• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Obesity among US adults reaches all-time high, 40% of adults and 19% of kids

2 things explain it that most don't want to admit: cheap, shitty processed foods in combination with the internet/media.

Sedintary screen time is at an all time high. We are all becoming much more introverted as a society to our detriment.
 

PerkeyMan

Member
Speaking about energy in vs energy out: Yes, it is that simple. What's NOT simple is all the different factors you have to take into account when calculating how much energy you have to "get rid of" to lose weight.

So when people assume it's Energy in = Energi out ± stored energy (stored as in fat, glycogen or protein) they leave out the following:

- the body don't store 100% of the energy you consume
- the energy your body uses just to function: BMR.
- the energy you use to break down food which is called Thermic effect of food (TEF).
- the energy the body use during spontaneus physical activity called NEAT
- the energy you use during for example a workut called TEA

So the formula now goes like this:

Energy in food - energy you don't store = TEF + BMR + NEAT + TEA ± stored energy.

For example NEAT is very interesting and poeple don't tend to believe these things when explained to them, but movements you don't "control" or know your doing can have a huge effect on yout total energy usage.
 
I can understand the nutrition confusion in this thread. It does feel like every year there is a different idea on what is good and what is bad. I too have heard that "fruit is bad for you". It usually comes from the "all sugar is bad" people. There is the "all fat is bad" people, the "some fat is good" people, the "eat all the fat you want, but no carbs" people. For pure weight loss, though, I find that you have to ignore all of that and just concentrate on calories in vs. calories out. If you are sedentary like me you can't expect to eat a 2500 calorie diet and be healthy. My main struggle with eating healthy is I have cravings for things that are gigantic calorie boosters. I have a sweet tooth and like to have a few drinks now and then to be social. I really do need to find some social/group activities to do that don't focus on food and drink or sitting around.
 

Vuci

Member
Steak, pork, bacon, eggwhites, mushrooms, halo top ice cream, la croix, chicken, turkey, pastrami, tomatoes, onions, mustard, zero sugar bbq sauce, swedish crackers, some cheeses, almond milk... are some of the things I eat.

I stopped eating pizza, soda, potatoes, burgers, bread, milk, sugary things, fast food in general.. no cheat days. I just stopped. My whole metabolism changed after a few weeks of cutting out sugar. I have a lot more energy too.

I noticed that before my diet change I was always hungry, even after eating whole pizza’s and boxes of 12 bagels, I always wanted more. I blame the sugars and lack of nutrition. Now? I eat whenever I’m hungry and until I’m full.

Recently I discovered some special zero sugar low carb bagels, bars and tortilla’s via netrition.com so I can even enjoy those. But I recommend not replacing any of the ‘bad’ foods until six months in.

I sit down 12+ hours/ day for seven days a week and I have gone from 230lbs to 157lbs in 9 months, without excercise. And without starving. I am 6 2.

I went from a XXL to a S.
 

Aiustis

Member
It's not a matter of it being cheaper to eat garbage food. It's just more convenient and taste better.

Not to mention how many people grow up mostly on stuff that is bad for you.
 

Nikodemos

Member
You really want a government to control what you eat?
Uhhh, you do know it already does?

Not to mention how many people grow up mostly on stuff that is bad for you.
That's actually a bigger problem with children than adults. Adults can make a conscious effort to try and change their eating habits, but children lack this amount of willpower and tend to shun unfamiliar things, unless taught from a very young age to try new foods. This is why lunch programmes have run into issues in several areas.
 

Yeoman

Member
You guys medical professionals? Thyroid problems can really mess up weight loss.
It isn't impossible though. If he eats less calories than his body requires then he will lose weight.
It won't be very comfortable, in fact it will probably be an absolutely horrible experience but it can be done.

He isn't doomed to be "super obese" just because of an underactive thyroid I mean seriously what the hell lol.
 
Is it hypothyroidism? I have family members that suffer from that and they're definitely nowhere near obese. Then again I guess that it might affect different people differently.
 

turmoil

Banned
You really want a government to control what you eat?

That stuff isn't in the same ground with free speech and the like.

They are manufactured needs driven by profit focused corporations. Like tobacco.

--

Before starting to take thyroid hormone some months ago I always thought that not losing weight was entirely my fault.

Now it's crazy, I lose or maintain my weight almost without trying.

How the body chemical (un)balance influence things it's crazy.

If I could travel on time I would tell myself to go to an endo years ago.
 
It’s a nuanced problem, but its core is a meat based diet. Sugar is right up there, but animal protein should not be central to diet. A burger is a treat, not everyday food.

This I agree with and surprisingly not mentioned. Animal based foods is calorically dense. There is so much calories in a small piece of meat then you see the regular portions served in fast food and restaurants. Also people forget these places fry or cook their foods in TONS of oil. They literally bathe in it. Oi is so calorically dense. Like 150-200 calories just for a tablespoon of that stuff. But also contribute significantly to inflammation in the body. One of the priors to heart disease and diabetes



Most people should be consuming whole fruits/vegetables and mostly whole grains. This low carb/high fat stuff is nonsense. I cringed when people say they're losing weight on oil and animal fat. You're just destroying your health internally.

No dismissing refined sugar it's also a problem but to put the blame on mostly sugar is wrong. The misinformation to drive people away from the health nutrient dense and fiber foods because ...sugar is ridiculous and I wish people would stop saying that. Most people probably don't even reach 5g or fiber in a day and you're suppose to have at least 30g of fiber.
 

entremet

Member
It isn't impossible though. If he eats less calories than his body requires then he will lose weight.
It won't be very comfortable, in fact it will probably be an absolutely horrible experience but it can be done.

He isn't doomed to be "super obese" just because of an underactive thyroid I mean seriously what the hell lol.

Honestly, I wouldn't know. But it seems out of my ballpark. I'm not a medical pro. However, I have heard it can be very difficult to lose weight and keep it off with a thyroid condition. Meaning conventional advice may be counterproductive.

The poster also said he talked to doctors as well.
 

Jasup

Member

Nipo

Member
It isn't impossible though. If he eats less calories than his body requires then he will lose weight.
It won't be very comfortable, in fact it will probably be an absolutely horrible experience but it can be done.

He isn't doomed to be "super obese" just because of an underactive thyroid I mean seriously what the hell lol.

Depends. Once an obese perosn's BMR gets below 1000 you cand start running into serious problems. Those are the situations where you really need a medical professional's advice because eating 800 calories a day isn't safe.
 

Yeoman

Member
Honestly, I wouldn't know. But it seems out of my ballpark. I'm not a medical pro. However, I have heard it can be very difficult to lose weight and keep it off with a thyroid condition. Meaning conventional advice may be counterproductive.

The poster also said he talked to doctors as well.
If he lives in the US I would be extremely sceptical about anything they had to say.
Unfortunately many doctors over there would prbabably be quite happy to keep him hooked on expensive thyroid medicines rather than actually assisting him with weight loss.
 

Drifters

Junior Member
I'm down in Texas and there is a new outlet mall opening which ironically is called "I Love Sugar!" I kid you not. What's worse, is their market campaign not only panders to the sweet tooth, but also the suggestive marketing which from what I can tell, doesn't have any males, just females. As seen here:
maxresdefault.jpg
i-love-sugar.jpg
My point as I've read through quite a few of the comments here is obviously people dealing with identity of self given the health statistics numbers and quite frankly, I find it disgusting that of all things, a candy shop seem to promoting sugar and sex. I suppose tho with all things America, it seems to be par for our course.
Link: https://www.ilovesugar.com/
 

Nikodemos

Member
It has a massive DIRECT impact.
I was talking about the application of control.

It's not direct, like a mandate, ex. mandating that foods contain a certain % of whatever, but rather indirect, in the subsidy affecting the opportunity cost of using other ingredients.
 

paskowitz

Member
From a 6, 2" tall guy who can never get above 180 lbs no matter how hard I try. it's always surprising how fast others around me gain weight in a matter of weeks. We all eat the same lunch at work and it's a very physical job but these guys are gaining 30 - 40 Lbs while I lose 10 Lbs it's crazy.

I too hit the genetic lottery on this point. 6 3" 190 +/-10lbs. I never deviate from that. Heaviest I've ever been was 206. I don't gain weight and lose it pretty quickly. Father is the same. Brother is not.

I think it is important to realize that some people face the opposite. Diet, exercise and discipline are still critical but for sure it is an up hill battle.
 

Supast4r

Junior Member
.

I roll my eyes every time a poster blame their toxic food culture and week minds on "work life balance!""no access to healthy food!" Bullsh*t. Asian Americans live in the same country as you blacks and whites and latinos and they do much better than you. Stop blaming outside factors and start cutting your junk food.
So there is this thing called genetics that makes this argument look dumb.....
 

Supast4r

Junior Member
I think that's one the big issues we can't solve the problem because we can't talk about in fear of people getting offended or labeled to hate fat people. There is some half truths in the way society is normalizing being fat. But health wise it's not ok
The issue is that people attack people rather than telling them that they care about their well being.
 

Yeoman

Member
You don't know his life and he didn't ask you for advice
Is this your first time online?

If he doesn't want someone commenting then he shouldn't have entered a thread specifically about obesity and announce:
"I'm super obese and there is nothing I can do about it".

Did you really think people were just going to ignore something like that?
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
Speaking about energy in vs energy out: Yes, it is that simple. What's NOT simple is all the different factors you have to take into account when calculating how much energy you have to "get rid of" to lose weight.

So when people assume it's Energy in = Energi out ± stored energy (stored as in fat, glycogen or protein) they leave out the following:

- the body don't store 100% of the energy you consume
- the energy your body uses just to function: BMR.
- the energy you use to break down food which is called Thermic effect of food (TEF).
- the energy the body use during spontaneus physical activity called NEAT
- the energy you use during for example a workut called TEA

So the formula now goes like this:

Energy in food - energy you don't store = TEF + BMR + NEAT + TEA ± stored energy.

For example NEAT is very interesting and poeple don't tend to believe these things when explained to them, but movements you don't "control" or know your doing can have a huge effect on yout total energy usage.

People also need to factor in that different macronutrients are used for different purposes by the body. You can't use carbs to repair or create new cells for example.

The desire to treat all food equally as one big number in the form of calories and pretend that the body tallies up this number and subtracts from it energy spent in calories at the end of an arbitrary 24-hour window to determine whether it gains or reduces fat is just absurd.
 
I literally no nothing about eating healthy ...... I'm 32 years old

I don't know how to cook, I've done it a few times and I know how to bake, I can make brownies and follow recipes, but I hate cooking meat, and sometimes with foods i use the meat thermometer.

Here's the problem in this thread alone

Eat your fruits and Vegetables - WHAT fucking fruits and vegetables, all i ever hear is how my favorite fruits and vegetables are bad for me and NOT to eat them. My favorite Fruits are in this order

Apples
Grapes
Oranges
Pineapple
Banana's
Watermelon
Strawberries

Like all of those are supposedly loaded with sugar and "bad" for you. Orange juice makes your insulin level's spike, even the pure shit, so everything I read says they are terrible for you.

The list of vegetables I like is quite small

Things I can eat by themselves
Carrots
Cucumbers
Potato
Sweet Potato
Corn

Everything else needs some kind of dressing or only really works in salad, thinks Like onions and tomatoes.



Then I'm told red meat is bad for you, but Steak and shit is full of protein, so what am I supposed to eat for protein when I go to the gym? I already eat a TON of chicken, but there's only so much I can eat before I get sick of it. I don't even really want to eat a ton of cards but I try to.

I have no clue where cheese fits in the equation, on a keto diet it's recommended, everywhere else its bad for you, Milk/Chocolate milk after a workout has been proven to help weight loss, but guess what, everyone says milk is bad for you. Are eggs safe to eat again? They were, then they weren't, but now they are again i hear.

Let's not mention the fact that the few times i have tried recipes out of a book or off the internet it's taken a 1/2 hour to an hour, and guess what, it was more expensive than just eating out. Panera bread is $24 for me and my girlfriend, the recipe we saw online was almost $25 to make just to feed us.

If im losing weight do I cut out carbs, do I eat protein, do I eat low GI carbs, is Peanut Butter good or bad?

I've literally read TONS of books, and I'm still confused sometimes, and this is just on eating alone.

Have you ever tried reading a book on weightloss ? the only common thing i can find among most people is that "it starts in the kitchen", but guess what I'm a bigger guy, should i be doing cardio ? well according to starting strength dont do cardio because you lost weight by building muscle. Should I be on the treadmill, or on the elliptical for hours at a time, or should I just do HIIT which is what "really burns fat" and not waste my 2 - 3 hours of free time a day on a treadmill, which quite frankly sucks. Don't even get me started on deciphering what's just "bro" science, and what actually works. Then theres the fact that I have a bum knee so just doing some class, or "running" on the treadmill isn't an option.

I'm not an idiot either, or at least I like to think I'm not, I have a college degree, and generally do my research on shit, but every time i do research I end up more confused on weight loss than ever, and have no idea which idea to follow. There's only so much cooking I am capable of, and normally if i do buy groceries and cook it only lasts about a week or so, then the next week I'm out of recipes.

Not to mention the fact that my job has me driving a couple of hours a day, so if i get hungry while I'm out driving what am i supposed to do? I am NOT the type of person that can just prepare a weeks worth of meals and then have something while I'm driving. I try to make healthier choices, like boiled eggs at the gas station, or something with alot of protein and no carbs, but sometimes your options are VERY limited.

I find a lot of people get so hung up in a lot of tiny details and end up in a giant confused mess of mixed information. If you want to lose weight (out side a few medical conditions) you can do so following a few simple rules.
Eat less calories than you burn
Food is 70-80% of it.
Exercise is great for you in so many ways, but for weight loss its only a small part.
Eat less processed foods.

Basically, buy a Fitbit (or similar). Log all your food. Set your weight loss goal to 1lb a week. Change your life.

apples and stuff are good for you. Its juice that's bad because it breaks down all the stuff that helps you digest the sugar slowly when eaten normally.

but seriously just ignore that. Eat sensibly within you calorie limit. Do some exercise for general health. Just avoid whats obviously bad for you most of the time. You can exercise just by walking as well. Does wonders. Walk on your lunch break, part of your work journey, for 30 mins at the end of the day.

all the additional stuff can have merit depending on what your goals are but just keep it simple. Look back to what difference there is with now and past generations where this was not an issue. Processed foods. Availability of junk food. Inactivity. Portion sizes.
 

Infinite

Member
Is this your first time online?

If he doesn't want someone commenting then he shouldn't have entered a thread specifically about obesity and announce:
"I'm super obese and there is nothing I can do about it".

Did you really think people were just going to ignore something like that?
I expect dudes who aren't medical professions to not try to give him advice for a condition he's been dealing with his whole life. Reading his follow up posts after other posters asked the question it's obvious he's seen a doctor and is taking medication for his condition. he didn't ask for help he was just sharing his experience. If you're not a medical professional you shouldn't try to offer any advice in that case.
 

Yeoman

Member
I expect dudes who aren't medical professions to not try to give him advice for a condition he's been dealing with his whole life. Reading his follow up posts after other posters asked the question it's obvious he's seen a doctor and is taking medication for his condition. he didn't ask for help he was just sharing his experience. If you're not a medical professional you shouldn't try to offer any advice in that case.
I'm well aware of hypothyroidism as two people in my family suffer from it.
It does not make it "literally impossible to lose weight".
I don't care what you expect, the more pertinent question is why you felt the need to speak for him in the first place?
Why are you telling me he didn't ask for advice? Cant he speak for himself?
This is an internet forum so I'll reply to whoever the fuck I like, if he doesn't want the advice he can...just not take it?

I suggest you stay well away form online discussions if you don't like people offering input.
 
People also need to factor in that different macronutrients are used for different purposes by the body. You can't use carbs to repair or create new cells for example.

The desire to treat all food equally as one big number in the form of calories and pretend that the body tallies up this number and subtracts from it energy spent in calories at the end of an arbitrary 24-hour window to determine whether it gains or reduces fat is just absurd.

for general weight loss and health you don't need to go into that level of detail. Before obesity was a huge issue people were not tracking their macro nutrients. They were just eating a balanced diet with sensible portion sizes and living more active lives.

If you are body building or something then you can worry about that shit. However if you are just overweight and want to work your way to being healthy then keep it simple. count calories, eat less, be more active, eat a mixture of things (fruit, meat, grains, bread etc). You can still eat treats. Just educate yourself in how many calories are in them and fit them in your diet here and there.

When people throw that level of information at someone who just wants to lose weight, all it will do confuse them or scare them off. It works against the cause.
 

Infinite

Member
I'm well aware of hypothyroidism as two people in my family suffer from it.
It does not make it "literally impossible to lose weight".
I don't care what you expect, the more pertinent question is why you felt the need to speak for him in the first place?
Why are you telling me he didn't ask for advice? Cant he speak for himself?
This is an internet forum so I'll reply to whoever the fuck I like, if he doesn't want the advice he can...just not take it?

I suggest you stay well away form online discussions if you don't like people offering input.
sure
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
for general weight loss and health you don't need to go into that level of detail. Before obesity was a huge issue people were not tracking their macro nutrients. They were just eating a balanced diet with sensible portion sizes and living more active lives.

If you are body building or something then you can worry about that shit. However if you are just overweight and want to work your way to being healthy then keep it simple. count calories, eat less, be more active, eat a mixture of things (fruit, meat, grains, bread etc). You can still eat treats. Just educate yourself in how many calories are in them and fit them in your diet here and there.

When people throw that level of information at someone who just wants to lose weight, all it will do confuse them or scare them off. It works against the cause.

I like how you say people weren't tracking their macro nutrients and then give advice to meticulously count calories. They weren't doing that, either.

The food that was readily available to many people was just different than it is today. The environment has changed.

Most people will find much greater success changing what they eat rather than tracking rough numbers and throwing them against other rough estimates within the same arbitrary time window.
 

MusicAndStuff

Neo Member
This I agree with and surprisingly not mentioned. Animal based foods is calorically dense. There is so much calories in a small piece of meat then you see the regular portions served in fast food and restaurants. Also people forget these places fry or cook their foods in TONS of oil. They literally bathe in it. Oi is so calorically dense. Like 150-200 calories just for a tablespoon of that stuff. But also contribute significantly to inflammation in the body. One of the priors to heart disease and diabetes



Most people should be consuming whole fruits/vegetables and mostly whole grains. This low carb/high fat stuff is nonsense. I cringed when people say they're losing weight on oil and animal fat. You're just destroying your health internally.

No dismissing refined sugar it's also a problem but to put the blame on mostly sugar is wrong. The misinformation to drive people away from the health nutrient dense and fiber foods because ...sugar is ridiculous and I wish people would stop saying that. Most people probably don't even reach 5g or fiber in a day and you're suppose to have at least 30g of fiber.


If your in ketosis oil/animal fat is your primary source of energy. There's been plenty of studies shown that keto doesn't have a harmful effect on your cholesterol or blood sugar levels, to say you're "destroying your health internally" just seems misinforming.

Fiber is encouraged and keto and because in the simplest sense they don't count in the carb count of an item. We see a high fiber count and we go "oh hell yeah".
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
Most people should be consuming whole fruits/vegetables and mostly whole grains. This low carb/high fat stuff is nonsense. I cringed when people say they're losing weight on oil and animal fat. You're just destroying your health internally.

No, they really aren't, and you have zero evidence for making that claim. Not to mention that it completely ignores all of the people who are thriving off such a diet while dramatically improving their health and blood markers.
 

teh_pwn

"Saturated fat causes heart disease as much as Brawndo is what plants crave."
Are you disputing it?

Well conflating animal protein with cheeseburgers is a stretch. You can eat a baked chicken breast with mixed veggies. Plenty of leaner nations eat a lot of meat it's more of an income thing. France eats way more animal fats for example.
 
Top Bottom