Any ideas for obesity?

[Superbeast]

Again, for me all exercise does is build up huge muscles beneath the fat, making me look even fatter. I just can't seem to lose the fat.

or maybe its not huge muscles under the fat but rather even more fat! maybe you just arent putting in the effort or are applying that effort in the wrong way. but i cant fairly make that assumption as i dont know what kind of workout youre doing. try more running i guess. i lift weights for muscle and run for calorie burning. again i cant make any assumptions for you but that is one possibility.

I actually have the same problem as the bloke you're attacking.

I lift weights 5 times a week (3 full body circuits and 2 focused groups), I go running 4 times and swimming once a week. I've great muscle tone on my legs, arms and sides - but due to work (all hours of the day and night, shift-work sucks) I have a poor diet and a large gut/moobs. Eating healthily isn't an option for me most days. But the muscle mass (and yes, it is muscle) I'm building beneath the flab is making it more pronounced.

So it's not just a lack of effort that causes people to still be fat (I know in my case it's my diet, and that's something I can tackle once I quit my job) there are a variety of circumstances that can lead to them being overweight, and perhaps you shouldn't assume people aren't putting in enough effort?

More on-topic - according to my BMI I'm obese (at least by British standards). Yes, I have a large gut - "spare tyre" really does sum up what I look like around the middle. I don't think I am obese but merely overweight - as I said above, my legs aren't huge and I've a reasonable standard of fitness. Yes, being overweight to my degree is indeed depressing and I go get schtick from people about it. Going out and going running/swimming I am publicly laughed at and it does feel humiliating, and is quite hard to convince myself to keep going (fortunately the muscle gains from working out stop me becoming depressed about it).

Here in the UK things like fruit and vegetables are incredibly expensive, at least compared to the non-healthy alternatives. Recently I've improved my diet a little, reducing the amount of processed food and attempting to eat the recommended 5-a-day.

I think public perception of weight issues does need to change - as said before if you try to change some of the damage you've done (I became an alcoholic and I gained so much weight I actually looked like I was 9 months pregnant) you get ridiculed for trying, yet you get ridiculed if you don't.

To the people saying that they don't want to pay for the "drain on healthcare", perhaps you also believe that hospitals shouldn't treat anyone who injures themselves from going something stupid - not just drink-driving, alcoholism or smoking-related illnesses - hell, maybe they should refuse to tread AIDS sufferers because it was their own fault they didn't use protection, shared needles or whatever? Sound inhumane? So does the "I don' wanna pay for fatties!" argument.

The one thing I do, however, agree on - is when there are incredibly obese parents feeding their children the same diet they themselves eat. I don't know how you can change this mindset - in the UK the government attempts to educate parents regarding healthy eating for children, so there is "top-down" input. But recent scientific studies show that in families with obese fathers the sons are more likely to be overweight and likewise family with overweight mothers are more likely to have overweight daughters. This is linked to children following in the habits and lifestyle choices of their parental role-model. But it does scare me when I see parents shovelling junk food down their children's gullets (and, coincidentally, I've noticed these children tend to be spoilt, or used to getting their own way - but this is anecdotal evidence at best).

 

[ScientificDJ]

Obsesity is honeslty a sin. You can't be born obese. You get there through poor lifestyle choices and horrible eating habits.

however some people may not think it's that much of a problem, some people ARE born that way, some may not have the willpower to address or admit their problem, some might have been raised in poor health habits, or some MIGHT just be too lazy.

i can understand and relate to almost every one of those reasons, although i'm not fat i have fucked up in other respects in the past. and i think calling it a sin is FAR too harsh and excessive. for one they are not hurting anyone else. Two everyone has a reason for what they do, whether you agree with it or not. Beleive it or not but lazyness can actually be a serious problem if it spirals out of control. i've been there. so my point is don't judge them. try to help them, but don't judge them.

 

[Mad Maniac with axe-firing chainsaw]

All you can do is encourage fitness and make people aware of health risks. After that its up to them.

As to what we can do about this, I'm thinking of setting up a community based walking/jogging club in my town... free to join and stay of course. How it would work is that we just agree a route, and we split into teams as to how fast or slow we want to go, ranging from amblers to runners. Routes could vary from ten mile hikes to thirty minute marches to sprints, but the point is to have it all done in my home town and its surroundings, for everyone in town to potentially get involved in. I live in a large town, so it shouldn't be too hard to find members.

Out of curiosity, what does everyone else think about community-based ideas like this?

As for myself, I was heading into the overweight category and turned it around by joining a martial arts club and doing two thirty minute walks daily. Weight can be beaten, but it requires considerable patience and more importantly a willingness to move. Thats my thoughts on weight-loss anyway.

 

[FluffX]

You're joking right? Just so I'm clear on that.

If you don't get the joke, chances are it's aimed directly at you.The people who live here even moreso.

*Brain gears start turning*

... Joke. Getting. Aimed at.

Ah, so it was a joke. Good, good.

 

[Yamiki]

Unless it is your chicken sandwich im stealing, stay the fuck out of my business.

This...

 

[cobra_ky]

better health care, better food. that's the only way.

you better not also be a free health care person because no way am i gonna see my taxes providing health care to fat people. no matter what people say it might be an addiction but it is their responsibility to help themselves. or even a friendly intervention i dont know but to be a drain on the people for a phony "disease" like obesity makes me so angry.

the idea is to prevent people from getting obese in first place.

i never said anything about health care having to be "free" or taxpayer-funded. i said it has to be better.

i hate the way nobody takes responsibility upon themselves in this day and age. THAT is truly the most dangerous thing in the world today. people just shift blame and make excuses and then nothing gets done. fat people deserve what the result is. a life of difficulties and feelings of inferiority. anything to get them to realize it is their personal problem and nobody caused it but the fatass in the mirror. then maybe they can start being productive.

a life of difficulties and feelings of inferiority is probably why they got fat in the first place.

Okay, I already admitted that perhaps my joke did, in fact, suck.
I've accepted this.

it's not that the joke was bad, so much as it's too close to what a lot of people actually believe.

 

[Yankmy Armoff]

Not sure if this point has been made so apologies if it has.

Healthy food = expensive
Unhealthy food = cheap

The poorer end of any developed country's population has a tendency towards obesity, primarily because they can only afford cheap, mass produced, low quality food. A steady diet of crap throughout childhood intills habits and routines that continue into later life inevitably resulting in obesity for those who dont take drastic measures to change.

Of course, as the poorer end of the population is also the end with the lesser quality education and support resources, this change is less likely to happen. A healthy lifestyle costs money and takes time, if you're working two minimum wage jobs to keep your family afloat you HAVE to buy cheaper food, you havent got the time or money to join a gym/go for a run etc.

Rich people on the other hand have the money for personal trainers, dieticians, life coaches, therapists, organic vegetables and ethically treated meat. Advantage Vs disadvantage, advantage wins every time.

Check the stats in your country and let me know if i'm wrong. Please.

 

[Labyrinth]

The one thing I do, however, agree on - is when there are incredibly obese parents feeding their children the same diet they themselves eat. I don't know how you can change this mindset - in the UK the government attempts to educate parents regarding healthy eating for children, so there is "top-down" input. But recent scientific studies show that in families with obese fathers the sons are more likely to be overweight and likewise family with overweight mothers are more likely to have overweight daughters. This is linked to children following in the habits and lifestyle choices of their parental role-model. But it does scare me when I see parents shovelling junk food down their children's gullets (and, coincidentally, I've noticed these children tend to be spoilt, or used to getting their own way - but this is anecdotal evidence at best).

Some of this is genetic, some of it is lifestyle. Which it is comes down to the situation each family is in. Our neighbours used to be a family of very big people, and they ate the same sort of food as mine does, and we're much smaller.

 

[ScientificDJ]

All you can do is encourage fitness and make people aware of health risks. After that its up to them.

As to what we can do about this, I'm thinking of setting up a community based walking/jogging club in my town... free to join and stay of course. How it would work is that we just agree a route, and we split into teams as to how fast or slow we want to go, ranging from amblers to runners. Routes could vary from ten mile hikes to thirty minute marches to sprints, but the point is to have it all done in my home town and its surroundings, for everyone in town to potentially get involved in. I live in a large town, so it shouldn't be too hard to find members.

Out of curiosity, what does everyone else think about community-based ideas like this?

As for myself, I was heading into the overweight category and turned it around by joining a martial arts club and doing two thirty minute walks daily. Weight can be beaten, but it requires considerable patience and more importantly a willingness to move. Thats my thoughts on weight-loss anyway.

i like the idea, i'd say good for you for doing it. you have my vote.

 

[ScientificDJ]

i have never accepted the idea that people are predisposed to make certain choices. whether it be drugs, gambling, or obesity. they are all lifestyles and CHOICES. if you make a mistake man up instead of copping out with fake science saying its not your fault. it IS your fault. take ownership of your life and use it to make a positive change.

no offense but i'm going to take a guess and say you've never had any serious problems like that. if you had i think you'd be more sympathetic and compassionate.

 

[Laxman9292]

i have never accepted the idea that people are predisposed to make certain choices. whether it be drugs, gambling, or obesity. they are all lifestyles and CHOICES. if you make a mistake man up instead of copping out with fake science saying its not your fault. it IS your fault. take ownership of your life and use it to make a positive change.

no offense but i'm going to take a guess and say you've never had any serious problems like that. if you had i think you'd be more sympathetic and compassionate.

oh yeah im sure it sucks and i feel bad but i stop feeling bad the moment someone starts to say i cant help it or pretend like they are completely innocent

 

[Laxman9292]

Again, for me all exercise does is build up huge muscles beneath the fat, making me look even fatter. I just can't seem to lose the fat.

or maybe its not huge muscles under the fat but rather even more fat! maybe you just arent putting in the effort or are applying that effort in the wrong way. but i cant fairly make that assumption as i dont know what kind of workout youre doing. try more running i guess. i lift weights for muscle and run for calorie burning. again i cant make any assumptions for you but that is one possibility.

I actually have the same problem as the bloke you're attacking.

I lift weights 5 times a week (3 full body circuits and 2 focused groups), I go running 4 times and swimming once a week. I've great muscle tone on my legs, arms and sides - but due to work (all hours of the day and night, shift-work sucks) I have a poor diet and a large gut/moobs. Eating healthily isn't an option for me most days. But the muscle mass (and yes, it is muscle) I'm building beneath the flab is making it more pronounced.

woah where did i attack him on that count. i explicitly said i cant make any assumption because i dont know how you work out, how frequently etc. to avoid that very belief that i was making an unfounded attack on him. i was merely suggesting a possibility for why the workout doesnt seem to work. if you would stop being so sensitive you would be able to accept constructive criticism and realize some people just want to help.

its not as if i said: "HAHA maybe you should work out more fatty!" or " haha fatty trying to run! that just made my day!"

all i said was a helpful suggestion and made no assumptions as to the persons work ethic or whatnot

 

[Connor Lonske]

My solution about this is to stop freakin' worrying about it. ok! They are bigger than us. We get it. Who cares? Someone's weight is nobody's business but their own.

What he said.

 

[Shycte]

My solution about this is to stop freakin' worrying about it. ok! They are bigger than us. We get it. Who cares? Someone's weight is nobody's business but their own.

What he said.

If they cost society money, how is it NOT our business?

 

[BigCat91]

It's up to them if they want to be obese they have to accept the consequences. If they don't they should stop crying about it and do something about it.

 

[bluepilot]

I think that obesity is a issue that has to be tackled on many issues.

Obesity is usually caused by two main factors, overeating and inactivity.

Compared to earlier periods in modern times, society as a whole is getting fatter. To solve this, I think that we need to address the factors that have changed which are making us all fat.

I think that some main factors are: sendentry jobs because more people sit at a desk all day compared to previous eras, and the increase od cheap ready available food. In previous eras we all had to cook our own food or eat out. There was no macdonalds or mircowavable chicken curry. Plus I think that pre-processed food is worse for you than cooking from scratch. Then, there is out leisure time, which is mostly spent in front of the TV or computer rather than playing sports are going for a walk.

All these factors need to be addressed to cure obesity and our obesity-prone society. Possible more.

 

[Affero-Dolor]

I think the best thing for obesity would be somehow to change the opinion, especially in kids, that fattening and unhealthy foods are 'a treat'. I used to get told this as a chile, that ice-cream and Mcdonalds were things one would receive if I were a 'good boy' but I think most people, when they reach their teenage years and have money of their own, would start buying these things all the bloody time. Fortunately, for some reason, I didn't. Thanks to my mum for that one. WOOOOOOO MUMS.

 

[barryween]

Um... what counts as obese?
I'm only about 20-25 pounds overweight. Is that obese?
and I say stop caring so fucking much. Maybe be a little nicer to them and get them to feel good about themselves. If you're harassed and looked at and talked about all the goddamn time, that's gonna lead to depression and what kinda person REALLY feels like exercising when they want to kill themselves?
Maybe if we all weren't so goddamn focused on weight not only would fat people feel better about themselves and feel like they WANT to exercise instead of NEED to exercise (so they won't be ridiculed) they wouldn't be so fat. And if everyone weren't obsessed with being tiny twigs and buff jocks we would all let our body find it's own natural weight.

 

[barryween]

I think that obesity is a issue that has to be tackled on many issues.

Obesity is usually caused by two main factors, overeating and inactivity.

Compared to earlier periods in modern times, society as a whole is getting fatter. To solve this, I think that we need to address the factors that have changed which are making us all fat.

I think that some main factors are: sendentry jobs because more people sit at a desk all day compared to previous eras, and the increase od cheap ready available food. In previous eras we all had to cook our own food or eat out. There was no macdonalds or mircowavable chicken curry. Plus I think that pre-processed food is worse for you than cooking from scratch. Then, there is out leisure time, which is mostly spent in front of the TV or computer rather than playing sports are going for a walk.

All these factors need to be addressed to cure obesity and our obesity-prone society. Possible more.

Another thing, back "in the day" children went to school and worked in the fields. Now days children go to school from 8-about 3, and sometimes can't do much until their parents get home around 5 (if your parent is a 9-5er). Then, their parents exhausted, make something quick and not too healthy. If you have some after school lessons (piano, guitar, karate, dance, etc.) you have to go to those. Once you get back around 8-ish you have any homework to do that wasn't completed in some of the short down times you got. Hopefully you get to go to bed around 9, or, you may need to stay up late to finish homework. Some times you'll get some down time, but, to be honest, I've never meet a kid that wants to go and do something to get exercise over TV or computer after going like that ALL day. Then it starts all over again. We, as a society, move at too fast of a pace anymore.

 

[ShotgunShaman]

My solution about this is to stop freakin' worrying about it. ok! They are bigger than us. We get it. Who cares? Someone's weight is nobody's business but their own.

What he said.

If they cost soceity money, how is it NOT our business?

What he said.

your ideas are poorly designed...

unless capitalism fails... idea 1 wont work

ideal 2 is very unfortunate because the amount of energy in versus the energy out from bike riding does not give a net gain in energy

People are different, didn't you learn that in grade school? Our kooky idea of what beauty is is terribly skewed and silly.

This thread isn't and never was about beauty, nor about helping overweight people. This discussion should be about how to help morbidly obese people, because they need it.