Con_Alma;1443211 wrote:That's the part that I don't understand. There's clearly more that hasn't been explained in this thread...at least to me, lol, that I don't know about. How can a genetic predisposition dictate the type and volume of food consumption?

A child born to parents who are metabolically deranged, a mother who is consuming a terrible diet and living in an a toxic environment can have the same effects as a child of a drug addicted/abusing mother. That's what is scary. Kids are being brought into the world with the same metabolic problems the parents have. I mean, you have toddlers with Type 2 Diabetes. You have rates of Autism running rampant. There's a lot more, and all of these conditions/diseases are up for debate too. Given that, it's very easy to see how these children are viewed by parents, doctor's and the individuals themselves as "genetic lost causes". Afterall, the way we have interpretted genetics on a broad level, the definition is fit to a T with these folks.

However, I think the point being made is of these cases, a vast majority of them are NOT actual genetics. Instead, they are environmental impacts on the genes causing some serious confusion. The bad news is, this stuff often gets overlooked and never addressed. The good news is, if addressed, it CAN be reversed in the lifetime of that individual. It doesn't take generations to fix like true gene evolution would.

BoatShoes;1443218 wrote:I think there are indeed some folks who simply are a prisoner to their genes/fate and it is their destiny to be overweight but that's not the majority. ...

I truly struggle with understanding this and genuinely ask for an explanation that may be in more layman terms in hopes of helping me "get it".

Azubuike24;1443220 wrote:... The good news is, if addressed, it CAN be reversed in the lifetime of that individual. It doesn't take generations to fix like true gene evolution would.

The problem doesn't sound as if it's genetic as much as sociological.

Abercrombie and Fitch don't want them wearing their clothes.

Con_Alma;1443222 wrote:I truly struggle with understanding this and genuinely ask for an explanation that may be in more layman terms in hopes of helping me "get it".

Here's an example. There is a condition called Familial Multiple Lipomatosis. This is a true chromosomal genetic defect which could be present in an individual who is obese, yet be very, very difficult to diagnose. It's also extremely rare. There are many other similar conditions where these fat deposits are present in the body (Lipomas). There are other conditions where fat metabolism is shut off, or greatly reduced, leading to the inability to lose body fat. There is a powerlifter (can't remember his name) who had one of these conditions, as as a result, got to be nearly 600 lbs. He has been able to "maintain" a weight of somewhere around 350 lbs after incorporating a training/nutrition/supplement regimen, but no matter what he did, he'd never be able to become very lean or get out of the obese range. While he's extremely strong and in great shape, many of the risks of simply carrying that much body mass (regardless of the composition of it) will always plague him.

The above conditions and reference are extremely rare. Yet it seems that you hear a similar story (insert different conditions, names and factors) from many individuals. Far more than the statistical data supports should exist...

Wally;1443227 wrote:Abercrombie and Fitch don't want them wearing their clothes.

Ha ha!!! True dat! Just like The Petite Sophisticate doesn't care about me and the Big and Tall store couldn't care less about me. Niche markets...bleh!

I just enjoyed a refreshing, cold Coca-Cola.

Azubuike24;1443230 wrote:Here's an example. There is a condition called Familial Multiple Lipomatosis. This is a true chromosomal genetic defect which could be present in an individual who is obese, yet be very, very difficult to diagnose. It's also extremely rare. There are many other similar conditions where these fat deposits are present in the body (Lipomas). There are other conditions where fat metabolism is shut off, or greatly reduced, leading to the inability to lose body fat. There is a powerlifter (can't remember his name) who had one of these conditions, as as a result, got to be nearly 600 lbs. He has been able to "maintain" a weight of somewhere around 350 lbs after incorporating a training/nutrition/supplement regimen, but no matter what he did, he'd never be able to become very lean or get out of the obese range. While he's extremely strong and in great shape, many of the risks of simply carrying that much body mass (regardless of the composition of it) will always plague him.

The above conditions and reference are extremely rare. Yet it seems that you hear a similar story (insert different conditions, names and factors) from many individuals. Far more than the statistical data supports should exist...

These don't seem to be the scenarios being discussed but I appreciate the education and exposure to such conditions. The inability to turn fat back into energy when sugar is lacking in the blood stream would certainly seem to be difficult to manage. It would appear that intake type, frequency and volume would be critical and almost a full time job.

I agree with everything Azu said.

Azubuike24;1443079 wrote:This is a common site at the grocery store. Every time. And then I look at what is in their grocery cart and no explanation is needed.

This. And it pisses me off. Some fat fuck using a scooter just because they are too lazy to walk around the store, then behind them is some 80 yr old woman with a walker that needs it. Of course theres none left to use for her, because the fat fucks took them all.

justincredible;1443192 wrote:I used to be a fat shit but now I am not. I agree with pretty much everything Azu has posted in this thread.

According to the CDC the obesity rate in the US is 35.7%. What percentage of those folks can claim bad genetics? It seems like we have a laziness/ignorance problem more than a bad genetics problem.

I agree with Azu as well.

I get sick of hearing every fat person I know blame it ontheir "thyroid and slow metabolism".

I was heavy in high school (played sports, but was a linemen). Lost the weight in college (reverse freshman 15... actually lost 55) because I walked everywhere and worked at UPS. I also found out losing weight helped get me laid. Which was awesome (not for my gf at the time...). Anywho, I gained it all back after college when my sedintery work lifestyle and lack of motivation to work out kicked in, and I got up to about 285 (I am 6'2). I "came to Jesus" about my weight about 4 years ago and lost 50 lbs or so (I hover in the mid 230s). I have a lot of muscle, do cross-fit 2-3 times a week, run on the off days, play basketball and golf. So I am active. However, I still have the desk-job, and I blame that for me not being able to get down into the 210-220 range (where I ultimately would like to be). That and the booze. I think if I either had a job where I was on my feet or I stopped drinking I'd get there, but I've accepted that neither of those things are likely to happen anytime soon, so I am cool. Even though my BMI (bullshit metric indicator) says I am overweight, I'm good with it. I've ran a marathon, 7 half marathons, and consider myself above-avg athletically.

TL;DR: Lifestyle (job) and diet (booze) are the things I think most people have to overcome. And for poor people, the diet often is the biggest obstacle, because eating healthy is often times more expensive.

Azubuike24;1443093 wrote:Some people will call me crazy, but I honestly believe medicine is only good for acute issues and emergency treatment.

I totally agree with that. Haven't been to a doctor for anything since I had to get an MMR shot before going to college. Fuck that noise. Last thing I need is some fucktard trying to pawn off some shit pills on me to mess with how I run my body.

justincredible;1443192 wrote:I used to be a fat shit but now I am not. I agree with pretty much everything Azu has posted in this thread.

According to the CDC the obesity rate in the US is 35.7%. What percentage of those folks can claim bad genetics? It seems like we have a laziness/ignorance problem more than a bad genetics problem.

Over the past two years, I've dropped about 75 pounds or so. And it all came down to reversing bad habits such as laziness (the whole "I sit at a desk all day and am so burnt out that I have to sit on my ass and get drunk!" thing) and horrible eating habits (you really shouldn't have your biggest meal of the day be a shit-ton of food devoured right before you go to bed).

It's actually kind of scary how quick all the weight melted off when I buckled down and changed those habits. So I wouldn't get burned out, I started off simple (don't eat at night and eat smaller portions while avoiding fast food shit like the plague) and then gradually added exercise and then more and more of it. Now, if I don't go out at night, I probably work out for 1.5-2 hours a night and that's gotten so ingrained into my brain that I'll have days where I don't feel like it, but when 9-10 p.m. rolls around, I'm up and working out because it just feels wrong to not do so.

justincredible;1443192 wrote:I used to be a fat shit but now I am not. I agree with pretty much everything Azu has posted in this thread.

According to the CDC the obesity rate in the US is 35.7%. What percentage of those folks can claim bad genetics? It seems like we have a laziness/ignorance problem more than a bad genetics problem.

More like poor mod moderation

Azubuike24;1443220 wrote:A child born to parents who are metabolically deranged, a mother who is consuming a terrible diet and living in an a toxic environment can have the same effects as a child of a drug addicted/abusing mother. That's what is scary. Kids are being brought into the world with the same metabolic problems the parents have. I mean, you have toddlers with Type 2 Diabetes. You have rates of Autism running rampant. There's a lot more, and all of these conditions/diseases are up for debate too. Given that, it's very easy to see how these children are viewed by parents, doctor's and the individuals themselves as "genetic lost causes". Afterall, the way we have interpretted genetics on a broad level, the definition is fit to a T with these folks.

However, I think the point being made is of these cases, a vast majority of them are NOT actual genetics. Instead, they are environmental impacts on the genes causing some serious confusion. The bad news is, this stuff often gets overlooked and never addressed. The good news is, if addressed, it CAN be reversed in the lifetime of that individual. It doesn't take generations to fix like true gene evolution would.

I agree with that. I have a co-worker I'm friends with who was born with some severe allergies that are genetically spread (her mom has them really bad and her sister's son also does --- think it all sprang up from her mom working while pregnant somewhere where there were a lot of chemicals like as a cleaning lady or something like that, but not 100% sure). She probably is coping the best out of them because she actively goes to more holistic-style doctors and has worked with a diet that keeps the harmful stuff out of her system. Bizarre-ass diet to someone else (avoiding various colors like yellow and red in food, no gluten chocolate, etc. -- eating anything like cake usually has at best, the same effect on her that eating fast food has on someone who doesn't do so like me, where you feel blah and sick for a while...or it might cause her to break out and get all puffy on a bad day), but it works well for her. And has helped me, as from talking to her, I've learned a few new tricks for my dieting, which helped me in going from 185-190 to my current 167-170 range.

If people stopped taking golf carts, they wouldn't be fat.

The key to dropping weight is watching lots and lots of netflix...and eating beef jerky. Worked for me.

WebFire;1443234 wrote:I just enjoyed a refreshing, cold Coca-Cola.

Not diet?

ccrunner609;1443375 wrote:Lets not muddy the water here with terminology........being overweight is not being obese and obese is surely not morbid obesity. When allowed, the human body will store uneeded calories. Do we need that gene anymore? no. We have food readily available 24/7.


What leads to cases of being is obese or morbid obesity is the fact that our food environment is so toxic that it just bitch slaps our genetics, kicks our fat storied into high gear.

Define overweight? Define obese. Once you get past the "optimal level", it's all pretty much the same. The risks go from basically nothing, with the potential to live into your 9th or 10th decade, to someone who is lucky to live to be 70-80. It's pretty much that simple, and a vast majority of that is compounded by much of the compromises people accept by taking prescriptions.

For instance, lets say you have a hybrid form of Type I Diabetes. Instead of doing everything absolutely possible to maximize your own healing (very low carbohydrate diet, higher fat intake, maybe a cyclical keto diet, regular exercise (not extremely long or intense) and maintaining plenty of muscle mass), you choose to just take Insulin injections 3 times a day. Now...your choices look like this...

1. Do nothing - die before you are 60
2. Take Insulin, not much else - live until you are 70
3. Do everything possible, even if that means periodically supplementing with drugs when necessary - live until you are 90

IMO, 1 or 2 are the same. If you know about 3 and choose to not take a shot at it, who cares about the outcome whether you live to 60 or 70?

Others will say that notion is ridiculous, but that's my perspective at least...

I have a hard time believing that my ideal weight should be what I weighed my junior year in high school! lol I was 6'5" 215 my jr year, which is at the very top of the optimal weight for my height. I had very little body fat, I played football, basketball and ran track. My sr year I weighed 245, which is obese according to the bmi chart, and like my jr year I had very little body fat. I played in college at 270, and while I had a slight gut, I was not what I would consider morbidly obese, but that is what the bmi would say.

I currently weigh 275, just started working out again now that spring sports are winding down and I have time. I jog for 20 minutes and do 20 minutes light free weights. I mow grass, weed eat, work in the garden and just basically stay outside for most of the day. I eat very little fast food, and I have recently gave up beer! [EMAIL="$#@!#$%$"]$#@!#$%$[/EMAIL]@ lol

I usually get down around 250 range and I feel very good as well. I couldnt weigh 215 pounds now unless you took a leg and possibly an arm!

ccrunner609;1443420 wrote:obesity and its levels in the medical community are usually based on the BMI standards . % of body fat is also used but less than the height/weight ratios.

Yeah, I'm about 5'7, 180, and about 10% body fat. My health screening at work marked me down for being overweight with a BMI of 25.

Also, what was the point of the reply in-relation to my prior post? Might as well said the sky is blue...

This is a great topic to discuss. I struggle with my feelings about obesity. Sometimes I am angry at really fat people and sometimes I feel sympathetic. I had a terrible drinking problem and I used alcohol not just for enjoyment, but to self medicate and deal with life's problems. It became a viscious cycle because drinking caused me to feel terrible and anxious, so I'd drink again to calm this. Once I started drinking, I couldn't stop until I was really lit and ready for bed. It was a messy round and round.

I think a lot of people use food in this same way. It is a drug to them that is used to deal with life's problems. Then they feel physically and mentally awful from excessive weight, so they naturally turn to food to deal with this.

This type of pattern is very, very difficult to break and that is where my sympathy originates. That said, I think there are fat people who are just plain lazy. The problem is, you can't easily distinguish the two, so it's hard to make judgements without being wrong.

I am obsessed with weight and excercise - in a good way. I look at overweight people as a motivator when I don't feel like working out or when I am craving bad food. That may sound insensitive, but it works. I look at a fat person and it clicks in my brian, "you don't ever want to turn into that, now go to the gym". It works almost every time thanks to our fat society.

^^^^^ Do you still have a drink every once in a while? I know what causes my weight gain over the winter, BEER! lol I recently made the life choice to quit, but I still like the taste of beer, but I am afraid I just cant stop at 3-4 one or two times a week. During the summer I would still drink, but it was off set by being more active.

Blame it on the parents. I gave my kids good, healthy food. Taught them how to eat right and stay active. McDonald's was a TREAT, not a daily occurance. My kids are now 16 to 27 and are all very active, healthy adults. I have in-laws who have catered to their kids and let them eat whatever shuts them up. I've got a 19 year old nephew who to this day eats nothing else but bacon, buns and chips. There's your reason for being a fat a$$. There have been times when I've put on a little weight (10 to 20 pounds), and it SUCKS trying to get it off. But the first thing you have to do is push yourself away from the table and go do something. Kids live what they learn. Chances are if you see some fat kid then go look at his parents, you will soon find the reason he's fat.

I don't feel sorry for gluttony and sloth.

Sonofanump;1443652 wrote:I don't feel sorry for gluttony and sloth.

I do think there is a huge difference between not feeling sorry for fat people (I don't) and the hate that some people seem to have towards them.