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Well, with any gene, it takes the proper environmental factors for it to be expressed. So while very few people would argue that height isn't largely genetic,
by rauljara 16y ago
Well, with any gene, it takes the proper environmental factors for it to be expressed. So while very few people would argue that height isn't largely genetic, most people also accept that it takes proper nutrition in order to grow tall. So even though height is genetic, and South and North Koreans largely share the same genetics, South Koreans are way taller than North Koreans.
The genetic argument for obesity is that in areas of occasional famine, it made evolutionary sense to horde food in your gut, particularly fatty food. Until very recently in human history, there just wasn't that much fatty food for your average citizen to horde. Now there is, particularly because food corporations have realized over time that the fattier the food, the more of it they sell, and those previously advantageous genes are running amok. Not everyone has those genes because in places of plenty, those genes aren't that advantageous.
I'd agree that that isn't an entirely convincing argument. But I do think it's part of the story.
- adrih 16y agoCan't we directly conclude from your argument that the obesity epidemy can be entirely solved by fixing the environment, which is probably easier than fixing the genes ? Heroin harms us because of our genetic makeup, yet we don't talk about how heroin-induced illness has genetic causes. We simply try to keep people away from heroin.
- MichaelSalib 16y agoNot necessarily. The point is that given the current environment, some people become obese and others do not. The difference between the two groups may be partly due to genetics. And actually, we do talk about the genetic basis for opioid addiction. I recall one doctor suggesting that a small percentage of the population are born addicted to opioids from birth whereas most people will have greater difficulty developing opioid addiction.
- jamesbritt 16y ago"And actually, we do talk about the genetic basis for opioid addiction." Plus, a major health issue with heroin is the shit product being sold. Attempts to restrict access makes it more dangerous to use.
- barrkel 16y agoThat would imply raising food prices specifically targeted at poorer people.
- stoney 16y agoYou could fix it by changing the environment - limited food rations, enforced exercise, etc. But the cost to society would probably outweigh the benefits.
- davidw 16y agoThere are corporations in Europe too, but people here aren't as fat as in the US. Perhaps because, despite "the corporations", they do have a say in the matter and simply don't eat so much fatty garbage.
- loewenskind 16y agoWell, the fact that much of what passes for food in the US wouldn't be legal in Europe has something to do with it as well.
- davidw 16y agoYou can get plenty of crap here in Italy if you want, and good food in the US, too. I don't really think that's the issue. People here are more discriminating about what they eat.
- loewenskind 16y agoI don't think you realize just how far we go. :) Do you have products with more artificial flavoring than actual food? Use very large amounts of preservatives to make the food last several times longer than it should? Inject your cattle with steriods? Genetically alter crops to give them certain traits (e.g. larger)?
- brazzy 16y agoObesity is on the rise in much of Europe as well.