3 ms·

There are absolutely fat kids in Africa, and widespread malnutrition / starvation isn't really a great public health option.

by ceejayoz 10mo ago

javcasas 10mo ago
My point is, unless you have found a way to break thermodynamics, the only way to reduce your weight is by taking in less than what you excrete out, regardless of deficiencies and conditions.
- ceejayoz 10mo ago
  Sure. But we know that some conditions, both physical and psychological, can make that process much harder. (Medications, too! And billion dollar companies who employ experts in breaking your will.) "Just abstain" approaches have failed repeatedly and conclusively in public health. Hell, it's hard enough to get people to wash their hands after pooping and get vaccinated.
  - volkercraig 10mo ago
    Personal experience: the first time i took buproprion/naltrexone it became clear to me why people that arent and have never been overweight think "just eat less move more" is the only advice you need.
    - javcasas 10mo ago
      > eat less move more That's not the only advice. But, without that piece, you are unlikely to make progress. Hence all other advice is secondary to it.
      - ceejayoz 10mo ago
        Except it's not typically very effectively actionable advice. It's more in the realm of "just be happy" to a depressed person. Sure, that'd help a lot. It's the how that's tough. So we move the levers that aren't rusted solid first.
      - volkercraig 10mo ago
        Yeah, just like telling a heroin addict that getting clean is easy, just stop doing heroin. Oh except the heroin is available literally everywhere and you need to do just a little bit every day to stay alive
      - TimorousBestie 10mo ago
        You, earlier: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46499273 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46499273 > The mouth. That magical orifice where the cake enters and the excuses exit. I don’t think you’re a font of nuanced advice on fitness.
        javcasas 10mo ago
        [flagged]

There are absolutely fat kids in Africa, and widespread malnutrition / starvation isn't really a great public health option.

javcasas 10mo ago

My point is, unless you have found a way to break thermodynamics, the only way to reduce your weight is by taking in less than what you excrete out, regardless of deficiencies and conditions.

ceejayoz 10mo ago
Sure. But we know that some conditions, both physical and psychological, can make that process much harder. (Medications, too! And billion dollar companies who employ experts in breaking your will.) "Just abstain" approaches have failed repeatedly and conclusively in public health. Hell, it's hard enough to get people to wash their hands after pooping and get vaccinated.
- volkercraig 10mo ago
  Personal experience: the first time i took buproprion/naltrexone it became clear to me why people that arent and have never been overweight think "just eat less move more" is the only advice you need.
  - javcasas 10mo ago
    > eat less move more That's not the only advice. But, without that piece, you are unlikely to make progress. Hence all other advice is secondary to it.
    - ceejayoz 10mo ago
      Except it's not typically very effectively actionable advice. It's more in the realm of "just be happy" to a depressed person. Sure, that'd help a lot. It's the how that's tough. So we move the levers that aren't rusted solid first.
    - volkercraig 10mo ago
      Yeah, just like telling a heroin addict that getting clean is easy, just stop doing heroin. Oh except the heroin is available literally everywhere and you need to do just a little bit every day to stay alive
    - TimorousBestie 10mo ago
      You, earlier: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46499273 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46499273 > The mouth. That magical orifice where the cake enters and the excuses exit. I don’t think you’re a font of nuanced advice on fitness.
      - javcasas 10mo ago
        [flagged]