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Adult Obesity Facts

cdc.gov

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Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#181

Post by kiba »

nradov wrote: post #153
throw8383833jj wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are, if they're designed to be addictively delicious. McDonalds and their ilk, have created taste formulas that are nearly irresistable. I've seen people from foreign countries come to america who've never tasted anything other than their local cuisines who can't imagine eating anything else. but the second they sink their teeth into a McDon hamburger, they are hooked. MSG has been shown as a super reliable way…

Nonsense. McDonald's hamburgers don't taste any better than hamburgers cooked at home. They're just more convenient. And they don't contain MSG. https://www.mcdonalds.com/ae/en-ae/your-right-to-know.3807.d...

I love my hamburgers I made at home more than the hamburgers you get at McDonald. Not sure if it's healthy or whatever, but I don't add sugars other than the buns I get from the grocery store.

I don't think fast food restaurant necessarily create delicious superpalatable food.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#182

Post by chucksta »

hncurious wrote: post #163
dangus wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree with you because this view considers people in a vacuum as if they are receiving unbiased information to make choices from. In reality, from a very young age people are bombarded with advertisements and other marketing materials that promote foods packed with sugar, carbs, and salt. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is "part of this complete breakfast." In reality, it should never be a part of any breakfast. Unhealthy…

That's all true and why I included social failing. We are fighting against an industry that's trying to convince us to eat their junk food. They are making it as addictive as possible. They are trying to present it as healthier than it is. It is hard to resist. So yes, it's absolutely a factor and a significant one. However, despite that, I have a hard time believing that most people think eating at McDonalds is heal…

I think most people know it's bad for them, but don't realize how bad it actually is, and how much it compounds with other choices throughout an extended amount of time

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#183

Post by kiba »

torginus wrote: post #129
rjbwork wrote: post #2

We've designed our cities, suburbs, food industry, and society such that the average person is at least overweight, nearing obese. If the average person suffers from what should be an anomaly, perhaps it is less a personal failing than a societal failing and we should try to fix the societal problems generating the poor outcome.

There have been many suggestions in this thread about the root cause of obesity. While I'm sure these things do contribute to the issue, they are not the main cause - the main cause is that being fat is socially acceptable. I don't believe that if the average person placed great importance on being healthy - as great as making more money, getting a better job etc., they would be unable to afford the extra cost of hea…

Seems to be a form of victim blaming.

If people tried to follow normal dieting advice, and they failed, do we keep telling them to try harder?

I am speaking as someone who had lost a lot of weight and achieved near normal BMI and had prioritized health. I found intermittent fasting to be much easier and less willpower taxing than counting calories, which was way too much work.

People do want to be healthier and a lot of people really tried hard. Problem is, in other societies, it's effortless.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#184

Post by BJBBB »

My siblings are not morbidly obese, but they have been overweight most of their adult lives. The people they hang out with personally and professionally are also overweight and many have the typical health problems that accompany the overweight demographic.

My wife and myself are not overweight and have never been. She was a tom-boy and a jock during high school and did intramural stuff in college. I was on high school track team and either walked or rode my bicycle - no car. While in the military, most of the people in my shop had to eat 4x per day to maintain our weight. Afterwards, during college, I lived on cheap beans and pasta or rice, and the occasional can of cheap tuna, and peanut butter sandwiches until I met my wife. She taught me how to cook and introduced me to much better stuff. So I did not eat 'correctly' until my early 30s.

Until the last two years, we had remained physically active and were never overweight. We have gained some weight but are not overweight and, other than the incident that severely curbed our physical activity, have had no significant health problems.

The pattern of life-long activity and a physical mind-set seems to be a common factor when you look at older healthy people (over 55) that were never overweight, regardless of food quantity and type consumption.

You either are lucky enough to have decent genetics and the willingness to start an active life well, or you go through life increasingly overweight with chronic health problems.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#185

Post by kiba »

dangus wrote: post #178
hncurious wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's all true and why I included social failing. We are fighting against an industry that's trying to convince us to eat their junk food. They are making it as addictive as possible. They are trying to present it as healthier than it is. It is hard to resist. So yes, it's absolutely a factor and a significant one. However, despite that, I have a hard time believing that most people think eating at McDonalds is heal…

You're not wrong about that! People for the most part do know that soda and burgers aren't healthy. But there are a lot of products out there with more grey area than the typical McDonald's menu item. For example, the Dunkin' "Power Breakfast Sandwich." The marketing sounds healthy without saying the words "healthy:" https://www.dunkindonuts.com/en/menu/sandwiches-and-more/pow... Notice how this item has almost half…

You shouldn't rely on a person estimating meal size and figuring out proper portions or looking up calories.

That's not our ancestors eat, and that's not how I eat either. Though I did quit drinking half and half after realizing that it's supposed to be a food item rather than something to drink.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#186

Post by gibagger »

kiba wrote: post #183
torginus wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There have been many suggestions in this thread about the root cause of obesity. While I'm sure these things do contribute to the issue, they are not the main cause - the main cause is that being fat is socially acceptable. I don't believe that if the average person placed great importance on being healthy - as great as making more money, getting a better job etc., they would be unable to afford the extra cost of hea…

Seems to be a form of victim blaming. If people tried to follow normal dieting advice, and they failed, do we keep telling them to try harder? I am speaking as someone who had lost a lot of weight and achieved near normal BMI and had prioritized health. I found intermittent fasting to be much easier and less willpower taxing than counting calories, which was way too much work. People do want to be healthier and a lot…

Your last line really resonates with me. I was born and raised in a country with a very high obesity rate these days. I am currently living in Amsterdam.

The Dutch attitude towards walking, cycling, food and sports makes it extremely easy to manage one's weight, if you buy into it. When I visit my home country, no one in my family / friends circle enjoys walking. Most don't enjoy exercise, but they are truly fond of barbecues, beer, soft drinks and other such hyper palatable foods.

Had I remained in my home country, I would just be one more data point toward the obesity statistic, just by virtue of putting some effort to fit in.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#187

Post by cavisne »

patorjk wrote: post #104
yupper32 wrote: post #23

Every time I comment on one of these threads, I mention how most people don't know about the most fundamental component of weight control: Calories-in calories-out. And then I get a mass of people complaining that "it's not that simple! x y and z also impact weight!" I think so much has to do with these two points: 1. Most don't know about CICO. 2. Many who do throw it away as not useful. We should be teaching this i…

I used to believe in that, and I felt my problem was I was eating too much and not moving around enough, however, I recently started a "lazy keto" diet and am currently down 30 pounds (back to a normal BMI - and I didn't even change how much I exercise). I don't watch my calories at all, nor do I starve myself. I just watch my carbs. It's been really eye opening. There's a lot of talk online about how processed foods…

Great job on losing 30 pounds!

CICO still applies to Keto, the macronutrient breakdown is just more satiating for many people. It's important for people doing keto to understand this as

1) Keto has a dramatic water weight effect, so people can overindex on their early results "I lost 10 pounds in 5 days!"

2) If you go off track with carbs it becomes a terrible diet, you fall out of ketosis for multiple days and need equivalent carbs to feel ok, boosting your total calories very high.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#188

Post by kiba »

hncurious wrote: post #138
minikites wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone has the time to prepare healthy meals, that's why convenience foods are so popular in our overworked society. If the average person spent less time working, they would have more time to shop for and prepare healthy meals.

The average person in this country has time to binge watch Netflix and social media. Have you seen the stats? We do have the time. Of course there are exceptions, but we're a long long way from only having the exceptions left.

We may have the time, but we may not have the skills. It's also work to cook food.

People also don't know tricks like meal preps, sous vide, and slow cooking.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#189

Post by kiba »

ptmcc wrote: post #107
kiba wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, exercise is good for you, and should be taken, but diet seems to be the most important factor. Research had came out indicating that exercise doesn't really do much good in losing weight. Might help in maintaining weight.

Indeed it's a heck of a lot easier to not eat 500 calories than to burn off 500 calories. Running a 5k doesn't even burn 500 calories for most people, but you can eat that much in snacks without a second thought. To really make a difference in weight the much more important side of the equation is intake.

It get worse. Apparently, your body adjust its basal metabolism over the long term in response to daily physical activity.

Re: Adult Obesity Facts

#190

Post by waiseristy »

Jtsummers wrote: post #172
waiseristy wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great points, but I fundamentally disagree that overeating is not the single biggest component contributing to the first worlds dietary issues. You know what is the single defining feature of skinny people? Outside of Olympic athletes and manual laborers? They eat substantially less than everyone else. You aren't going to "walk off" a 1500 calorie burger, unless that's the only thing you eat that day

It may be the single biggest component, but it's not the only component which means it is not the problem. And the definition of overeating has changed because of these other factors. Sugary sodas and drinks are not eaten, consequently what was a healthy and satiating meal is now overeating because people are getting 250-2000 extra calories a day (250/bottle of soda approximately). Drop the sodas and many people won'…

Definitely agree with all you said, and I especially agree with the implication that overeating is directly correlated with other aspects of your diet and lifestyle (sedation, anemia, etc.). I view weight as a function of calories-in-calories-out, and if you change the parameters to that equation, you're going to see weight-loss/gain. That's the reason why I call it 'the' problem, you can always change the input to that equation to maintain a healthy weight. But your view is also great, the reason the parameters changed in the first place is also a huge part of the issue
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