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>Somehow this has turned into a popular victim-blaming culture? Obesity is directly related to an individual's diet and exercise habits. Gaining/losing weight

by RIMR 11y ago

>Somehow this has turned into a popular victim-blaming culture? Obesity is directly related to an individual's diet and exercise habits. Gaining/losing weight is easier/harder for different people for different reasons, but ultimately a person's BMI is within their control. To pretend that they are "victims" of some unavoidable outside force misses the point entirely. Obese people do not deserve to be mocked, shamed or blamed for their problems, but one cannot pretend that the power to fight obesity lies anywhere other than with the obese person. People don't "develop" or "catch" obesity, they become obese by allowing body fat to become too large a portion of their body mass. This problem may be harder to tackle for some people than others, which isn't fair, but that's life for you. >I'd be perfectly content with a switch to flip, and have no guilt nor shame in flipping it. As an overweight person, I completely agree! It would be great to have a truly reliable method for accelerating weight-loss. However, we can't pretend that this is going to lead to some "eat whatever you want and lose weight" magic diet pill. This research seems like it could lead to promising treatments that one would use alongside lifestyle/dietary changes and exercise.

JoeAltmaier 11y ago
Yes, yes, missing the point. I'm a victim of sunburn, even though its voluntary, because not everyone has this issue. Likewise, its normally reasonable to eat in moderation and exercise moderately, unless its not for you. So we are a victim of our genes in that way. The thread is about a genetic switch and treatment that could bring more people a higher quality of life. This is a great idea; and unless I misinterpret the article, yes indeed it is a 'magic bullet' at least for those with unfortunate genetics.
- balabaster 11y ago
  It's not quite a magic bullet... because flipping genetic switches may have unintended consequences. Plus, in my reading of the article, I wasn't clear on whether or not flipping this switch would cause body weight to return to a "normal", all other things remaining the same. i.e. with the same consumption and exercise patterns.
  - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
    True. But I'm not so worried about unintended consequences. Nature flips bits all the time, randomly. We're in no more danger than average, trying it ourselves. Most bits are there so they can be flipped, and that helps in at least some environments. Probably this bit will just make you tend to burn fat more often. Which is pretty significant!
- RIMR 11y ago
  >I'm a victim of sunburn, even though its voluntary I think it's stupid to lie in a tanning bed twice a week to keep tanned. People still do it though, and when they get cancer I don't blame the tanning bed company for it; I blame the idiot who irradiated themselves twice a week.

by RIMR 11y ago

JoeAltmaier 11y ago

Yes, yes, missing the point. I'm a victim of sunburn, even though its voluntary, because not everyone has this issue. Likewise, its normally reasonable to eat in moderation and exercise moderately, unless its not for you. So we are a victim of our genes in that way. The thread is about a genetic switch and treatment that could bring more people a higher quality of life. This is a great idea; and unless I misinterpret the article, yes indeed it is a 'magic bullet' at least for those with unfortunate genetics.

balabaster 11y ago
It's not quite a magic bullet... because flipping genetic switches may have unintended consequences. Plus, in my reading of the article, I wasn't clear on whether or not flipping this switch would cause body weight to return to a "normal", all other things remaining the same. i.e. with the same consumption and exercise patterns.
- JoeAltmaier 11y ago
  True. But I'm not so worried about unintended consequences. Nature flips bits all the time, randomly. We're in no more danger than average, trying it ourselves. Most bits are there so they can be flipped, and that helps in at least some environments. Probably this bit will just make you tend to burn fat more often. Which is pretty significant!
RIMR 11y ago
>I'm a victim of sunburn, even though its voluntary I think it's stupid to lie in a tanning bed twice a week to keep tanned. People still do it though, and when they get cancer I don't blame the tanning bed company for it; I blame the idiot who irradiated themselves twice a week.