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But why has obesity not been such a problem in the past, despite sugar being available? One point to make from the article, though: "They suggested that the ph

But why has obesity not been such a problem in the past, despite sugar being available? One point to make from the article, though: "They suggested that the physician-authors were trying to con the obese with the fraudulent argument that they could become lean without doing the hard work of curbing their perverted appetites." If you want to really confuse what's going on, turn to moralism. Desire to judge and to avoid being judged completely messes with incentives and people will line up to the "hard working" side while avoiding the "lazy" side, regardless of what is actually true.

justinator 9y ago
> But why has obesity not been such a problem in the past, despite sugar being available? Sugar, usually in the form of HFCS is added to almost any processed food these days, to make it more delicious and to make the food more profitable. HFCS is very, very cheap to produce. You're eating more sugar without perhaps even knowing you are. Low fat foods, introduced in the late 70's have the same amount of calories, but sugar was added to make the food more palatable. Sugary items, like sodas, are also coming in larger portions, as well. Sugars from fruit are less of a problem, as the fruit also contains fiber, which slows down the absorption of the fructose, and helps to not overload your liver. Calories in the form of glucose are digested differently than fructose or HFCS - the latter two which are processed in your liver. You shouldn't worry about eating too much bread - you should be looking at if the bread contains added sugar. Good video to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
electriclove 9y ago
Sugar was not readily available until relatively recently.
- Fnoord 9y ago
  > Sugar was not readily available until relatively recently. Fruit? I'd put my money on a relation between abundance of food plus obesity because too high calorie intake is the main culprit of obesity.
- refurb 9y ago
  In the 15th century, Venice was the chief sugar refining and distribution centre in Europe.[6] From Wikipedia. Sugar has been around far longer than our very recent obesity epidemic.
  - jm2721 9y ago
    Not really for the masses, since it wasn't cheap or plentiful. The wealthy that consumed high quantities of sugar did have the same illnesses that are so prevalent today.
- PeterStuer 9y ago
  Sugar was available in boatloads in the 70's in Europe. Liters of soda and candy were consumed by kids, yet fat kids were a rarity. 'Normal' food didn't have all the hidden sugars, and was far less 'designed'. Also, meals were 3 a day, and 'sncking' frowned upon by parents. Another big difference was that kids and even adults naturally excersized all day, running, cycling, playing outside. The 80's made the streets unsafe to play do to the massive increase in car traffic, and those same cars made sure adults remained seated all day. The food industry had breakthrough successes in finding out ways to get people to eat more and more without reducing the hunger/craving, and started campaigning for 'snacking'. The resulting obesity crisis also needed to be social engineered so that people wouldn't stop overeating because of the unavoidable effects on body and health. So the fat-pride movement was nudged into existence, and even discussing the subject outside of the well controlled message of 'you don't get fat from eating' made taboo, while installing a victim culture externalizing all factors.

justinator 9y ago

> But why has obesity not been such a problem in the past, despite sugar being available? Sugar, usually in the form of HFCS is added to almost any processed food these days, to make it more delicious and to make the food more profitable. HFCS is very, very cheap to produce. You're eating more sugar without perhaps even knowing you are. Low fat foods, introduced in the late 70's have the same amount of calories, but sugar was added to make the food more palatable. Sugary items, like sodas, are also coming in larger portions, as well. Sugars from fruit are less of a problem, as the fruit also contains fiber, which slows down the absorption of the fructose, and helps to not overload your liver. Calories in the form of glucose are digested differently than fructose or HFCS - the latter two which are processed in your liver. You shouldn't worry about eating too much bread - you should be looking at if the bread contains added sugar. Good video to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

electriclove 9y ago

Sugar was not readily available until relatively recently.

Fnoord 9y ago
> Sugar was not readily available until relatively recently. Fruit? I'd put my money on a relation between abundance of food plus obesity because too high calorie intake is the main culprit of obesity.
refurb 9y ago
In the 15th century, Venice was the chief sugar refining and distribution centre in Europe.[6] From Wikipedia. Sugar has been around far longer than our very recent obesity epidemic.
- jm2721 9y ago
  Not really for the masses, since it wasn't cheap or plentiful. The wealthy that consumed high quantities of sugar did have the same illnesses that are so prevalent today.
PeterStuer 9y ago
Sugar was available in boatloads in the 70's in Europe. Liters of soda and candy were consumed by kids, yet fat kids were a rarity. 'Normal' food didn't have all the hidden sugars, and was far less 'designed'. Also, meals were 3 a day, and 'sncking' frowned upon by parents. Another big difference was that kids and even adults naturally excersized all day, running, cycling, playing outside. The 80's made the streets unsafe to play do to the massive increase in car traffic, and those same cars made sure adults remained seated all day. The food industry had breakthrough successes in finding out ways to get people to eat more and more without reducing the hunger/craving, and started campaigning for 'snacking'. The resulting obesity crisis also needed to be social engineered so that people wouldn't stop overeating because of the unavoidable effects on body and health. So the fat-pride movement was nudged into existence, and even discussing the subject outside of the well controlled message of 'you don't get fat from eating' made taboo, while installing a victim culture externalizing all factors.