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Overeating is the root of it. It's popular to deny this and come up with other excuses; normally when I'm with somebody making those excuses for themselves I d

Overeating is the root of it. It's popular to deny this and come up with other excuses; normally when I'm with somebody making those excuses for themselves I don't dispute any of it (because it's not worth the social capital I'd expend in doing so.) But what really ticks me off is when somebody offers those lame excuses up for my obesity. I'm not big boned, there's not something wrong with my metabolism, I don't have a glandular disorder. They think they're doing me some sort of favor, telling me that my obesity is not my fault. But none of that stuff is true and encouraging me to lie to myself is cruel, not kind. I have a binge eating problem. It's that simple. If I examine my own diet with a dispassionate eye, it's obvious that I eat enough for two men and weigh as much as two men. There is no mystery to obesity, only ego-clouded judgement and denial.

jliptzin 4y ago
It’s good you are honest with yourself about it. Unfortunately I don’t know what the solution is, if you find one let me know so I can pass on to my friends. I binge eat too; it’s just doesn’t take that much to get me full. If I had to eat more to feel full, I’d be fat too. Very few people have the willpower to stop eating while still hungry and with food in front of them.
- nradov 4y ago
  Similar to substance abuse problems, people with overeating issues often have to "hit rock bottom" in order to gain sufficient motivation and discipline to sustain a permanent behavior change. This often takes the form of a serious medical crisis, or losing a valued personal relationship.
  - rmoriz 4y ago
    Why people develop an addiction? The way to overcome is to understand why you became addicted. Every obese person I know has a cause that triggered them into overeating.
  - matthewdgreen 4y ago
    Alternatively you could go on an FDA-approved medication like Wegovy that completely changes your appetite. That would at least tell if you if this is a physical issue or an emotional one.
    - nradov 4y ago
      Medication can be a good option for some patients. SGLT2 inhibitors have also been shown to work pretty well. But all medicines have risks and side effects so they should be used only if behavior modification has consistently failed. And someone who relies on medicine to lose weight will likely have to stay on as least a low dose permanently for maintenance.
Aloha 4y ago
The 'it's all my fault' attitude isn't really helpful for you to solve those problems however. Binge eating can be driven by a myriad of factors, mostly psychological. I'm fat too, and I'm comfortable with that word, I dont like medicalizing it with term obesity. While my weight is at least partially my own fault, its at least influenced by factors outside of my control - upbringing, genetics, societal factors, and an endocrine disorder too. I've concluded that being fat is a result of Type II diabetes rather than a cause - and there is growing science to back me up - a good example of this, my liver dumps glucose into my system, without meds I can fast for a nearly indefinite period of time without my blood sugar falling off.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- MichaelCollins 4y ago
  Whether or not the realization that overeating is my problem helps me solve the problem is orthogonal to whether or not it's true. It is objectively true that I overeat. In my case, I believe I overeat because I have poor impulse control and I enjoy both the act of eating and the sensation of being stuffed with food. Furthermore I particularly enjoy greasy and carby foods, pizza particularly. If I ate less (or stuffed myself with plant fiber instead of pizza grease) I am certain that I would lose weight. Do I have the motivation and conviction to follow through with that? Past performance says no. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm overeating. It's not an attitude, it's reality.
  - Aloha 4y ago
    The additional shame I suspect you feel about your eating habits, likely leads you to binge eat more however - thats my larger point, it creates a negative feelings cycle that makes the problem worse. You probably binge eat to plug an emotional or stress hole, its literally a form of self medicating. Thats not something that willpower or blaming yourself can solve.
    - MichaelCollins 4y ago

jliptzin 4y ago

It’s good you are honest with yourself about it. Unfortunately I don’t know what the solution is, if you find one let me know so I can pass on to my friends. I binge eat too; it’s just doesn’t take that much to get me full. If I had to eat more to feel full, I’d be fat too. Very few people have the willpower to stop eating while still hungry and with food in front of them.

nradov 4y ago
Similar to substance abuse problems, people with overeating issues often have to "hit rock bottom" in order to gain sufficient motivation and discipline to sustain a permanent behavior change. This often takes the form of a serious medical crisis, or losing a valued personal relationship.
- rmoriz 4y ago
  Why people develop an addiction? The way to overcome is to understand why you became addicted. Every obese person I know has a cause that triggered them into overeating.
- matthewdgreen 4y ago
  Alternatively you could go on an FDA-approved medication like Wegovy that completely changes your appetite. That would at least tell if you if this is a physical issue or an emotional one.
  - nradov 4y ago
    Medication can be a good option for some patients. SGLT2 inhibitors have also been shown to work pretty well. But all medicines have risks and side effects so they should be used only if behavior modification has consistently failed. And someone who relies on medicine to lose weight will likely have to stay on as least a low dose permanently for maintenance.

Aloha 4y ago

The 'it's all my fault' attitude isn't really helpful for you to solve those problems however. Binge eating can be driven by a myriad of factors, mostly psychological. I'm fat too, and I'm comfortable with that word, I dont like medicalizing it with term obesity. While my weight is at least partially my own fault, its at least influenced by factors outside of my control - upbringing, genetics, societal factors, and an endocrine disorder too. I've concluded that being fat is a result of Type II diabetes rather than a cause - and there is growing science to back me up - a good example of this, my liver dumps glucose into my system, without meds I can fast for a nearly indefinite period of time without my blood sugar falling off.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
MichaelCollins 4y ago
Whether or not the realization that overeating is my problem helps me solve the problem is orthogonal to whether or not it's true. It is objectively true that I overeat. In my case, I believe I overeat because I have poor impulse control and I enjoy both the act of eating and the sensation of being stuffed with food. Furthermore I particularly enjoy greasy and carby foods, pizza particularly. If I ate less (or stuffed myself with plant fiber instead of pizza grease) I am certain that I would lose weight. Do I have the motivation and conviction to follow through with that? Past performance says no. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm overeating. It's not an attitude, it's reality.
- Aloha 4y ago
  The additional shame I suspect you feel about your eating habits, likely leads you to binge eat more however - thats my larger point, it creates a negative feelings cycle that makes the problem worse. You probably binge eat to plug an emotional or stress hole, its literally a form of self medicating. Thats not something that willpower or blaming yourself can solve.
  - MichaelCollins 4y ago