"The Lancet" series on obesity...I couldn't agree more! (lose weight, surgery)

[stillkit]

This author from Forbes says exactly how I feel about the so-called obesity "epidemic."



The Lancet's Series on Obesity

The Lancet is the UK’s (and they would claim the world’s) premier health journal. The problem is that it seems to have been taken over by the Puritans. Those who are worried all the time that someone, somewhere, might be enjoying themselves.

Today’s issue has a series of papers on obesity. One particularly joyless quote from one of the papers:

““To me, the underlying drivers that are promoting overconsumption of food, and its resulting obesity, have the same roots as those that drive our overconsumption of fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.”

This is dangerously close to the sainted Peter Simple’s invention of Dr. Heinz Kiosk whose catchphrase was “We are all guilty”.

There seems to be no recognition at all of the fact that obesity has two major points to it. The first is that it’s a sign that mankind has, finally and in doing so become the first species to manage it, abolished the general shortage of food. Life has been trying to do this since the first protozoa appeared in the primordeal oceans: heck since the first self-replicating chemical compound turned up. We’ve won, we’ve managed to solve one of the great questions of life its very self. Not where do we have lunch, not even are we about to become lunch, but for the first time the answer to the question “is there any lunch?” is “yes, what would you like?”. This should be greeted with resounding hurrahs I would have thought.

The second thing is that if obesity is as dangerous to human health as these scientists claim then it’s a self-solving problem. The obese will die, their genes that tend to obesity will die out and the human race will be thin, just as they wish it to be. It’s a fairly brutal observation but still a true one...
The Lancet's Series on Obesity - Forbes

[PAhippo]

genetically speaking, the people with low metabolisms are survivors-when there's a shortage of food, they actually need less.

[Tia 914]

Originally Posted by stillkit

This author from Forbes says exactly how I feel about the so-called obesity "epidemic."



The Lancet's Series on Obesity

The Lancet is the UK’s (and they would claim the world’s) premier health journal. The problem is that it seems to have been taken over by the Puritans. Those who are worried all the time that someone, somewhere, might be enjoying themselves.

Today’s issue has a series of papers on obesity. One particularly joyless quote from one of the papers:

““To me, the underlying drivers that are promoting overconsumption of food, and its resulting obesity, have the same roots as those that drive our overconsumption of fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.”

This is dangerously close to the sainted Peter Simple’s invention of Dr. Heinz Kiosk whose catchphrase was “We are all guilty”.

There seems to be no recognition at all of the fact that obesity has two major points to it. The first is that it’s a sign that mankind has, finally and in doing so become the first species to manage it, abolished the general shortage of food. Life has been trying to do this since the first protozoa appeared in the primordeal oceans: heck since the first self-replicating chemical compound turned up. We’ve won, we’ve managed to solve one of the great questions of life its very self. Not where do we have lunch, not even are we about to become lunch, but for the first time the answer to the question “is there any lunch?” is “yes, what would you like?”. This should be greeted with resounding hurrahs I would have thought.

The second thing is that if obesity is as dangerous to human health as these scientists claim then it’s a self-solving problem. The obese will die, their genes that tend to obesity will die out and the human race will be thin, just as they wish it to be. It’s a fairly brutal observation but still a true one...
The Lancet's Series on Obesity - Forbes

re: your last paragraph-- there are two connected issues to address:
first, while obesity may shorten a person's lifespan, think about all the related health/medical problems they may have in the meanwhile;
and second, people who consider obesity and the "lifestyle" connected to it (bad eating habits, lack of exercise, etc.) to be 'normal' tend to pass it on to their kids.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by Tia 914

re: your last paragraph-- there are two connected issues to address:
first, while obesity may shorten a person's lifespan, think about all the related health/medical problems they may have in the meanwhile;
and second, people who consider obesity and the "lifestyle" connected to it (bad eating habits, lack of exercise, etc.) to be 'normal' tend to pass it on to their kids.

So? Everyone will incur medical expenses at some point, for something. Nobody dies for free.

As for those "bad habits?" What's the solution?

[bluedevilz]

Originally Posted by stillkit

So? Everyone will incur medical expenses at some point, for something. Nobody dies for free.

As for those "bad habits?" What's the solution?

No one dies for free...

But if you seriously think that smokers, heavy drinkers and the obese don't utilize MORE of the available medical resources and drive up the cost of healthcare for everyone else you are delusional

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by bluedevilz

No one dies for free...

But if you seriously think that smokers, heavy drinkers and the obese don't utilize MORE of the available medical resources and drive up the cost of healthcare for everyone else you are delusional

Half of smokers have already quit. Have you seen a corresponding drop in the cost of healthcare or insurance? I sure haven't.

[AnonChick]

Once upon a time, you might see a scene like this:

Bully: You're fat.
Obese person: Oh yeah? Well you're ugly, and I can lose weight.

Now, the same scene goes something like this:

Obese person: You're ugly.
Ugly person: Oh yeah? Well you're fat, and I can have plastic surgery.

[CAVA1990]

Your Darwinian hypothesis doesn't really hold water because the obese often reproduce before they die.

[achickenchaser]

The second thing is that if obesity is as dangerous to human health as these scientists claim then it’s a self-solving problem. The obese will die, their genes that tend to obesity will die out and the human race will be thin, just as they wish it to be. It’s a fairly brutal observation but still a true one.

That's just not true. What usually happens is obese people simply get together and have kids. It also underestimates the---how shall I put this?--- sex drive of a male who's desperate for some action

Trust me, I've seen it (maybe not "it" literally) happen before lol.

[mermaid825]

Originally Posted by stillkit

The second thing is that if obesity is as dangerous to human health as these scientists claim then it’s a self-solving problem. The obese will die, their genes that tend to obesity will die out and the human race will be thin, just as they wish it to be. It’s a fairly brutal observation but still a true one...
The Lancet's Series on Obesity - Forbes

Not necessarily. In the developed world obesity related health problems can be medically treated, extending lifespan and allowing plenty of time for procreation (and thus passing on obesity linked genes). Arguably this is one reason we are getting fatter and fatter... the people who would have died of diabetes, heart attacks, obesity related gestational issues etc. just 60 years ago are living longer and reproducing today.

Originally Posted by PAhippo

genetically speaking, the people with low metabolisms are survivors-when there's a shortage of food, they actually need less.

True, until they find themselves in an environment with too much food and caloric availability, as Americans currently do.