Obesity, is it really an illness or a lifestyle choice?
Discussion
kambites said:
I think it's a fine line. I agree that we are normalising obesity to the extent that we are is a bad thing - I think many obese people genuinely believe that just because their weight is "normal", it's not a problem for their health; but on the other hand, stigmatising obese people also wont help (although it might help others avoid copying them, I suppose).
That's why I think obesity is best treated at least partially as a self-inflicted medical problem, analogous to lung cancer in smokers.
Whilst I agree with what you're saying, EVERYONE knows smoking is bad. It even says it on the packet. People don't realise how many foods have processed seed oils in, for example, and many foods are often listed as "healthy" despite containing these. We're also told that we should go for "low fat" versions, which often contain more sugars. The list goes on, the messages people get are very conflicting which doesn't help.That's why I think obesity is best treated at least partially as a self-inflicted medical problem, analogous to lung cancer in smokers.
It doesn't help that most processed foods are ultimately owned by only a handful of companies which, in some cases, have ties with pharmaceutical companies.......
Blib said:
grumbledoak said:
What you believe about food and exercise set you on a path that led right back to where you started. Start questioning those beliefs.
I'm minded of the old addict's statement:"Stopping is easy. I've done it dozens of times."
As an ex fat lad (at my heaviest 17.5 stone), i took part in a 12 week challenge at a local gym & lost almost 50lbs (i was 215 when i started).
I kept the majority of it off for almost 10 years, through a combination of better eating (less takeaways/snacks etc.) & attending the gym/being more active.
This year has been a rather busy year both personally & with work, so my activity levels have diminished, along with 2x all inclusive holidays!
I need to lose about a stone to get everything back in check, which is relatively easily achievable in around 6 weeks with a sensible amount of dieting/exercising & without depriving myself of too much.
My OH is tiny, eats more than i do, drinks more often than i do, exercises on par with me (maybe even less), however never puts any weight on, I'm jealous of her metabolism. She's always been the same.
I think food eating is habitual, i found i never really had a 'full switch' & would eat until i felt ill, i still do from time to time, but you just need to break the cycle & reset everything, for some, that's easier than others.
I kept the majority of it off for almost 10 years, through a combination of better eating (less takeaways/snacks etc.) & attending the gym/being more active.
This year has been a rather busy year both personally & with work, so my activity levels have diminished, along with 2x all inclusive holidays!
I need to lose about a stone to get everything back in check, which is relatively easily achievable in around 6 weeks with a sensible amount of dieting/exercising & without depriving myself of too much.
My OH is tiny, eats more than i do, drinks more often than i do, exercises on par with me (maybe even less), however never puts any weight on, I'm jealous of her metabolism. She's always been the same.
I think food eating is habitual, i found i never really had a 'full switch' & would eat until i felt ill, i still do from time to time, but you just need to break the cycle & reset everything, for some, that's easier than others.
It is absolutely a lifestyle choice, or the result of a series of very poor lifestyle choices.
Obesity doesn't creep up on anyone, you don't get fat overnight, just like you don't get lean overnight.
I was 156kg once upon a time and through some serious sacrifice, commitment and eventually finding a passion for strength training, I got down to 106kg. A nice round 50kg; almost 8 stones. Over the last 10 years I've added lots of muscle and probably a bit of fat but I float around 115-120kg now. I'm 6ft 5 for reference.
One thing that didn't leave behind with the excess bodyweight is my love for food and, arguably, my bad relationship with food.
When I have a 'cheat day' (which I think are terrible idea and not required or deserved for most of us, me included), I have a propensity to go off the scale and eat until I feel physically sick - often laying in bed unable to sleep at night because I'm so uncomfortable. It's an issue I continue to work on and is becoming less frequent however it does light the fire in me and the next day usually consists of 2 powerful workouts - morning run and evening lifting.
The difference from before I lost the weight is that I would do the same thing 2,3,4 times a week but have 0 workouts, other than a trot around a rugby pitch on a Sunday with the 3rd team, a team made up of old men and injured men and busy fathers, whilst I was early 20's and had played at a high level but was at that time too unfit and lazy to train and play with the first team.
Every fat person is fat because they eat to much and do not move enough. Every slim/lean person is slim/lean because they have that eat:move ratio closer. Every person you see and actually think 'wow, he's in good shape', generally has it pretty perfect and is much more likely to live a wholesome and fulfilling and successful life, in my experience.
Obesity doesn't creep up on anyone, you don't get fat overnight, just like you don't get lean overnight.
I was 156kg once upon a time and through some serious sacrifice, commitment and eventually finding a passion for strength training, I got down to 106kg. A nice round 50kg; almost 8 stones. Over the last 10 years I've added lots of muscle and probably a bit of fat but I float around 115-120kg now. I'm 6ft 5 for reference.
One thing that didn't leave behind with the excess bodyweight is my love for food and, arguably, my bad relationship with food.
When I have a 'cheat day' (which I think are terrible idea and not required or deserved for most of us, me included), I have a propensity to go off the scale and eat until I feel physically sick - often laying in bed unable to sleep at night because I'm so uncomfortable. It's an issue I continue to work on and is becoming less frequent however it does light the fire in me and the next day usually consists of 2 powerful workouts - morning run and evening lifting.
The difference from before I lost the weight is that I would do the same thing 2,3,4 times a week but have 0 workouts, other than a trot around a rugby pitch on a Sunday with the 3rd team, a team made up of old men and injured men and busy fathers, whilst I was early 20's and had played at a high level but was at that time too unfit and lazy to train and play with the first team.
Every fat person is fat because they eat to much and do not move enough. Every slim/lean person is slim/lean because they have that eat:move ratio closer. Every person you see and actually think 'wow, he's in good shape', generally has it pretty perfect and is much more likely to live a wholesome and fulfilling and successful life, in my experience.
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