God Dayumm
Banned
Wasn't there a report that found there are less slightly overweight people than before but more obese? Maybe we are watching divergence of species in action as there will only be slim or morbidly obese in the future
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Obesity Rises Despite All Efforts to Fight It, U.S. Health Officials Say
- Thread starter Bel Marduk
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entremet
Member
That was for kids. Childhood obesity is decreasing.
rykomatsu
Member
Unless you're buying filet minions, lobster, and out of season produce all the time, I call bullshit.
Davey Cakes
Member
People talk about "sedentary jobs" but I actually LOST weight when I went from being unemployed to working in an office. The schedule of the day helped regulate my food intake a bit better. During the day I was trying to eat substantial foods to keep my energy up, because it just felt better to do that. Yeah, someone brings donuts and coffee into work and I'll grab some coffee but the donut is just filler.
I like to indulge but not at work, typically.
Didn't even have to go to the gym and I lost weight just on that sort of regulation. But, of course, once I got a gym membership I lost even more. Naturally, from sitting down all day, I started to feel like crap even though I was of normal weight (if not below, for my height) and thus I made the effort to get moving. I turned my lunch break into a mid-day walk and went to the gym after work.
I feel like weight is one of the few things where you can take half-measures and still see desirable results. Cutting out certain foods and drinks (or cutting back on them), spacing out meals and snacks, getting just a little bit of activity each day, and doing little things to increase metabolism seems to be a good start.
I often wonder if people overthink it to the point of never trying or giving up on maintaining a lower weight. It's not particularly complex. A couple of lifestyle changes and food shopping habit changes can be the difference. People get so caught up on specific dieting programs and "gym culture" which can both be kind of daunting. You don't have to flip a switch and become a pro athlete to see positive change. The little things count, and more folks need to understand that.
I like to indulge but not at work, typically.
Didn't even have to go to the gym and I lost weight just on that sort of regulation. But, of course, once I got a gym membership I lost even more. Naturally, from sitting down all day, I started to feel like crap even though I was of normal weight (if not below, for my height) and thus I made the effort to get moving. I turned my lunch break into a mid-day walk and went to the gym after work.
I feel like weight is one of the few things where you can take half-measures and still see desirable results. Cutting out certain foods and drinks (or cutting back on them), spacing out meals and snacks, getting just a little bit of activity each day, and doing little things to increase metabolism seems to be a good start.
I often wonder if people overthink it to the point of never trying or giving up on maintaining a lower weight. It's not particularly complex. A couple of lifestyle changes and food shopping habit changes can be the difference. People get so caught up on specific dieting programs and "gym culture" which can both be kind of daunting. You don't have to flip a switch and become a pro athlete to see positive change. The little things count, and more folks need to understand that.
Beren the Empty-Handed
Member
All efforts?
NoblesseOblige
Banned
That's because the plump and juicy ones are being eaten by the adults.
Team Alucard
Banned
I find that the easiest solution to staying thin is being too poor to afford food. ¯_(ツ
_/¯
_/¯GrotesqueBeauty
Banned
Cut the fucking corn subsidies and stop putting high fructose corn syrup in everything, then get back to me.
Kite
Member
So.. I've been trying to figure out what us Asians are doing that is so different. We have our own health issues like increased diabetes from all the rice we eat but not obesity.. I guess we're generally a bit more well off financially which = better healthy food choices and options. Many are also thrifty (cheap), and at least for the east Asians I know our dishes seem to have more veggies than the average American foods. And our elderly are really into light exercise like taking walks, taichi and randomly stretching everywhere.
edit: and at least for the Chinese, we don't have the concept of eating dessert after a meal. It's usually eat a few slices of orange and go take a walk. Our sweets kinda suck anyways.
I remember reading that Obesity rates had reached a peak. An unacceptable peak but that it had stopped getting worse.
Yeah. Fuck these assholes. I don't eat their bullshit but for sure it hurts many others.
I'm sorry, I'm not American and I'm having trouble understanding what they're referring to as 'efforts'. I would've imagined efforts would include smaller portions in restaurants/fast food or promotion of healthy food and less sugars and syrups in foods and I haven't heard about any of these things being done.
Not trolling, serious question - what do they mean by efforts? What did they actually do?
Not trolling, serious question - what do they mean by efforts? What did they actually do?
entremet
Member
There hasn't been any real efforts.
And any real efforts, like Bloomberg's large soda ban, get shutdown in court.
I mean, talking about it isn't gonna help, if that's what they mean by effort.
Also just read:
What.
How can you be 2 and obese?!
Seems more like a cultural and parenting problem, really.
eating "healthy" is tricky because there's so much conflicting information out there. We're not properly educated as a society in this realm I'm afraid.
I'm not sure that particular effort from Bloomberg would have amounted to anything.
I'm not sure that particular effort from Bloomberg would have amounted to anything.
I'd just be happy if they subsidized and offset the cost of healthy food alternatives.
I'm sure i'm just mimicking what has already been said in this thread but I feel like nowadays, obesity revolves more around socio-economic factors than it does the idea that people are just fat lazy shits who don't take care of themselves.
I'm sure i'm just mimicking what has already been said in this thread but I feel like nowadays, obesity revolves more around socio-economic factors than it does the idea that people are just fat lazy shits who don't take care of themselves.
bennywhatever
Member
I live in a somewhat mid-sized rural midwest town, and the concept of "freedom" extends all the way down to our "freedom" to eat whatever we want. I really can't see any legal efforts actually working in the near future, because people would backlash that it's a breach of our freedom to eat what we want.
I honestly don't even know what can be done, outside of more education on it. I'd love to see the demographics of obesity broken down even farther to see if socio-economic status has much to do with it.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised if we see gross ads on TV in the next few years about the effects of obesity in the same light as those gross anti-smoking ads.
Messofanego
Banned
All efforts?
Haha
Miles Quaritch
Member
Yeah, it's about £200 a week. That's madness.
And yup, my weekly shop is around £25 when my gf isn't staying over and about £45/£55 when she is and there's a ton of fruit and veg in there as well as fresh meat and fish.
internetwolf
Banned
I had two dinners last night!!
Chips Fission
Banned
Just start to tax sugary crap. Might not do much but at least get some tax revenue for the future health treatments. It also seems that this not US only problem, around EU every year there is more obese people.
Earthstrike
Member
Honestly, I think portion sizes have a lot to do with it. Whenever I've eaten at an asian friend's house, they just eat normal portions, as in, you don't need to cram yourself full of food.
One explanation might come about as a consequence of the following facts.
1. Food is often sold and eaten in bulk. This is true at the grocery store, and places you can go to eat.
2. People don't want to "waste" food so they eat it instead
3. People eat when they are hungry
4. How often people get hungry is a function of stomach size.
So in american culture, where you have this bigger is better mentality and cheap abundant food, you have these gigantic portions being offered up. People then force themselves to eat the whole meal so they don't waste any food which stretches their stomach. The now stretched stomach takes more to fill up to turn off the hungry response, resulting in consumption of more food.
Main reason why I think this is because of the efficacy of stomach stapling.
Megalosaro
Banned
Prevention is the only way to fight obesity.
From what I've read, you're basically fucked once you've been obese.
It's been a nightmare for me. I've lost 125 lbs, regained 13 of it. But if I didn't have strict measure of everything I ate, I'd balloon like fucking crazy.
From what I've read, is going to be like this the rest of my life.
Case in point. My best friend weighs 180. I weighed 163. We went to boson and ate the same stuff. 5 days. I gained 18 lbs. He gained 2. I didn't exactly go bonkers either. I'd say probably 3k calories max. I've cut a bit of that back, but it's still bad though.
From what I've read, you're basically fucked once you've been obese.
It's been a nightmare for me. I've lost 125 lbs, regained 13 of it. But if I didn't have strict measure of everything I ate, I'd balloon like fucking crazy.
From what I've read, is going to be like this the rest of my life.
Case in point. My best friend weighs 180. I weighed 163. We went to boson and ate the same stuff. 5 days. I gained 18 lbs. He gained 2. I didn't exactly go bonkers either. I'd say probably 3k calories max. I've cut a bit of that back, but it's still bad though.
Messofanego
Banned
I mean duh of course the poorest are the worst hit cause fast food meals are cheaper than any healthy meals which aren't pre-packaged. Do USA supermarkets even have big healthy packaged foods be a thing like it is with Sainsbury, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, or Tesco which carry healthy halo branding? Lower the price of fruits and veg to be competitive. Does USA have a healthy life coach Jamie Oliver like dude banging on about school lunches over many years to make big changes?
Until the government and food companies are making changes, you can't really blame the poor people that much.
Until the government and food companies are making changes, you can't really blame the poor people that much.
I'm in London and £60 is pretty much the bare minimum a week. Have easily gone to £200/week. BUT, I barely have time to cook, not to mention I can't cook for shit, so a lot of it is ready food or takeaways. At least London has some healthy options in that regard.
Already exists - it's called Ritalin. Of course the side effects are way worse than being overweight...
My wife and I's grocery totals less than $200 a month, and we go to equivalent supermarkets. I have literally no clue how you could spend a DC studio apartment's worth of rent on food for two people.
AgentOtaku
Member
It was FUCKING SHOCKING when moved back to the states from Europe back in 2013.
Military and had lived overseas for nearly 9 years and yeah.... It's BAD
I'd say that I'll see 4 obese folks for every average one
Military and had lived overseas for nearly 9 years and yeah.... It's BAD
I'd say that I'll see 4 obese folks for every average one
Future PhaZe
Member
It's because Americans are over-stressed and overworked. We have an inherited baseline of stress as a society where literally chemically, it's a monumental battle not to reach for quick access foods that help us to relax, if only temporarily. It's not unlike drug addiction.
We use food as a coping mechanism more than anything else. We'll become a healthier society when we find a way to work less and make time for life without having bills pile up on the table.
We use food as a coping mechanism more than anything else. We'll become a healthier society when we find a way to work less and make time for life without having bills pile up on the table.
Miles Quaritch
Member
I live in London too, but I do know how to cook so that makes it a lot easier on my wallet.
And it helps that my gf likes to stay in and have home cooking as opposed to going out to eat, so that saves even more money. Surprising how far you can stretch £45 if you visit multiple shops and markets.
I also lucked out in that there's a stall that sells pots of fresh fruit and veg for £1 each just down the road from where I live.
The Hermit
Member
IMO Coke and other soft drink should be allowed to 18yo+ only
I generally agree with your list of environmental factors. But just in our own lifetimes (without invoking grandparents), like 25 years ago when all the above factors were true, obesity rates were still lower back then, and has really accelerated since the 80s.
I'm unsure the ratio of sedentary office workers is higher today than in then 80s, that car culture has changed, or that conditions leading to food deserts have changed.
I'm also surprised you didn't mention:
-- Food portions are way bigger. Big gulps, giant frappicinos, and supersized meals basically define 90s food culture.
-- Modern day household conveniences, especially tech like the Internet and video games, which will also inspire kids from non-helicopter families to stay indoors. Same applies to adults in general.
-- Elimination of busywork since the 80s, related to tech advances. I'd say we're less time-starved than before. Having to hop into a car to buy stamps at a post office, rent a VHS, or buy something at a book store, these activities took you out of the house away from munchies. Not to mention time wasted on hold to call your bank or check up on jury duty status, while stuck on your corded phone without speakerphone, tethered away from the fridge. Chores also influenced your meal schedule, parents running errands before coming home have less time to snack before preparing dinner.
Indeed. Not many efforts that I have seen in the past decade, at least as far as adults are concerned. People need incentives to change their behavior, and disincentives to continue past behavior, and for the most part recent efforts have been at enabling more information for consumers and that's it.
I also lost weight once I got a steady office job, but not before gaining a bunch when I started. Having a schedule and a steady paycheck helps with planning. Unfortunately, many people work jobs with unpredictable hours or multiple jobs which makes it really tough.
Definitely agree that our society is way to focused on going to the gym (and cardio in particular) as a means of exercising. I always burned out when I tried dieting and cardio at the same time, but after failing the umpteenth time, I broke it down. Started with lifting, once that became normal, worked on removing small things form my diet, and now I am working in cardio at the end of lifting sessions. I would fail if I tried it all at once, but breaking it down made it work for me.
Unfortunately this won't help many others since having a good job, living walking distance from a gym, and being a young single male with free time made this much easier than if I had a family or a job with unpredictable hours.
entremet
Member
Problem with this is, food stables like tortillas and soy milk also become more expensive, while healthy food costs remain unchanged. Eliminating HFCS from drinks have to be more nuanced than just eliminating subsidies.
Kite
Member
Where the hell do you live, Hawaii? I know the cost of living is lower in Texas, but a single guy like me shopping at Krogers and HEB comes out to around $130ish a month.. You eating caviar and truffles every day?
entremet
Member
Yeah. This will actually hurt poor people more.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Ugh I need to redistribute my weight. I'm 5'11 and 175 currently and it doesn't look good on me, I look a bit thicker than I'd like
hydragonwarrior
Member
A company like Nestle would do all in it's power to continue this trend.
ScatheZombie
Member
Which is what happens when you attack the effects and not the cause. We go after shit like carbs and the foods that we eat. Or we point to people not exercising enough.
Both of which aren't wrong, per say, but they're actually effects of the bigger problem. We eat like shit and don't exercise because we're all fucking exhausted with our shitty jobs. No one 'has time' to cook for themselves or spend an hour a day getting off their ass because they're worn out from working a 12 hour shift at a high stress, underpaying job. And this was fine when our jobs were physical labor. But they aren't anymore. We're sitting at a desk that entire time. They can't afford to eat healthy because their housing costs are over 50% of their gross income. Everything is connected. You aren't going to fix the problem by going after convenient scapegoats. Until you can universally increase wages, reduce work stress and hours, and cut the cost of housing - people are going to be over-worked, over-stressed, and under-paid and continue to gravitate towards quick, easy meals and a sedentary lifestyle, no matter how many times you tell them it is slowly killing them.
Both of which aren't wrong, per say, but they're actually effects of the bigger problem. We eat like shit and don't exercise because we're all fucking exhausted with our shitty jobs. No one 'has time' to cook for themselves or spend an hour a day getting off their ass because they're worn out from working a 12 hour shift at a high stress, underpaying job. And this was fine when our jobs were physical labor. But they aren't anymore. We're sitting at a desk that entire time. They can't afford to eat healthy because their housing costs are over 50% of their gross income. Everything is connected. You aren't going to fix the problem by going after convenient scapegoats. Until you can universally increase wages, reduce work stress and hours, and cut the cost of housing - people are going to be over-worked, over-stressed, and under-paid and continue to gravitate towards quick, easy meals and a sedentary lifestyle, no matter how many times you tell them it is slowly killing them.
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