number on their forearm... maybe even a barcode to make it a bit more modern.


I'm not really sure who to "blame"...

We need to compare history to present time, what's changed. Do we think that the government being too nanny has caused our citizens to not be able to think for themselves and be stupid and eat like pigs? Or is it that the food we eat has changed considerably?

Although I think people have become too dependant on government, I tend to think really that the food available to us has changed (we know this to be a fact actually). There are so many preservatives, and all kinds of other crap in our foods that never existed. When I visit another country and I eat their foods (specifically, Thailand, or non-commercialized parts of Europe), the food seems much healthier. Then, when I finally return to the awesome US of A... the feed feels SOOOOOOOOO heavy, and I feel weighed down. Because our society is getting more and more fat, we are expecting larger and larger portions too. So... restaurants are offering more and more food.

I'd like everyone to remember the first time they went to a cruise, and saw the melee that ensued when the buffet line was opened. How much of a mad-house was it? You know what I'm talking about... that fat lady that cut in line to grab 10 pieces of bacon with her bare hands (not using the tongs, and helping to spread the Norwalk virus), or how about that big fat older guy who hit up the ice cream dispenser with a huge bowl from the SOUP table, mashed two brownies at the bottom, and topped it with like three pounds of icecream, and loads of sprinkles, nuts, and then caramel which he let drool down the side and all over the ground.

This is what our society has become... a mad dash to eat as much food as we can possibly shove in our faces, for as cheaply as possible. Why... just last night, I forced a WHOLE medium pizza down my face in one sitting for $5.99.


Here's a paper I wrote for college on childhood obesity: http://www.pontiacperforman...s/ObesityCulture.pdf

quote Originally posted by theBDub: I run every day and eat healthier than many 20 year olds, but I can't lose freaking weight. I've been trying, but it just doesn't happen. My family is all fat, and I'm the thinnest of the herd. So I know genetics is huge because I'm doing everything I can, and still can't lose it all. I wish I could.

You're just exercising wrong. Most people do. Although there is genetic body types, people can burn fat, you have to understand some basic human physiology.

Look up Krebs Cycle

quote Originally posted by Wichita: You're just exercising wrong. Most people do. Although there is genetic body types, people can burn fat, you have to understand some basic human physiology. Look up Krebs Cycle

I looked it up, but I didn't get it. I'm not smart enough to see through all the TCA metacholariadondrianism talk

I've been successful in keeping my weight lower than my family, but I can't seem to really lose much. Can you simplify what Wikipedia said about Krebs Cycle? I really didn't understand it.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: I don't think so Tbone. I don't see a problem with kids eating more healthy meals in school. The eating habits one developes in youth tend to stay with you most of your life--unless ya end up marrying someone who doesn't cook or likes to eat differently. otoh, I think T-bone steaks should be outlawed.

Outlaw Tbones, huh?

Well maybe you dont see a problem with healthy meals in school, but plenty around here think Michelle Obama was out of line suggesting healthier meals just because of her weight. I just dont think thats the point, it is a distraction based on divisive politics, and a position simply of opposition, not one that makes sense. As usual, you bust me for making too broad of a generalization. Thanks for you POV.

quote Originally posted by theBDub: I looked it up, but I didn't get it. I'm not smart enough to see through all the TCA metacholariadondrianism talk I've been successful in keeping my weight lower than my family, but I can't seem to really lose much. Can you simplify what Wikipedia said about Krebs Cycle? I really didn't understand it.

You need Oxygen to burn fat. Most people who are new to exercising or are determine to loose weight often times turn aerobic activity into an aerobic one.

Your jogging routine, you should go at a pace where your heart beat is elevated but you are not gasping or drawing huge breaths. Rule of thumb, you should be able to have a conversation to a person next to you without breathing hard.

Then you need to sustain that pace for long time periods, for the average person they hit the Krebs cycle in about 20 minutes (reason why doctors say exercise 20-30 minutes a day).

If you are breathing deeply and or gasping for breath, you won't hit it. Meaning you are burning the sugars from your muscles and blood and not drawing energy from and burning fat.

So people think that sprinting or moving as fast and as hard as they can is burning fat. It will burn calories but will not burn fat.

quote Originally posted by Wichita: You need Oxygen to burn fat. Most people who are new to exercising or are determine to loose weight often times turn aerobic activity into an aerobic one. Your jogging routine, you should go at a pace where your heart beat is elevated but you are not gasping or drawing huge breaths. Rule of thumb, you should be able to have a conversation to a person next to you without breathing hard. Then you need to sustain that pace for long time periods, for the average person they hit the Krebs cycle in about 20 minutes (reason why doctors say exercise 20-30 minutes a day). If you are breathing deeply and or gasping for breath, you won't hit it. Meaning you are burning the sugars from your muscles and blood and not drawing energy from and burning fat. So people think that sprinting or moving as fast and as hard as they can is burning fat. It will burn calories but will not burn fat.

Oh, well I already knew all of that. That's how I exercise. So no, I don't exercise incorrectly.