The cause of the obesity epidemic
Discussion
I watched this RI lecture the other day
https://youtu.be/5QOTBreQaIk?si=go_5Cc3W1qR5nDQT
It is a few years since I read about ultra processed food and their impact on our weight. I suspect this lecture overplays the point but I think it is broadly correct. I think the most telling point is a chart he shows (which if I had better IT skills I’d be able to capture and show here!) that highlights how across countries and social classes we all started putting on weight from the 70s.
When I was growing up in the early seventies people were much thinner than today. However people were not more abstinent, people didn’t do more exercise (most people were already office or factory workers), no one had more or less willpower than today. Companies were marketing products to us heavily. The key difference is mainly the food we were eating. Less processed.
Although quite a long video I did hear some things that I didn’t know. One of the key differences of modern food is that it is really dry. Moisture is the enemy of shelf life. However through artificial ingredients food technologists have made food feel moist, even when it doesn’t contain water. Similarly the use of artificial emulsifiers can make good feel like it is full of fat on your mouth when it isn’t.
Another interesting point is that we now suspect that artificial sweeteners cause problems because they cause a disconnect between your mouth and digestive system. Your mouth signals that something sugary is on its way, but it doesn’t arrive.
Why isn’t there more protest about this? Why do a lot of people feel better blaming themselves or other people for being fat, rather than the companies that sell us the food or governments that allow it?
https://youtu.be/5QOTBreQaIk?si=go_5Cc3W1qR5nDQT
It is a few years since I read about ultra processed food and their impact on our weight. I suspect this lecture overplays the point but I think it is broadly correct. I think the most telling point is a chart he shows (which if I had better IT skills I’d be able to capture and show here!) that highlights how across countries and social classes we all started putting on weight from the 70s.
When I was growing up in the early seventies people were much thinner than today. However people were not more abstinent, people didn’t do more exercise (most people were already office or factory workers), no one had more or less willpower than today. Companies were marketing products to us heavily. The key difference is mainly the food we were eating. Less processed.
Although quite a long video I did hear some things that I didn’t know. One of the key differences of modern food is that it is really dry. Moisture is the enemy of shelf life. However through artificial ingredients food technologists have made food feel moist, even when it doesn’t contain water. Similarly the use of artificial emulsifiers can make good feel like it is full of fat on your mouth when it isn’t.
Another interesting point is that we now suspect that artificial sweeteners cause problems because they cause a disconnect between your mouth and digestive system. Your mouth signals that something sugary is on its way, but it doesn’t arrive.
Why isn’t there more protest about this? Why do a lot of people feel better blaming themselves or other people for being fat, rather than the companies that sell us the food or governments that allow it?
Always interested to learn more about nutrition and how it can impact on every aspect of life. There are numerous sources out there advising strongly against processed food, however there are lots of convenience, cost and taste reasons why processed food is very successful.
There is also the fact that food is a coping mechanism for many that seems to now be virtually outside of the individuals control. It doesn't matter that losing weight and being healthy is surprisingly easy and cheap, if there are almost insurmountable psychological barriers to achieving it.
I think Sir Chris Whitty was speaking out about the need for policy change on this the other day.
There is also the fact that food is a coping mechanism for many that seems to now be virtually outside of the individuals control. It doesn't matter that losing weight and being healthy is surprisingly easy and cheap, if there are almost insurmountable psychological barriers to achieving it.
I think Sir Chris Whitty was speaking out about the need for policy change on this the other day.
I believe artificial sweeteners will eventually be shown to be even worse than we already suspect.
I remember reading about how people who drink 'diet' versions of drinks actually end up putting on more weight than those who stick to the sugary versions, it seems to make the brain want to eat more.
Also, I believe that Aspartame can be pretty bad for you in high doses. It's interesting becuase articles often state that it has to be consumed in very high quantities to be dangerous, however, I know at least two people who drink diet coke like it's water and one of these people is having neurological symptoms that are being investigated.
I remember reading about how people who drink 'diet' versions of drinks actually end up putting on more weight than those who stick to the sugary versions, it seems to make the brain want to eat more.
Also, I believe that Aspartame can be pretty bad for you in high doses. It's interesting becuase articles often state that it has to be consumed in very high quantities to be dangerous, however, I know at least two people who drink diet coke like it's water and one of these people is having neurological symptoms that are being investigated.
Obviously an intresting and relevant topic.
For me food is no longer a luxury, its readily available in all forms.
It appears people live on high calorie takeaways, due to lack of time and laziness preparing meals from scratch.
I also think society has changed, with have kids with little life knowledge passed down to them from parents. Likely as their own parents are also young and have no knowledge to pass on.
You see some young person stunned when they discover a life hack! On ticktock which is something nearly everyone over 40 already knew as their parents told them.
It's a change in society that's unlikely to correct itself as many will be relying on an easy solution such as these miracle fat loss jabs that are being talked about in the press.
For me food is no longer a luxury, its readily available in all forms.
It appears people live on high calorie takeaways, due to lack of time and laziness preparing meals from scratch.
I also think society has changed, with have kids with little life knowledge passed down to them from parents. Likely as their own parents are also young and have no knowledge to pass on.
You see some young person stunned when they discover a life hack! On ticktock which is something nearly everyone over 40 already knew as their parents told them.
It's a change in society that's unlikely to correct itself as many will be relying on an easy solution such as these miracle fat loss jabs that are being talked about in the press.
jayymannon said:
I believe artificial sweeteners will eventually be shown to be even worse than we already suspect.
I remember reading about how people who drink 'diet' versions of drinks actually end up putting on more weight than those who stick to the sugary versions, it seems to make the brain want to eat more.
Also, I believe that Aspartame can be pretty bad for you in high doses. It's interesting becuase articles often state that it has to be consumed in very high quantities to be dangerous, however, I know at least two people who drink diet coke like it's water and one of these people is having neurological symptoms that are being investigated.
I have spent nearly all my life on artificial sweeteners and not put on any weight at all.I remember reading about how people who drink 'diet' versions of drinks actually end up putting on more weight than those who stick to the sugary versions, it seems to make the brain want to eat more.
Also, I believe that Aspartame can be pretty bad for you in high doses. It's interesting becuase articles often state that it has to be consumed in very high quantities to be dangerous, however, I know at least two people who drink diet coke like it's water and one of these people is having neurological symptoms that are being investigated.
The first thing to throw away is anything containing seed oils. These are heavily processed and very bad for you. Replace any seed oil based cooking oil with pure virgin olive oil. Same for butter...buy pure butter, not spreadable butter containing seed oils and emulsifier.
It's certainly not easy to avoid these products though, they're everywhere.
It's certainly not easy to avoid these products though, they're everywhere.
cliffords said:
I watch a lot of old films and TV generally history, so real people not actors. 70 years ago fatter people seemed really rare . All the men seem slim, nearly all the women , with a few exceptions. If you look today in a regular high street it's a stark difference.
I think there were perhaps more fat people around than you are remembering. Sydney Greenstreet clearly outweighs Humphrey Bogart here. But perhaps he didn’t smoke as much as Bogie, who of course, smoked himself to death.
Smoking was much more prevalent in past decades. This alone may be responsible for much of the impression of thinness in those days. Also, 70 years ago we were emerging from the deprivations of wartime when many foodstuffs were rationed. Sugar was still rationed in 1953. Many people had been very active in the services. Few had cars, and we used to walk much more.
As for me, sure I could do with a few pounds less, but as a cancer survivor, every time I see my specialist for a check up, the first thing he asks is if I am losing any weight unexpectedly! So, I am afraid, it’s fat and happy for me.
I can speak as a fat bloke - 5 foot 8, currently 106kg; finished uni in 2013 as a Sports Science student with a 2:1 degree. I was 78kg back then, fairly strong and fit for my weight with around 10-12 hours hard exercise per week. Heaviest I have been was May '22 at 115kg.
Speaking only for myself here, I can tell you it is 95% mental health related - I stopped caring a long while ago because I became frustrated with finding a job in my field of study, then I moved into Security - where I still am today - which meant longer hours, such as 12 hour days/12 hour nights with multiple shifts in a row. By the end of a day shift, I was pretty knackered and gyming after a night shift? Not a chance.
Added stress of money worries all the time and no career progression meant I quickly fell out of love with staying fit, and my discipline kept dropping.
Now I have only been heavy for approximately the last year years (nearly 32yo), and the sports sector ship has firmly sailed. Also, regular muscle spasms in my lower back, sciatica brought on by two herniated discs meaning I cannot sit down, stand nor walk for long periods of time is severely limiting what I can realistically do as a job due to mobility issues at present.
Made a rod for my own back, I guess. Physical symptoms aside, if I had been able to stay on top of my mental health, I would guess that I'd have been able to keep on top of the fitness aspect, likely saving myself years of back pain and weight gain. They're all interlinked.
Don't get fat. Don't stop moving. Look after your back and mental health.
Speaking only for myself here, I can tell you it is 95% mental health related - I stopped caring a long while ago because I became frustrated with finding a job in my field of study, then I moved into Security - where I still am today - which meant longer hours, such as 12 hour days/12 hour nights with multiple shifts in a row. By the end of a day shift, I was pretty knackered and gyming after a night shift? Not a chance.
Added stress of money worries all the time and no career progression meant I quickly fell out of love with staying fit, and my discipline kept dropping.
Now I have only been heavy for approximately the last year years (nearly 32yo), and the sports sector ship has firmly sailed. Also, regular muscle spasms in my lower back, sciatica brought on by two herniated discs meaning I cannot sit down, stand nor walk for long periods of time is severely limiting what I can realistically do as a job due to mobility issues at present.
Made a rod for my own back, I guess. Physical symptoms aside, if I had been able to stay on top of my mental health, I would guess that I'd have been able to keep on top of the fitness aspect, likely saving myself years of back pain and weight gain. They're all interlinked.
Don't get fat. Don't stop moving. Look after your back and mental health.
FezOnYourHeadFezOnMyDrive said:
I can speak as a fat bloke - 5 foot 8, currently 106kg; finished uni in 2013 as a Sports Science student with a 2:1 degree. I was 78kg back then, fairly strong and fit for my weight with around 10-12 hours hard exercise per week. Heaviest I have been was May '22 at 115kg.
Speaking only for myself here, I can tell you it is 95% mental health related - I stopped caring a long while ago because I became frustrated with finding a job in my field of study, then I moved into Security - where I still am today - which meant longer hours, such as 12 hour days/12 hour nights with multiple shifts in a row. By the end of a day shift, I was pretty knackered and gyming after a night shift? Not a chance.
Added stress of money worries all the time and no career progression meant I quickly fell out of love with staying fit, and my discipline kept dropping.
Now I have only been heavy for approximately the last year years (nearly 32yo), and the sports sector ship has firmly sailed. Also, regular muscle spasms in my lower back, sciatica brought on by two herniated discs meaning I cannot sit down, stand nor walk for long periods of time is severely limiting what I can realistically do as a job due to mobility issues at present.
Made a rod for my own back, I guess. Physical symptoms aside, if I had been able to stay on top of my mental health, I would guess that I'd have been able to keep on top of the fitness aspect, likely saving myself years of back pain and weight gain. They're all interlinked.
Don't get fat. Don't stop moving. Look after your back and mental health.
Would you agree that you've been 'Comfort Eating' with fairly poor quality/Fast food much of the time ? - i.e not simply a lack of exercise?Speaking only for myself here, I can tell you it is 95% mental health related - I stopped caring a long while ago because I became frustrated with finding a job in my field of study, then I moved into Security - where I still am today - which meant longer hours, such as 12 hour days/12 hour nights with multiple shifts in a row. By the end of a day shift, I was pretty knackered and gyming after a night shift? Not a chance.
Added stress of money worries all the time and no career progression meant I quickly fell out of love with staying fit, and my discipline kept dropping.
Now I have only been heavy for approximately the last year years (nearly 32yo), and the sports sector ship has firmly sailed. Also, regular muscle spasms in my lower back, sciatica brought on by two herniated discs meaning I cannot sit down, stand nor walk for long periods of time is severely limiting what I can realistically do as a job due to mobility issues at present.
Made a rod for my own back, I guess. Physical symptoms aside, if I had been able to stay on top of my mental health, I would guess that I'd have been able to keep on top of the fitness aspect, likely saving myself years of back pain and weight gain. They're all interlinked.
Don't get fat. Don't stop moving. Look after your back and mental health.
Sedentary lifestyles- infinite entertainment on demand with everything (including food) delivered to your door. Car for when you do want to leave the house.
Reliance on take aways and ready meal-type solutions.
Another often overlooked fact is that we’re collectively much richer than in the early 70s. Even working class/benefit types can run to multiple take aways in a week now, if they want to. People can afford to eat more, snack more.
Reliance on take aways and ready meal-type solutions.
Another often overlooked fact is that we’re collectively much richer than in the early 70s. Even working class/benefit types can run to multiple take aways in a week now, if they want to. People can afford to eat more, snack more.
Edited by Fusion777 on Saturday 11th November 09:35
We've also long abandoned seasonal diets.
Our bodies have evolved to maximise what's available at specific times of the year. So in winter, when sunlight is less in the northern hemisphere and our ability to synthesise vitamin D lessen, nature gives us an abundance of leafy brassica veg full of Vitamin D to help compensate. But because strawberries, tomatoes and peppers taste nicer than apples, cabbage and sprouts and because they are now readily available, we weight our diet to those things rather than what we should be eating in the winter. This impacts mental health, which leads to comfort eating.
Our bodies have evolved to maximise what's available at specific times of the year. So in winter, when sunlight is less in the northern hemisphere and our ability to synthesise vitamin D lessen, nature gives us an abundance of leafy brassica veg full of Vitamin D to help compensate. But because strawberries, tomatoes and peppers taste nicer than apples, cabbage and sprouts and because they are now readily available, we weight our diet to those things rather than what we should be eating in the winter. This impacts mental health, which leads to comfort eating.
StevieBee said:
We've also long abandoned seasonal diets.
Our bodies have evolved to maximise what's available at specific times of the year. So in winter, when sunlight is less in the northern hemisphere and our ability to synthesise vitamin D lessen, nature gives us an abundance of leafy brassica veg full of Vitamin D to help compensate. But because strawberries, tomatoes and peppers taste nicer than apples, cabbage and sprouts and because they are now readily available, we weight our diet to those things rather than what we should be eating in the winter. This impacts mental health, which leads to comfort eating.
True, but I think strawberries, tomatoes and peppers are still better for us than burgers, pizza, chips and diet cola !!Our bodies have evolved to maximise what's available at specific times of the year. So in winter, when sunlight is less in the northern hemisphere and our ability to synthesise vitamin D lessen, nature gives us an abundance of leafy brassica veg full of Vitamin D to help compensate. But because strawberries, tomatoes and peppers taste nicer than apples, cabbage and sprouts and because they are now readily available, we weight our diet to those things rather than what we should be eating in the winter. This impacts mental health, which leads to comfort eating.
Fusion777 said:
Sedentary lifestyles- infinite entertainment on demand with everything (including food) delivered to your door. Car for when you do want to leave the house.
Reliance on take always and ready meal-type solutions.
Another often overlooked fact is that we’re collectively much richer than in the early 70s. Even working class/benefit types can run to multiple take aways in a week now, if they want to. People can afford to eat more, snack more.
I agree with this. Reliance on take always and ready meal-type solutions.
Another often overlooked fact is that we’re collectively much richer than in the early 70s. Even working class/benefit types can run to multiple take aways in a week now, if they want to. People can afford to eat more, snack more.
While processed food and sweeteners are a symptom they are still just excuses since we aren't stupid, we know what over-eating does. What comfort-eating does. We know that processed food isn't as healthy for us as natural food. When we indulge, we know the risks so looking for excuses as a way of suggesting it 'isn't our fault, it's theirs for giving us processed food' is feeble.
For 99% of us, despite all excuses, it really is as simple as calories in, calories out and we are encouraged more than ever to read the calorie labels on the food we are consuming. I've been obese, I know what that is like, I know that there are many factors that lead us to over-eating but if we really want to lose weight and live more healthily, we can, it is a personal choice.
If we are obese, it is more often than not our own fault.
Vasco said:
FezOnYourHeadFezOnMyDrive said:
I can speak as a fat bloke - 5 foot 8, currently 106kg; finished uni in 2013 as a Sports Science student with a 2:1 degree. I was 78kg back then, fairly strong and fit for my weight with around 10-12 hours hard exercise per week. Heaviest I have been was May '22 at 115kg.
Speaking only for myself here, I can tell you it is 95% mental health related - I stopped caring a long while ago because I became frustrated with finding a job in my field of study, then I moved into Security - where I still am today - which meant longer hours, such as 12 hour days/12 hour nights with multiple shifts in a row. By the end of a day shift, I was pretty knackered and gyming after a night shift? Not a chance.
Added stress of money worries all the time and no career progression meant I quickly fell out of love with staying fit, and my discipline kept dropping.
Now I have only been heavy for approximately the last year years (nearly 32yo), and the sports sector ship has firmly sailed. Also, regular muscle spasms in my lower back, sciatica brought on by two herniated discs meaning I cannot sit down, stand nor walk for long periods of time is severely limiting what I can realistically do as a job due to mobility issues at present.
Made a rod for my own back, I guess. Physical symptoms aside, if I had been able to stay on top of my mental health, I would guess that I'd have been able to keep on top of the fitness aspect, likely saving myself years of back pain and weight gain. They're all interlinked.
Don't get fat. Don't stop moving. Look after your back and mental health.
Would you agree that you've been 'Comfort Eating' with fairly poor quality/Fast food much of the time ? - i.e not simply a lack of exercise?Speaking only for myself here, I can tell you it is 95% mental health related - I stopped caring a long while ago because I became frustrated with finding a job in my field of study, then I moved into Security - where I still am today - which meant longer hours, such as 12 hour days/12 hour nights with multiple shifts in a row. By the end of a day shift, I was pretty knackered and gyming after a night shift? Not a chance.
Added stress of money worries all the time and no career progression meant I quickly fell out of love with staying fit, and my discipline kept dropping.
Now I have only been heavy for approximately the last year years (nearly 32yo), and the sports sector ship has firmly sailed. Also, regular muscle spasms in my lower back, sciatica brought on by two herniated discs meaning I cannot sit down, stand nor walk for long periods of time is severely limiting what I can realistically do as a job due to mobility issues at present.
Made a rod for my own back, I guess. Physical symptoms aside, if I had been able to stay on top of my mental health, I would guess that I'd have been able to keep on top of the fitness aspect, likely saving myself years of back pain and weight gain. They're all interlinked.
Don't get fat. Don't stop moving. Look after your back and mental health.
As daft as it sounds to anyone not suffering depression, the thought of now changing my lifestyle is motivating because I hate having these health issues (oh and gout!), but not so motivating as to actually do too much about it. It's miserable but self-inflicted - so I don't expect sympathy.
Stress from money worries: plus being in constant pain are hard to overcome, and to be honest, my thinking is not terribly clear so it is hard to see a way out of it.
nuyorican said:
Franco5 said:
As the numbers of bloaters has risen it’s become less unusual and more socially acceptable to be overweight. Land whales used to be the exception and as a result were mocked. Years ago people would try to prevent chubbing up but now they just allow it to happen because it’s become much more of a societal norm. Just listen to the “You FB chant” from football terraces when half of those chanting it are overweight.
How dare you. Body shamer!I'm big and beautiful!
wheeze
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