A weighty issue

[nh23]

As for ED, those are really complicated. Blaming images and media, and BMI for something that's essentially caused by familial dysfunction and need for control on a personal level is shifting the issue and the blame in an easier direction than dealing with family history. The girls who "starve themselves into the grave" are not trying to be what society says they should look like, they are trying to disappear altogether.
It's a better question to ask ourselves why the fuck we're fans of that process and things that either are it or look like it.

*nods* I suppose I didn't elaborate very well in my statement. It was early this morning and I was kind of grouchy so I just kinda threw it out there. I agree that eating disorders are more of a control issue, not a media issue. Sometimes though the catalyst can be something like "you're too fat to be on the cheerleading squad".

I do think the media plays it's own part in the self esteems of adolescent children.

 

[nh23]

I care, if only from an economic standpoint. My health insurance costs are higher than they might be, simply because my insurance company has to charge its overweight customers the same rates that it charges its most fit customers. Even though their actuaries are very good, the overall costs of caring for the overweight must be carried by the premiums paid by all of us.

People are always throwing this out, and I'm sure it does have some impact. As does the crack addict that does several stays in rehab, and the hypochondriac who goes to the Dr. every time her farts smell funny.

 

[jockdom]

What does the fast food industry have to answer for? No one holds a gun to my head and makes me grab McDonalds on the way home... I love Chipotle Burrito Bowls - however, if I pay attention while I'm eating and stop when I'm full, ONE burrito bowl is enough for dinner, lunch the next day, and a snack (with tostado chips) the day after. If I don't pay attention and spend 30 minutes going "nom nom nom mmmm Chipotle" until I eat the whole damn thing in one sitting - that's my own damn fault, not the restaurant's.

Millions of £$ spent on advertising, a lot of it aimed specificaly at children. Unclear labeling of products. Sponsoring of school canteens. etc

 

[midwestyankee]

People are always throwing this out, and I'm sure it does have some impact. As does the crack addict that does several stays in rehab, and the hypochondriac who goes to the Dr. every time her farts smell funny.

There may be a few hundred thousand crack addicts out there. If over 50% of our population is overweight or obese, then that's 150 million people. Please explain how the health of over half the national population can not have a deleterious effect on the overall costs of health care in this country?

 

[nh23]

What does the fast food industry have to answer for? No one holds a gun to my head and makes me grab McDonalds on the way home... I love Chipotle Burrito Bowls - however, if I pay attention while I'm eating and stop when I'm full, ONE burrito bowl is enough for dinner, lunch the next day, and a snack (with tostado chips) the day after. If I don't pay attention and spend 30 minutes going "nom nom nom mmmm Chipotle" until I eat the whole damn thing in one sitting - that's my own damn fault, not the restaurant's.

I agree with you on this. That's why we've almost completely cut out fast food from our diets. Occasionally I'll have a veggie burger, and papa john's did have a spinach alfredo pizza on whole wheat, but our local one doesn't carry whole wheat anymore.

We were eating a lot of fast food previously because it was quick, after working all day, then doing homework, laundry, chasing the kids, sometimes I just wanted something easy.

It's also cheap. I could feed my whole family on the dollar menu for like 6 bucks. I bought some wild salmon at the store yesterday that cost me 10 dollars, the sweet potatoes were 4 and the whole grain rice was 2.

 

[Keroin]

Countries in colder climates tend to have higher obesity levels due to the higher carbohydrate intake to keep warm. What was that program where the guy lived on nothing but McDonalds? Supersize me? The fast food industry has a lot to answer for. (I do like the occasional Chinese or pizza!)

Anything that makes you happy is addictive, same with food.

I'm not sure about the genetic argument, not many obese folk in the sudan.

But as long as it does not affect your health, who cares!

1. Nauru 94.5
2. Federated States of Micronesia 91.1
3. Cook Islands 90.9
4. Tonga 90.8
5. Niue 81.7
6. Samoa 80.4
7. Palau 78.4
8. Kuwait 74.2
9. United States 74.1
10. Kiribati 73.6
11. Dominica 71.0
12. Barbados 69.7
13. Argentina 69.4
14. Egypt 69.4
15. Malta 68.7
16. Greece 68.5
17. New Zealand 68.4
18. United Arab Emirates 68.3
19. Mexico 68.1
20. Trinidad and Tobago 67.9

Here's the list according the 2008 WHO stats. I don't think your cold weather theory is proving correct, JD.

As for the health issue, well, you may be overweight and healthy today but chances are you won't be healthy down the road. We live in countries with socialized medicine, so we are paying for people's weight related health issues. This gives me the right to care.

Here's an interesting BBC article.

 

[nh23]

There may be a few hundred thousand crack addicts out there. If over 50% of our population is overweight or obese, then that's 150 million people. Please explain how the health of over half the national population can not have a deleterious effect on the overall costs of health care in this country?

Not all fat people have health problems. I don't. Not to mention the fact that a ton of people don't have health insurance. I have none. So when I go to the doc it comes out of my pocket, not yours. I'm not saying it has no impact, but fuck there are a million other things that have an impact on it too. Let's bitch about those things once in awhile.

 

[jockdom]

1. Nauru 94.5
2. Federated States of Micronesia 91.1
3. Cook Islands 90.9
4. Tonga 90.8
5. Niue 81.7
6. Samoa 80.4
7. Palau 78.4
8. Kuwait 74.2
9. United States 74.1
10. Kiribati 73.6
11. Dominica 71.0
12. Barbados 69.7
13. Argentina 69.4
14. Egypt 69.4
15. Malta 68.7
16. Greece 68.5
17. New Zealand 68.4
18. United Arab Emirates 68.3
19. Mexico 68.1
20. Trinidad and Tobago 67.9

Here's the list according the 2008 WHO stats. I don't think your cold weather theory is proving correct, JD.

As for the health issue, well, you may be overweight and healthy today but chances are you won't be healthy down the road. We live in countries with socialized medicine, so we are paying for people's weight related health issues. This gives me the right to care.

Here's an interesting BBC article.

I stand corrected
I was thinking more of a european context where people living on a medeterenian diet tend to be healthier than those in the north. Scotland is the worst country in europe for obesity.

 

[midwestyankee]

Not all fat people have health problems. I don't. Not to mention the fact that a ton of people don't have health insurance. I have none. So when I go to the doc it comes out of my pocket, not yours. I'm not saying it has no impact, but fuck there are a million other things that have an impact on it too. Let's bitch about those things once in awhile.

You may not have health issues now and maybe you never will, but the odds are very much in favor of overweight people having significant health problems as they age. Diabetes, for example, is a common condition among older overweight people but it often does not present in younger people regardless of their weight.

Please understand that this is not personal. It's simply an economic fact that the total costs of health care in this country are higher than they need to be because of the high number of weight-related health problems in our population.

 

[nh23]

You may not have health issues now and maybe you never will, but the odds are very much in favor of overweight people having significant health problems as they age. Diabetes, for example, is a common condition among older overweight people but it often does not present in younger people regardless of their weight.

Please understand that this is not personal. It's simply an economic fact that the total costs of health care in this country are higher than they need to be because of the high number of weight-related health problems in our population.

I know, I know. I'm sorry if I'm getting a little grouchy about it. I'm working on losing weight. Like I said I've lost 12 so far! I'm also doing it to teach my children how to eat properly. They are very thin now, but may not always be.

That being said I just get grumpy because this comes up so freaking much. Ok fat people are a drain on society. So are tons of people who could work, but live on welfare instead. Plus a myriad of other things.

I want to talk about one of my pet peeves. I should start a thread. Why is it that professional sports players make millions, while the people that save your life, doctor's, nurses, paramedics make jack shit. I make around 30,000 a year, I also have my EMT but could only make about 25,000 doing that. How fucked up are we that we pay more for our entertainment , then we do for the people busting their ass to save our lives.

 

[midwestyankee]

I know, I know. I'm sorry if I'm getting a little grouchy about it. I'm working on losing weight. Like I said I've lost 12 so far! I'm also doing it to teach my children how to eat properly. They are very thin now, but may not always be.

That being said I just get grumpy because this comes up so freaking much. Ok fat people are a drain on society. So are tons of people who could work, but live on welfare instead. Plus a myriad of other things.

I want to talk about one of my pet peeves. I should start a thread. Why is it that professional sports players make millions, while the people that save your life, doctor's, nurses, paramedics make jack shit. I make around 30,000 a year, I also have my EMT but could only make about 25,000 doing that. How fucked up are we that we pay more for our entertainment , then we do for the people busting their ass to save our lives.

In simple terms, the differential in earning power has everything to do with how much people are willing to pay. And since the movie studio can persuade millions of people to watch Will Smith or Julia Roberts acting in movies, they can afford to pay Smith and Roberts a ton of money for their time. The same goes for baseball, basketball, and football players. We are a society that's somewhat obsessed by interest in celebrities and thus we all line up to help pay their salaries.

 

[nh23]

In simple terms, the differential in earning power has everything to do with how much people are willing to pay. And since the movie studio can persuade millions of people to watch Will Smith or Julia Roberts acting in movies, they can afford to pay Smith and Roberts a ton of money for their time. The same goes for baseball, basketball, and football players. We are a society that's somewhat obsessed by interest in celebrities and thus we all line up to help pay their salaries.

Yep, and how fucked up are we. Call Julia Roberts when you're having a heart attack. Let's see then if our priorities change any. (Not directed at you, just making a statement.)

 

[MasDom]

I think it's the Republicans that are a drain on our society.

 

[nh23]

I think it's the Republicans that are a drain on our society.

You're a bad, bad man.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I think it's the politicians of any and every stripe that are a drain on our society.

Fixed that for ya.

 

[WriterDom]

I know, I know. I'm sorry if I'm getting a little grouchy about it. I'm working on losing weight. Like I said I've lost 12 so far! I'm also doing it to teach my children how to eat properly. They are very thin now, but may not always be.

That being said I just get grumpy because this comes up so freaking much. Ok fat people are a drain on society. So are tons of people who could work, but live on welfare instead. Plus a myriad of other things.

I want to talk about one of my pet peeves. I should start a thread. Why is it that professional sports players make millions, while the people that save your life, doctor's, nurses, paramedics make jack shit. I make around 30,000 a year, I also have my EMT but could only make about 25,000 doing that. How fucked up are we that we pay more for our entertainment , then we do for the people busting their ass to save our lives.

60,000 people aren't going to pay hundreds of dollars to watch a nurse take someone's blood pressure. And a lot of people can become nurses. Not everyone, but millions can. Of all the millions of kids playing sports only a tiny fraction will make it to the professional level. CC Sabathia makes 23 million a year pitching for the Yankees. I'd do it for 230,000 a year. But that would be foolish because chances are I wouldn't get anyone out. I could if I worked on my knuckle ball. Perhaps. It could happen.

 

[nh23]

60,000 people aren't going to pay hundreds of dollars to watch a nurse take someone's blood pressure. And a lot of people can become nurses. Not everyone, but millions can. Of all the millions of kids playing sports only a tiny fraction will make it to the professional level. CC Sabathia makes 23 million a year pitching for the Yankees. I'd do it for 230,000 a year. But that would be foolish because chances are I wouldn't get anyone out. I could if I worked on my knuckle ball. Perhaps. It could happen.

Not to take a blood pressure no, but how about CPR? Or maybe start an IV with life saving drugs? Nursing school, or any type of medical school isn't a piece of cake. My class started out with 36. 16 of us graduated.

And sure they're great, they're amazing at what they do. How in the hell does that have any comparison with someone who saves lives everyday.

 

[MisterSir]

I don't understand what you're saying - how would you characterize yourself then?

Tubby. I wasn't obese and I'm not of a sensible weight, I've been tubby for the past three years but the BMI seems to think I'm wrong.

I don't get why everyone gets up in arms if we say x about black people, or x about homosexuals, but the stereotypes, and humor at the expense of fat people is still ok.

I'd have thought that should be obvious - you can't choose not to be black or not to be homosexual, but you can damn well choose to lose weight. Don't give me any bullshit about that not being the case, you know as well as I do that ninety percent of overweight and obese people aren't like that because they have something genuinely wrong with that, they just like eating too much.

 

[nh23]

Tubby. I wasn't obese and I'm not of a sensible weight, I've been tubby for the past three years but the BMI seems to think I'm wrong.



I'd have thought that should be obvious - you can't choose not to be black or not to be homosexual, but you can damn well choose to lose weight. Don't give me any bullshit about that not being the case, you know as well as I do that ninety percent of overweight and obese people aren't like that because they have something genuinely wrong with that, they just like eating too much.

Not everyone can choose not to be overweight. I've never been the type of person that eats all the time. I can eat the same things as someone else and gain weight when they don't. Everyone doesn't have the same metabolism. I've had to find a plan that actually works for me. It's not bullshit, it's the way it is. Not to mention the fact that saying hey fatty quit eating isn't going to solve the problem.

Why are you tubby then? Tubby is another word for fat, obese means fat. If it's that easy why aren't you thin.

 

[MisterSir]

Not everyone can choose not to be overweight. I've never been the type of person that eats all the time. I can eat the same things as someone else and gain weight when they don't. Everyone doesn't have the same metabolism. I've had to find a plan that actually works for me. It's not bullshit, it's the way it is. Not to mention the fact that saying hey fatty quit eating isn't going to solve the problem.

Why are you tubby then? Tubby is another word for fat, obese means fat. If it's that easy why aren't you thin.

Tubby and obese mean the same thing in the same way ice and steam are both H20 - it's technically true, but there's a world of difference between them in the real world.

I'm tubby. I don't know what my ideal weight is, but I'd guess I'm a stone or two over it. I have love handles and there's excess meat on me, but not a whole lot. I often don't appear fat, I'm thin enough that I can dress to hide it. None of that applies to an obese person.

Not everyone can choose not to be overweight. I've never been the type of person that eats all the time. I can eat the same things as someone else and gain weight when they don't. Everyone doesn't have the same metabolism. I've had to find a plan that actually works for me. It's not bullshit, it's the way it is.

Metabolic differences I can respect, mine isn't particularly strong either, but if you can eat the same amount of food as somebody else and still gain weight then the patently obvious solution is to not eat that much. I don't do that because, like I said, I'm one of those people who likes food too much to restrict myself.

Not to mention the fact that saying hey fatty quit eating isn't going to solve the problem.

It's true, people hate getting logic thrown in their faces.

If it's that easy why aren't you thin.

Please, point to where I said it's easy to lose weight. Setting aside the aforementioned psychological blocks, losing weight is a tough physical process and it is far from easy, but like it or not if people ate less they would find it easier. You can argue with that all you like, but that is the cold hard truth.

 

[nh23]

Metabolic differences I can respect, mine isn't particularly strong either, but if you can eat the same amount of food as somebody else and still gain weight then the patently obvious solution is to not eat that much. I don't do that because, like I said, I'm one of those people who likes food too much to restrict myself.

For my particular body type, eating too much isn't the problem. I actually wasn't eating enough. I was skipping breakfast, and lunch. Eating a big dinner. It was also the types of food I was eating. I can't do red meats, white bread, white poatato's.

It's true, people hate getting logic thrown in their faces.

It's bad logic. It's not always about amounts. See above.

Please, point to where I said it's easy to lose weight. Setting aside the aforementioned psychological blocks, losing weight is a tough physical process and it is far from easy, but like it or not if people ate less they would find it easier. You can argue with that all you like, but that is the cold hard truth.

Nope you never said it was easy. It's how your post came off. Some people just can't lose weight, some people don't have the intellect to know what they should eat for their body type. Just eating less is not the answer. I DON"T FUCKING over eat. I never have.

 

[rosco rathbone]

So what? We are the fattest nation on earth...we can still kick all your asses.

 

[Primalex]

Just throwing in a little tidbit and not directed at anyone or any particular posting:

Back when my wife was 21, she was very sick (very sick as in: she already received the anointing of the sick in hospital). She was down to 50 pounds (height 5'5) due to her illness. To quote her:"I'm tired of obese people complaining how difficult it is to not eat. They should be in the situation where they have to eat or die, when every chewing makes you puke, when every bite is filled with disgust, when your stomach tells you it's completely totally full, when every little movement hurts. I wish all I had to do was to stop doing something."


(She is usually really nice (unlike me), but this is one of her few pet peeves...)

Her metabolism now is so fucked up that she basically just eats sweets to be able to maintain 100 pounds. We spend $50 per month on sweets alone - and although 100 pounds is still way under the "normal" BMI, she doesn't look anorexic. So anyone who tells me (s)he would look anorexic when within the normal BMI is just babbling without a clue.

 

[Keroin]

So what? We are the fattest nation on earth...we can still kick all your asses.

Well, you could kick our asses if all of your military wasn't otherwise occupied elsewhere. And you're not the fattest nation on earth, you're only the 9th fattest - yeesh, Yanks, always trying to be #1.

 

[Primalex]

So what? We are the fattest nation on earth...we can still kick all your asses.

http://www.filehurricane.com/viewerthumbnails/619200820544PM_american_fat_soldier.jpg

The real reason the army develops unmanned drones and robots for fights...