[TrackRatMole]

Originally Posted by idw2s

What is the cause of the obesity?

Gravity.

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

What a bunch of BS!!! In countries where they don't eat processed food or tons of beef & other red meat, obesity is rare.

Not exactly true, and psssst:

lipomadoc.org

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by actinic

I love how people blame everything and everyone except themselves. Welcome to America, the land where no one is accountable.

To be clear I'm talking obese, not overweight, and it's pandemic as are the side effects including diabetes and heart disease. This in turn puts a terrible strain on the health care system and our pocketbooks.

What it comes down to is that no health treatment will be effective without the personal desire to do something about it and assume responsibility.

If we spent any money at all researching the causes of obesity or fat disorders, I would agree.

The assumption has been people are fat because they eat too much and are lazy. There are more diseases than I can count that make people appear obese. We spend less researching them every decade (the whole lot of them) than we spend researching the thickness of ketchup.

We spend a fortune researching ways to get people to lose weight. Why? Because every medical fad du jour has failed. Why? Because we're arrogant enough to think we know why people are fat without ever spending one second educating ourselves as to the cause, let alone the real solution.

I'm lucky I'm bull headed enough to have told the doctors to pound sand, and spent time experimenting to figure out what worked for my body. I learned a lot in the process. But it cost me a fortune, it cost me a lot in time and family time and quality of life. The delay in diagnosis and treatment led to my dealing with cancer at the age of 35. But I'm better, I'm on the right road, no thanks to modern medicine. All thanks to one rogue doctor, and one rogue patient.

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by actinic

Yes, genetics play a minor role but the overwhelming cause as stated is ...

'The two main factors that can cause obesity are a diet high in fat and a lack of exercise.' (One of the first hits, of thousands, on google).

Obesity and Diabetes

If we had any studies into the causes of obesity, or any of the known fat disorders (let alone those that are unknown) I'd be more likely to believe that.

Unfortunately lots of folks with my disease were told we ate too much and moved too little. It was BS. Most of us waited decades for a diagnosis because of the bias we faced from doctors. Eat less, move more, you'll be fine. Oh, you're not fine? You must be a liar....

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by actinic

Nope, I posted one of just thousands

Nevertheless, ask yourself this question ... what can genetics tell us as to the reason the average American is 20 lbs heavier than 1980?

A fat gene which after all of our evolution has suddenly gone rogue in the last 30 years? I have ocean property in Arizona too.

In the case of the disease I have, it was a multitude of factors that all came into play. Some of which are directly related to the way we live life that we didn't 30 years ago, some directly related to the refined carbs that were the basis of the food pyramid, some directly related to junk science that made people fear whole foods and healthy fats, partly related to the prominence of what I call franken-foods, some of which are heavily promoted by doctors.

[scolls]

I love how fat people are to blame for high health cost. I don't think it could possibly be the insurance companies and there billions of dollars in profits.

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by scolls

I love how fat people are to blame for high health cost. I don't think it could possibly be the insurance companies and there billions of dollars in profits.

LOL... I can't be agreeing with Scolls, can I?

How can we spend 2 times any other nation, and have the unhealthiest people of any industrialized (and many non-industrialized) nations?

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by scolls

I love how fat people are to blame for high health cost. I don't think it could possibly be the insurance companies and there billions of dollars in profits.

I've only been able to agree with you on a few things, and this is one of them. You are 100% correct.

Originally Posted by idw2s

LOL... I can't be agreeing with Scolls, can I?

I know, weird isn't it.

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by idw2s

LOL... I can't be agreeing with Scolls, can I?

How can we spend 2 times any other nation, and have the unhealthiest people of any industrialized (and many non-industrialized) nations?

Once in a while scolls says something worthwhile...once in a GREAT while.

[tecpatl]

But in this case (strange, I know) he's right on the money.
A chief cause of obesity is simply consuming lots and lots of what's available...highly processed food. This doesn't mean the eater isn't responsible for his or her actions and choices, just that the easiest choices are usually the worst, courtesy of the American fast food industry.
Don't believe me? Just look at the calorie counts of their biggest selling items.
On top of that, the low income segment of America has grown, and low-income diets are characterized by high calorie cheap choices. Think Kraft Mac n Cheese, lots of beans, rice, potatos and other cheap eats.
I don't think this is thrust on anyone...it's choices made.....but the fact is that whatever is easy and convenient is what will be chosen.
All that being said...Peter's main point is total BS. Women don't pretty themselves up enough for you when they go shopping and that offends you ? Come on, man.....

Fast Food Calories

The Fast Food Calorie Counter
To Your Health: the psychology of fast food eating - Springfield Press - Delco News Network
Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis – NutritionData.com