Why do we get fat?

[Moemg]

Since retirement I have lost 40 pounds and kept it off just by cutting my portions in half .We go out to eat twice a week and we will either share an entree or I will have an appetizer instead of an entree .

 

[Fedup]

We get fat because we are a rich country. Rich people do get fat. Just pretend you are poor and ration your food.

 

[Fedup]

I have spent a bit of time in Asia as well, and have a different take on it. I usually find I loose weight when I am in Asia, SE Asia specifically, and find I eat less but am not hungry. For me it seems that the food is just tastier, I have described it as a symphony of flavors in their soups, and other dishes, rather than the heavy single flavor, very sweet, too salty, or high fat in American/western food. And yes, they ALWAYS use MSG.
For me it has always seemed strange that after I eat at McDonalds, for example, I still feel hungry and want to eat more. That never happens when I am in Asia.
Although I do have to say, after I am a few weeks or months in Asia, I can't wait to get back and have an In-And-Out burger and vanilla shake.

I think the soup has more liquid and make you feel fuller. I used to love in-out-burger and shake but can't eat fast carb any more.

 

[HadEnuff]

years ago, on a long cab ride, the driver and I got into a discussion about diets and weight gain, or weight loss. I don't know how we got there, but we did.

He shared a story. He had recently lost quite a bit of weight by doing something really bizarre. He stopped having "seconds". He still ate what he normally ate, which was a relatively, although not compulsively monitored, "balanced diet"...meaning some meat, some veggies, and some starch. (how earth-shaking is that?)..
And simply disciplined himself not to go back for seconds.

The man should have written a book. It would have been a very short book, but he still should have written it.

 

[zinger1457]

Finishing up reading "How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, Michael Greger MD". A very good read about different types of foods and the effects (good and bad) they have on your body. The book is about food for overall health rather then just weight loss. His push is definitely for more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains and away from meat, poultry, and dairy. Seems to have plenty of references and studies to support his claims.

 

[harley]

I find it interesting that all of the standard problems that are tied in to obesity (diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension, etc) are all treated with pills, sometimes with fairly serious or dangerous side effects. My doctor always tells me to lose weight and that will help all these other things. But even through weight loss is the magic bullet, there is no attempt to help us lose weight other than "eat less and exercise more". In other words, willpower. I know in the past they used to have appetite suppressant pills and other things that didn't work, but I haven't heard anything about any newer weight loss aids. It seems that if they want us to lose weight, there might be something they could do to help. It's almost as if the profits from treating the diseases are more important than actually solving the problem...no, it couldn't be.

 

[haha]

We get fat because we are a rich country. Rich people do get fat. Just pretend you are poor and ration your food.

In the US, rich people are the slimmest of all. In the WSJ I saw a photo of some people wading a bayou in Houston flooding. Most of them were big enough to be 2 people, and they were evacuating an apartment building in a poor area. Probably there are no Western countries where the poor are not fatter than the rich. I live near a Ferrari dealer. I have never looked in and seen a fat man.

Just walk through Barney's, then if you can stomach it walk through Walmart and compare the bodies you see.

In the advanced world, few if any are poor because they can't get enough calories.

Ha

 

[dixonge]

In the US, rich people are the slimmest of all. In the WSJ I saw a photo of some people wading a bayou in Houston flooding. Most of them were big enough to be 2 people, and they were evacuating an apartment building in a poor area. Probably there are no Western countries where the poor are not fatter than the rich. I live near a Ferrari dealer. I have never looked in and seen a fat man.

Just walk through Barney's, then if you can stomach it walk through Walmart and compare the bodies you see.

In the advanced world, few if any are poor because they can't get enough calories.

Ha

Keep people busy all the time with more than one job and horrible mass transit and you drive them to fast food. And if they are poor they will gravitate to the most meal for the $ which is generally food that is designed to produce maximum craving and minimal nutrition. Add all the social and cultural baggage and voila - obesity epidemic.

 

[MRG]

Snip...
My doctor always tells me to lose weight and that will help all these other things. But even through weight loss is the magic bullet, there is no attempt to help us lose weight other than "eat less and exercise more". In other words, willpower. I know in the past they used to have appetite suppressant pills and other things that didn't work, but I haven't heard anything about any newer weight loss aids. It seems that if they want us to lose weight, there might be something they could do to help. It's almost as if the profits from treating the diseases are more important than actually solving the problem...no, it couldn't be.

A buddy told me the newer blood sugar drugs(Farxiga, Victoza, and the like) are being used. Don't know how effective they are for everyone. He's on one for pre-diabetes, lost 50, says he can't eat as much and claims the meds make him hyped up so he walks alot. I don't know if that's typical.

 

[haha]

Keep people busy all the time with more than one job and horrible mass transit and you drive them to fast food. And if they are poor they will gravitate to the most meal for the $ which is generally food that is designed to produce maximum craving and minimal nutrition. Add all the social and cultural baggage and voila - obesity epidemic.

So what is the reason for the fattest of all, welfare recipients who not only don't have two jobs, they don't even have one.

Anyway, I don't care what people think makes them fat. It is highly unlikely to be correct anyway.

I was just responding to the assertion that mainly rich people get fat. Anyone's eyes can easily refute that.

Ha

 

[zinger1457]

I find it interesting that all of the standard problems that are tied in to obesity (diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension, etc) are all treated with pills, sometimes with fairly serious or dangerous side effects. My doctor always tells me to lose weight and that will help all these other things. But even through weight loss is the magic bullet, there is no attempt to help us lose weight other than "eat less and exercise more".

The lack of adequate nutrition training in medical schools is a known problem. Most patients probably know as much as their doctor when it comes to nutrition.

What's at stake in nutrition education during med school

While physicians encourage patients to make healthy food choices, only 27 percent of U.S. medical schools actually offer students the recommended 25 hours of nutritional training, according to a recent perspective piece in Academic Medicine. Hear why experts say improving health outcomes may require physicians in training to move from the classroom to the kitchen.

 

[eytonxav]

I used to believe in the calories in/carlories burned school of thinking, but I don't think its that simple, at least if you want to avoid cravings and overeating. Not all calories or carbs are created equal, especially when in comes to natural foods vs all the preserved stuff. I also suspect some folks have metabolisms that may not respond well to certain dieting schemes, and for me personally, I have found myself much better off and less hungry when I eat fewer carbs and keep the nutrients clean.

 

[harley]

Anyway, I don't care what people think makes them fat. It is highly unlikely to be correct anyway.

For me it was/is eating too much, drinking too much (although not sugary soda), and not much exercise. Can't get any correcter than that.

 

[Fedup]

In the US, rich people are the slimmest of all. In the WSJ I saw a photo of some people wading a bayou in Houston flooding. Most of them were big enough to be 2 people, and they were evacuating an apartment building in a poor area. Probably there are no Western countries where the poor are not fatter than the rich. I live near a Ferrari dealer. I have never looked in and seen a fat man.

Just walk through Barney's, then if you can stomach it walk through Walmart and compare the bodies you see.

In the advanced world, few if any are poor because they can't get enough calories.

Ha

I know what you mean. There is this supermarket that I buy meat for for Xmas, mostly very rich people, it's known as the rich area. I often look to see what rich older females look like, they are all skinny with lots of wrinkles. No fat.

I think I meant collectively as a rich country, we don't deny ourselves when it comes to food. Food is still relative cheap compare to our income.

 

[photoguy]

There's lots of theories out there. But my husband used to do more business trips to Korea and he came back and said we're fat compare to them and he is a skinny guy. If you think about it, Korean food is very spicy which speeds up metabolism and more meat. Last longer, less carbs.

I think it's more likely to be other cultural differences rather than spiciness (and much of korean food isn't spicy) and korean food is normally pretty light on the meat.

Some things that come to mind are a complete lack of desserts (in korea dessert = fruit), a tradition of hiking/walking (even old geezers hike up the mountains), and maybe a fat-phobic culture.

 

[Fedup]

I must go to the wrong Korean restaurants. They are spicy and lots of meat. Korean BBQ, all you can eat.

 

[NW-Bound]

I think that's Korean BBQ in the USA for Americans. I suspect that if you went to Korean restaurants in Seoul, it would be quite different. Similarly, pizza in Italy is not rich like the typical American pizza.

I think Americans like richer and bigger versions of everything. And our body reflects our preference.

 

[MRG]

I used to believe in the calories in/carlories burned school of thinking, but I don't think its that simple, at least if you want to avoid cravings and overeating. Not all calories or carbs are created equal, especially when in comes to natural foods vs all the preserved stuff. I also suspect some folks have metabolisms that may not respond well to certain dieting schemes, and for me personally, I have found myself much better off and less hungry when I eat fewer carbs and keep the nutrients clean.

I'm CICO but the point about what you eat and how you feel is still important. A thousand calories of sugar provides the same energy as the same amount of protein. How I feel if I ingest each is something else entirely.

My diet used to be high carb and I felt miserable. Since understanding the importance of protein, fat and the glycemic index of carbs I eat higher protein and fat and only target 40% of my calories from carbs. I feel so much better now, I was always feeling like my BS was out of whack(probably was).

 

[braumeister]

OK, let's put a stop to this right now.

Nobody here at E-R.org is "fat."
Some of us are possibly a bit too short for our weight, but we carry it well and always look good.

Think positive!

 

[Fedup]

I think that's Korean BBQ in the USA for Americans. I suspect that if you went to Korean restaurants in Seoul, it would be quite different. Similarly, pizza in Italy is not rich like the typical American pizza.

I think Americans like richer and bigger versions of everything. And our body reflects our preference.

I think the ones here are more Americanized for sure. But there are still lots of similarity. Except no cold fish soup. I know my husband and his coworker's were joking they were drinking from the fish tank after tasting the soup. It's the final dish served after eating lots of food.

 

[NW-Bound]

I never had to watch calories until quite recently. My BMI inched up past 24, and my blood pressure also went up. And my fasting blood glucose went to 102. Everything's still in the OK range, but I did not want this trend to continue.

So, I started to look at labels to see the calories of what I ate. It was astonishing to see some innocent food being so high-calorific. Invariably, those turned out to be loaded with carbohydrate.

Not only that carb is high in calories, it is also easily digested and contributes to diabetes, and it does not keep you full and so you eat more. Protein and fat keep you full longer, and so you eat less.

So, I have been reducing the carb intake, and up on the meat and fat intake. I have always eaten quite a bit of vegetable and fruit, so not much change needed there. The result in the most recent blood test is that everything is now back in the normal range. My BMI is now 23.

 

[NW-Bound]

My wife's BMI is 22. She does not like meat, so eats little of it. She could be vegetarian, and would not miss anything. I cannot be a vegetarian, because I would be eating all the time. I need protein and fat to get that feeling of fullness. My wife on the other hand can eat so little, no matter what it is. She simply does not have my appetite.

 

[Texas Proud]

I saw a TV program recently that was a study of people who were on "The Biggest Loser"....

I have not looked it up, but from what I remember they said that almost all of the people gained back their weight... it was said that their metabolism slowed... one lady said that now she only needed 1400 calories to maintain her weight... if she ate more she gained weight!!!

Basically they were saying that the body 'wants' to be a certain weight....

 

[Ronstar]

I used to believe in the calories in/carlories burned school of thinking, but I don't think its that simple, at least if you want to avoid cravings and overeating. Not all calories or carbs are created equal, especially when in comes to natural foods vs all the preserved stuff. I also suspect some folks have metabolisms that may not respond well to certain dieting schemes, and for me personally, I have found myself much better off and less hungry when I eat fewer carbs and keep the nutrients clean.

I agree. I lost 28 lbs in a little more than 2 years since retiring. Eating the same diet as before retirement, just with more exercise. A little more than a week ago, I started the paleo diet on doctor's advice. Very little if any carbs. I've lost another 7 in the last 1.5 weeks.

Before paleo, I had cravings and overate frequently. Since paleo, I really don't have cravings, and I'm not very hungry at mealtime. I believe that the type of calories one eats has just as much affect on one's weight as the number of calories. For me, overall hunger and cravings for bad foods is decreasing as I increase healthy food consumption. So my total calorie intake is down because I'm satisfied eating fewer calories caused by the change in diet.

 

[photoguy]

The korean restaurants in the US are pretty authentic but it's only a small slice of the cuisine. At home people would probably have something more like this:

Family Eating Variety Typical Korean Food At Home Stock Photo, Royalty Free Image: 2306581 - Alamy

red = spicy
green = some cooked/pickled vegetable
dark green in soup = seaweed

The only meat on the table are the oysters (the grey stuff) and maybe some of the brown stuff in the soup. (However average meat consumption is rapidly rising in korea. It used to be less than 1/4 of US consumption but is probably over 50% now.)

Korean BBQ is really popular in the US because meat is cheap here (in the past in korea it would have been something very special). Also if you have a mixed group, the bbq meats are about the only thing that's "safe" and almost everybody, no matter their background, will eat and like.