Obesity a disease!

[karrie]

Even if self induced? If it's a genetic thing, fine and dandy, if it's lifestyle...fix your lifestyle.

All obesity is genetic. We are wired, like all organisms, to consume the most calories in the easiest possible way. It's how we got here as a species.

We've hit a point where calories are so cheap, and so plentiful, and we have to do so little work to get them, that we are becoming obese as a species because of it. Most slim people I know aren't slim naturally. If they did what their bodies naturally want to do, they would be obese as well. Most slim people are that way due to consciously overriding their body's natural drives to eat and rest, or by building obstacles to it into their daily activity (such as choosing a physical career).

 

[petros]

I don't know about that. There are people who eat whatever the hell they want and are still sticks.

 

[JLM]

All obesity is genetic. We are wired, like all organisms, to consume the most calories in the easiest possible way. It's how we got here as a species.

We've hit a point where calories are so cheap, and so plentiful, and we have to do so little work to get them, that we are becoming obese as a species because of it. Most slim people I know aren't slim naturally. If they did what their bodies naturally want to do, they would be obese as well. Most slim people are that way due to consciously overriding their body's natural drives to eat and rest, or by building obstacles to it into their daily activity (such as choosing a physical career).

"All" includes quite a lot, Karrie!

I don't know about that. There are people who eat whatever the hell they want and are still sticks.

You're right, Petros. I think obesity is more the result of lifestyles than genetics.

 

[petros]

"All" includes quite a lot, Karrie!

You're right, Petros. I think obesity is more the result of lifestyles than genetics.

I'd say both,

 

[karrie]

I don't know about that. There are people who eat whatever the hell they want and are still sticks.

Of course there are. I never claimed there weren't. They often have genetic reasons for it too, like hyper activity, high thyroid function, etc.

"All" includes quite a lot, Karrie!

uhm, yeah, it includes 'all'.

Do you think there is a single obese person out there who the root of their issue isn't that they eat more than they should, or have an illness like slow thyroid, etc? I have yet to hear of an obese anorexic.

You're right, Petros. I think obesity is more the result of lifestyles than genetics.

*faceplam* my point was that our lifestyle IS genetic.

We fall into 'optimal foraging theory' the same as any other organism on the planet.

 

[petros]

It's what you gorge on. Which is lifestyle.

 

[karrie]

"Genes load the gun, environment pulls the trigger."

You gorge because you're programmed to consume the most calories in the easiest possible way, like every other organism on earth. In the past, our environment wasn't set up in such a cushy way that it meant a massive obesity epidemic. Now our environment enables it drastically. But that doesn't stop the fact that the base of it is the genetic programming.

(Google 'obesity, overeating, and optimal foraging theory' for some interesting articles on the complexity of it)

 

[petros]

It's what you choose to gorge on that is lifestyle. A bag of chips and pepsi or a couple apples. Both are available at you local convenience store. It's lifestyle that makes your choice not genes.

 

[JLM]

Of course there are. I never claimed there weren't. They often have genetic reasons for it too, like hyper activity, high thyroid function, etc.



uhm, yeah, it includes 'all'.

Do you think there is a single obese person out there who the root of their issue isn't that they eat more than they should, or have an illness like slow thyroid, etc? I have yet to hear of an obese anorexic.



*faceplam* my point was that our lifestyle IS genetic.

We fall into 'optimal foraging theory' the same as any other organism on the planet.

I would be more inclined to say more cases of obesity are the result of consuming more calories than they burn off, more so than genetic.

 

[karrie]

I would be more inclined to say more cases of obesity are the result of consuming more calories than they burn off, more so than genetic.

lol. uh huh... and *why* do they consume more calories than they burn?

The how of obesity is clear. You're forgetting all the 'why's.

 

[Sal]

When I eat clean, and walk and swim, my body will regulate the calories itself, burn them efficiently and give me high energy with little effort from me. The effort involved is merely choosing the correct food that is nutrient dense and of course preparation takes way longer.

When I am eating junk my body craves more, more more "goodies" even when not hungry. It is also quite easy to over ride the full feeling and have more more more.

 

[JLM]

lol. uh huh... and *why* do they consume more calories than they burn?

The how of obesity is clear. You're forgetting all the 'why's.

There is no shortage of "whys" Karrie. Boredom, laziness, lack of education, apathy, etc. etc.

 

[karrie]

There is no shortage of "whys" Karrie. Boredom, laziness, lack of education, apathy, etc. etc.

Oh wow. You're quite the expert on how awful obese people are hey?

 

[JLM]

Oh wow. You're quite the expert on how awful obese people are hey?

Well, I suppose that is one way of putting it. More apt might be in recognizing what I'm seeing when I walk down town and see people in their 30s and 40s huffing and puffing as they walk down the sidewalk.

 

[karrie]

Well, I suppose that is one way of putting it. More apt might be in recognizing what I'm seeing when I walk down town and see people in their 30s and 40s huffing and puffing as they walk down the sidewalk.

People out walking are uneducated and lazy?

Very interesting. Tell me more.

 

[JLM]

People out walking are uneducated and lazy?

Very interesting. Tell me more.

Are you saying they're not? I wouldn't make that assumption.

 

[karrie]

Are you saying they're not? I wouldn't make that assumption.

I'm not saying diddly squat. I'm too lazy and uneducated to bother. I'm just absorbing the fact that if I go out and actually walk around to get some exercise, it proves I'm lazy. It's an interesting paradox for us fatties.

 

[EagleSmack]

But here is the bell ringer.

Will obesity be classified as a disability since it's now considered a disease?

This comes to mind...

Just around the corner I'd say. I am sure it already is under the guises of the other diseases that it causes.

Even if self induced? If it's a genetic thing, fine and dandy, if it's lifestyle...fix your lifestyle.

Self-induced... in the US that already has an excuse... environment, education, etc.

Telling or even asking someone to fix their life style is mean spirited and darn right bigoted Petros. The days of personal responsibility are long gone here in the US. There is always someone or something to blame for abusive, addicted, poor choices, and poor behavior.

it's what you choose to gorge on that is lifestyle. A bag of chips and pepsi or a couple apples. Both are available at you local convenience store. It's lifestyle that makes your choice not genes.

boom!

 

[Kreskin]

It isn't like cavemen had to go to the gym. The lifestyles of first world economies force us to endure pain just to stay "normal" weight. It all seems very unusual for the human condition to live the way we do. Not that cavemen didnt endure pain, but what they did was by necessity, not choice.

 

[JLM]

I'm not saying diddly squat. I'm too lazy and uneducated to bother. I'm just absorbing the fact that if I go out and actually walk around to get some exercise, it proves I'm lazy. It's an interesting paradox for us fatties.

Why would you jump to that conclusion?