The Truth About Obesity (A Reality Check For Bigots)

Tech Central Station ^ | July 14, 2003 | Sandy Szwarc

[Timesink]

In the fight against obesity, we're told: 'Being fat is simply a matter of energy balance. It's easy to lose weight, just eat 3,500 calories less than you burn and you'll lose a pound. We've become a fat nation because we're eating more than ever before, and too much fat and junk food, and not moving.'

Of course, the real message is one of blame: 'You fat slobs! You are irresponsible, lazy, gluttons. You wouldn't be fat if you just didn't eat so much (or so much fat, sugar, and junk food) and got off the couch!'

[Timesink]

Hopefully this article will help a few people get a Clue®.

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[LasVegasMac]

This article is bunk.

I just need the number for the lawyer that is representing the fat people.

McDonalds - Wendy's - BK - KFC - oh, you nasty people!

You made me do it!!!!!!!!!!

and now I want some money for free.

and a double cheese burger with fries / Coke. Sure, biggie size the hell out of that order.

LVM

[nevergore]

What clue? Eat reasonable balanced amounts and exercise....you will be fairly thin and in shape...

Check out any boot camp....you see the results....then check the same soldiers/sailors/airmen 6 month's later once they resume their poor dietary habits and stop exercising.....

Being fat is fine if that is what you want....just don't blame it on others, your heridity, fast food resturaunts etc.

NeverGore :^)

[Timesink]

Come join the fun! The imbeciles and bigots are already showing up!

[lelio]

For the evidence proves a person can be doing everything right, eating properly and exercising faithfully, yet still be fat.

While that might be true in the small minority of cases where there's a medical (ie thyroid) problem, this is just simply not true. If you're obese and you're "eating properly and exercising faithfully" then you need to kick it up a notch. Start to take control of your life.
Now the (next?) article by the author might have a point about the public being lied to that fat free foods are the way to go, while carbs are what's causing our waistlines to increase. But it isn't as if Atkins' message has been surpressed.

[upchuck]

I will not be surprised if it is discovered someday that obesity is caused by certain habits and a virus.

[willieroe]

Myth Two: Fat people are gluttons.

Facts: Many fat people eat the same or less than thin and normal weight people. The Healthy Eating Index, the nation's report card on how Americans are eating, compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, found little or no correlation between weight and caloric intake.

OK, among other sentences in the article, this set off my BS indicator. So I searched for the "Healthy Eating Index" on Google, and downloaded the latest government publication of the Healthy Eating Index (1999-2000), and...guess what? There is no such study described, there are no numbers presented, and there is no such conclusion drawn in the latest online publication of the Healthy Eating Index.

If someone would, please check behind me, because I would hate to be labeled a bigot. :-)

[azcap]

I think they missed a few words in their conclusion.

For the evidence proves a person can be doing everything right, eating properly (but still too much) and exercising faithfully (but still not enough), yet still be fat.

"It's easy to lose weight, just eat 3,500 calories less than you burn and you'll lose a pound." That line was the last useful fact in the article.

[Timesink]

OK, among other sentences in the article, this set off my BS indicator. So I searched for the "Healthy Eating Index" on Google, and downloaded the latest government publication of the Healthy Eating Index (1999-2000), and...guess what? There is no such study described, there are no numbers presented, and there is no such conclusion drawn in the latest online publication of the Healthy Eating Index.

If it ain't on the Web, it ain't so, huh? Whatever.

By the way, this is 2003.

[Petronski]

Ten (fifteen?) years ago, it was known and proven fact that ulcers were caused by stress and bad diet.

It was fact.

[willieroe]

If it ain't on the Web, it ain't so, huh? Whatever.

By the way, this is 2003.

That particular "report card" of the Healthy Eating Index, 1999-2000, was published in December 2002, as found in the introduction to the report. Sorry to burst your bubble, Sink.

[Trailerpark Badass]

It's a simple fact that the average American lifestyle has become so sedentary that, for many adults, it would be quite difficult to limit themselves to the amount of calories they burn off. Also, it is my unproven theory that consistant activity, even at lower exertion levels, is more effective at burning calories than short periods of even intense exercise. Add to that the large numbers of people who don't really know what real exertion is, making their "exercise" pointless, and it is no deep biological secret why we have so many fat people. Look at Europe. Do they have the fat virus? The fat gene?

[Timesink]

Ten (fifteen?) years ago, it was known and proven fact that ulcers were caused by stress and bad diet. It was fact.

Yup. And it took a good five years after it was scientifically proven otherwise before even the DOCTORS would believe the truth. Once the Mighty Doctors learn something, you have to drag them kicking and screaming over broken glass for eons before they'll ever even begin to consider an alternative hypothesis ... even if that "hypothesis" is already-proven reality.

[Servant of the Nine]

Fat Boy PING

So9

[Timesink]

While that might be true ... this is just simply not true.

Um...

[Dog Gone]

Why do I get the impression from this article that if I restrict myself to one cracker a day, I'll turn into Jabba the Hutt?

[JusPasenThru]

Damn. Fat people are lazy neurotic overeaters in profound self-denial. Anyone got any problems with that?

[nevergore]

"Come join the fun! The imbeciles and bigots are already showing up!"

Hey Chubby! I can hear your veins clogging from here.....Want a 44oz Big Gulp Soda to wash down that giant bag of chips you are eating at the computer???

Oh that's right, blame it on the imbeciles and bigots....we'll darn it....we have feelings too....

NeverGore :^)