6 ms·

Previously believed by whom? Pretty sure we've been aware that obesity is a huge problem for a generation now. I mean we literally talk about an obesity epidemi

Previously believed by whom? Pretty sure we've been aware that obesity is a huge problem for a generation now. I mean we literally talk about an obesity epidemic. Next, science is going to find out that water is wet.

saurik 4y ago
The "science" has been saying for a long time now that there's might even be a health benefit from being a bit overweight, and that --as this article carefully explained (which means I guess you didn't read it)-- there is a "U-shaped" distribution of outcomes; in contrast, this study claims all that prior work is wrong, and that there is a "straight upward line".
- dkarl 4y ago
  The U-shaped distribution of outcomes has been discussed for many, many years, and I've never seen it mentioned without the caveat that most doctors and scientists suspect that it's a misleading statistic attributable to serious illnesses that cause weight loss. This definitely isn't the first study to support that interpretation, either. In other words, the longstanding conventional wisdom (at least as presented in the media) is exactly what this study set out to vindicate, not the opposite, like the press release claims. It's possible that this study is a significant step up in quality from existing ones, and it's possible that their method of considering past BMI is new and interesting, but the framing of it as the first to challenge conventional wisdom is pure marketing hype.
  - exfatloss 4y ago
    This. The U (or typically J as I've heard it described) shape comes mostly from the fact that very many very unhealthy people lose a ton of weight and end up with a super low BMI.
    - sundvor 4y ago
      Sprinkled with a coating of "body positivity" perhaps? I use quotes, because I personally only believe in body positivity for matters that are beyond control - eg disfigurements related to genetics or trauma. No-one should shame anyone - or feel shame - for things they have no say on. Matters within scope of control should be addressed, however. At the very least not lied about and promoted as healthy, more importantly.
      - exfatloss 4y ago
        Yea. I think a lot of it is cope/helplessness. Clearly "we" as a society don't know how to stay lean or get lean, and it's not fun constantly being reminded of something that you feel you have no control over. Or being told that it's unhealthy.
netrus 4y ago
The point is not that its deadly, but more deadly then previously thought (as indicated by the title).
Someone1234 4y ago
> Previously believed by whom? The previous data/methodology. The whole point of the study was to look at three untracked externalities[0] in BMI-outcome research. They used historical NHANES data combined 2015 data on mortality data. > (1) confounding bias from heterogeneity in body shape; (2) positive survival bias in high-BMI samples due to recent weight gain; and (3) negative survival bias in low-BMI samples due to recent weight loss. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00324728.2023.2168035?journalCode=rpst20 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00324728.2023.21...
8f2ab37a-ed6c 4y ago
https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/ https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/ - and similar efforts have sprouted like wildfire these last several years in the name of inclusivity. Claiming or hinting that obesity is bad for one's health is considered highly gauche in polite company.
vanilla_nut 4y ago
I don't believe this myself, but I do know a lot of people who believe being overweight is unfairly demonized and not as harmful as TPTB would have us believe. Many point to BMI as an inaccurate gauge of healthiness (there's a fair point there about eating disorders and ethnic predispositions towards higher BMIs) and unhealthy obsessions with thinness (as opposed to fitness). Look up "Fat Acceptance" if you'd like to know more. Personally, I don't think we should view fatness as a moral failing; some people do naturally tend towards higher weights, especially as they get older. But I also feel that fatness is really dangerous and unhealthy and the "Fat Acceptance" movement makes me a bit uncomfortable because, much like smoking cigarettes, some people need a bit of a push to kick bad habits like overeating. Obesity is very expensive, both in money and lives, so if we can reduce it, we should.
- rootusrootus 4y ago
  > I do know a lot of people who believe being overweight is unfairly demonized Because it is. As you yourself allude to later... > I don't think we should view fatness as a moral failing It clearly is not. I suspect the only people who believe that are the folks 'born on third base' as it were. > some people need a bit of a push to kick bad habits like overeating Some people? The vast majority of people are overweight. Anyone who isn't fit & trim has no business commenting on anyone else's bad habits and moral failings. None. Got a little bit of a spare tire? Shush. Got some love handles? Shush. Skinny fat? Shush again! > if we can reduce it, we should 100% agree. Edit: Downvote all you want, guys, most of you pushing that downvote button need to lose weight just as much as I do.
  - tekla 4y ago
    > Because it is. As you yourself allude to later... No its not. Its nowhere near demonized as it should be. > It clearly is not. I suspect the only people who believe that are the folks 'born on third base' as it were. It's a failure of self control. > Some people? The vast majority of people are overweight. Anyone who isn't fit & trim has no business commenting on anyone else's bad habits and moral failings. None. Got a little bit of a spare tire? Shush. Got some love handles? Shush. Skinny fat? Shush again! Untrue. The vast majority of people in rich countries are overweight.

saurik 4y ago

The "science" has been saying for a long time now that there's might even be a health benefit from being a bit overweight, and that --as this article carefully explained (which means I guess you didn't read it)-- there is a "U-shaped" distribution of outcomes; in contrast, this study claims all that prior work is wrong, and that there is a "straight upward line".

dkarl 4y ago
The U-shaped distribution of outcomes has been discussed for many, many years, and I've never seen it mentioned without the caveat that most doctors and scientists suspect that it's a misleading statistic attributable to serious illnesses that cause weight loss. This definitely isn't the first study to support that interpretation, either. In other words, the longstanding conventional wisdom (at least as presented in the media) is exactly what this study set out to vindicate, not the opposite, like the press release claims. It's possible that this study is a significant step up in quality from existing ones, and it's possible that their method of considering past BMI is new and interesting, but the framing of it as the first to challenge conventional wisdom is pure marketing hype.
- exfatloss 4y ago
  This. The U (or typically J as I've heard it described) shape comes mostly from the fact that very many very unhealthy people lose a ton of weight and end up with a super low BMI.
  - sundvor 4y ago
    Sprinkled with a coating of "body positivity" perhaps? I use quotes, because I personally only believe in body positivity for matters that are beyond control - eg disfigurements related to genetics or trauma. No-one should shame anyone - or feel shame - for things they have no say on. Matters within scope of control should be addressed, however. At the very least not lied about and promoted as healthy, more importantly.
    - exfatloss 4y ago
      Yea. I think a lot of it is cope/helplessness. Clearly "we" as a society don't know how to stay lean or get lean, and it's not fun constantly being reminded of something that you feel you have no control over. Or being told that it's unhealthy.

netrus 4y ago

The point is not that its deadly, but more deadly then previously thought (as indicated by the title).

Someone1234 4y ago

> Previously believed by whom? The previous data/methodology. The whole point of the study was to look at three untracked externalities[0] in BMI-outcome research. They used historical NHANES data combined 2015 data on mortality data. > (1) confounding bias from heterogeneity in body shape; (2) positive survival bias in high-BMI samples due to recent weight gain; and (3) negative survival bias in low-BMI samples due to recent weight loss. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00324728.2023.2168035?journalCode=rpst20 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00324728.2023.21...

8f2ab37a-ed6c 4y ago

https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/ https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/ - and similar efforts have sprouted like wildfire these last several years in the name of inclusivity. Claiming or hinting that obesity is bad for one's health is considered highly gauche in polite company.

vanilla_nut 4y ago

I don't believe this myself, but I do know a lot of people who believe being overweight is unfairly demonized and not as harmful as TPTB would have us believe. Many point to BMI as an inaccurate gauge of healthiness (there's a fair point there about eating disorders and ethnic predispositions towards higher BMIs) and unhealthy obsessions with thinness (as opposed to fitness). Look up "Fat Acceptance" if you'd like to know more. Personally, I don't think we should view fatness as a moral failing; some people do naturally tend towards higher weights, especially as they get older. But I also feel that fatness is really dangerous and unhealthy and the "Fat Acceptance" movement makes me a bit uncomfortable because, much like smoking cigarettes, some people need a bit of a push to kick bad habits like overeating. Obesity is very expensive, both in money and lives, so if we can reduce it, we should.

rootusrootus 4y ago
> I do know a lot of people who believe being overweight is unfairly demonized Because it is. As you yourself allude to later... > I don't think we should view fatness as a moral failing It clearly is not. I suspect the only people who believe that are the folks 'born on third base' as it were. > some people need a bit of a push to kick bad habits like overeating Some people? The vast majority of people are overweight. Anyone who isn't fit & trim has no business commenting on anyone else's bad habits and moral failings. None. Got a little bit of a spare tire? Shush. Got some love handles? Shush. Skinny fat? Shush again! > if we can reduce it, we should 100% agree. Edit: Downvote all you want, guys, most of you pushing that downvote button need to lose weight just as much as I do.
- tekla 4y ago
  > Because it is. As you yourself allude to later... No its not. Its nowhere near demonized as it should be. > It clearly is not. I suspect the only people who believe that are the folks 'born on third base' as it were. It's a failure of self control. > Some people? The vast majority of people are overweight. Anyone who isn't fit & trim has no business commenting on anyone else's bad habits and moral failings. None. Got a little bit of a spare tire? Shush. Got some love handles? Shush. Skinny fat? Shush again! Untrue. The vast majority of people in rich countries are overweight.