"The Obesity Myth"
Original Poster: Christo
Forum: Weight Loss
Posted On: 29-01-2007, 20:55
Orginal Post: Christo: Hey all, I have just finished reading a book titled "The Obesity Myth" by Paul Campos, published by Penguin/Viking.
This book sheds much light on the whole topic of weight loss, obesity, the weight loss industry (worth billions), medical and pharmaceutical industry misrepresentation of scientific experiements, the phen-fen disaster etc. Paul Campos also talks about the differences in class and ethnicity, and from country to country.
According to the current BMI charts people such as Brad Pitt, Russel Crowe and George Clooney are either overweight or obese. That nobody really actually knows how to lose weight and keep it off effectively and that attempts to do so damage your health more so than not dieting in the first place. He also explains how and why being overweight has no higher mortality than being 'normal' weight and that being 5 pounds underweight is far more dangerous for your health than being 30 pounds overweight. This book explodes about the biggest myth of our time which grips the culture of not only the U.S. but also Australia and England.
Have a read, see what you think.
Post: The BadBoy:
Is this guy by any chance overweight? Or maybe he wants to cash in on all these overweight people buying his book so he can tell them its ok. All I have to say is that in todays age, unless you live in a third world country with absolutly no education and resources and ignorance is nolonger an excuse. All fat people should learn how to lose weight and do so.
Unless ofcourse your happy with who you are and aren't one of those wighning 'It's not my fault. It's genetics' people. Man, I can't stand them, either deal with it or do something about it, but please stop your wighning.>
Post: Christo:
Was someone wighning, didn't catch it myself. But don't hold back now Badboy, tell us what you really think! Or is your response a wind up?
I just thought that within the topic of weight loss and its discussion, a counter view point would have its place. If i am wrong about this, please let me know why?
The author states that he was 'overweight' but now isn't and runs so many kms a week etc. He also states that healthy food and exercise are more important by and large than your weight.
And no, fat people should not learn to lose weight, they should lose weight just because they want to. As stated by Paul Campos, fat people have lower rates of mortality, and therefore lower medical cost to society, than thin people. Should we make thin people gain weight? People like Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christianson and a host of anorexic super models?>
Post: zefff:
who cares what size you are as long as it doesnt affect your effectiveness. I know some real fat bastards who could not catch you if you ran but are awesome MA's in their own right.
I would rather they stayed comfy with themself and fat if they like their food, let them like it. I think more skinny people moan about other fat people than fat people maoning about themselves. A lot of skinny folk and even gymheads are pissed off by fat people and say things like "how could they do that to themselves". I think because they live with restrictions and would love to have a burger one day. Bitchyness is really apparent amoungst women.>
Post: NeverMan:
Some good points brought up in this post I think.
The current BMI charts are WAY OFF!!!! This is just fact. Anyone can see that. I think I am suppose to be like 150-160 at 5' 8". I haven't been that in decades. When I got out of basic training I was 190. During AIT ,working out 3-4 hours a day, having a 6 pack, viens popping through my bicep, oblique cuts, I was 185 AT BEST!
So those charts are just stupid, and need to be redefined. There is a better way of getting your BMI, although it is expensive.
For me, the most important measure of where my weight is, is two things: THE MIRROR and HOW I FEEL.
That's it.
That said, being overweight is not healthy. That's just absurd. Although I will say this, I am not a doctor, but from what I have heard, pound for pound, being underweight is more dangerous. Think about it. 20 lbs OVERWEIGHT or 20 lbs UNDERWEIGHT. Who is more at risk??
I don't know about the weight and mortality, um, I mean to say I have no scientific evidence, but I have heard this:
Doing moderate exercise does not greatly increase lifespan. Statistically speaking, the only exercise that has increased lifespan is intense cardio exercise. So from the studies I have read, people who did no exercise lived about as long as people who did moderate exercise, while the people who did intense exercise lived longer than the former two groups.>
Post: EastMeetsWest:
tell me why people who are like 400-500lbs live very short lives, thought they were sappose to be healthy.>
Post: The BadBoy:
I aint got a problem with Fat people. Hell I aint exactly a kinny bastard myself. but i've come across a lot of Fatsos recentyl who just keep goin on about how they can't lose weight cause it's genetics. BullShit! Either deal with being overweight or do something about it, but please stop bitching.
This guy and his book piss me off, and this new society that he's started to tell people that being fat doesn't effect your health is just the iceing on the cake.>
Post: Mayonnaise:
Listen there are fat people out there who do in fact white about thier weight, I happen to know one who complaines about being made fun of, then eats a whole bacg of cheeto's infront of us all.
But the majority of fat people are not like that, hell in my expirience they tend to be ALOT happier then normal people, especially when they are older and or married. People who have lived a long happy life like to eat good tasting foods, people like to treat themselves to cakes/ burgers/ icecream because they have lived a tough life and deserve it. Not many people want to train thier whole life, there are times when goo is good.
As for the younger generation who has become obese I have nothign wrong with them, there are infact genetic relations to obesity so they do have some credability when making that argument. If you have fat parents you will more then likely grow up fat, training though can change anybody. Anybody can be fit just some have to work a lot harder then others. Skinny people are fine too, there just as fun to joke around with for being scrawny twigs as a fat guy is to call a blimp but make sure your not trying to be an ass to these people. If they whine then let them have it but don't assume all fat people are lazy shits
I knew this one kid in my higschool through 4YEARS i thought he was a lazy turd. Then when I came back for a visit to town last summer I got to witness him beat the shit out of 2 stoners. Turns out the kid takes karate classes ever since he was like 6 and has gotten one of those dark belts, might have been black but i forget.>
Post: The BadBoy:
Fat Parents breed fat kids probably becase they're over feeding the kid just like they are over feeding themselves.
True some people with thyroid problems have a medical condition to excuse their fatness. But the majority of fattys don't, BOTTOM LINE.
No one is having a go at people who are comfortable with themselves. I'm having a go at the constant wighners who continue to make excuses bout they're size but are too lazy to do anything about it.
Hell if one of these fat bastards actually went and fed some homeless people with the excess food he/she is consuming, the world would be a better place.>
Post: bushidoka:
Even if being fit did not allow you to live longer, it does allow you a better standard of life, you will have mobility longer, stronger, less joint pain, etc.
To lose weight, you need knowledge, and most do not have the knowledge they need to lose weight. Nor the motivation to obtain that knowledge. Even if someone is not happy being over-weight, they may have no reason to get into shape. After all, it takes a lot less effort to be un-fit :lol:
Staying fit has to become a way of life, not just a short term goal. Even if you are not working out at the time, you must still make healtier food choices, be at least moderatly active, and eat a balanced diet.
The BMI is long out-dated. As Never-man pointed out, a body builder is considered obese! I agree, the mirror is you best friend. If you are happy with what you see, consider your self a lucky being. If not, you can change it.
BTW, lighting plays a big part in how you look in the mirror too! I will do a thread in the weight lifting section for any body builders or vain ladies out there :lol:>
Post: Mayonnaise:
You are right whining doesnt do anything but piss people off, but your making it sound like obesity is caused simply by acessive overeating, people who have weak metabolistm can eat the same amounts of food as skinny people but more turns into fat. Also overeating is something many skinny/smaller people do. Have you ever watched the World Eating Championships. They have 300lb americans who think they are tough shit but when the chinese came they were just obliterated by a 90 POUND ASIAN WOMEN.>
Post: The BadBoy:
[quote=bushidoka To lose weight, you need knowledge, and most do not have the knowledge they need to lose weight. Nor the motivation to obtain that knowledge. [/quote
Like I said. Lazy Bums, who would rather live a substandard life plagued with problems rather than get of there ass and do some work.
This is the information age. There is no longer an excuse for ignorance. Get on the comp and start learning.>
Post: zefff:
fat bastards will always be fat bastards unless they want to do summat about it. I know unhealthy fat bastards and I know fit fat bastards who are great MA's. Who cares!? Let them live.
But TBH I dont know any moaning fat bastards...that would piss me off.>
Post: thebgbb:
[quote=Christo
As stated by Paul Campos, fat people have lower rates of mortality, and therefore lower medical cost to society, than thin people. [/quote
The initial premise of this statement (fat people have lower mortality rates) is not true, but even if it were there would be no logical way that one could come to the conclusion that fat people provide a lower medical cost to society than thin people.
Mortality has to do with death, and anyone who does not die does not contribute to the mortality rate. Living overweight people, however, DO create a medical burden because they add sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease (the number one killer in the United States), and knee problems associated with their weight to the mix.
The bottom line, there are no medical problems that are the result of being slender(other than susceptibility to hypothermia), but there are several medical problems associated with being overweight, though.
By the way, before anyone takes a pot shot at this I'll qualify it: There are several medical problems that MAKE one thin, but none that are the RESULT of being thin. Anorexia, Belemia, and Krones disease are causes, not results, and anything that happens when these diseases are involved are associated with the diseases, and not the weight itself.
Thank you. Please pull through.>
Post: opariser1001:
Lol I wanna see the scientific reports that say that being overweight or obese does not shorten your life or affect your health adversely. I'm not talking about going by the BMI, I mean people who you know are obese by lookin' at em. Has anyone here seen Supersize Me? Great movie that talks a lot about the effects of obesity. This happens to be a subject I just wrote a paper on for school.
Oz>
Post: bamboo:
For some people its just damned hard to stay in good shape.
I've been a vegitarian for 15 years, I follow a mainly macrobiotic diet and work out everyday with the exception of friday. You give me 1 month without the workouts and i'll put on 20lbs with ease, change my diet and i'm gone.
I know others that are the laziest people around, they live on doritos and store bought burritos (i'm not exagerating) and coca-cola, they play video games everyday after work (office jobs) and smoke pot like its going out of style. They also have near perfect bodies (in society's view).
As it was mentioned earlier, if your quality of life is not hampered, then live and let die. (an obvious P.M. reference for the old folk).
-bamboo>
Post: gnrleetwisted:
Heres my opinion on the matter.
Im a big boy.. clearly not obese to see me but Im way over my "So called" ideal weight. At 5'10" Im supposed to be like 150-160lbs.. HAHAHA!!! Never gonna happen.. If I lost every inch of fat on my body id be 190 at the absolute minimum on an empty stomache.. These fat calculaters are missing 3 Major contributing factors to a persons wheight. But can be sumarised by one word.. DENSITY.
1. Bone density
2. Muscular density. No brainer here. You find light wheights and heavy at 5'10" tall.
3. Organ size/density.. ie size of heart and thickness of skin.
Now I'm currently 285lbs I weight train and I bench close to my own weight.. But 285!!! that scares the crap outta me.. How does it happen?
Well lets stop looking at "Fat" people as if they have a deficiency.. rather we have "Efficiency" We are efficient at storing fat. We could hibernate like a bear if we had to, and in a stravation situation would outlast all the people who cant gain it.. Simple fact. People have way more food available to us in North America and other fortunate places to eat WAY more than people 100 years ago ate. The amount of calories available in a single serving of food is INSANE by comparison.
Im a big guy fairly muscular but not defined.. but contrary to what some people on here may have you beleive.. slow metabolisms can be a genetic trait.. so can laziness.. but thats not always the case gentlemen.
As in my case. I gain just thinking of food it seems.. while my brother can eat twice as much as me and does no workout is lazy and basically plays vid games.. difference.. We have different fathers and guess what folks.. He has his fathers body type and I have mine..
If my biggest struggle on a hot summer day were whinning cause my abs were not a perfect 6 pack it would be a damn good day. Instead I nervously think the whole way to the beach.. do I risk riddicule by thin shapely people who stare and make jokes? Do I take off my shirt in front of that girl?
Let the fat guy whine, be a friend and listen, or just walk away.. If ya cant do that ill meet you on the mat and sit on ya! :twisted:
Peace>
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