"Pro-fat"/"Pro-obesity"--anyone else heard of this?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Hanna-

Pun intended??</p>

<p>In all seriousness, I a few thoughts.
First, someone wearing a shirt that says "recovering anorexic’ is, IMO, witty. If worn by an overweight person, I assume that they can laugh at themselves a bit. It’s like a couple wearing a shirt that says “I’m with stupid” with the arrow pointing to the other. This is not hurtful, it’s amusing. Don’t take these things so seriously.</p>

<p>As for restrictions on what people can purchase with foodstamps, I am all for that. It is a true shame that the poor sued for the right to eat unhealthy junk at the taxpayers expense. That is absurd. There are plenty of other government-funded programs (Medicare and Medicaid,for instance) that have restrictions on what services are covered and what are not. So, why can’t government funded entitlements have some restrictions on them as well? If the gov’t is providing their healthcare as well, it only makes sense that paying predominantly for healthy foods and limiting the amount of junk food they will pay for may lead to healthier eating habits, healthier people and lower healthcare costs. For once the government did it right, IMO, and the ACLU or similar organization jumped in to preserve the rights of the poor to make bad decisions at someone else’s expense. Besides, if these kids are eating many of their meals at school, they are getting plenty of bad food and junk food :)</p>

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<p>I agree. And i think they should start with eliminating anything with high fructose corn syrup. But they won’t, because Big Food won’t let that happen.</p>

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<p>Re: Pseudonym #18</p>

<p>Thank you for stating the obvious so clearly. Apparently the obvious isn’t clear to everyone (just as an individual’s personal struggle isn’t so obviously clear to prevent most of us from judging what we know nothing about.)</p>

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<p>So, weighing in as the average, “normal-sized” person. You know, I feel like I watch what I eat and drink at every waking moment. I am something like 5’51/2 tall and weigh something like 120-125lbs. </p>

<p>For breakfast I have tea with milk, a piece of whole grain bread toasted with butter, a cup of yoghurt with berries or some cereal in it. For lunch I have a lot to eat. I eat three carnitas soft tacos from Chipotle with guacamole. Or dim sum. Or Chinese food. Or an Indian “non-veg” thali. For dinner I will eat something like 3 oz of filet mignon and a baked potato and some grilled asparagus and I will drink 2 glasses of red wine. Then I might have one dark chocolate-coated graham cracker made by hand from Whole Foods. Or I might have 2 pieces of whole grain bread toasted with some blue cheese and then a salad with some line-caught tuna (from a very expensive can) on baby spinach and arugla and another piece of whole grain bread.</p>

<p>My food is very expensive. The only way I can get myself to eat the berries I know I should eat is to get them from Whole Foods pre-washed etc. The only way I know there is no high-fructose corn syrup in my whole grain bread and that it’s not just whole wheat flour is to buy it from La Brea bakeries. etc. I eat dark chocolate rather than ersatz Keebler’s chocolate on my chocolate graham crackers.</p>

<p>So I absolutely believe that relative affluence buys you the opportunity to eat well and still have it taste good. But are you all who are overweight actually eating the way I do and you are still overweight by 30 pounds? I mean, I just didn’t know that was possible. If it’s like that, Jesus, I feel for you. I have to talk to myself every day. No don’t get candy in the afternoon. Make sure you spread the blue cheese very thin. No second piece of toast. It is really hard. I hate it. I wish I could eat like I did when I was younger. But I do it because I want to be healthy and I prefer to look like this. If you all would have to eat even less than I do and exert even more self-control to keep your weight in range, heck, you deserve real empathy.</p>

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<p>In case anybody’s interested (and I personally was interested enough to look this up this afternoon!), I found a review on some of the recent investigation into the genetics of obesity ([Pubmed](<a href=“http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=15703762]Pubmed[/url]”>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=15703762)</a>).</p>

<p>The review says that researchers currently estimate that at least 40% and probably not more than 60% of the variation in weight between different people is due to genetics. Lifestyle, economic factors, and environment account for most of the rest of the variation.</p>

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Of course, we’re all in this environment, eating corn syrup-drenched food (remember the cereal thread? :)), but not everybody struggles with weight to the same degree. The body’s metabolic regulatory system is pretty complex, and researchers are still working out the details.</p>

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<p>molliebatmit. Wow.</p>

<p><em>runs away to thank parents</em></p>

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<p>Alumother, your post #64 could have been written by me (just substitute Ben&Jerry’s - a very small portion -for the graham cracker.) I too am very grateful to my parents!</p>

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<p>I find myself thinking about how vastly different our activity patterns are from those of our parents and earlier generations. The research on high fructose corn syrup is fascinating, and perhaps much of the recent rise in obesity can be attributed to Big Food. But I think the degree to which technology has eliminated the need for physical activity must be just as responsible. I’m not talking about laziness, choices, hiring a personal trainer to maximize one’s workout efficiency, etc. I’m thinking about how, for most Americans, obtaining water, food, and fuel requires almost no physical exertion unless they earn the funds to pay for these necessities with a physically active job. </p>

<p>I’m thinking about how I can turn on a faucet for the water I need to clean up after a meal, and my ancestors had to walk to a well, draw it out, and lug it back home. I can flick a knob on my oven to cook dinner, and previous generations had to chop and haul wood to build a fire. I just have to drag a clothes hamper down a flight of stairs to do my laundry, but my mother had to wring her clothes manually and hang them on an outdoor line, and my great-grandmother had to beat them on rocks.</p>

<p>Many of us earn our livings sitting in front of computer screens. We get to work sitting in cars. No wonder our metabolisms can’t figure out what’s up - we’ve abruptly changed a million years of human behavior. How many minutes a day do I have to put in on the treadmill on purpose to equal what my grandmother burned off unintentionally?</p>

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<p>Sax, I have nothing but compassion for people who struggle with losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight! It is NOT as easy as just “not eating.” </p>

<p>Just not eating, denying yourself food comfort, is one of the most difficult things to do in our society of plenty. </p>

<p>If you think in evolutionary terms, our bodies are not genetically different or evolved from those of our Stone Age ancestors, who lived their whole lives mostly hungry. Our bodies, including our brains, are programmed to feast when there is plenty. This was to build up fat storage for the times of famine or extreme physical effort. So a typical week for early humans might look like this: Monday: a few nuts/berries; Tuesday: water; Wednesday: big kill, feast on deer; Thursday: still gorging; Friday: deer gone, only berries; Saturday: no food, water only; Sunday: nuts and berries. Or something like that. Plus no sitting around, people were hunting, gathering, running from danger, very physically active. They stuffed themselves when they could and drank water when they couldn’t.</p>

<p>Now, we are able to gorge every single day on 10 times the calories we need, with no physical effort required at all! Everytime you walk by the workplace counter where someone has brought brownies or cookies or scones, it’s a trigger to eat. It’s almost impossible not to partake. This is merely our genetic programming. And yes, our recent ancestors had this programming, too, but food was not as available, convenient or cheap (i.e. corn syrup), portions were smaller, buffets were not the norm, food was limited to 3 meals a day by cultural decree, etc…</p>

<p>So “just not eating” is extremely difficult when it is hardwired into us. This is where my compassion comes in. I get it. </p>

<p>Still, the choice is there. We can try to change the culture (which will take a long time and most of us will be too old to personally benefit), we can wait for a pill, we can do nothing and just hope our fat doesn’t wreak havoc with our endocrine system, wear out our joints, etc… or we can do the most difficult thing and change ourselves and go against the flow of both our culture and our genetic hardwiring. There is no one way to do this that will work for everyone, but to do nothing and just accept obesity as the new normal should not be an acceptable option.</p>

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<p>Re: Bay #38 - “While it may be true that a person’s metabolism may be so messed up that she cannot lose the weight, it is overeating that caused the weight gain in the first place.”</p>

<p>Sooo… you somehow know that statement to be true? I spoke earlier about the difficulties that my wife has in losing weight despite a constant struggle and absolute awareness of the obvious conclusions that are being made on this post (deep breath) and I can tell you that despite your semi-amusing simplistic declaration she has struggled with this issue her entire life. I can also say with absolute certainly that I know several people in the same situation.</p>

<p>Yes, yes. Of COURSE overeating of fatty junk foods and a sedantary life-style OBVIOUSLY contributes to an overweight epidemic that CAN be controlled (except for the overwhelming advertising that works so hard in the opposite direction) if only everyone were as wonderful as those self-righteous people who actually think that what they are doing is just so simple for everyone to do.</p>

<p>i.e. I used to do two hours of yoga everyday and lived an absolutely perfectly healthy lifestyle of strict vegitarianism (where I had a slice of pizza once a year and never anything as unhealthy as a bagel) and slept 4 hours a night and if I ever got sick it would be over in a few hours and didn’t have an ounce of fat on me AND (deep breath) couldn’t understand why everyone didn’t do what I did to be healthy. Well, fact is, I can’t seem to do it myself now and I’m 40 lbs more then I was then and obviously not as healthy. That WAS a situation where a healthy lifestyle had a profound affect on my entire life. But I’m willing to wager that most people are not able to make that kind of committment. And I’m also willing to wager that MOST people who exercise and eat right also have the “right” metabolism and have ALWAYS been basically healthy. And the final corrollory that MOST people who are overweight have actually struggled with that condition most of their lives despite their best efforts.</p>

<p>Go ahead. Believe it or not. I’m willing to wager that that those conditions are basically true in MOST situations. The fact is, the struggle that most people go through is NOT as simple as the people who don’t struggle with that particular condition think that it is.</p>

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<p>I have fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries,blackberries picked from my garden for breakfast. I know what goes in it because I don’t spray and everything is organic. I grow my own vegetables, fruit, berries for years. There is less vitamin lost when you pick your own vegs and it go straigth to the kitchen.
I don’t buy stuff from Costco, somehow they look too artificially good and the large package seems too much for one family to comsume. In addition, I tried to buy mostly wild fish, ie not farm. They are more expensive but it’s worth it in the long run.
Yes I do watch what I eat, but not the amount, not the calories, but mainly where the food is coming from.
I have not been sick(knock on wood) or ill due to flu, cold, or anything while surrounding by family members that are, for the last few years. I’m not fat, nor am I thin as I was when I was in my early 20’s.</p>

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<p>Last time I saw my doctor, she told me to lose weight. I said “any ideas on how to do that?”
“Get more exercise.”
“I walk 4 to 5 miles five times a week. I lift weights with a trainer twice a week. I compete in a dog performance sport on weekends.”
“Okay, see a nutritionist.”
So I saw the nutritionist. Who told me what I was eating was just fine, and that I should be losing about two pounds a week, based on my exercise levels and calorie levels. (She also told me I ate more healthily than she did.)</p>

<p>I’m not. In fact, my weight has stayed the same for the three years I’ve been doing this.</p>

<p>Oh yes, and my HDL/LDL ratio is 1. It’s supposed to be “under 3.” My blood pressure is low normal–about 110/75 last time it was checked.</p>

<p>Any other bright ideas? Those of you who think it’s easy… it’s not.</p>

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<p>I think I should post, because for a good portion of my life I was obese. Anyway here are some of my opinions/beliefs/thoughts:</p>

<p>Speaking from experience, my weight was purely due to my addiction with food. I literally was addicted to food, including Wendy’s, McDonalds, soda, and everything in between. If our house ran out of soda I would have a temper tantrum until my parents went out and got more. As a result I grew to be about 190 pounds (I’m short, and even shorter back then). My health was pretty horrible, I had high blood pressure, I couldn’t even jog a block (keep in mind I was 10 (probably younger) - 15 years old). I had to be given an inhaler so I could just participate in a sport. During these years I also extremely depressed, which I blame on the food, in addition to being made fun of so much during jr. high.</p>

<p>I completely resent my parents for that. In part, they were responsible for so much of my miserableness. But they kept feeding my addiction, that they created. I don’t see it any different than them starving me. If it wasn’t for -me- I wouldn’t have lost the weight, especially since they were of no support when I made the decision to change.</p>

<p>Genetics aren’t on my side to say the least. Most of my family is overweight. But eventually I lost 65 pounds. I ate less and moved more. I’ve read some of the articles presented in this thread, but I still believe that the weight gain we’ve seen in the years is due to the increase in technology (which makes it easier for us to not move), and decrease in the quality of food. I take all new research studies lightly. Do you know how many things supposedly contribute to cancer? I can’t take them all serious otherwise I’d be in a dark corner in my room.</p>

<p>I believe even if people are healthy presently being overweight it will catch up with them. Smoking and drinking excessively usually takes a while to catch up with people. Do some never experience health effects? Yeah sure, but I would say most do. Not to mention that as many get older they already are experiencing other problems that make it harder from them to move as it is. Let alone having an extra 100 pounds on you. </p>

<p>I feel for people who may have to purchase two seats on an airline. I never got to that point, but I can imagine how embarrassing it may be. Sometimes people need to face the harsh reality though. Some people don’t realize how big they are until they can’t fit in their car, or have to purchase two airline seats. I also don’t believe we should making huge cars, or increasing how large the seats of the airplane are. Its like trying to put a band-aid on a gun shot wound. We’re not truly addressing the problem.</p>

<p>Also, if some people on this board say they eat as little as they do you might be doing more harm than good. Either your body is too used to the calories and foods you’re eating and you need to mix it up, or you’re in “starvation mode.” You’re not getting enough calories for your body and it thinks you’re starving, so every time you eat it will do its best at storing it away as fat, and becomes extremely good at it. However we’re not cavemen, and most of us won’t need fat to help us with the famine… because there is none. In general no adult should be eating less than 1,200 calories, but the way some of you make it seem, you’re getting far less.</p>

<p>All that being said, I would like to add I would never ever “put down” an overweight person or pass judgment. When I meet overweight people I don’t think “Oh wow, their eating habits must be horrible.” Thats just weird. I don’t think we should be promoting unhealthy lifestyles nor making excuses but we also shouldn’t put people down because we deem them as unhealthy. None of my friends, thin or thick eat healthy. Actually, it seems the thinner they are, the worse they eat. So I totally realize thin people can be just as unhealthy - on the inside - as an overweight person. However the excess fat of an overweight person adds additional health problems in the long run. I wouldn’t even like myself if I didn’t like those who I thought made unhealthy decisions.</p>

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<p>markphotog-
I suspect you know this, but your wife needs not to starve herself. She needs to eat throughout the day. From another website:

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<p>MarkPhotog, yep. This is the truth. </p>

<p>It is a huge commitment to become educated about nutrition, to develop coping mechanisms that will prevent taking in too many calories even though they are free/cheap/always available/taste great/comforting, to exercise enough or with enough intensity when it’s so easy not to just sit and sit and sit. I honestly think that besides learning to be a semi-good parent, losing weight was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done and trying to maintain the loss is just as hard, in fact harder, (because there is a rush of momentum as the pounds drop, but maintenance is just boring and it’s so hard to just walk by the food as if it weren’t there.)</p>

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<p>soad-
We crossposted about the starvation. And CONGRATS on the weight loss!</p>

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<p>Great post, S0ad. Welcome to CC.</p>

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<p>Re: collegialmom Post #37 </p>

<p>“How many centuries does this go back with this tribe? Is it a recent phenomenon? There is a very high rate of alcohol consumption currently in Native American tribes. How do these calories figure into the works? Alcohol is VERY high caloric.”</p>

<p>Yes, and Native Americans have a high genetic propensity towards alcoholism. Which is, of course, considered a medical condition.</p>

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<p>But there are plenty of alcoholics, mark, who are not obese.</p>

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<p>Alumother: I would absolutely gain weight on the diet you describe. I gain weight on weightwatchers. I understand that those of you who are thin and “watch what you eat” think you understand and feel virtuous. This would be like my taking credit for my genetic make-up which has endowed me with a phdenomenal memory and extremely high I.Q. (My obese dad had a 180 I.Q.) Yes, I studued and did all my work in school, but so did most of my classmates who couldn’t begin to produce the results I did. Was I virtuous or lucky? I’d say lucky.</p>

<p>About my childhood. My mom (who married an overweight man and resented him for it) was extremely thin and resented my dad. I started out extremely thin, but due to her cigarette smoking developed so many respiratory infections that I needed a tonsellectomy, and I developed asthma. After my tonsellectomy at 3 I starting gaining weight. My very looks conscious mom was appalled. I assure you I did NOT abuse food. Brother got chocolate milk, I got disgusting powdered skim milk (I poured down the sink.) Brother had boxes of ring dings, yodels, ice cream etc., whereas I was strictly forbidden to eat any of these things (at 4 and 5 years old.)</p>

<p>Many of the conclusions on this thread are just not accurate, and posters seem to want to go to great lengths to defend an erroneous point of view.</p>

<p>BTW: Although most of my classes involve so much laughing sometimes teachers next door pop their heads in, I find nothing amusing about the pun “massive evidence.”</p>