Hm, needs to be phrased differently. Being fat isnt a choice, most people would choose not to be. Eating the foods that make you fat is the choice.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,586
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<serious>
I need to lose 15lbs. Is there a good website or something that I can go to that will show me what is "good" to eat and what is not?
</serious>
I need to lose 15lbs. Is there a good website or something that I can go to that will show me what is "good" to eat and what is not?
</serious>
ConstipatedVigilante
Diamond Member
- Feb 22, 2006
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No it isn't. Different ethnic groups are more pre-disposed to different traits. Asian people have (for the most part) higher metabolisms. White people are the only ones with blonde/red hair. Black people are generally more athletic.
ConstipatedVigilante
Diamond Member
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Regs
Lifer
- Aug 9, 2002
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I agree. It's a choice. America is too covenant and wealthy for food now. You can step outside your door and no more than 3 blocks you'll have 3 Italian restaurants, burger king, Chinese, and a Wendy's. Humans are mammals like many other species out there that hunt for their food. Lucky for us, we no longer need to hunt and have food literally thrown at us everyday. So without the discipline of just saying no, we'll all likely end up 400 pound blimps.
There are other problems of course. Over or under active thyroids which some have mentioned here as genetic defects. Over active makes you skinny and under makes people gain.
Diabetes is another large problem. Caused by genetics or by bad eating habits. Like my mother who ate badly for a good 10 years was diagnosed with diabetes (family history as well). When you blood sugar is always too high, you body does not burn off any excess or stored fat.
There are other problems of course. Over or under active thyroids which some have mentioned here as genetic defects. Over active makes you skinny and under makes people gain.
Diabetes is another large problem. Caused by genetics or by bad eating habits. Like my mother who ate badly for a good 10 years was diagnosed with diabetes (family history as well). When you blood sugar is always too high, you body does not burn off any excess or stored fat.
scott916
Platinum Member
- Mar 2, 2005
- 2,906
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I'm sure there is a small genetic aspect to it, even though we've decoded the human genome, we can in no way claim to understand its many complexities. One of my best friends has been very obese ever since he was a kid, even through when he lived with his mother from ~9-14 who damn near fed him bird seed. Continuing to be fat and gaining more requires caloric maintenance, however. That's quite obvious.
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InflatableBuddha
Diamond Member
- Jul 5, 2007
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For many people it is a choice, but not all. Genetics has been mentioned, and there are diseases such as Prader-Willi syndrome, which contribute to obesity.
Poverty is one of the biggest culprits. Go to your local supermarket. What are the cheapest foods there? Soda, chips, and pre-packaged foods. McDonald's burgers are only a couple bucks. In comparison, salads and wraps often cost twice as much, and although healthy, are not as filling.
Of course people should exercise more and lounge around less, but that becomes more difficult if the only food you can afford is shitty junk food or fast food which makes you feel full and lethargic all the time.
Blame the Farm Bill, which heavily subsidizes corn and soy farmers in the U.S., depressing the world market for healthy grains. Many junk foods are made with corn syrup and soy, so because of the subsidies, these foods become the cheapest choices. And for poorer people, they simply can't afford the healthier options on a regular basis.
Poverty is one of the biggest culprits. Go to your local supermarket. What are the cheapest foods there? Soda, chips, and pre-packaged foods. McDonald's burgers are only a couple bucks. In comparison, salads and wraps often cost twice as much, and although healthy, are not as filling.
Of course people should exercise more and lounge around less, but that becomes more difficult if the only food you can afford is shitty junk food or fast food which makes you feel full and lethargic all the time.
Blame the Farm Bill, which heavily subsidizes corn and soy farmers in the U.S., depressing the world market for healthy grains. Many junk foods are made with corn syrup and soy, so because of the subsidies, these foods become the cheapest choices. And for poorer people, they simply can't afford the healthier options on a regular basis.
Being fat is a sign of wealth. It makes sense then that as a nation we are one of the wealthiest.
InflatableBuddha
Diamond Member
- Jul 5, 2007
- 7,416
- 1
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I think you skipped over my earlier post, where I explained the correlation between poverty and obesity.
This one may be coincidental, but it's worth examining:
the income disparity between the highest and lowest fifths in the U.S. has increased drastically in the last 25-30 years.
The obesity rate has increased drastically in the last 25-30 years.
To be fair, it's Houston, everyone's fat. You don't have a choice when Taco Cabana is open 24hr/day calling your name...
Wrong.
My wife is 50+ pounds over-weight. She is disabled (constant, chronic head-pain); she is unable to each much because it makes her vomit and cannot exercise much because it makes her head pound. She takes several meds that cause weight-gain.
She subsists, on average by my guesstimation, between 300-1000 (on a good day) calories a day.
How is any of that her "choice"?
AMCRambler
Diamond Member
- Jan 23, 2001
- 7,715
- 31
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I don't think it's so much a choice as it is the availability of food. I bet if the people of Africa had cheap, large quantities of food available to them they'd be looking like us too. Not to mention all the high calorie fast food we scarf down because it's cheap and fast. So my vote is that it's more oppotunity than it is a choice.
Amish how can your wife not be losing weight? Is it water weight? Even when we are inactive our bodies are constantly burning calories. Heart is beating, lungs and diaphram are moving, brain function it all burns calories. That easily accounts for 300 calories. Unless she drinks water and her body isn't processing it, there's no way she shouldn't be undernourished and becoming emaciated on even a 1000 calorie diet. I'm no nutritionist, but weight gain loss is pretty much all about caloric intake vs calories burned.
Amish how can your wife not be losing weight? Is it water weight? Even when we are inactive our bodies are constantly burning calories. Heart is beating, lungs and diaphram are moving, brain function it all burns calories. That easily accounts for 300 calories. Unless she drinks water and her body isn't processing it, there's no way she shouldn't be undernourished and becoming emaciated on even a 1000 calorie diet. I'm no nutritionist, but weight gain loss is pretty much all about caloric intake vs calories burned.
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