I checked to see if there is a thread on this & didn't find any so hopefuly there isn't, if not sorry.

Anyways, Obesity has been a big problem in the US. But also everyone tries to be skinny minnies. There's no happy medium. I was watching a Fashion Show called the agency, and a girl had 37 inch hips. Which is average size. & the Agency people called her fat and all these mean names. When they weren't even super skinny themselves.

It used to be that being healthy was beautiful, what's going on. The models are getting skinnier and America is getting fatter. Maybe the stress to be skinny has made people eat more?
Who knows, does anyone have any opinions on this?

America is woefully incapable of parting with their beloved fastfood items. And it does not help that many of them seem to go by the "live to eat" approach, rather than the "eat to live" one.

I have always been stolid on that angle.

Have you been to IHOP? Their portion sizes are a joke... Seriously, an item from the Children's Menu could sate a healthy, full-grown adult.

It used to be that being healthy was beautiful, what's going on. The models are getting skinnier and America is getting fatter. Maybe the stress to be skinny has made people eat more?
Who knows, does anyone have any opinions on this?

Being healthy is still beautiful. Models are gross looking in my opinion, and most guys I know agree with me. Models are skinny because extra skinny people look better in photos with all those weird lighting techniques and such; lots of models look disgusting on video. Also, I've heard the modeling industry has raised the minimum weight of models recently, due to health concerns and such.


America is woefully incapable of parting with their beloved fastfood items. And it does not help that many of them seem to go by the "live to eat" approach, rather than the "eat to live" one.
Lets not rag on America; the whole world is getting fatter and fatter. Britain is catching up to us actually, their population is only 7% behind the US's in terms of the number of obese adults in their society.

Graph!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Bmi30chart.png

See? Anyway, being obese would suck. I don't understand how people can let themselves get like that. Or rather, I can, but I'm still glad as hell that I'm not like them. Hopefully people learn to eat better, or science helps us lose weight with less effort. Go fit people! And Japan's obesity percentage is awesome. It must be amazing walking around without having one out of every three adults being fat. D:

Also realize that England is a lot smaller country than America. That's 30.6 Percent of 301,139,947 people , while England has 24.2 Percent for 60,776,238 people (Unless I missed something). America may have more obese people, but it also has alot bigger of a population.

Well, yes, that's why it's done by percentage, Asuka. :heh:

Basically, one out of three American adults is fat. One out of four British adults is fat. America has many more fat people because of our populations size, but that doesn't really have anything to do with the graph, as the graph is working with ratios. If America and Britain had the same population size, the graph would still look and show the same thing, which is basically:

"1/3 of Americans are obese. 1/4 British people are obese. Both countries are embarrassingly fat." > <

The whole world needs to get down to the Japanese/Korean percentile, as far as I'm concerned. This being fat stuff would never fly if we still actually had to fight for our food. Humanity is getting fat and pathetic! D':

I dont think you can blame obesity on fast-food restaurants or their portions, their not forcing food down anyones throat. As for children any parent should know better not to be feeding so much of that to their children. It pretty much just comes down to self-control.

Yeah, my mom and dad are overweight, and it sucks in America to not have temptations to stop a diet or something. I mean, at least 10 fast-food restuantes are withing a 4 mile radius. Again, I'm not TARGETING fast-good industry, but I'm saying it as a definite concern.

Me, I am at a very average weight and size, yet I eat fast-food at least twice a week. . .and I'm not proud of it. On the side note, some people who Obese and still eat a lot of crappy foods. Sad.

Well, getting back on topic, I guess. . .

thanx for all the comments guys.

I'm not blaming fast food, there are so many factors in obesity.

But I've noticed that food that isnt good for you tends to be cheaper than healthier food.
Plus now that there are cars people drive instead of walk nomatter how close their destination is.

I tried walking to places in my neighborhood instead of having my parents drive me, but it is so unsafe. Huge busy roads and no crosswalks. Its hard to walk anywhere w/o the fear of getting hit. I wish it was easier to walk places, maybe then people would go outside more. My neighborhood is deserted, no one goes outside to just hang out.

Also now there's video games, so many people get addicted to video games that they never leave the house. No wonder vitamin d was added to milk.

Did any one hear about being addicted to salt?

Plus now that there are cars people drive instead of walk nomatter how close their destination is.

I tried walking to places in my neighborhood instead of having my parents drive me, but it is so unsafe. Huge busy roads and no crosswalks. Its hard to walk anywhere w/o the fear of getting hit. I wish it was easier to walk places, maybe then people would go outside more. My neighborhood is deserted, no one goes outside to just hang out.

Most people don't have an option on that. I have always had to commute for every task. My closest general store is 15 minutes away by car. My closets Textile is 20 minutes. My work and school is both 30 minutes away, by car.

Let's face it, most people that work have to commute to their workplace. There's no way to work around the necessity of a car. Quite honestly, if I could, I'd use a bus route or a tram/train. Sadly, we do not have those in Michigan.

Though I do house a bit of frustration as I look at the larger cities and the number of people that work only 15 blocks away from their house, yet they drive their car... But I'm not allowed to comment on them, as I have never lived in a big city.


Also now there's video games, so many people get addicted to video games that they never leave the house. No wonder vitamin d was added to milk.

Leaving the house has nothing to do with this. Most people lose the most weight while INSIDE a building (such as a gym, athletic clubs, workout rooms, etc...)

America is woefully incapable of parting with their beloved fastfood items. And it does not help that many of them seem to go by the "live to eat" approach, rather than the "eat to live" one.

I have always been stolid on that angle.

Have you been to IHOP? Their portion sizes are a joke... Seriously, an item from the Children's Menu could sate a healthy, full-grown adult.

Although I realize that some Americans to eat fast food, watch what you say, because not everyone eats fast food. I don't eat fast food. My brother doesn't eat fast food. Granted, my brother is a football player in college, so he works out 24/7, but he still doesn't eat it.

Also, like M, I have no choice but to drive. I live in a rural community. There's nothing here.

Like Hopeless Composer said, America is not the only one that the obese people increases.
And being VERY skinny, for me, it's creepy because it's like you'll see the bones on skins or something or even worse! Some women are thin enough when they thought that they wanted to get even thinner, so they just do even more exercise or skip a lot of meals. (That's what i think in my country, cause it REALLY happens...creepy... :cry:)

And also i guess people should not eat too much fast food.(I'm not blaming on fast food, it's people ownself to blame for not being cautious about health!)
Moreover, obesity also leads to diseases, like number 1 evil disease, the "heart attack". Even not much of diseases, you'll be slower in action and slower in reaction than usual. (I have a friend who is obese. Although he is obese, unlike some obese poeple his reaction is quite fast.) It's just my opinion, I can't really confirm what kind of harms is obesity anyway... :think: All I know is eat less food (Don't skip the meal, it's creepy), and you'll be fine.

Fast food isnt the problem, you can get away with eating fastfood regularly if you eat well the rest of the time, (Look at Mazeppa) the main problem is nowadays physical activity has become ..well physical activity. Think back 20 years ago, "playing" meant tag and basketball and stuff, nowadays theres another option. Not saying its videogames fault..but it IS another option. The other thing is that people just dont eat right.

I'm pretty two-sided about this matter. First, I don't pity people who eat to their death and then blame society, or whatever they may blame (certainly not themselves). Although it surely doesn't help when many high-fat products contain substances that partly 'shuts off' the device which tells the brain that you're full. That way, you keep eating and eating...

Although it surely doesn't help when many high-fat products contain substances that partly 'shuts off' the device which tells the brain that you're full. That way, you keep eating and eating...
That's interesting, I didn't know that. Is that why I feel sick an hour after eating a bag of Doritos? XD

And no, I don't do that often...because it's disgusting >_>

Has anybody heard of the tv show "Big Medicine" its were plastic surgens make obese people skinnier. Some people on this show weigh like 500 pounds!

That's sad that companies would put those substances that shut off the device in your brain that says your full. They probably do it for profit, the more you eat the more you'll buy. There is so many things put in food that is bad for you, like aspertame,which is put put in sugerless gum, or those splenda time sugar packages. It can cause alzheimer's.

But I guess everything is bad for you if you eat more than neccessary. Which is why it is rediculus how big servings are now. After I eat from a fast food resturant I usualy check there nutrition list online and some of the serving sizes for the food they give you. And their food is like 7 servings!

But its not just food that can make some one pack on the pounds. Starbucks coffee is around 600 calories. Most people have coffee everyday some w/ food & others not but it adds up. And for all you coke drinkers if you drink 3 cans of coke aday, which is like a lot but if you do, you'll gain 3 pounds in a week.
Learning to eat smaller portions is the problem.

I also read the ice cream can help you lose weight.

And for all you coke drinkers if you drink 3 cans of coke aday, which is like a lot but if you do, you'll gain 3 pounds in a week.

Holy crap, really? I drink like 2 liters of soda a day sometimes, and I never gain any weight. (My metabolism is pretty ridiculous though.)

Does that mean that if I substitute all my soda with water, I'll lose 3 pounds a week? I'm going to stop drinking soda, and get sexy out of my mind then! XD

I guess you would lose pounds since water has no calories. Good luck on getting that sexy body... LOL.

I dont really drink soda b/c I'm a wimp and the carbonation hurts my throat.

But I used to never drink water b/c it had no taste so I thought it was nasty, that wasnt smart because I was always dehydrated.

Now I've seen the light and drink water more. Some people need more water than others the more muscle you have the more water you need.

First of all you cant blame the food companies, they are first and foremost a BUSINESS, and what are business based around? Supply and demand, ultimately, its upto the customer to inform himself, and realize hes shoving 800 kcals per meal into himself, and demand healthier products. (true, this is easier said than done, and often carries extra costs...but thats supply and demand.)

HopelessComposer, afaik its not healthy to loose more than 1-2 pounds a week, so be carefull.

HopelessComposer, afaik its not healthy to loose more than 1-2 pounds a week, so be carefull.
Oh yeah, I know. Don't worry, I'm not going to become anorexic or anything. I'm not embarrassed by what I weigh; I'm at the skinny end of the average weight bracket. I could just stand to lose a few pounds is all. :3

After all, the healthier you are, the better you feel! Looking better in the mirror is just a happy side effect.

I loose and gain weight easily, I dont know why I've lost 3 pounds in a week before. I ate healthier and exercised more so that I could get faster for track and cross country. Once the seasons were over I started eating more and gained more weight then I exercised more.. and so on and so fourth. Sometimes I feel like hitting the gym and others I wanna be a lazy couch potatoe. But I've never been an unhealthy weight.

I loose and gain weight easily, I dont know why I've lost 3 pounds in a week before.

Maybe on a day you got sick? :think: Because when i got sick i lost some weight. (Ok, back to the topic)

Holy crap, really? I drink like 2 liters of soda a day sometimes, and I never gain any weight. (My metabolism is pretty ridiculous though.)

Does that mean that if I substitute all my soda with water, I'll lose 3 pounds a week? I'm going to stop drinking soda, and get sexy out of my mind then! XD

Not quite. Chances are you would gain a little water weight, but that's not a big deal.

To me, its not about weight, but about bmi and how you look. My brother (the football one) weighs 225. On the obesity scale, he is technically obese, but most of the weight is muscle.

I'm the same as you Chestnut. I lost 20 pounds the year I ran cross country. I'm gaining it back though...I hope it's muscle weight. >_>

edit:

To me, its not about weight, but about bmi and how you look. My brother (the football one) weighs 225. On the obesity scale, he is technically obese, but most of the weight is muscle.
Ah, yes, of course. I don't want to lose *weight,* I want to lose *fat.*

If I gained ten pounds, but lost a few percent body fat, I'd be very happy. :3

You might wanna drink more water, eat just above yer BMR and maybe do some cardio (readup on low vs high intensity). You could drop about a pound a week easy, especialy if you are on of those people that lose it like that *snaps fingers*

I have managed to lose a good amount of wieght over the years mainly with 2 week-daily half hour walks and healthy eating. Not less eating, just better eating. Illness can cause a good about of wieght loss but it's not a clever way do do it. A generla increase in movement such as a new job or a lifestly change can be plenty. Also you don't want to lose it to quickly because it results in loads of excess skin on places like the arms.
If you want to replace the fat wit muscle then enough is said before now so just put some really basic effort into research.

If you want to replace the fat wit muscle then just put some really basic effort into research.

Too true.

I hope all this advice isn't for me. I'm not fat! D':

Flabby skin from losing weight? I don't have that much weight to lose!
I do know people who have had that happen to them though. It sucks. They work so hard to lose their weight, and end up with disgusting looking skin sacks where their fat used to be, which looks even worse than fat. Blah.

Yeah but skin, adapts to ya eventualy afaik.

But it seems like old people have flabby skin for ever.

Yeah but skin, adapts to ya eventualy afaik.
I'm not sure. I'd assume it would, though it takes a really long time for some people. Lots of people have surgery to get it cut off, if they can afford it.

You could try replacing it with muscle or just have the surgery. seems to take many years for the skin to reshape to the skinny body.

did anybody hear about the tv show w/ Shaq. He has like a boot camp for over weight kids. Some kids body fat precent was over 50%.

It's better to loose weight slowly, since your skin don't get all flabby then.

I'm a bit overweight (if you think about my height and the average weight for a person with my height) , but the schoolnurse recommend me not even try to loose weight more than I loose and gain over the year. I got this body which isn't healthy if I don't have about my personal average weight. Though I think it would hurt if i loose a bit. Since I need to start to run about once a week so that my knees will heal... But that could actually make my lungs worse, running that is...

So, about one of ten people in Sweden are fat. That's not actually much, since we're a bit less than 10 000 000... or wait... that would mean that the population of the capital is the only city were all of them would be able to live... That's too many... x_x (I'm living in a pretty small city with a population with about 120 000 and I think it's a really big city and get lost a lot, so even bigger cities are like nightmares and I think more people in a city is really much)

^ About 700 000 Swedes are overweight, and from what I can remember Sweden has about 9- 10 million people, where of about 1,5 million live in and around Stockholm.

Obesity = Not taking the responsibility of taking care of your own body.

Asian countries (such as Japan) have the benefit of having walking as the main mode of travel,
thus why everyone walking down the street looks like they're on their way to a fashion show.

that and their diet is afaik fish based

Actually..
Rice-based. Or noodle-based.
So basically.. Carb-based.

There's this rumoured high Asian metabolism thing. It seems to explain why my mother ate five meals a day when she was young, and even now it's not showing any effects.

5 meals a day is AFAIK the healthiest way to eat, by reducing portion size and increasing meal ammount you force the metabolism to always be active, thereby increasing its "speed".

Edit: IDK if asians have a faster metabolism because of genetics or something, just saying it could be because of the mentioned eating scheduel.

Vietnamese pho = Big ass portion.
:eat:

portion size are irrelevant, carb, protein and fat ammounts contained are.

Funny funny, you contradict yourself sir.

Oh, and my mother and her brethren are the only Asians I've known to eat more than the customary three meals a day.

Most of us can restrain ourselves. I think.

A technicality, but yes. I shoulda been clearer.

You're supposed to eat five meals a day as far as I know. I think you're supposed to nibble on something every three hours, to keep your metabolism burning what you've eaten. After three hours of not eating, your body starts storing things for fat, instead of burning them for energy. I think anyway. My dad is always trying to lose weight. X3

I could never let myself get fat. But then again, if I didn't love food so much I'd be anorexic already so I don't count for much.

I don't exercise much, but I eat hella healthy, so I guess that's how I stay skinny.

Wouldn't it be weird to be fat and have a six pack?

Wouldn't it be weird to be fat and have a six pack?


No it wouldn't, if you mean a six pack of beer. Because there are alot of people who get fat from beer and alcohol. They call it a beer belly.

But a six pack of muscle, Id doubt it.

It would be strange; generally speaking, a six pack only requires low body fat.

SHAQ is in a mission to get kids in California 4 years of PE D:
;O; it should olny be required for the obesed :O

Elementary & Middle school force you to take Pe. But in high school athletics should be for those interested in athletics. Because if you dont do sports you arent gonna go to college on an athletic scholorship.

What pisses me of, is my school requires all freshmen(like me) to take L.I.F.E, which is basically P.E. with some health classes. And the way they line it up as, is that after lunch, I'll Have P.E. for 100 minutes, then VA Freshmen Football for 100 minutes (which is basically weight lifting). Do i really need to spend the whole last half of my school day doing physical activites? I think not.

It's good that kids learn health and proper nutrition...
Though I don't condone a lot of the school system's Physical Education systems as their teachers stress the wrong exercises.

What pisses me of, is my school requires all freshmen(like me) to take L.I.F.E, which is basically P.E. with some health classes. And the way they line it up as, is that after lunch, I'll Have P.E. for 100 minutes, then VA Freshmen Football for 100 minutes (which is basically weight lifting). Do i really need to spend the whole last half of my school day doing physical activites? I think not.
Do you really need to spend your last half of the school day learning trivial facts you'll forget immediately after high school and never use for the rest of your life? I think not. School is pretty pointless in general. If people want to learn or accomplish something, they'll do it themselves. I'd say that good exercise is probably more important than most things I learned in highschool though. Better than learning about random kings that died 400 years ago.

Never mind the right exercise, any exercise will be a huge improvement for overweight and obese people.

http://www.thenewsvault.com/cgi/xtra.pl?go=11863946184

Elementary & Middle school force you to take Pe. But in high school athletics should be for those interested in athletics.

I actually agree with that statement if forcing in Elementary & Middle school, and being an option in High School. I do quite a bite of walking naturally and from that alone I tend to stay in pretty good shape. . .also I'm a musician who doesn't really need P.E. to take up a semester that could be used in something music related, extra study time (especially NOW) or another school-related interest.


Never mind the right exercise, any exercise will be a huge improvement for overweight and obese people.

Too bad my mom, who is obese, doesn't agree with that statement. She goes on and on how she NEEDS to loose weight, but has the excuse of her under active thyroid. She doesn't do anything, and orders me to do something as simple as getting her the remote control for the TV (which she sits in front of the entire day) even when I am doing something important. She's a complete hypocrite and has the of so greatest attitude in the world. . .of course this isn't from a bratty teenager's point of view, but also from her husband and my 25+ year old brothers.

I can see being obese having some drawbacks on being active, but it should be an oxy-moronic excuse for them either.

for people who are overweight, being active requires being able to do exercise without loosing your breathe. so, since they have to catch their breathe much sooner, they feel much more tired and so they arent as active as they should be. i know that shouldnt be an excuse but it really isnt. some obese people really are active and dont eat a lot. they are obese through genetics. you cant blame everyone for being obese, you can blame most of them.

Too bad my mom, who is obese, doesn't agree with that statement. She goes on and on how she NEEDS to loose weight, but has the excuse of her under active thyroid. She doesn't do anything, and orders me to do something as simple as getting her the remote control for the TV (which she sits in front of the entire day) even when I am doing something important. She's a complete hypocrite and has the of so greatest attitude in the world. . .of course this isn't from a bratty teenager's point of view, but also from her husband and my 25+ year old brothers.

I can see being obese having some drawbacks on being active, but it should be an oxy-moronic excuse for them either.

Welcome to the Great United States of America?


you cant blame everyone for being obese, you can blame most of them. Thing is, there's always ways to take care of your body.

Welcome to the Great United States of America?

Honestly, would you stop that? I understand that there are a lot of overweight people, but for those of us who aren't that's a slap in the face.

Honestly, would you stop that? I understand that there are a lot of overweight people, but for those of us who aren't that's a slap in the face.

True. But then again I have quite a metabolism, but I keep somewhat active when I even feel a little big. x_x

It used to be that being healthy was beautiful, what's going on. The models are getting skinnier and America is getting fatter. Maybe the stress to be skinny has made people eat more?
Who knows, does anyone have any opinions on this?

I see the paradigm not moving away from "skinny is beautiful", but at the same time exceptions of plus sized [not fatties, sorry] models becoming more frequent.

Fat people are just annoying to tell the truth. I mean, there are cases when people have some "gene strain that causes fat to build up faster then usual" or some other crazy thing doctors are vomiting = up these days [which I do believe in some cases], but more then likely you can point to a random obese-men in the food court of a mall, and there will be a stack of food on that persons tray.

Self control and discipline. Kids need to grow up doing the right things if they are expected to eat right and have normal physical activities for the rest of their lives. Its way easier to help kids then it is to help adults when it comes to obesity.

Honestly, would you stop that? I understand that there are a lot of overweight people, but for those of us who aren't that's a slap in the face.

Easy, it's a joke.


"gene strain that causes fat to build up faster then usual"

Yeah. When it all boils down, they're just excuses to not do anything.
Disabled or rapidly progressing disease patients don't have it much easier,
yet they do everything they can to keep healthy.

This will be a tough one to deal with, In America.

Let the fat people be fat.

Welcome to the Great United States of America?
This will be a tough one to deal with, In America.

So is everybody just ignoring my awesome "America isn't the only fat country" chart or what?

I didn't.

But really now...why must the world take it upon itself to be like "oh he's too fat" or "she's FAR too skinny"
I say:
LET THE PERSON DECIDE IF HE/SHE WANTS TO BE FAT AND JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE
seriously, my inner skinny person is content.

yes I look at Vogue and Elle magazines that show people that are FREAKISHLY SKINNY and I say to myself..."I know how to use photoshop too OH HOW SPIFFY!"

I say:
LET THE PERSON DECIDE IF HE/SHE WANTS TO BE FAT AND JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE
seriously, my inner skinny person is content.



Well said. Your health is your thing, do what you want just don't sit on me :(
Eh, fat or skinny, obesity is a problem only if you make it one.

This only bothers me when people try to influence others to be unhealthy. I think everyone's weight goal should be a healthy one. Especially models in the media who are very skinny and don't come that way just through genetics, they play a huge role in influencing teenagers who don't know any better. In the end though, it's the person's fault if they are too indulged in superficial pressures.

My BMI is only 20. Thats good but just 2 years ago it was 25. I'm losing weight for no reason, I eat lots of junk and sit around all day so i'm guessing most of the lost mass is muscle (used to be a bit of a lumberjack in my childhood.) I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not or even if i'm right in thinking it's muscle thats decreasing. I know some is fat but to have a low BMI and still have a bit of a gut it must be something more. opinions?

I


Too bad my mom, who is obese, doesn't agree with that statement. She goes on and on how she NEEDS to loose weight, but has the excuse of her under active thyroid. She doesn't do anything, and orders me to do something as simple as getting her the remote control for the TV (which she sits in front of the entire day) even when I am doing something important. She's a complete hypocrite and has the of so greatest attitude in the world. . .of course this isn't from a bratty teenager's point of view, but also from her husband and my 25+ year old brothers.

I can see being obese having some drawbacks on being active, but it should be an oxy-moronic excuse for them either.

Under-active thyroid ain't really an excuse. I know someone with that problem and they ain't fat at all. You're meant to have medicine to counteract it. Maybe you should like kill the tv in a way she wouldn't find out? Make her do some housework, that always helps.

The teacher of physical education at my school has an under-active thyroid.

HOLD ON.

So surely, it's no excuse. Rather, it's a reason to get active.

My BMI is only 20. Thats good but just 2 years ago it was 25. I'm losing weight for no reason, I eat lots of junk and sit around all day so i'm guessing most of the lost mass is muscle (used to be a bit of a lumberjack in my childhood.) I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not or even if i'm right in thinking it's muscle thats decreasing. I know some is fat but to have a low BMI and still have a bit of a gut it must be something more. opinions?

BMI isn't a really good indicator of weight loss by itself, there is body fat percentage, you could be losing muscle mass >.<. Some people have high amounts of internal fat so they appear thin, though not exactly healthy.

BMI isn't a really good indicator of weight loss by itself, there is body fat percentage, you could be losing muscle mass >.<. Some people have high amounts of internal fat so they appear thin, though not exactly healthy.'High amount of internal fat'?

I maintain that these people you speak of are as common as people with under-active thyroids. The BMI is not a precies indicator, but if you have a BMI of 25 and over, chances are you're not going to be an overly muscular athlete with high amount of internal fat and an under-active thyroid.

you have a point.

but there are people who are overweight and quite healthy. BMI says they are over weight but are healthy none the less.

personaly i think obesity is a product of our times. fast food, instant gratification, poorly educated parents whith mixed messages.

Let the fat people be fat.

yay

but there are people who are overweight and quite healthy. BMI says they are over weight but are healthy none the less.The BMI doesn't tell you anything about how healthy the person is at the moment. Dead people also have BMI's.

What it does tell you is if you are at an increased risk of suffering from a range of diseases, e.g. atherosclerosis and Type II diabetes.

Overly muscular atheletes need not apply, but it still applies to people with 'high amount of internal fat' (whut) and under-active thyroids.

the initial risk increase is very low on both of those.

I didn't.

But really now...why must the world take it upon itself to be like "oh he's too fat" or "she's FAR too skinny"
I say:
LET THE PERSON DECIDE IF HE/SHE WANTS TO BE FAT AND JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE

With the UK's NHS is it fair that you should be treated for self inflicted heart conditions and diabetes? the extra strain and cost it is generating has been seen in all areas. Make people loose weight or tax fatty foods. Obesity is a solveable problem so let not 'just let it be'

You mean the type 2 diabetes. My type 1 is the failing of the pancreas, not the body becoming to big to cope, just so you know. The fatty type is about 90% of the diabetic population though. Just makes me even more special :3
The cause of type 1 is still not crystal clear but it appears to be a birth thing that can be triggered by inviromental change or develop over many years.

according to dietitians (not nutritionists, these people don't require anywhere near the amount of training) being overweight isnt as bad as being unfit and inactive. being slim/thin and inactive is much worse for you then fat and inactive

according to dietitians (not nutritionists, these people don't require anywhere near the amount of training) being overweight isnt as bad as being unfit and inactive. being slim/thin and inactive is much worse for you then fat and inactiveSource, please.

I second the "source please" notion. X3

They've like, banned super skinny models haven't they? I heard that months ago on the news...

I'm super skinny, but not by choice and it seems like I lose weight even when doing something stupid like travelling to another country, and I eat plenty. I eat pretty balanced, sometimes (ok a lot of the time) I'm a little heavy on the junk food (chocolate and potato chips...) but still, NOTHING! True, I haven't been exercising lately, I guess coz I'm lazy, but even when I used to play soccer and stuff I was still really underweight. However, I still face some of the same problems more overweight people experience, eg high cholesterol (it's hereditary).

However, I agree that obesity is a "solveable problem", a lot of the time its just a lifestlye change issue. On the other end of the scale there are the anorexics and bulimics, so we could always just fuse the two groups together, chop off a few edges and it's all be well rounded out. Or we could just feed people carrying around too much to developing countries.

I'm kidding about the fusing part.

Ok, and the feeding part. But seriously....I have totally forgotten the point of my post.

*shrugs*

Oh! That the two extremes, obesity and anorexia etc are kind of related. Both are pretty people driven, as in, the whole models and stuff influencing tweens to lose weight, fast food and instant gratification (from PFT) etc. I guess the answer is education then?

yes size zero has been banned.
as for the source it was thanks to a BBC radio4 program I was listening to
Here is a link to the series.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/am_i_normal_series_2.shtml
As for a text based source I'm sorry to disappoint. BBC are very careful when it comes to researching these programs.

Which programme was it, Metabolism, Weight or Fitness?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/am_i_normal.shtml
oops wrong serises
first program fitness

Yes, it's not fair how skinny Inu is XD

Since a number of you have met me, you know I'm a long way into the overweight catagory, but may also have noticed that I'm NOT in the unhealthy catagory- I'm not the fittest person in the world, but I'm fitter than quite a few of my friends who are skinnier than me! Some people just naturally weigh more than others, but stay reasonably fit anyway. Well, that's my theory - it will shortly be tested by carrying a heavy backpack around all day for 4 months, while not having enough money to buy junk food at all, or eat anything but the basics needed to stop me fainting!

In other words, I'm about to find out if I'm as fit as I think I am, lol. I'll let you know ;)

But anyway, back on track - there are medical problems that can cause people to gain wait, and there are social reasons behind it as well. I notice that no-one else in this thread seems to BE overweight, so, um.. I'm here to add the perspective of the fact that overweight people aren't necessarily lazy slobs who eat the wrong food all day! XD

I think body types are mentionable here, mainly cause 'high amount of internal fat' made me think of them. (and so did Inu actualy >_<)

http://bodybuildingpro.com/bodytypeinformation.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesomorphic

I remember reading somewhere that endomorphs could sometimes have "fatty organs" in the sense that they have more "internal fat" than others (since the fat isnt really...erm...on the outside, just part of the organs themselves)

About BMI, IDK how accurate it is, but, unless logic fails me the best way to know "how fat" you are is by:

Calculating your lean body weight (which afaik, is yer body weight without any fat)

then seeing how much %of yer weight is actual fat, and comparing to a bodyfat% chart.

Quick google turned up this:
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/leanbody.htm

Now acording to that (I used Hume^3 because it was shorter) My lean bodyweight = 50.7 kg due to the fact that my real weight is around 71 kg... I am ze fatass >_<

..acording to this my BF% is around 28.6% (damn...O_o)
sooo to be at "good/healthy" weight (say..18%BF) Id need to lose 10% bodyfat (9kg of JUST fat) which would bring me to 19%BF or gain the same ammount in muscle. ( I think)

I think this is a much better indicator of Obesity because it seperates the muscle from the fat (or thats what I understand it does) naturaly like everything else this thing will probably collapse with people that are really really really fit...and people who...well arent.

I notice that no-one else in this thread seems to BE overweight, so, um.. I'm here to add the perspective of the fact that overweight people aren't necessarily lazy slobs who eat the wrong food all day! XDI'm just pretending to be thin. =P

Who isn't/?

I'm not as skinny as I uphold. I have a great lack of muscle, and any shape I have is due to fat.

wheeee

Yeah ive got a fast metabolism and im also quite lazy when it comes to eating so I sometimes skip it. But lately ive been forced to stay up all night to finish projects for uni and i end up eating a wok of fried rice to keep me going. Gained 3 kgs, now I'm 53kg. and Inu-chan needs to eat more donuts.

and now your POSTING. haha.

And I don't like donuts.

Inu already eats plenty of stuff XD And Inu is very much smart in not eating donuts, because they're gross.

And why do I think I may well know spermbank-tycoon....

Inu already eats plenty of stuff XD And Inu is very much smart in not eating donuts, because they're gross.

And why do I think I may well know spermbank-tycoon....

Homer is out to get you.
http://www.engadgethd.com/media/2006/06/homer---angry.jpg

Good for him! I can take him... he's fatter than I am even!

To: PHT_ Shadow's entry on Aug 17
I heard that your banned b.c of skinny-ness depending on your BMI and age. My source is a old issue of seventeen magazine. Models can still be bone thin, but not extremely bone thin. BMI is more like a close guestimate. Models need to go to the doctor to see if their body mass index meets the bare minimum or if they should pack their bags and go.

I dont think you can blame obesity on fast-food restaurants or their portions, their not forcing food down anyones throat. As for children any parent should know better not to be feeding so much of that to their children. It pretty much just comes down to self-control.

A post that is actualy wearth agreeing to, well done Klonoa. You are exactly right. My opinion why people are so fat is because they have no self-control and they only eat because the food taste good.

I think that's a little unfair because a person might not have any other options than fast food. They eat it because there is nothing else not because they have no self-control. That is pretty rare though as many times you can prepare healthy food at home and then bring it with you to work or school, but it is possible.

Well look at the poor people the don't have a home to go home to prepare a meal, so when the get some money they go to the fastfood places.But there not fat so apparently they have control because they are not able to eat whenever. This is totaly weird my post has nothing to do with anything.

The homeless people around near my school aren't fat even though they eat at fastfood places because they walk along the road all day long.

Logically speaking, if they are homeless and short on cash, you can hardly expect them to get enough fastfood on a regular basis in order for them to be overweight. In urban places, where I believe they are more commonly found, they get no more exercise than normal civilians; they can pan-handle perfectly fine by sitting on the curb in comparison to walking along the street all day.

This is quite an interesting thread with some intriguing theories; so I figure I might as well throw some personal experience into the mix. I'm pretty much in between skinny and overweight.

Reasons why I'm this way? (I have a list)
1) I don't exercise
2) I eat a lot of junk
3) My metabolism is really fast, I get hungry (and I mean STARVING) every two hours.
4) I get cravings for food. At the moment it's carrots, sometimes it's chocolate.
5) I'm lazy ^_^

Conclusion:
I think it can be hard to loose weight (even more so for obese people), because it's a mental AND physical challenge. I know many people think that by eating less they'll loose weight. But I personally feel that might be why I'm fat (hehehe not to mention the lack of exercise and high junk food intake). I get hungry really often, but if I don't eat I'm only slowing my metabolism down - which is why the 6 small meals a day works for me ^_^

However, I also need to eat the right things. To quote my Mother; Everything in Moderation (or that might be my Mother quoting a diet book...). Food groups may seem a bit cliche but if I wasn't lazy (and cooked as opposed to eating one sweet thing after another...:S) I think it would help.

Also WATER. Everyone should love water (and hate fizzy drink and cordial coz ew it's really gross). Who wants to drink something manufactured and pumped full of yucky bubble crap that goes up your nose?

This is turning into a stupid drabble and I lost my point about how I eat + obesity....sorry ^^;

Logically speaking, if they are homeless and short on cash, you can hardly expect them to get enough fastfood on a regular basis in order for them to be overweight. In urban places, where I believe they are more commonly found, they get no more exercise than normal civilians; they can pan-handle perfectly fine by sitting on the curb in comparison to walking along the street all day.

I feel so dumb why does everyone have more logic than I do? This is true I guess but what do you mean in urban places they pan-handle perfecty by sitting on the curve?

"Pan-handle" is the term used to describe the action in which the homeless beg the odd passerby for spare change. They may do this as they stand/sit in the same place or while walking down the road.

I think that the biggest reason people have a hard time losing weight is that they go about it the wrong way. Like starving yourself won't help much because that just causes your body to retain the fat, kinda like a 'survival mode'.

I eat fast food practically everyday and yet I'm average size. Sadly just the other day I had 4 tacos,2 capri suns and a small apple pie from taco bell. I think that being fat is also heretitary, and also depends on how fast your matabilsim is. There is so many factors on why people are obese or skinny or average. I think it all depends on your background and your lifestyle, not one or the other.

I hate to be saying this but so do I. Yet I am this thin. Check out my profile pict.

I eat but my body burns it off to fast. so I can't get fat even if I wanted to.

Yeah...you do sound rather hyper.

I eat but my body burns it off to fast. so I can't get fat even if I wanted to.

Same here.

Watch out guys, that's what my brother used to be like until he became a chef and started nibbling at stuff all day (not to mention drinking too much booze) and now he has a beer belly - which is quite amusing since up until he developed that, he was the only skinny one in my family.

@Cory: you really are an idiotic little prick, aren't you? Homeless people may not get enough opportunities to consume food, which is why they tend to be thin - they are malnourished, it has nothing to do with self control, but with lack of opportunity. Also, just because someone's fat doesn't mean they live on junkfood.

Okay, being defensive of my size here, but someone has to be, because it's quite offensive lumping everyone into one group - much the same as skinny people don't like it when they're all accused of being anorexic.

I concur with ranny tan.

Its almost rude to point out a homeless persons figure in such a way, because its not that they have self control, its that they are starving. I really wish I could do more then give a buck or two to the ones I see, but In a way, its partially their own fault .


I moved out into the urban area, and I'm helping set up the [s]yard forest for landscaping, so fat fat go away, come back after I fucking get done chopping these damn trees.

i also agree that brigging in the homeless people wasn't a nice thing to say. But everyone slips up and makes mistakes, I say stuff I wish I could take back all the time. Anyways, I am confused on what makes a person gain weight. Yes I know that last sentence sounded dumb, but what I am saying is on the back of Lays potatoe chips it names fats that are good for you. So when you are trying to eat healthier what do you look for on the nutrition labels? What is good for you and what is bad?