WFH will put the U.S. in the top 10 for obesity in the world (diabetics, vs)

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Eh, that's not totally true Sheena. In fact, for quite some time, being fat not only had a strong visual appeal but was also looked at as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. In addition, there's no truth that I know of to not having something to eat based on a certain time in the evening (i.e. not eating after 8). I think it's easier to sleep by not going to sleep with a full stomach but that's my personal preference.

There's plenty of evidence that intermittent fasting is very healthy for one, it has been for me. Even better to fast long enough for autophagy to occur. I was a serious snacker on the way to being very overweight and unhealthy.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

There's plenty of evidence that intermittent fasting is very healthy for one, it has been for me. Even better to fast long enough for autophagy to occur. I was a serious snacker on the way to being very overweight and unhealthy.

I wasn't talking about intermittent fasting (the person I was responding too wasn't even talking about that....where did you get that from?). I was referring to not eating after 8 and the comment about snacking being looked down upon. Some people have small frequent meals throughout the day (so pretty much constantly snacking) and don't have weight issues. And as stated, being fat wasn't always looked at in the way it is now. Admittedly, we seem to be going off topic now. Let's get back to the topic at hand...wfh contributing to the country's obesity problem.

[ihatetodust]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Anyone else putting on extra weight since the WFH phenomenon started?

Nope.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Eh, that's not totally true Sheena. In fact, for quite some time, being fat not only had a strong visual appeal but was also looked at as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. In addition, there's no truth that I know of to not having something to eat based on a certain time in the evening (i.e. not eating after 8). I think it's easier to sleep by not going to sleep with a full stomach but that's my personal preference.

https://columbiametro.com/article/do...%20from%20food.

“Eat after 8, and you’ll gain weight” has a nice ring to it, but it’s not true. It is based on the myth that the body cannot properly metabolize food during sleep. However, the body has intricate systems of metabolizing, storing, and using energy from food. Whatever is “unused” overnight will be there to fuel the body tomorrow. While the body requires less energy during rest, the heart still beats, the gut still digests, lungs still breath, and the brain still works — all activities that require a significant amount of energy.

Fat has not been a sign of wealth for a very, very long time. Look at the Presidents. When was the last Fat one? (Other than Trump, who is a self-proclaimed lover of fast food) So, go back to that last overweight president and THAT was when "FAT" equaled "RICH"

Now it means poor. Not "prosperous".

[Malloric]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

I'm absolutely convinced of it.

My wife works from home 3x a week and all she does is snack all day and then tells me she has to get back on her diet as she can't seem to keep the weight off. Today I counted how many times she went back and forth to the kitchen for snacks. We're not quite through the day yet and she's up to 20. I have a client of mine that say he's having the same problem and has put on 15 lbs since he started working at home.

Anyone else putting on extra weight since the WFH phenomenon started?

Emotional eater.

I'm a bored eater so I get it. When I start getting up and ambling to the kitchen I turn around and walk around the yard or down the street and back instead of grabbing a snack. I put on about 10 pounds in 2020, combination of getting out much less and lower NEET and snacking.

[LittleDolphin]

As a free-lance writer, my work is home-based.

My office is upstairs so not close to the kitchen.

I keep only healthy, low-cal snacks downstairs. Grapes, apple slices, maybe a few pistachio nuts.

When I need a break and am headed for the kitchen, it's usually to get some more water. Drinking water with a straw helps my fulfill the "mouth urge" to eat. And getting to and from the kitchen involves going up and down the stairs--for the win!

And my gym is within two blocks so I go almost every day and can walk or ride my bike there.

I initially gained 10 pounds during Covid (nervous eating), but now that I'm back at the gym, the weight has disappeared.

[prospectheightsresident]

Sadly, I agree with you OP. This is a point that I've made multiple times in this forum since work from home has picked up steam during the pandemic environment. And studies have supported this point, too:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8830281/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8808759/

I don't claim that everyone who teleworks is gaining weight (they are not), but many are it seems, in part because of the ease and proximity to the kitchen at home. I do recall some friends and acquaintances when the telework craze first started stating that they were actually healthier and losing weight as they were better able to fit workout schedule into their days as they didn't have to account for commute time, etc. But this was not the case with most of my friends and acquaintances, with many of them even taking to social media to lament their so-called "COVID-chunk."

[Kayela]

Nope - I've lost all the weight I gained when I was going into the office. I'm sleeping better, working out so much more, and am far less stressed. This has been awesome on every level.

One thing that I think maybe helped a lot in the beginning was signing up for virtual, live exercise classes with an instructor. It helped me get into a really good workout routine (something that's always been hit or miss with me), and having something scheduled with a live person meant I would get ready and be there on time - yet it was from the comfort of my living room. Sadly, those didn't keep going, but it got me in the habit of being a morning workout person - which I never was before. Getting up and getting that blood flowing makes the rest of the day go so much better. The old brain works better, and I also make better nutritional choices throughout the day.

[CarnivalGal]

I work from home (started during COVID and will stay WFH indefinitely) and I find just the opposite for me. I generally am pretty healthy, and it's a lot easier when people aren't bringing in donuts, cookies, cake, etc. all the time. I'm also eating all my meals at home and not restaurants or take-out, and so they are much healthier. I generally don't keep a lot of junk food in the house.

I also save myself 1.5 hours a day in not commuting, so it's a lot easier to find time to exercise or jump on the treadmill.

[tlarnla]

Isn't the U.S. already in the top ten for obesity in the world?

I used to live overseas, and people there had a stereotype that Americans are all overweight. People on the online forums made fun of American obesity, and made jokes about the crazy things advertized in American fast-food places (like deep-fried, bacon-wrapped, super-sized, double-cheeseburgers).