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> "certain Russian populations" Yes, of course. There are always outliers. But 50+% of the American population doesn't fall into this bucket, do they? Nor did
by chiefalchemist 3y ago
> "certain Russian populations"
Yes, of course. There are always outliers. But 50+% of the American population doesn't fall into this bucket, do they? Nor did they suddenly become that after they were born (i.e., obesity is a relatively new problem and not so much driven by DNA else why didn't it exist so much even just 50 yrs ago?).
We keep looking for all kinds of "answers" to obesity but we already have the one that works for most people most of the time:
Take in more calories than you burn, and those extra calories will become added weight.
That's it. It is *that* simple.
But people refuse to change their diet and/or lifestyle. In fact they're being told it's not their fault, as if someone else is responsible for what goes in their mouth and their sedentary lifestyles.
- SirMaster 3y agoBut what if consuming as low amount of calories as needed to be equal to or less than energy expended leaves you constantly feeling tired and with headaches and such from eating so little? Is this not something that actually happens? It seems like a spiral of doom. Eat less, so now I have even less energy for activity and thus now I am burning less energy, so I need to eat even less...
- chiefalchemist 3y agoSure. That sucks. But so does diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, and premature death. The ultimate solution is prevention. But bring that up and you're accessed of being insensitive, fat shaming, etc. We've normalized the abnormal, and too few what to see that reversed.
- awfulneutral 3y agoIt might be that simple from a high level conceptual standpoint, but when the amount of calories you burn passively adjusts up or down as your body fights to maintain its weight, it is much more complex.
- chiefalchemist 3y agoAgreed. But that's a weight *loss* issue. The more basic "Why has there been a rise in obesity?" keeps being asked, and that's already answered. The idea that people are falling asleep next to a pod and waking up with too much weight for some mysterious reason is a false narrative. It's not making anyone any more aware or any healthier.
- awfulneutral 3y agoI agree that would be a false narrative to some extent, but in this thread I don't see a better explanation. Just the idea that in e.g. parts of the USA they have been told it's impossible to control their weight, so they then go on to eat too much and exercise less than in other places and other times in history, doesn't make any sense to me as an explanation. Apologies if that's not what you're saying.
- agos 3y ago> The more basic "Why has there been a rise in obesity?" keeps being asked, and that's already answered. to my knowledge, it has not. Researchers are still trying to understand why.
- chiefalchemist 3y agoThat's a different why. That a: Why are people eating so many calories? Why aren't people getting off the sofa and moving? The actual "mechanic" of weight gain are well known. That's not up for debate. But for some reason, it is. And the gains keep on coming.