Researcher gets $1M to study thin people

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 01/02/04 | Associated Press

[Holly_P]

DENVER - A Denver endocrinologist has been awarded $1 million to study the psyches and biology of thin people over the next five years.

For years, Dr. Dan Bessesen has overfed fat rats, put them on diets and on small exercise wheels, and studied why they repeatedly gained and lost weight. What caught his interest were the skinny rats. They seemed to know to eat less.

[putupon]

Don't ya' just love paying taxes?

[shiva]

They seldom go to buffets.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

What caught his interest were the skinny rats. They seemed to know to eat less.

Unbelievable

[ClearCase_guy]

This guy is gonna run off the Cannes and hang out with super models. "Hey baby, I got a million dollars I need to blow through real quick -- wanna help? I'm studying thin people, and you look good to me."

[68skylark]

Don't ya' just love paying taxes?

I think I understand your point -- I hate paying for stupid programs that encourage an entitlement mentality in place of a work ethic.

But I'm not sure that spending on science is "waste." Science spending is one of the few things I'm actually not too upset about, compared to all the other stupid ways our taxes are spent.

Around my rural town obesity is just way out of control -- it's a severe drain on the economy (through taxes, lost productivity, injuries, malpractice suits, etc). And it's aesthetically offensive. And it can't be a happy way for people to live.

So a little research spending on this topic doesn't seem so bad.

[68skylark]

You know, I think that kind of pickup line might work great -- good idea!

[ahumblefan]

I know this is a cliche by now, but exactly where in the Constitution is the federal government authorized to spend money on scientific research? (I know, I know. The Constitution is every bit as much a gutted, empty figurehead as the Queen of England, but I had to ask anyway.)

[stylin_geek]

Hah, when I was growing up my parents loved taking me to buffets. I would eat everything in site, and then some. I'm still thin and still eat a fair amount. In fact, I do have to watch it, because I lose weight very easily. Oh yeah, I'm over 40, some metabolic slowdown, but not much.

[mtbopfuyn]

About time someone studied Tommy and other skinny RATS.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Unbelievable"

Not really. Understanding "why" they do so is important to understanding the whole picture of eating and metabolism. Just studying "the fat ones" only gives half the picture. The only question I have is why someone hasn't done so before now??

[goodnesswins]

Hmmmm....this makes me wonder.....will the gov't also start asking.....gee....why do rich people make more money? instead of HOW can we give more to the POOR? OR...why do certain segments of the population NOT have as many broken families? instead of how can we support unmarried mothers OR...why do certain RACES do better in education? ....instead of how can we make the taxpayer pay more for education.....Hmmmmm....this could get interesting.

[goodnesswins]

correcting tagline

[Dr. Scarpetta]

My mother is here with me for the holiday, and this morning she had toast for breakfast. Then I offered her Christmas cookies, and she declined. Evenings she brushes and flosses her teeth after dinner and eats nothing else. She weighs 95 lbs. and I don't think anyone needs to study why.

[Agnes Heep]

People who are thin and angular tend to have higher metabolisms. That's because a larger percentage of their body is surface area, which dissipates heat. Their bodies have to release more energy in order to maintain their internal temperature. Such people can consume prodigious amounts of food without gaining weight; indeed, they probably require it.

I used to work with a guy who was about 6 feet four inches tall, 35 years old, and skinny as a rail, though he was muscular and built sturdily. On a typical afternoon this guy would down a dozen bakery doughnuts; one right after the other, then pull out a 1 pound bag of M&M's almond candies and put the entire thing away. He never gained weight, but always complained of being cold.

[Uff Da]

Golly...........maybe we could receive a $1M Grant to study obese people..................Where do we apply?

[gitmo]

[gitmo]

It worked in the preview.

[theFIRMbss]

>Researcher gets $1M to study thin people

Down at the Lido they welcome you
With sausage and beer,
Klaus and the Rooster have been there too,
But lately he spends his time here.

Hanging with the mayor and all his friends
And nobody cares,
Where the sailor shuts out the sunrise
Blacked out on the stairs

Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girls
Here at the Western World

Ruthie will give you the silver key
To open the red door:
Lay down your Jackson and you will see
The sweetness you've been crying for

In the night you hide from the madman
You're longing to be
But it all comes out on the inside
Eventually

Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girls
Here at the Western World

["Here at the Western World," Steely Dan]

[putupon]

Around my rural town obesity is just way out of control

Everybody's fat all over the country, and I have been so myself a few times, so I can harp without being a hypocrite (and will be again soon if I don't follow my New Year's Resolution.)

Excersise, don't eat junk, don't drink beer, and you lose weight.

Works everytime.

I know people with a different metabolism who can't gain weight, so what? They got lucky, IMHO, though they complain about their plight.

Quit smoking 13 years ago too, without government help or any advice from government funded addiction research.

I don't mind spending money on serious problems such as cancer, heart disease, flu pandemics, etc..

Government money will never solve a doughnut problem without a dictatorship that feeds citizens a prescribed issued diet and forced exercise.

In a free society, it is up to the individual to control his/her weight, whether the scienctists know what makes people that way or not.