Replies

Yes, and it plays against the narrative that someone that is overweight is lazy or etc, or in some narratives that our 'poor' are living high on the hog.

Well sure, they 'eat' but the wrong things, and are unhealthy as well. Sugars and bad carbs, aren't hallmarks of being healthy, just a symptom of our farm subsidies and food production.

This is such a great subject, and I have become a huge fan of Gary Taubes. He challenges us on this issue, because there are no absolutes when it comes to weight gain/loss.

Everyone is an “expert” in nutrition...as a dietitian I’ve learned and then unlearned that it is all about calories in - calories out. I no longer buy into that. Maybe for some, but not for all...if not most. Gary Taubes’ book Why Do We Get Fat is well done (no pun intended). However, it isn’t the answer for everyone trying to gain weight, so how can it be a perfect answer for those trying to lose weight....Hmmm.

My son can eat the grocery store whole and not gain a pound (5’9...103 lbs)...others see a Burger King commercial and gain weight. Perhaps we should study those who remain thin and don’t gain weight along with those who are obese.

The answer at the end of the day will be genetic, cellular and endocrine in nature, which means...no one is an expert in nutrition...yet.

Well sure, they 'eat' but the wrong things, and are unhealthy as well.

Sadly, many are following "expert" government advice.

I had my own journey with this nonsense. Mine was precipitated by medical issues with a clotting disorder. I followed the "experts" and was gaining weight and throwing blood clots. Of course the experts placed me on lipid medicine and blood thinners, but were unable to control my sky high triglyceride levels (660+) and reduced HDL's.

I began studying the issue and was flabbergasted by the prevailing diet and cardiac wisdom. There were the dissenters, however the prevalent wisdom was a ticket to metabolic syndrome, deteriorating health and premature death.

I went on very low carb (VLC) and began training for masters swimming. Amazingly, independent of the exercise my weight melted away and my lipid profile improved dramatically. I also stopped with the stupid and dangerous lipid medicine. It made no sense. What made sense was the ratio of HDLs to triglyceride. On VLC my triglyceride levels dropped to 40 with a modest increase in HDLs, however the ratio fell under 2. This resulted in both improved clotting issues and well documented (medically) reduction in plaque burst risk.

I do agree it is difficult to stay on the diet, but the benefits are a constant incentive.

Pol Pot and Stalin were pikers compared to what our government has done to the American people.