The "obesity epidemic" is bogus

[Skel]

The nation is a product of a "I want it now" mentality. We have the ability to (over)indulge without having to put forth an equal or greater amount of effort in order to have it. We see it both in our waistlines and our debt.

Ever notice that the people who are the most financially challenged have the largest waistlines? Why is it that people who are the most fiscally fit are typically equally physically fit?

Good question. Ive noticed that in lower income areas there are more fast food joints. I think people think they are saving money by buying from the 99cent menus. I dont know just speculation.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Good question. Ive noticed that in lower income areas there are more fast food joints. I think people think they are saving money by buying from the 99cent menus. I dont know just speculation.

You'd be surprised. Take a good look the next time that you can and take note of the things that seem to be geared more so to one particular socio-economic group. Notice that one focuses of providing services which greatly leverages disposable income and consumption.

 

[Roly]

I can't wait until Fat becomes the new "cool".

Yeah to the point where celebrities starts endorsing it.

Oprah becomes fat again along with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

The length of a basketball court is reduce to 10 feet and game time is only 2 quarters because fat people dont have that much endurance.

Suddenly its not anorexia, its Blow-atopia, its a condition where a girl becomes so freakin self conscious of her body because she thinks she's not fat enough to get validation from others.

Skinny and fit people are looked down on and considered just plain nasty by a lot of people.

Yeah with the way things are going right now, it might turn out that way in 200 years or so.

 

[Master Bates]

I can't wait until Fat becomes the new "cool".

Yeah to the point where celebrities starts endorsing it.

Oprah becomes fat again along with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

The length of a basketball court is reduce to 10 feet and game time is only 2 quarters because fat people dont have that much endurance.

Suddenly its not anorexia, its Blow-atopia, its a condition where a girl becomes so freakin self conscious of her body because she thinks she's not fat enough to get validation from others.

Skinny and fit people are looked down on and considered just plain nasty by a lot of people.

Yeah with the way things are going right now, it might turn out that way in 200 years or so.

no.

 

[Omen]

Yeah, your post is not on target, sorry, Americans ARE getting worse. I dont know what you are reading, or where you live, but if it isn't America, you need to come here. If it is, then i'd suggest opening your eyes a bit more and reading the news.

Obesity is a HUGE problem, and I guarantee it.

And if this doesn't prove my point...

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=b2362be6-3f60-4734-bc3a-4e2ade4d6061&f=msnhome&fg=email

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Yeah, your post is not on target, sorry, Americans ARE getting worse. I dont know what you are reading, or where you live, but if it isn't America, you need to come here. If it is, then i'd suggest opening your eyes a bit more and reading the news.

Obesity is a HUGE problem, and I guarantee it.

And if this doesn't prove my point...

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=b2362be6-3f60-4734-bc3a-4e2ade4d6061&f=msnhome&fg=email

Sad....

 

[Omen]

Good question. Ive noticed that in lower income areas there are more fast food joints. I think people think they are saving money by buying from the 99cent menus. I dont know just speculation.

Some say its because of the education, and that with a lower income (real low) comes a lower education and that they aren't educated enough.

While that could be true to some extent, I think its all common sense, that if you eat like sh*t all the time, you'll look like it too.

There is a lot more of it in the schools as well too (aside from income) lunches in some places are terrible, and the vending machines are packed with nothing but crap.

SOME schools are ok, and have great choices out of a vending machine, and decent lunches, but some dont. The thing about some of this is, is the fact that some of these companies pay money for schools to carry vending machines.

I know a high school where I live, that gets 400k per year from coke to carry coke products. Now I doubt you'll ever get pop out of the schools, but what school would turn down 400k?

Kids never used to be obese at 4 and 5 and be diabetic years and years ago, so we cant say it isn't a problem. Just look at many of the kids today. What do they do? Eat crap and play video games.

Oh yeah, and some schools want to cut PE cause you cant cut math, history, or any of that stuff, so PE and music stuff has to get cut.

Its better to know the presidents I guess, than to stay healthy. A fat kid knowing the presidents is better than a healthy one who doesn't. :kick:

 

[A-Unit]

Re:

Er...Bogus?

Health is a matter of perspective, as is longevity. If you live 10 years, but on life-support, are you "alive?" To me, that's what most people are doing to themselves.

Around my office alone, there's about 1 person out of 20 that are in OK shape, and he's on Heart Meds for blood pressure. While those meds weren't around 20 years ago, you could argue that diet/food contribute to these problems at the source.

It boggles my mind how you came up with this DD, after your vehement opposition toward 'the Secret.' That was at least remotely intelligent, even if it was biased, loaded with arrogance, chock full of incongruities.

Suffice it to say...MOST people are obese BEYOND their BMI. Just look at them! Does their stomach hang over their pants? What's the BF% of the person? Are they even ACTIVE beyond walking around to and fro?

Studies have found people are eating LESS calories and are actually LESS active. I know, I know. A-unit, you're nuts, they're eating MORE. No, they're not. More activity = more calories = more calories burned = more calories consumed. Plenty of nutritional books support this.

Consider even the construction worked vs the desk jokey? Even in modern times, our active workers burn/consume more than desk workers. It's just that...the calories your average desk worker consumes are more than they burn = weight gain. People who worked the fields, the factories, built the buildings, etc, would burn several thousand calories/day.

PEOPLE ARE FATTER.
THEY ARE LESS ACTIVE or NOT ACTIVE AT ALL.
THEY CONSUME LESS CALORIES, BUT MOST ARE NOT BURNED THROUGH ACTIVITY, ONLY SURVIVAL.

This epidemic is true and real.

MOST of the food bought and consumed are carbohydrates...just check out the supermarket...carbs can be invented and engineered. What can you do to meat or fish that hasn't been done to it already? Moreover...anything beyond healthful creation of a fish or meat dinner is adding bad and unncessary calories...ie frying or baking it.

MOST shopping carts are JAMMED with carb goodies...breads, sodas, cookies, crackers. The vegetables people down are few and far between.

But alas...life is your own. Do as you will. Believe as you will. I'm only reporting the facts. View life through your own perception and don't let people tell you...just have them guide. Consider the opposition so you have sound judgement.

A-Unit

 

[Bible_Belt]

I looked at some Ethiopian mail order bride ads. There's no such thing as a fat Ethiopian. I hardly saw a woman over 120 pounds. The typical woman's body there would place her in the top 5% here.

 

[Microphone Fiend]

Americans are fat. Call it what you want.

2nded

 

[Deep Dish]

I don't want to spend too much time on this post because I have a weekend to attend to, but this article pretty much sums up the case for the overexaggeration of obesity: “Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic?” (Scientific American)

Again, no doubt, there are many many people who are overweight and obese, and it isn't the best for your health, but national health crisis?

The "epidemic" refers to a sudden increase in obesity, not its mere existence.

 

[belividere]

The reason that it is a national health crisis is that the past 40 yrs of american medicine have provided ways to detect problems before they occur, diagnose current problems, and extend life despite problems. It is less a crisis then a new found ability for doctors in the US to diagnose or pre-determine. It is equivalent to saying cancer rates have risen in the same time frame even with an understanding that cancer detection was not very sophisticated so many years ago and more cancer related deaths went marked as natural.

False indicators like BMI used as national standards in the US make obesity appear more common then they are. I would be surprised if the obesity rates in the rest of the world aren't rising in accordance to those of the US but not measured with the same vigilance given the lack of governmental agencies like the NIH. At my height and weight I register as obese on the traditional BMI scale even though I have about 10% BF. Working out and having muscle is a negative on the BMI scale.

Many american cities are built for driving which leads to sedimentary life styles compared to walking cities in older countries. I think the biggest difference that anyone would find in obesity between the US and the rest of the world is based on geography. I'd be suprised if any city has as many healthy occupants as a place like NY, specifically manhattan, or any other major metro area in the US.

 

[Luthor Rex]

I don't want to spend too much time on this post because I have a weekend to attend to, but this article pretty much sums up the case for the overexaggeration of obesity: “Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic?” (Scientific American)

Again, no doubt, there are many many people who are overweight and obese, and it isn't the best for your health, but national health crisis?

I see the point of the article -- but somehow I doubt anyone is going to listen to it...

The idea that being fat is worse on your appearance than on your actual health isn't a line most people are going to buy because it's so counter-intuitive.

Maybe these guys are right that being fat isn't all that (medically) bad, I mean stranger things have happened. My personal understanding, and from what I've seen of the obese people I know and what seems to be in the article: being fat makes existing medical conditions worse but doesn't seem to actually be the direct cause of the problem.

So if this article is correct, and further research backs it up, then fat would still be bad for you but only in an indirect way. Indirect in that other health issues will be worse for you but the fat itself won't make you sick.

Fat still gets a thumbs down.

But... and oh gods I hate to say this...

The hatred of fat people needs to stop, and it needs to stop for the same reason that racists or sexists or any other group that it's generally 'ok' to poo-poo should not be hated: We cannot solve a problem unless we can see the world with clear and open eyes.

Yes, the racist's position may be contemptable but we need to see the why's and wherefore's clearly so that the racist's arguments (most people justify their hate in some 'rational way') can be countered, and a real working solution can be found. Hate, anger and contempt will only get in the way of that goal.

Look at Richard Dawkins: he may be right about god, but he's being a d!ck the way he's going about things. People won't be swayed by him because he comes off as a jackazz. No one's even going to examine his arguments for their credibility because of his attitude. If he would tone down being a d!ck people may listen to him...

The same is true for fat people: the more they are made fun of the more they will say "**** you!" and run and hide and spiral into a world of self-hate. If you really want to see less fat people in the world then you need to lead them, not belittle them. Do you really think most of them don't already hate themselves? The level of contempt they get isn't deserving of what they have done. The damage is primarily to themselves. It's not like they are going around burning a cross on every black family's lawn.

Fat people need help, not contempt. Contempt won't make the problem go away, but leadership will.



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Wow that was uncharacteristically levelheaded of me.