4 ms·

"have obesity" sounds like something that you can randomly catch (like some other virus a few years ago that's still going around). Obesity (especially morbid

"have obesity" sounds like something that you can randomly catch (like some other virus a few years ago that's still going around). Obesity (especially morbid obesity) takes months and years of self-neglect (or parental neglect in case of children).

onetimeuse92304 3y ago
Decades, in most cases. And not necessarily self-neglect. Frequently it is neglect by the parents or by your environment. Currently, in many countries it is pretty difficult to maintain healthy diet if you have below average income. The way obesity starts in most cases is that you eat the wrong things for a long time and this slowly damages your internal regulation. There isn't super firm consensus on what exactly causes this to develop, but you can bet on low protein, high sugar high carb paired with low amount of exercise and food intake spread throughout the entire day (snacking). Hyperpalatable food that is currently majority of food items in stores is essentially designed to keep people eating. But it typically takes a decade or two for most people before they visibly gaining weight. For example, I drank 2-4 liters of Coca Cola every day and for over a decade I was completely fine. Until I wasn't and started gaining weight dramatically. As far as I understand most (yes, over half) of kids in developed countries are already progressing into obesity and have damaged metabolism to higher or lesser extent. That they are not classified as sick and in need of help is only due to our medical system which essentially waits until you require medical assistance until you get classified as sick. Only some people get fat because they overeat a lot for whatever reason. Some unfortunate kids because parents let them eat whatever they want. Some unfortunate adults because maybe they are stressed and overeat to compensate. But most people really take a long time to develop the underlying condition that causes them to gain weight.
Scoundreller 3y ago
Given: > The advent of highly effective GLP-1 based obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound have stoked excitement among many doctors as a new way to address rising obesity rates > “These drugs are definitely an important tool, but they should not be seen as a solution to the problem,” Francesco Branca, director of nutrition and food safety at the World Health Organization, said in a press briefing discussing the study. “The solution still is in the transformation of food systems and the environment, such that obesity can be prevented.” I bet we'll see evidence that giving them to parents (or parents-to-be) reduces obesity and obesity risk in the subsequent generations by altering the food system in the home and environment. Maybe we'll need them every 3rd or 4th generation to reset things.
- glp1guide 3y ago
  This is interesting -- one thing that people on HN also pointed out was the possibility of GLP1 gene therapy. It was the first I heard of it but: The original comment (thanks to toomuchtodo): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39354361 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39354361 Some follow up links: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38495653 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38495653 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39284781 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39284781
andrepd 3y ago
There is an epidemic aspect to it as well. From food deserts to unhealthy food advertising, there are plenty of external reasons for the obesity epidemic.
perilunar 3y ago
> sounds like something that you can randomly catch (like some other virus a few years ago that's still going around). There's evidence that viruses can cause obesity. e.g. Adenovirus 36 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-021-00805-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-021-00805-6
faeriechangling 3y ago
Framing an issue affecting a billion people as a personal moral failure makes absolutely no sense. Food companies have brainwashed people into not looking at the man behind the curtain.
- derelicta 3y ago
  Noooo its just that half of the population is stupid, lazy and lack willpower, okay? The rest are just Good People and therefore do not get sick, duh.
  - rrr_oh_man 3y ago
    But... you are responsible for your meat suit, aren't you? And you see and feel the effects of your actions, don't you?

onetimeuse92304 3y ago

Decades, in most cases. And not necessarily self-neglect. Frequently it is neglect by the parents or by your environment. Currently, in many countries it is pretty difficult to maintain healthy diet if you have below average income. The way obesity starts in most cases is that you eat the wrong things for a long time and this slowly damages your internal regulation. There isn't super firm consensus on what exactly causes this to develop, but you can bet on low protein, high sugar high carb paired with low amount of exercise and food intake spread throughout the entire day (snacking). Hyperpalatable food that is currently majority of food items in stores is essentially designed to keep people eating. But it typically takes a decade or two for most people before they visibly gaining weight. For example, I drank 2-4 liters of Coca Cola every day and for over a decade I was completely fine. Until I wasn't and started gaining weight dramatically. As far as I understand most (yes, over half) of kids in developed countries are already progressing into obesity and have damaged metabolism to higher or lesser extent. That they are not classified as sick and in need of help is only due to our medical system which essentially waits until you require medical assistance until you get classified as sick. Only some people get fat because they overeat a lot for whatever reason. Some unfortunate kids because parents let them eat whatever they want. Some unfortunate adults because maybe they are stressed and overeat to compensate. But most people really take a long time to develop the underlying condition that causes them to gain weight.

Scoundreller 3y ago

Given: > The advent of highly effective GLP-1 based obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound have stoked excitement among many doctors as a new way to address rising obesity rates > “These drugs are definitely an important tool, but they should not be seen as a solution to the problem,” Francesco Branca, director of nutrition and food safety at the World Health Organization, said in a press briefing discussing the study. “The solution still is in the transformation of food systems and the environment, such that obesity can be prevented.” I bet we'll see evidence that giving them to parents (or parents-to-be) reduces obesity and obesity risk in the subsequent generations by altering the food system in the home and environment. Maybe we'll need them every 3rd or 4th generation to reset things.

glp1guide 3y ago
This is interesting -- one thing that people on HN also pointed out was the possibility of GLP1 gene therapy. It was the first I heard of it but: The original comment (thanks to toomuchtodo): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39354361 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39354361 Some follow up links: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38495653 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38495653 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39284781 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39284781

andrepd 3y ago

There is an epidemic aspect to it as well. From food deserts to unhealthy food advertising, there are plenty of external reasons for the obesity epidemic.

perilunar 3y ago

> sounds like something that you can randomly catch (like some other virus a few years ago that's still going around). There's evidence that viruses can cause obesity. e.g. Adenovirus 36 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-021-00805-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-021-00805-6

faeriechangling 3y ago

Framing an issue affecting a billion people as a personal moral failure makes absolutely no sense. Food companies have brainwashed people into not looking at the man behind the curtain.

derelicta 3y ago
Noooo its just that half of the population is stupid, lazy and lack willpower, okay? The rest are just Good People and therefore do not get sick, duh.
- rrr_oh_man 3y ago
  But... you are responsible for your meat suit, aren't you? And you see and feel the effects of your actions, don't you?