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Do you really think people are choosing to be extremely obese?

by CabSauce 6y ago

foobears42 6y ago
They don't want the consequences of overeating. But yes, I do believe they choose to eat the amounts they do.
- burlesona 6y ago
  Here’s an interesting fact: if you’re insulin resistant (more than half the population is), then you could have a “healthy” meal like a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, and the body’s poor insulin response actually forces all the carbs you just ate into your fat cells while denying your body fuel, thus making you hungrier. To overcome this you have to eat enough carb to still have fuel available even after your fat metabolism is satisfied. So the heavier you are the more you have to eat before you have fuel available to your body. It’s very, very difficult to overcome genetics.
  - Cthulhu_ 6y ago
    In those cases, is there medication or treatment available to help deal with the insulin response? I know hyper / hypothyroidism is a thing as well (although research has shown -thyroidism may not influence weight significantly: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6711558/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6711558/)
  - muldvarp 6y ago
    How much did human genetics change in the last 100 years? I'm very much convinced that genetics plays a role, but surely it cannot be the cause of the obesity epidemic?
    - burlesona 6y ago
      I think what changed significantly in the last 100 years is the abundance and composition of our diet. In particular the quantity of sugar added to everything, and the abundance of simple starches in our diets (in particular in the US where the "food pyramid" suggests that grain is the main thing people should be eating).
hn8788 6y ago
Unless they're being force-fed, then yes, they are choosing it. It can be hard to lose weight, especially if raised with poor dietary habits, but it's not like people can't lose weight unless a magic diet pill is invented for them.
- CabSauce 6y ago
  Sure, it's obviously possible. Just like it's possible to quit smoking without assistance, or quit heroin cold-turkey. So you're arguing that because it's possible, we shouldn't try to make it easier?
animal_spirits 6y ago
Do you think cigarette smokers are choosing to have tar in their lungs? Its the same argument - albeit there is a lack of common knowledge about what harms food can do to your body. Thats why we should promote eating healthy instead of taking drugs
- burlesona 6y ago
  Except change your metaphor such that you have to smoke a little bit to live.
  - animal_spirits 6y ago
    You're right, that's a good point. Its harder to make these decisions every day, but I still know that education of nutrition and diet can give people the power to make the better choices when it comes to food; rather than giving them a pill.
- MattGaiser 6y ago
  We use medication to deal with a desire to smoke. There are tons of drugs for managing this.

Do you really think people are choosing to be extremely obese?

foobears42 6y ago

They don't want the consequences of overeating. But yes, I do believe they choose to eat the amounts they do.

burlesona 6y ago
Here’s an interesting fact: if you’re insulin resistant (more than half the population is), then you could have a “healthy” meal like a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, and the body’s poor insulin response actually forces all the carbs you just ate into your fat cells while denying your body fuel, thus making you hungrier. To overcome this you have to eat enough carb to still have fuel available even after your fat metabolism is satisfied. So the heavier you are the more you have to eat before you have fuel available to your body. It’s very, very difficult to overcome genetics.
- Cthulhu_ 6y ago
  In those cases, is there medication or treatment available to help deal with the insulin response? I know hyper / hypothyroidism is a thing as well (although research has shown -thyroidism may not influence weight significantly: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6711558/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6711558/)
- muldvarp 6y ago
  How much did human genetics change in the last 100 years? I'm very much convinced that genetics plays a role, but surely it cannot be the cause of the obesity epidemic?
  - burlesona 6y ago
    I think what changed significantly in the last 100 years is the abundance and composition of our diet. In particular the quantity of sugar added to everything, and the abundance of simple starches in our diets (in particular in the US where the "food pyramid" suggests that grain is the main thing people should be eating).

hn8788 6y ago

Unless they're being force-fed, then yes, they are choosing it. It can be hard to lose weight, especially if raised with poor dietary habits, but it's not like people can't lose weight unless a magic diet pill is invented for them.

CabSauce 6y ago
Sure, it's obviously possible. Just like it's possible to quit smoking without assistance, or quit heroin cold-turkey. So you're arguing that because it's possible, we shouldn't try to make it easier?

animal_spirits 6y ago

Do you think cigarette smokers are choosing to have tar in their lungs? Its the same argument - albeit there is a lack of common knowledge about what harms food can do to your body. Thats why we should promote eating healthy instead of taking drugs

burlesona 6y ago
Except change your metaphor such that you have to smoke a little bit to live.
- animal_spirits 6y ago
  You're right, that's a good point. Its harder to make these decisions every day, but I still know that education of nutrition and diet can give people the power to make the better choices when it comes to food; rather than giving them a pill.
MattGaiser 6y ago
We use medication to deal with a desire to smoke. There are tons of drugs for managing this.