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Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#41

Post by eulalila »

AstralStorm wrote: post #33
Tepix wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious: What's your opinion on smoking? Genetics are also likely to be involved in the likelihood of someone (not) being able to stop smoking (perhaps also starting to smoke), right? However, I haven't heard anyone blaming their smoking habit on genetics.

There is a difference, a major one. You have to eat and you don't have to smoke. Food is everywhere, cigarettes and smokers can be avoided.

That’s good to hear, I live in a poor area with my family who smoke heavily (along with the majority of our neighbors, friends, people who serve us at the restaurants I eat at, people who we serve at the restaurants we work at, etc).

I will just simply avoid almost everyone I know (and don’t know) from now on, thank you.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#42

Post by pan69 »

benj111 wrote: post #25
apatters wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a toxic and harmful attitude. There are genetic, dietary and fitness components to obesity. This is not disputed. At least one of these components is outside of the control of the individual. Others can be influenced. If someone is chronically obese, the best thing for them is to work on what they can control with professionals, which might normally include a dietitian or a personal trainer but they might als…

While I wouldn't be as blunt as the OP, I wouldn't describe it as toxic. Ultimately if you are obese, it's because you've eaten too much and that needs to be accepted before you can do anything about it.

You might be over simplifying things a bit. Your statement might be true for "healthy bodies" but not everyone is healthy, or even has the same body chemistry.

I'm by no means an expert and the subject of obesity doesn't really interest me that much, but the other day I was reading something about obesity in relation to the over prescription on antibiotics, and how especially children who received antibiotics during their childhood might have obesity problems later in life due to how the antibiotics affect the gut bacteria.

Again I'm no expert, but the calories in/out story seems just way to simple.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#43

Post by collyw »

apatters wrote: post #14
newfriend wrote: post #4

Eating too much food the 'secret to becoming fat' The secret to staying slim is to not eat more calories than your body uses. Excuses like this will only make obesity even more common and accepted than it is today.

This is a toxic and harmful attitude. There are genetic, dietary and fitness components to obesity. This is not disputed. At least one of these components is outside of the control of the individual. Others can be influenced. If someone is chronically obese, the best thing for them is to work on what they can control with professionals, which might normally include a dietitian or a personal trainer but they might als…

> This is a toxic and harmful attitude.

Removing all personal responsibility is a harmful attitude.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#44

Post by tonyedgecombe »

benj111 wrote: post #13

"Prof Tom Sanders, emeritus professor of nutrition and dietetics, at King's College London, said: "This is an important and well conducted study confirming that precocious severe obesity is often genetically determined" No. It says that thinness is genetically determined. Yes one is the flip side of the other, I don't think that allows the 'severe' though. Professors should surely be choosing their words more wisely.

I was watching an interview with the scientist who conducted the study this morning and she indicated it was both.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#45

Post by collyw »

gaius wrote: post #16

The thing is, for the vast majority of human history, the ability to quickly pack on fat was a crucial survival trait, and those with “skinny genes” wouldn’t last over a hard winter. It is only in soft modern society that it is viable to live without onboard energy reserves.

Kind of depends on the part of the world you come from, no? Nepali porters seems to be pretty slim and run up and down mountains for a living. Inuit seem to be a bit rounder in general which makes sense given their environment.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#46

Post by terryf »

teekert wrote: post #31

I'm very skinny and often get comments that I can and do eat anything, but I think I have some traits that make it easy for me: I hate ice cream (that fatty feeling in your mouth, ugh, I do love me some butter though!), in fact I don't like most desserts at all. I always prefer savory stuff (like a sandwich or olives for snacking) over sweet things (like cookies or candy). And I never get hungry anymore at night afte…

It is probably traits - I'm one of those people that can eat almost endlessly (and yes, am not skinny). The problem is that I don't really feel full, no matter what or how much I eat.

If I just continue, then I do get the uncomfortable feeling of my stomach being overly filled even to the point it actually hurts, but still, I don't feel "fulfilled" and have the desire to keep eating.

I'm trying to control it of course, but my life is basically spent almost continuously with the feeling that I could eat some more right now. It's not always hunger as such, although that comes by quite easily as well. It's a continuous drain emotionally.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#47

Post by gaius »

collyw wrote: post #45
gaius wrote: post #16

The thing is, for the vast majority of human history, the ability to quickly pack on fat was a crucial survival trait, and those with “skinny genes” wouldn’t last over a hard winter. It is only in soft modern society that it is viable to live without onboard energy reserves.

Kind of depends on the part of the world you come from, no? Nepali porters seems to be pretty slim and run up and down mountains for a living. Inuit seem to be a bit rounder in general which makes sense given their environment.

Well, sure, manual labourers/athletes are likely to be lean in any culture but what about the general population?

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#48

Post by tomhoward »

benj111 wrote: post #36
AstralStorm wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ultimately you're toxic, because most people (obese or not) I know have tried at least one way to lose weight which cut calories and it failed. If you have nothing effective to offer, really the best thing is sometimes to shut up and research why they fail and how to not make them fail.

No need to be rude. I'm not saying its easy or simple, but ultimately it comes down to calories in and calories out. The problem isn't going to go away if you attack people for saying that. It is the foundations that all solutions are based on.

They were a bit rude, but you were too.

It may be technically true to say "ultimately it comes down to calories in and calories out", bit its unhelpful, or more importantly, unactionable.

What you wave away with the casual use of the word "ultimately" is a vastly complex combination of inherited, environmental, physiological and emotional factors.

Saying "ultimately it comes down to calories in and calories out" to someone who has spent years desperately trying to control their calories in and their calories out but without much success is surely more rude than anything that's been said in any replies to you.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#49

Post by tomhoward »

collyw wrote: post #43
apatters wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a toxic and harmful attitude. There are genetic, dietary and fitness components to obesity. This is not disputed. At least one of these components is outside of the control of the individual. Others can be influenced. If someone is chronically obese, the best thing for them is to work on what they can control with professionals, which might normally include a dietitian or a personal trainer but they might als…

> This is a toxic and harmful attitude. Removing all personal responsibility is a harmful attitude.

People get into trouble on this topic by leaping to absolutes, i.e., "removing all personal responsibility".

I've personally taken "all personal responsibility" for my health, and it's been hugely costly, and only possible because I've been fortunate to have the means and time to do it.

There are plenty of people who try to take full responsibility for their weight or general health, but don't get results because they don't have the time or means to do it given the unlucky hand they were dealt and the realities of their life circumstances, and also because medical science just doesn't have consistently reliable solutions that work for everyone with even the greatest motivation and discipline.

Re: Skinny genes the 'secret to staying slim'

#50

Post by throwmeback »

Tepix wrote: post #27
apatters wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a toxic and harmful attitude. There are genetic, dietary and fitness components to obesity. This is not disputed. At least one of these components is outside of the control of the individual. Others can be influenced. If someone is chronically obese, the best thing for them is to work on what they can control with professionals, which might normally include a dietitian or a personal trainer but they might als…

I'm curious: What's your opinion on smoking? Genetics are also likely to be involved in the likelihood of someone (not) being able to stop smoking (perhaps also starting to smoke), right? However, I haven't heard anyone blaming their smoking habit on genetics.

Some people have addictive personalities.
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