Everything you know about obesity is wrong.

[Anonymous]

According to this article in The Lancet, there is no way that genetic predispositions could explain the rapid rise in obesity since the 1970s. It’s simply not enough time for genetics to change in that way.

They say it’s hard to pinpoint a cause, but they do point to the US Farm Bill, which led to cheap, sugar-laden food:

One candidate is the change to US farm bills in the 1970s, which led to a rapid increase in food production and thus an increase in food portion sizes;6 accelerated marketing, availability, and affordability of energy dense foods;7 and widespread introduction of cheap and potent sweetening agents, such as high-fructose corn syrup, which infiltrated the food system and affected the whole population simultaneously.8 Although other countries that are experiencing a sharp rise in obesity rates might not have the equivalent of the US farm bill, most have been exposed to similar substantial changes in food supplies, with consequences for dietary patterns, such as increased portion sizes.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667%2818%2930021-5/fulltext

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am against shaming anyone and I think it's horrible that obese people can't get proper medical care and are bullied.

That said, we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. There should still be a call to action to address obesity. Let's continue to talk about making healthy choices with food and activity, and try to give our kids a better start.

But that hasn’t worked in studies. I don’t know what the answer is. But it’s been studied many times and it doesn’t even help with *childhood* obesity rates. And it’s not for a lack of trying it.

I don’t know what the answer is but people have to get it through their heads that the intuitive solutions of education and doctor interventions has failed.

Exactly. We need to move away from this enduring myth that talking about making good food choices and activity does any good whatsoever. There is no evidence that this approach does anything to stop obesity. It doesn’t. There are many, many studies showing that as an approach, that is a failure. We need to be honest about that and face reality.

I think people like to say that because it lets them ignore the reality of the situation, which is that our food supply has been essentially poisoned.

[Anonymous]

It’s not just humans. Any living creature on this earth who touches the modern food supply is sharply fatter than they were fifty years ago. Wild animals (raccoons, bears, etc) are fatter. Pets are fatter. Farm animals are fatter.

When are we going to face reality and see obesity as the environmental disaster that it is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two genuine questions. If obesity is out of people’s control and is all about body chemistry, then:

1. Why are we seeing obesity rates that are unprecedented in human history?

2. Why is the USA dealing with rates of obesity that are so much higher than most other countries?

Did you.... read the article?

[Anonymous]

Eat less

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two genuine questions. If obesity is out of people’s control and is all about body chemistry, then:

1. Why are we seeing obesity rates that are unprecedented in human history?

2. Why is the USA dealing with rates of obesity that are so much higher than most other countries?

Did you.... read the article?

I actually went to The Lancet for answers, which was much better than the article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a nutshell: fat shaming does not help.

I get that. I also get that the US needs to stop subsidies to big Agra and their health wrecking foods. Perhaps subsidize healthy foods instead and revamp the school lunch program so kids learn to eat better from a young age. Snap benefits should encourage purchase of healthy food over unhealthy food. Doctors should not fat shame but get to the root of the problem (whether endocrine or some other disorder, prescribe proven drugs, address mental health issues). Build trails and bike lanes in more places to encourage activity or subsidize gyms. I don’t what else, but address it like an epidemic. It’s a public health crisis. Use some of the money from defense to fight this.

Do all that. Where does that leave personal responsibility though? Not sure the article addresses that and I don’t have an answer. I personally know MC and UMC educated people (doctors even) who are clinically super-morbidly obese. Money and education are not an issue. They are not limited to eating processed foods like some poorer people are. They live in nice neighborhoods with green space. They choose to go on cruises, steakhouses, Disney, etc and eat at the food and festivals. Desserts and sugary cocktails galore. Fat shaming doesn’t work. They have access to healthcare and healthful foods. What more can be done for them? Or do we accept that they are just fine the way they are. It’s a lifestyle and they have similar weight friends so have support from each other—to stay the way they are, to celebrate it. Don’t fat shame but what? Give them a tax incentive or disincentive?

Did you know that when this population changes their lifestyle and moves from obesity to a healthy weight they, as a population, fail to maintain it? That dropping all those cruises and churros does not result in long term weight maintenance, even after they have proven they can and will change their lifestyle?

So the answer is to give up, throw up your hands, and eat all the churros?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two genuine questions. If obesity is out of people’s control and is all about body chemistry, then:

1. Why are we seeing obesity rates that are unprecedented in human history?

2. Why is the USA dealing with rates of obesity that are so much higher than most other countries?

Did you.... read the article?

I actually went to The Lancet for answers, which was much better than the article.

So they didn’t mention that American obesity rates are not in fact “so much higher” than other countries and instead globally they are ticking up up up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a nutshell: fat shaming does not help.

I get that. I also get that the US needs to stop subsidies to big Agra and their health wrecking foods. Perhaps subsidize healthy foods instead and revamp the school lunch program so kids learn to eat better from a young age. Snap benefits should encourage purchase of healthy food over unhealthy food. Doctors should not fat shame but get to the root of the problem (whether endocrine or some other disorder, prescribe proven drugs, address mental health issues). Build trails and bike lanes in more places to encourage activity or subsidize gyms. I don’t what else, but address it like an epidemic. It’s a public health crisis. Use some of the money from defense to fight this.

Do all that. Where does that leave personal responsibility though? Not sure the article addresses that and I don’t have an answer. I personally know MC and UMC educated people (doctors even) who are clinically super-morbidly obese. Money and education are not an issue. They are not limited to eating processed foods like some poorer people are. They live in nice neighborhoods with green space. They choose to go on cruises, steakhouses, Disney, etc and eat at the food and festivals. Desserts and sugary cocktails galore. Fat shaming doesn’t work. They have access to healthcare and healthful foods. What more can be done for them? Or do we accept that they are just fine the way they are. It’s a lifestyle and they have similar weight friends so have support from each other—to stay the way they are, to celebrate it. Don’t fat shame but what? Give them a tax incentive or disincentive?

Did you know that when this population changes their lifestyle and moves from obesity to a healthy weight they, as a population, fail to maintain it? That dropping all those cruises and churros does not result in long term weight maintenance, even after they have proven they can and will change their lifestyle?

So the answer is to give up, throw up your hands, and eat all the churros?

The answer is to remove churros as cheap and easily available from the food supply chain across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two genuine questions. If obesity is out of people’s control and is all about body chemistry, then:

1. Why are we seeing obesity rates that are unprecedented in human history?

2. Why is the USA dealing with rates of obesity that are so much higher than most other countries?

Did you.... read the article?

I actually went to The Lancet for answers, which was much better than the article.

So they didn’t mention that American obesity rates are not in fact “so much higher” than other countries and instead globally they are ticking up up up?

Did you read the Lancet article? Here’s what they said about the factor they think is most likely at fault; they mention other countries:

“One candidate is the change to US farm bills in the 1970s, which led to a rapid increase in food production and thus an increase in food portion sizes;6 accelerated marketing, availability, and affordability of energy dense foods;7 and widespread introduction of cheap and potent sweetening agents, such as high-fructose corn syrup, which infiltrated the food system and affected the whole population simultaneously.8 Although other countries that are experiencing a sharp rise in obesity rates might not have the equivalent of the US farm bill, most have been exposed to similar substantial changes in food supplies, with consequences for dietary patterns, such as increased portion sizes.“

Though it’s true that obesity rates are going up around the world, it’s also true that genetic explanations don’t hold water. Genetic changes cannot take effect this quickly. It’s also true that the US is by far the most obese country in the developed world: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/obesity-rates-by-country

[Anonymous]

All the talk about body chemistry being responsible for obesity makes it seem like people are predestined to be overweight. Does anyone think that is honestly the case? I was overweight as a teen, my house was always stocked with junk food and I wasn't made to exercise and would frequently eat sweets. In college after gaining more weight initially I started exercising and was able to slim down. I realize I'm just one person but I feel like someone viewing me at age ~16-17 with a certain lens would have just written me off as someone whose 'body chemistry' meant they would be overweight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be several posters (or one?) who ridicules every idea. Let’s just speak for ourselves and stop morphing the conversation to the nameless others who live far from a grocery store, who work 3 jobs, who don’t have access to healthcare etc. etc. In truth there are lots of people in the DMV area with good incomes and access and they are still gaining weight. What would help these people? I’m not talking about the ones trying to lose weight but the ones trying to maintain a healthy weight. We see post after post on this forum about people struggling with weight gain in middle age. What are the strategies for them? We are not going to get large numbers of Americans to lose weight and keep it off. So what can we do to prevent it?

This is what I want to know. The rich folks who are obese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two genuine questions. If obesity is out of people’s control and is all about body chemistry, then:

1. Why are we seeing obesity rates that are unprecedented in human history?

2. Why is the USA dealing with rates of obesity that are so much higher than most other countries?

Did you.... read the article?

I actually went to The Lancet for answers, which was much better than the article.

So they didn’t mention that American obesity rates are not in fact “so much higher” than other countries and instead globally they are ticking up up up?

Did you read the Lancet article? Here’s what they said about the factor they think is most likely at fault; they mention other countries:

“One candidate is the change to US farm bills in the 1970s, which led to a rapid increase in food production and thus an increase in food portion sizes;6 accelerated marketing, availability, and affordability of energy dense foods;7 and widespread introduction of cheap and potent sweetening agents, such as high-fructose corn syrup, which infiltrated the food system and affected the whole population simultaneously.8 Although other countries that are experiencing a sharp rise in obesity rates might not have the equivalent of the US farm bill, most have been exposed to similar substantial changes in food supplies, with consequences for dietary patterns, such as increased portion sizes.“

Though it’s true that obesity rates are going up around the world, it’s also true that genetic explanations don’t hold water. Genetic changes cannot take effect this quickly. It’s also true that the US is by far the most obese country in the developed world: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/obesity-rates-by-country

The article posted by OP mentions the issues with the US food supply as the main issue. "it's not how much we eat, it's WHAT we eat" -- US food subsidizes fructose/etc to a degree that means that those kinds of foods are cheaper and more likely to be "staples" here.

So, uh, yeah? You're both saying the same thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two genuine questions. If obesity is out of people’s control and is all about body chemistry, then:

1. Why are we seeing obesity rates that are unprecedented in human history?

2. Why is the USA dealing with rates of obesity that are so much higher than most other countries?

Did you.... read the article?

I actually went to The Lancet for answers, which was much better than the article.

So they didn’t mention that American obesity rates are not in fact “so much higher” than other countries and instead globally they are ticking up up up?

Did you read the Lancet article? Here’s what they said about the factor they think is most likely at fault; they mention other countries:

“One candidate is the change to US farm bills in the 1970s, which led to a rapid increase in food production and thus an increase in food portion sizes;6 accelerated marketing, availability, and affordability of energy dense foods;7 and widespread introduction of cheap and potent sweetening agents, such as high-fructose corn syrup, which infiltrated the food system and affected the whole population simultaneously.8 Although other countries that are experiencing a sharp rise in obesity rates might not have the equivalent of the US farm bill, most have been exposed to similar substantial changes in food supplies, with consequences for dietary patterns, such as increased portion sizes.“

Though it’s true that obesity rates are going up around the world, it’s also true that genetic explanations don’t hold water. Genetic changes cannot take effect this quickly. It’s also true that the US is by far the most obese country in the developed world: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/obesity-rates-by-country

The article posted by OP mentions the issues with the US food supply as the main issue. "it's not how much we eat, it's WHAT we eat" -- US food subsidizes fructose/etc to a degree that means that those kinds of foods are cheaper and more likely to be "staples" here.

So, uh, yeah? You're both saying the same thing?

So then there seems to be no basis for the notion that this has anything to do with body chemistry or genetics or anything else. It’s what we put in our mouths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be several posters (or one?) who ridicules every idea. Let’s just speak for ourselves and stop morphing the conversation to the nameless others who live far from a grocery store, who work 3 jobs, who don’t have access to healthcare etc. etc. In truth there are lots of people in the DMV area with good incomes and access and they are still gaining weight. What would help these people? I’m not talking about the ones trying to lose weight but the ones trying to maintain a healthy weight. We see post after post on this forum about people struggling with weight gain in middle age. What are the strategies for them? We are not going to get large numbers of Americans to lose weight and keep it off. So what can we do to prevent it?

This is what I want to know. The rich folks who are obese.

You are the cruise ship lady, right?