Obesity not caused by lack of willpower
Discussion
Apparently:-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-49795808
https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/24/obesity-not-lack-wi...
I'm sure there are many causal factors, but I would certainly argue that "lack of willpower" would be one of the single greatest components as that is the fundamental element that decides whether you eat half of that high caloric food, all of it or simply decide not to do it in the first place.
I've seen excuses in there saying "options for accessing affordable healthy food are limited" (I disagree) and people are more likely to be obese are those "whose lives are also shaped by work, school and social environments that promote overeating and inactivity" - the vast majority of people's lives are shaped by work, school and social environments and whilst you can certainly be inactive/sat behind a desk for most of the day at work or school, I've never come across or heard of an institution that promotes overeating.
Lastly, we should use language to remove the stigma apparently - call those people "a person with obesity" rather than an "obese person".
Whatever happened to personal accountability?
I think that sort of paper/reporting does nobody any good whatsoever and certainly won't help those making those sorts of life choices.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-49795808
https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/24/obesity-not-lack-wi...
I'm sure there are many causal factors, but I would certainly argue that "lack of willpower" would be one of the single greatest components as that is the fundamental element that decides whether you eat half of that high caloric food, all of it or simply decide not to do it in the first place.
I've seen excuses in there saying "options for accessing affordable healthy food are limited" (I disagree) and people are more likely to be obese are those "whose lives are also shaped by work, school and social environments that promote overeating and inactivity" - the vast majority of people's lives are shaped by work, school and social environments and whilst you can certainly be inactive/sat behind a desk for most of the day at work or school, I've never come across or heard of an institution that promotes overeating.
Lastly, we should use language to remove the stigma apparently - call those people "a person with obesity" rather than an "obese person".
Whatever happened to personal accountability?I think that sort of paper/reporting does nobody any good whatsoever and certainly won't help those making those sorts of life choices.
In very specific cases, well documented in medicine it is unavoidable. For 94% of people it is lack of goodwill, absolutely!!
Exercise/move more! Eat better by that I mean cook yourself and you can have an healthy diet/life.
I can get home afterwork and cook, from scratch most meals in 30-40min. Not banquets but everyday basic but quality food. For example grilled fish with vegetables/salad. Steak and vegetables, roast chicken in 50 min. Spaghetti Bolognese with the sauce made from scratch with fresh ingredients, etc. I am no chef and it’s basic but we eat well. No chips and reduced cards like rice and patatoes in favor of vegetables. For me is lack of goodwill it’s not poverty or work. Anyone can cook like me it’s so easy.
Exercise/move more! Eat better by that I mean cook yourself and you can have an healthy diet/life.
I can get home afterwork and cook, from scratch most meals in 30-40min. Not banquets but everyday basic but quality food. For example grilled fish with vegetables/salad. Steak and vegetables, roast chicken in 50 min. Spaghetti Bolognese with the sauce made from scratch with fresh ingredients, etc. I am no chef and it’s basic but we eat well. No chips and reduced cards like rice and patatoes in favor of vegetables. For me is lack of goodwill it’s not poverty or work. Anyone can cook like me it’s so easy.
love to see 'experts' at work again. Look I'm fat - I know that the reason I am fat is because I like cakes, breadand too large portion sizes. In addition to this I don't exercise enough - it's not rocket science (funnily enough I said this once at a slimming world meeting, I though I was about to be lynched!).
Sure SOME people may have issues, but the vast majority will be in my situation
Sure SOME people may have issues, but the vast majority will be in my situation
Well it's willpower that gets me to the gym 5 to 6 times a week. It's also willpower that made me educate myself about nutrition and not just stuff my face with whatever the hell I want. Without that willpower I know full well I'd be overweight as I've always had an ability to eat obscene amounts of food in one sitting and then there's the beer!
bobbo89 said:
Well it's willpower that gets me to the gym 5 to 6 times a week. It's also willpower that made me educate myself about nutrition and not just stuff my face with whatever the hell I want. Without that willpower I know full well I'd be overweight as I've always had an ability to eat obscene amounts of food in one sitting and then there's the beer!
My experience is similar. I’ve been fat / borderline obese so I’m now a bit ocd about my weight & fitness. I weigh myself at least twice a week and take action if I put on even a small amount. I also exercise almost every day either a long walk, bike ride or trip to the gym. I also eat healthy food - mainly.bad company said:
My experience is similar. I’ve been fat / borderline obese so I’m now a bit ocd about my weight & fitness. I weigh myself at least twice a week and take action if I put on even a small amount. I also exercise almost every day either a long walk, bike ride or trip to the gym. I also eat healthy food - mainly.
Good user name. 
I notice that the report we are discussing was written by a Reader in Health Psychology at the University of Bedford, and published through the British Psychological Society. I wonder how many of the above posters have academic qualifications to match on which to base their contrary opinions?
If this is a genuine issue it would have been presenting itself for ages.
When I was a lad there were perhaps 2-3 really overweight kids in the whole school (about 1400). Now it's something like 40% of school age kids.
The problem is lack of exercise (we pretty well did something every day, even just a kick around on the grass at the end of the road, unless it was pissing down) and didn't live on burgers, fizzy drinks and other high sugar high fat processed s
t.
When I was a lad there were perhaps 2-3 really overweight kids in the whole school (about 1400). Now it's something like 40% of school age kids.
The problem is lack of exercise (we pretty well did something every day, even just a kick around on the grass at the end of the road, unless it was pissing down) and didn't live on burgers, fizzy drinks and other high sugar high fat processed s
t.Edited by over_the_hill on Tuesday 24th September 09:53
Roofless Toothless said:
bad company said:
My experience is similar. I’ve been fat / borderline obese so I’m now a bit ocd about my weight & fitness. I weigh myself at least twice a week and take action if I put on even a small amount. I also exercise almost every day either a long walk, bike ride or trip to the gym. I also eat healthy food - mainly.
Good user name. I notice that the report we are discussing was written by a Reader in Health Psychology at the University of Bedford, and published through the British Psychological Society. I wonder how many of the above posters have academic qualifications to match on which to base their contrary opinions?
But ..but.......PH is the font of all knowledge and wisdom.
Roofless Toothless said:
bad company said:
My experience is similar. I’ve been fat / borderline obese so I’m now a bit ocd about my weight & fitness. I weigh myself at least twice a week and take action if I put on even a small amount. I also exercise almost every day either a long walk, bike ride or trip to the gym. I also eat healthy food - mainly.
Good user name. I notice that the report we are discussing was written by a Reader in Health Psychology at the University of Bedford, and published through the British Psychological Society. I wonder how many of the above posters have academic qualifications to match on which to base their contrary opinions?
Having said all that I still like a few beers 2-3 times a week and the odd burger & chips. I work for it with exercise tho.
While I do agree the majority could lose weight if they tried, we have had long enough of trying to push a healthy message and it not really work. Sometimes you have to legislate to help people help themselves. I think its time the sugar tax was rolled out to sugary and fatty foods, its had a big success in reducing the amount of calories in soft drinks, we should see what it could do for food.
tankplanker said:
While I do agree the majority could lose weight if they tried, we have had long enough of trying to push a healthy message and it not really work. Sometimes you have to legislate to help people help themselves. I think its time the sugar tax was rolled out to sugary and fatty foods, its had a big success in reducing the amount of calories in soft drinks, we should see what it could do for food.
Please no. Why do we have to ruin food that most of us enjoy in moderation just because of these idiots that can't control their intake.I used to enjoy a fizzy drink once or twice a month, not daily / hourly as some see fit, they're all rank now after the sugar has been replaced with artificial sweeteners. Only Classic Coke remains and I'll happily pay and extra 10p or whatever for it.
Education is what's needed and maybe some incentive to get off your arse and do some exercise. Don't want to sound like some sort of born again fitness freak but going out running 3+ times a week has done no end of good for my health. I wasn't in a great place a few years back, over weight and unfit, but CouchTo5K, Parkruns, and generally getting the bug has really changed me. Several stone lighter and still able to eat decent food.
Im assuming there’s very little in the way of fatties in this thread?
In the last year, I’ve lost getting on for 4 stone and I can tell you, it’s really fking expensive to eat healthily. So while I don’t agree completely with the willpower argument (that’s whats got me here from where I was) I do to some extent and I definitely agree with the ‘good food isn’t cheap enough’ argument.
In a world where it’s cheaper to buy a cheeseburger than a salad, there’s a lot of people, who even with the strongest willpower, can’t afford to eat well.
The other part of the argument is the fat shaming thing, when people are mocked or sneered at for being overweight, those people tend to already feel st about themselves and as has recently been said in the media, that promotes self destructive behaviour, which to a lot of people means comfort eating.
Well done to everyone who is skinny, toned and can afford a decent meal, but remember not everyone is so fortunate.
In the last year, I’ve lost getting on for 4 stone and I can tell you, it’s really f
king expensive to eat healthily. So while I don’t agree completely with the willpower argument (that’s whats got me here from where I was) I do to some extent and I definitely agree with the ‘good food isn’t cheap enough’ argument.In a world where it’s cheaper to buy a cheeseburger than a salad, there’s a lot of people, who even with the strongest willpower, can’t afford to eat well.
The other part of the argument is the fat shaming thing, when people are mocked or sneered at for being overweight, those people tend to already feel s
t about themselves and as has recently been said in the media, that promotes self destructive behaviour, which to a lot of people means comfort eating.Well done to everyone who is skinny, toned and can afford a decent meal, but remember not everyone is so fortunate.
My unenlightened take on it is that for many eating is a maladaptive coping mechanism, similar to smoking and drinking. Maybe linked to the greater prevelance (or at least perception of) anxiety and depression amongst the general public? I so wonder if it is now acceptable to have 'issues' in a way that it wasn't before.
That and the aggressive marketing of junk food as something that makes you happy.
That and the aggressive marketing of junk food as something that makes you happy.
dangerousB said:
Lastly, we should use language to remove the stigma apparently - call those people "a person with obesity" rather than an "obese person".
I quite agree. In fact, i'd go further and not use the word "obesity", as its not a very nice word, is it?We can call them "a person that likes cakes", because "cake" is a nicer word, and makes me think of parties and stuff.
I'm putting on a bit of weight due to changing job role and I know it's caused by my lack of willpower.
bbc article said:
Learn from smoking
The government should approach the problem of obesity in the same way as smoking, the report says.
British Psychological Society chief executive Sarb Bajwa said: "It has taken action at all levels for decades, from government policy to helping individual smokers, but we are now seeing significant reductions in the level of smoking and the health problems it causes.
"Psychologists have the science and clinical experience to help the health service do the same for obesity.
Tax them massively, keep them outside in restaurants and pubs and ban them from public transport? Tbh I think that's a bit harsh.The government should approach the problem of obesity in the same way as smoking, the report says.
British Psychological Society chief executive Sarb Bajwa said: "It has taken action at all levels for decades, from government policy to helping individual smokers, but we are now seeing significant reductions in the level of smoking and the health problems it causes.
"Psychologists have the science and clinical experience to help the health service do the same for obesity.
Robmarriott said:
Im assuming there’s very little in the way of fatties in this thread?
In the last year, I’ve lost getting on for 4 stone and I can tell you, it’s really fking expensive to eat healthily. So while I don’t agree completely with the willpower argument (that’s whats got me here from where I was) I do to some extent and I definitely agree with the ‘good food isn’t cheap enough’ argument.
In a world where it’s cheaper to buy a cheeseburger than a salad, there’s a lot of people, who even with the strongest willpower, can’t afford to eat well.
The other part of the argument is the fat shaming thing, when people are mocked or sneered at for being overweight, those people tend to already feel st about themselves and as has recently been said in the media, that promotes self destructive behaviour, which to a lot of people means comfort eating.
Well done to everyone who is skinny, toned and can afford a decent meal, but remember not everyone is so fortunate.
Can't agree. Bread, rice, potatoes and tomatoes are so cheap they're basically free.In the last year, I’ve lost getting on for 4 stone and I can tell you, it’s really f
king expensive to eat healthily. So while I don’t agree completely with the willpower argument (that’s whats got me here from where I was) I do to some extent and I definitely agree with the ‘good food isn’t cheap enough’ argument.In a world where it’s cheaper to buy a cheeseburger than a salad, there’s a lot of people, who even with the strongest willpower, can’t afford to eat well.
The other part of the argument is the fat shaming thing, when people are mocked or sneered at for being overweight, those people tend to already feel s
t about themselves and as has recently been said in the media, that promotes self destructive behaviour, which to a lot of people means comfort eating.Well done to everyone who is skinny, toned and can afford a decent meal, but remember not everyone is so fortunate.
ALDI do umpteen different veg at 49p, 59p, 69p...
Iceland do big bags of frozen veg for about a quid.
Cheap sausages, burgers, pork steaks, frozen fish, etc are all pretty cheap as long as you don't buy the brands.
A healthy balanced diet is very easily done for £25 a week if it doesn't include takeaways.
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