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> What people who aren't fat do is intellectually recognize that "I could eat forever" feeling, and don't fall for it. That's where the willpower comes into pla

> What people who aren't fat do is intellectually recognize that "I could eat forever" feeling, and don't fall for it. That's where the willpower comes into play. I don't think that is quite right, at least from personal experience. I have a good weight and I feel it's almost impossible for me to gain weight. And personally, I don't really recognize the "I can eat forever" feeling. I love food, don't get me wrong, but I eat some sort of meal and then once I feel it's enough so that I no longer feel ravenous, I just stop and go back to doing something else. Sometimes I'm even concentrating so hard on some other activity that I forget about eating. For me, it's definitely not willpower. In fact, once I tried to gain weight (more muscle mass) by going to the gym and counting calories, eating a minimum amount every day over what I usually ate. What happened was that after a short amount of time, there came a day where I just didn't feel like eating. In short, although I do believe willpower can help you lose weight, I sincerely doubt a lack of it is the only thing that causes people to be fat. I honestly think that people must have a different metabolism and/or a different desire to eat, because I find it very hard to ingest enough calories myself no matter how hard I try. My body just stops me from eating very soon, even though I know I theoretically could eat more.

SpeedilyDamage 4y ago
I don't know what to tell you other than that I was once skinny and young, but then I got older and fitter and my desire to eat changed. It apparently changes quite a lot as different factors in your life influence you, according to the article you're commenting on. It's a good read, I recommend it (and others)! What factors do you think are influencing your desire to eat more or less? Do you think those will change at all during your lifetime, or do you believe that those factors are entirely genetic? Additionally, what do you think of the folks who were fat, who then got healthy, and remain healthy? It sounds like you don't believe they can exist, since "metabolism" is just different for everyone, or that if they do exist, they're doomed to failure, since it's encoded genetically and therefore only a matter of time until they "revert" back to their unhealthy state. Finally, what should we do to the people who have these genetics that cause them to eat and/or gain weight with little or no control? If we could remove those genetics or alter them pre-birth, should we? As for the living people, they obviously cost more to provide healthcare to, so should we split them out from the non-obese-predisposed pool of people?
- vouaobrasil 4y ago
  You made some good points. I am under 40 so I might still have some changing to do as well I guess! As for factors changing during my lifetime, I am not sure. I don't think it's entirely genetic since genes almost always have some environment mediation. I do believe fat people can get healthy and remain healthy, and I only meant to say that "metabolism" and desire are mediating but not wholly determining factors. As for the people who can't stop eating, I don't propose to "do" anything with them. I don't believe in altering genetics or using advanced technology to solve the problem. I don't think we should split them out in terms of healthcare either because that would be cruel. I might also have some predisposition to some other costly condition like heart disease and then I would be in another "more expensive" group and just not know about it because it's not visible like obesity.
  - SpeedilyDamage 4y ago
    If "fat people can get healthy and remain healthy" then you agree that it is indeed a matter of willpower, right?
    - vouaobrasil 4y ago
      Well, I think people have different levels of willpower (which may actually also be genetic) and an interaction with their desire to eat. Some people clearly have much stronger wills than others, and that's probably genetic or at least imprinted early on.
      - SpeedilyDamage 4y ago
        What if you found out that willpower wasn’t genetic, but a learned skill like riding a bike? Would that change your opinion at all?
        vouaobrasil 4y ago
        Well, yes and no. I guess it might change it a little. Plenty of things are learned quite early though, so it might be some learned skill that happens so early that the person themselves are not responsible for it. I mean it's a bit of a complex question isn't it?

SpeedilyDamage 4y ago

I don't know what to tell you other than that I was once skinny and young, but then I got older and fitter and my desire to eat changed. It apparently changes quite a lot as different factors in your life influence you, according to the article you're commenting on. It's a good read, I recommend it (and others)! What factors do you think are influencing your desire to eat more or less? Do you think those will change at all during your lifetime, or do you believe that those factors are entirely genetic? Additionally, what do you think of the folks who were fat, who then got healthy, and remain healthy? It sounds like you don't believe they can exist, since "metabolism" is just different for everyone, or that if they do exist, they're doomed to failure, since it's encoded genetically and therefore only a matter of time until they "revert" back to their unhealthy state. Finally, what should we do to the people who have these genetics that cause them to eat and/or gain weight with little or no control? If we could remove those genetics or alter them pre-birth, should we? As for the living people, they obviously cost more to provide healthcare to, so should we split them out from the non-obese-predisposed pool of people?

vouaobrasil 4y ago
You made some good points. I am under 40 so I might still have some changing to do as well I guess! As for factors changing during my lifetime, I am not sure. I don't think it's entirely genetic since genes almost always have some environment mediation. I do believe fat people can get healthy and remain healthy, and I only meant to say that "metabolism" and desire are mediating but not wholly determining factors. As for the people who can't stop eating, I don't propose to "do" anything with them. I don't believe in altering genetics or using advanced technology to solve the problem. I don't think we should split them out in terms of healthcare either because that would be cruel. I might also have some predisposition to some other costly condition like heart disease and then I would be in another "more expensive" group and just not know about it because it's not visible like obesity.
- SpeedilyDamage 4y ago
  If "fat people can get healthy and remain healthy" then you agree that it is indeed a matter of willpower, right?
  - vouaobrasil 4y ago
    Well, I think people have different levels of willpower (which may actually also be genetic) and an interaction with their desire to eat. Some people clearly have much stronger wills than others, and that's probably genetic or at least imprinted early on.
    - SpeedilyDamage 4y ago
      What if you found out that willpower wasn’t genetic, but a learned skill like riding a bike? Would that change your opinion at all?
      - vouaobrasil 4y ago
        Well, yes and no. I guess it might change it a little. Plenty of things are learned quite early though, so it might be some learned skill that happens so early that the person themselves are not responsible for it. I mean it's a bit of a complex question isn't it?