Were you born to be obese?

Webmd.com ^ | 08/01/13 | Kathleen Doheny

[Pining_4_TX]

"From previous studies, it is estimated that 40% to 70% of a person's BMI is inherited," Batterham says, but it's complex and not as simple as just giving a percent.

Overall, the role of any single gene [in obesity] is not big, Qi says. However, if all the obesity-related genes are considered, “the effect would be sizable."

[Pining_4_TX]

Oh, BTW, stress doesn’t help me. I only eat more. You sound like my slender son-in-law who loses his appetite when he is ill or stressed out.

[Lizavetta]

I understand the whole plateau thing when the body goes into “famine mode” .... but one can make their metabolism more efficient by exercising more.

[Lizavetta]

Oh, BTW, stress doesn’t help me. I only eat more. You sound like my slender son-in-law who loses his appetite when he is ill or stressed out.

It started during the endless Bush/Gore 2000 election ... I couldn't eat for a week. Then after the first 8 or 10 pounds went away that motivated me to restrain what I ate. Then the death of a child took care of the rest. I know some people eat when they are stressed and I feel for them. You find comfort any way you can. My stomach goes into tight knotted mode when I'm going through it so food becomes the least of my interests. We're all different.

[Pining_4_TX]

Oh, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine anything worse than the death of a child.

[Lizavetta]

There is nothing worse. The most brutal emotional experience ever. Thank you for your sympathy.

[Pining_4_TX]

You should look up how a person’s metabolism slows down during weight loss so that weight loss slows and even stops to the point that a dieter must consume fewer and fewer calories to keep losing or maintain. All the while, that dieter will be quite hungry and his body will fight him every step of the way.

If you’ve never been there, you have no idea.

And your cartoon is not funny, it’s nasty.

[Mase]

You should look up how a person’s metabolism slows down during weight loss so that weight loss slows and even stops to the point that a dieter must consume fewer and fewer calories to keep losing or maintain. All the while, that dieter will be quite hungry and his body will fight him every step of the way.

Yeah, losing weight can be a bear. Your body will adjust eventually, and your slowing metabolism won't fight you as long as you stay with the diet and exercise. Too many people give up after a short time, and then whine about it being impossible to lose weight.

If you’ve never been there, you have no idea.

I wrestled in high school and in college. Do you know anything about competitive high school and college wrestling? If so, then you know that I am highly familiar with the challenges of losing weight, and keeping it off, while maintaining proper nutrition.

And your cartoon is not funny, it’s nasty.

Yeah, sure. The cartoon is hilarious, and accurate! Lots of people look for something other than the cause to blame for being a fat sack of ****. Lots these people are now blaming genetics. There is no "fat" gene, but there are fat heads. To your first point, making excuses for being an overweight person is a lot easier than the discipline and pain required to not be an overweight person.

[Pining_4_TX]

Genetics have a great deal to do with one’s weight and body shape.

What I really don’t understand is the hatred you express for people who don’t look the way you think they should. Please don’t bring up paying medical bills for fat people. The problem is paying anyone else’s bills, not the fact that some people are fat.

[Mase]

What are you babbling about? I've never denied that your genetic composition will impact your ability to gain or lose weight. So, yeah, it plays a role. Even so, there are millions of people out there who are predisposed to becoming obese because of their genetics who don't become obese. That's because they manage their caloric intake and get a great deal of exercise.

I don't hate obese people, but I do not pity them either. I'm a conservative and, as such, I am a proponent of personal responsibility. Obese people who make excuses for the fact that they cannot manage their weight, when they absolutely can, need a wake up call and some serious discipline. But as long as others continue making excuses for them, they will never change. The culture of victimhood appears to be something you support. Sorry, I'm not interested in people who believe they are victims, and do nothing to improve themselves.

There is no excuse for being slothful.

[Pining_4_TX]

Well, I do know some fat people who are not slothful and actually exercise faithfully. They are still fat.

Obviously, I am not making any headway with this discussion.

[Mase]

What "headway" were you hoping to make?

Unless your fat friends have repealed thermodynamics, then they absolutely have the ability to lose weight, and keep it off.

All sorts of things can make losing weight even harder than it already is, especially genetics. Does this make it harder? Absolutely. Does it make it impossible? Absolutely not. Human nature, being what it is today, makes it easier to make excuses than to do the necessary hard work, and maintain discipline.