Live data from Hacker News

People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

sciencedaily.com

131–140 of 350 posts

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#131
post #130

I'm one of these people. Always super hot after eating, especially carbs (which I now avoid). Hard to gain weight even at 28. I also almost always wake up covered in sweat and have to change cloths. So not all roses.

most people wake up sweaty

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#132
Something I think that contributes a lot to how much weight you hold naturally is how insulin sensitive you are. The more insulin sensitive you are the less weight you'll put on and there's a huge range between optimal insulin sensitivity, average, and diabetic.

I also suspect (although I'm not an expert) the reason some people find it easier to lose weight while doing OMAD or keto isn't just because they're eating less, but because they're far more insulin sensitive and two of the best ways to increase insulin sensitivity is to fast or to eat less carbs.

Another reason I believe this to be the case is because as I've aged I've noticed my friends are holding more weight despite little change their diets or physical activity. I'm sure some of this is related to a slowdown in their resting metabolic rate, but I also suspect it's got something to do with the fact that as people age they become less insulin sensitive on average -- especially if they don't eat well or eat too often. This is probably why as a kid you can eat a tub of icecream without putting on any weight, but as adult you would. It's not just that kids have higher metabolisms, but that they're more insulin sensitive and less likely to be diabetic or pre-diabetic.

A question to ask here is why are people with low BMI's are less hungry? Could that be because they're metabolic healthier and their bodies are therefore better able to enter ketosis during periods without food? From personal experience with fasting and low carb diets I've experienced how significant it is when the body adjusts to burning fat as a primary fuel source. Although, you still feel hungry you don't feel like you need food. Similarly, you know when someone isn't metabolically adapted when they go too long without food because they become irritable and physically feel week.

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#134
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually tried this and it didn’t work for me. My weight stayed the same. Maybe my body is just hopeless. Is there actual evidence that this is generally effective?

There was a post last week where this was debunked. That said, I do hit for the cardio benefits of improving myself instead of thinking it's a weight loss miracle. Almost always I've found the key to weight loss is eat less, nothing to do with working out (so long as you do actually work out a bit).

The research I've seen "debunking" this have failed to start with people capable of HIIT, failed to prove they are going anaerobic, or failed to strictly follow the "Tabata interval" regime that was originally proven to work.

https://www.elevaterope.com/tabata-intervals/

When I originally came across Tabata in mid 2000s, nobody said it worked for BMI adjustment. The research was around whether you had to exercise for hours to build endurance. It was reasonably conclusive you could build endurance using this mechanism. The contemporary research suggested the endurance came from different metabolic processes becoming accessible, and that Tabata style HIIT kicked that in.

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#135

Seems to line up with my experience, am always burning up (until I turn on the AC and freeze) Especially at night though I have to to jack the temperature down or I won't sleep. Also less hungry aligns pretty well. Unfortunately when I get hungry, it's normally "a little hungry) at akward spread out intervals. I probably feel most hungry after midnight but never eat then because well, I have to sleep soon. I've tried…

If you run hotter, wouldn't you feel less hot? Since your normal temperature would be that much higher than the ambient temperature. At least, when I have a fever I feel cold, even though I'm hot.

Not sure why, but the fever thing is special I think. A common symptom of the flu is chills even though your body is at scorching temps.

I "run hot" as my partner says. She'll touch my arm and it boggles her mind how hot I feel. I have to keep my room at 67F at night or I can't even use blankets. My sleep suffers from how hot I run.

I don't feel cold in the least.

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#136
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've known very active cyclists that couldn't lose weight despite riding hundred mile rides weekly. Isn’t this against the laws of physics? If you’re burning a ton of energy and not eating excessively, where are their bodies getting mass from to maintain weight?

> Isn’t this against the laws of physics? No because they were also eating a lot, the lower bound on this established by physics. I've known a lot of roadies who sort-of-correctly believed they could eat as much as they could physically manage, as they were expending enough (3+ hour intense riding daily) that it was a chore to keep up. At least when they were 20-something and racing. Many struggle a bit when the a) g…

The operative word was "couldn't". If they didn't eat as much, they could lose weight

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually tried this and it didn’t work for me. My weight stayed the same. Maybe my body is just hopeless. Is there actual evidence that this is generally effective?

Weight loss is like 80% from the kitchen, maybe 20% from the gym. Point being, if you just work out a little bit more you're probably also eating more as well.

I can only reliably lose weight when I increase my level of exercise. If that weight loss is 100%, I suspect it breaks down as:

* +40% - weight loss from burning more calories

* -20% - weight gain from eating more due to doing more sport

* +40% - less snacking from being away from food sources for more hours

* +20% - being more conscious of fitness and weight and being more disciplined about food

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#138
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've known very active cyclists that couldn't lose weight despite riding hundred mile rides weekly. Isn’t this against the laws of physics? If you’re burning a ton of energy and not eating excessively, where are their bodies getting mass from to maintain weight?

> Isn’t this against the laws of physics? No because they were also eating a lot, the lower bound on this established by physics. I've known a lot of roadies who sort-of-correctly believed they could eat as much as they could physically manage, as they were expending enough (3+ hour intense riding daily) that it was a chore to keep up. At least when they were 20-something and racing. Many struggle a bit when the a) g…

> couldn't lose weight ... they were also eating a lot

So really it's that they weren't losing weight because they were eating too much... exactly like most people in modern western society. And really the moderate amount of cycling was irrelevant.

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#139
post #55

Curious if there is a difference between those who are lean and wiry, and those who are just skinny.

What is the difference?

Lots of thin people look good and thin wearing clothes, but if you could see their body you'd find they are mostly made of flab anyway. Colloquially referred to as skinny fat. Very little muscle.

Re: People with low BMI aren't more active, they are just less hungry, 'run hotter'

#140
post #132

Something I think that contributes a lot to how much weight you hold naturally is how insulin sensitive you are. The more insulin sensitive you are the less weight you'll put on and there's a huge range between optimal insulin sensitivity, average, and diabetic. I also suspect (although I'm not an expert) the reason some people find it easier to lose weight while doing OMAD or keto isn't just because they're eating l…

You can't easily discount culture and habit, nor can you easily account for it in studies. Cross-country comparisons are often surprising, but even then they blur within-country heterogeneity (is $country fatter on average/mode, or does it have a looooooong tail on account of a slightly higher rate of rare genetics?)
Post reply on HN