4 ms·

Exactly. It's not a matter of simple physics because it requires action by humans, actions almost everyone is bad at like willpower, delayed gratification, and

by Wohlf 8y ago

Exactly. It's not a matter of simple physics because it requires action by humans, actions almost everyone is bad at like willpower, delayed gratification, and discipline. I like the way an episode of Freakonomics explained these issues: "People aren't dumb, the world is hard."

mooseburger 8y ago
Or not. Pretty sure it wasn't willpower, delayed gratification, and discipline that kept people from being fat back in the 50s or 60s. Something changed in the food, or, worst case scenario, abundant cheap food means it's easier to get fat now than ever before.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  In food, or in general "chemical environment" we live in (including cosmetics, air pollution, plastics and paints, etc.). Or in lifestyle. Or a combination of some or all of these. It's really hard to disentangle plausible causes. But I agree, something must have changed, something that makes this problem correlate with "westernization" and technological advancements of societies.
- at-fates-hands 8y ago
  As a Cultural Anthropologist, I talked about this with other grad students and professors. We concluded it had a lot to do with the disintegration of the nuclear family and proliferation of fast food and a much faster paced lifestyle. Mother and father are working longer hours with no set office hours, the kids are constantly on the go with athletics, school clubs or after school programs. Nobody has the time to really take the time and prepare a decent meal. Heavily processed food just became a substitute for the time it took to prepare a real meal. Fast food then became a crutch for families on the go even replacing the heavily processed food that replaced the real food people used to prepare. The end result is kids and parents both eating poorly, heavily stressed at school and at work. They eat poorly, they don't get enough exercise and now they gain weight and other issues that affect their health. As many people have pointed out in various other threads, in the 50's and 60's people hardly ever ate out, the family dinner was a big deal and most families ate at the same time every day, had set schedules and the kids exercised a lot more (whatever happened to recess??) by playing games, athletics, and using their imaginations.
babyslothzoo 8y ago
> It's not a matter of simple physics Actually, it is a matter of simple physics. If you have some evidence to the contrary you will certainly turn scientific principles on its head and undoubtedly win a Nobel prize and a secure spot in history. Please, share with us your findings!
- jdminhbg 8y ago
  You might as well describe global warming as the "simple physics" of the Earth taking in more calories than it expends. It's technically correct but utterly useless information.
  - leetcrew 8y ago
    it's pretty useful information for a motivated individual looking to lose weight. it's not terribly useful if you're trying to make a bunch of other people do something they don't feel intrinsic motivation to do.
    - TeMPOraL 8y ago
      It would be a pretty useful information for a hypothetical perfect human, in full conscious control of all their bodily function. Alas, real humans are not like that, and deviations from homeostasis tend to manifest themselves in a way that's under limited, or beyond, conscious control.
      - leetcrew 8y ago
        I understand that some things are much harder for some people than for others, but let's not just throw out entirely the idea that individuals can make a concerted effort to change their lifestyle. I used to cope with boredom by overeating candy and drinking sugary sodas. after a while I noticed that I was starting to get fat. I figured this was probably happening because I was consuming too many calories, so I stopped eating candy and drinking soda. it sucked for months, but eventually my hunger adjusted to the new level of calorie intake and I no longer had to think about it consciously.
roywiggins 8y ago
My "willpower, delayed gratification, and discipline" leave something to be desired. I'm not super healthy, I don't eat great. I'm not fat, though. I don't forego food when I'm hungry and I don't exert much control over what I put in my face. But somehow, I don't put too much in. I think some people just have their internal "hunger" thermostat set wrong- whether it's hormonal or psychological or whatever. Other people have it set more correctly so by and large, "willpower" doesn't come into it. I don't need willpower to stop myself overconsuming water, but if I was thirsty literally all the time, I'd drink gallons.

by Wohlf 8y ago

mooseburger 8y ago

Or not. Pretty sure it wasn't willpower, delayed gratification, and discipline that kept people from being fat back in the 50s or 60s. Something changed in the food, or, worst case scenario, abundant cheap food means it's easier to get fat now than ever before.

TeMPOraL 8y ago
In food, or in general "chemical environment" we live in (including cosmetics, air pollution, plastics and paints, etc.). Or in lifestyle. Or a combination of some or all of these. It's really hard to disentangle plausible causes. But I agree, something must have changed, something that makes this problem correlate with "westernization" and technological advancements of societies.
at-fates-hands 8y ago
As a Cultural Anthropologist, I talked about this with other grad students and professors. We concluded it had a lot to do with the disintegration of the nuclear family and proliferation of fast food and a much faster paced lifestyle. Mother and father are working longer hours with no set office hours, the kids are constantly on the go with athletics, school clubs or after school programs. Nobody has the time to really take the time and prepare a decent meal. Heavily processed food just became a substitute for the time it took to prepare a real meal. Fast food then became a crutch for families on the go even replacing the heavily processed food that replaced the real food people used to prepare. The end result is kids and parents both eating poorly, heavily stressed at school and at work. They eat poorly, they don't get enough exercise and now they gain weight and other issues that affect their health. As many people have pointed out in various other threads, in the 50's and 60's people hardly ever ate out, the family dinner was a big deal and most families ate at the same time every day, had set schedules and the kids exercised a lot more (whatever happened to recess??) by playing games, athletics, and using their imaginations.

babyslothzoo 8y ago

> It's not a matter of simple physics Actually, it is a matter of simple physics. If you have some evidence to the contrary you will certainly turn scientific principles on its head and undoubtedly win a Nobel prize and a secure spot in history. Please, share with us your findings!

jdminhbg 8y ago
You might as well describe global warming as the "simple physics" of the Earth taking in more calories than it expends. It's technically correct but utterly useless information.
- leetcrew 8y ago
  it's pretty useful information for a motivated individual looking to lose weight. it's not terribly useful if you're trying to make a bunch of other people do something they don't feel intrinsic motivation to do.
  - TeMPOraL 8y ago
    It would be a pretty useful information for a hypothetical perfect human, in full conscious control of all their bodily function. Alas, real humans are not like that, and deviations from homeostasis tend to manifest themselves in a way that's under limited, or beyond, conscious control.
    - leetcrew 8y ago
      I understand that some things are much harder for some people than for others, but let's not just throw out entirely the idea that individuals can make a concerted effort to change their lifestyle. I used to cope with boredom by overeating candy and drinking sugary sodas. after a while I noticed that I was starting to get fat. I figured this was probably happening because I was consuming too many calories, so I stopped eating candy and drinking soda. it sucked for months, but eventually my hunger adjusted to the new level of calorie intake and I no longer had to think about it consciously.

roywiggins 8y ago

My "willpower, delayed gratification, and discipline" leave something to be desired. I'm not super healthy, I don't eat great. I'm not fat, though. I don't forego food when I'm hungry and I don't exert much control over what I put in my face. But somehow, I don't put too much in. I think some people just have their internal "hunger" thermostat set wrong- whether it's hormonal or psychological or whatever. Other people have it set more correctly so by and large, "willpower" doesn't come into it. I don't need willpower to stop myself overconsuming water, but if I was thirsty literally all the time, I'd drink gallons.