what percent of obesity cases are the result of lifestyle choices?

[BananaBandit]

While I realize that some people have a genetic condition that essentially dooms them to morbid obesity (and that some other people must take medications which destroy their metabolisms), it just seems to me that the vast majority of obesity cases are the result of choosing unhealthy food and/or lack of physical activity. 

 

It also seems that so many people go out of their way to make the obesity crisis far more complicated than it is.   I understand why the nutritional and fitness industries would want to make things complicated - if they make it too simple, then they will run out of advertising gibberish and lose their customers.   But why do college professors and other health experts seem to try to complicate things?   Do they fear coming across as "judgmental" and then losing their career trajectories and reputations as enlightened politically-correct intellectuals?

 

I feel like adherence to the following three steps would resolve about 98 percent of the world's obesity cases. 

 

Step one:  Don't binge on garbage food. 

 

Step two:  Try and drink water instead of anything else.

 

Step three:  Move.....Walk...or, if feeling really adventurous, do some pushups. If you can't do real pushups, do them against a wall. Or get a jump rope. If you can't afford a jump rope, start digging a hole somewhere or chopping down tree branches. 

 

Am I off base here?   

Edited June 20, 2020 by BananaBandit

[orchis]

yawn

Edited June 20, 2020 by orchis

[ezzra]

Other than genetic anomalies probably all is due to poor life's choices

when it comes to food and beverages intake consumption...

[Ventenio]

yes, you are off base and pretty clueless.  not being mean.  

 

maybe you just lost weight and feel the need to share how solve the world's obesity problem.   

 

i have no answers, and i'm ALSO not a doctor.  i'll share some ideas and it won't really help either.

 

1.  lower stress

2.  sleep more

3.  better job

4.  talk to your family about what you eat when together.  eating healthy alone can add to stress and lose friends and family.  is it worth it?

5.  many different exercises

6.  walk

7.  set a goal every three months.  never miss a day

 

i've seen very thin people with MAJOR health problems.  nutrient balance all messed up. or they smoke.  whatever.

 

you can exercise a ton and not lose weight, or gain.  a number is ok, but only a ballpark.

 

it can take years.  sometimes you need to cut all the sugar out, but sometimes IMMEDIATELY after exercise you can take some in.  timing is everything.

 

when older, being a little fat is ok.

 

the key is being 

 

1.  fit

2.  mentally fit

3.  financially independent

4.  happy

5.  have friends

 

etc...

 

this won't be solved on TV

[4reaL]

It is easy, take a look at what fat ppl eat.

Often they have sodas with huge meals and then sweet deserts.

The really disgusting type fatties tend not to eat the slob when outside

but load up when in the comfort in their homes.

 

 

 

 

[pineapple01]

Who cares, Funny topic to me anyway. Im not My Brothers Keeper. Welfare State is the cause anyway.

[bkk6060]

It is probably the biggest most expensive health crisis in the world puting tremendous strain on our health care systems. Makes Covid look like bee sting.

People laugh off being obese and it certainly looks like a terribly depressing way to live. But in reality they are addicts. Addicted to fat, grease, oil, and sugar and laziness.

In most cases, serious behavioral counseling is needed.

Edited June 20, 2020 by bkk6060

[OneMoreFarang]

I also don't know the percentages.

 

I don't eat junk food - or maybe once a month.

I eat only good quality food (fresh, no ready meals, etc.)

Mostly I drink water, seldom milk or orange juice, never sugar-soda.

And I am overweight.

 

Ok, I don't exercise and I should change that.

 

And then there is of course the question of the motivation. Long time ago "back home" I was young and slim and most of the young and pretty girls were not interested in me. Now, in Thailand, older and fatter, I get all the attention I want. 

[RJRS1301]

6 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I also don't know the percentages.

 

I don't eat junk food - or maybe once a month.

I eat only good quality food (fresh, no ready meals, etc.)

Mostly I drink water, seldom milk or orange juice, never sugar-soda.

And I am overweight.

 

Ok, I don't exercise and I should change that.

 

And then there is of course the question of the motivation. Long time ago "back home" I was young and slim and most of the young and pretty girls were not interested in me. Now, in Thailand, older and fatter, I get all the attention I want. 

Fat=wealthy perhaps , or early widow hood and inherit 

 

[PatOngo]

Of course it has nothing to do with Coca Cola, KFC, McDonalds etc. American flavoured terrorism!

[BananaBandit]

59 minutes ago, Ventenio said:

yes, you are off base and pretty clueless. 

I am willing to acknowledge that possibility. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Ventenio said:

eating healthy alone can add to stress and lose friends and family.  is it worth it?

Yeah, it's worth it.   If my friends and family choose to submerge themselves in garbage, then, yes, I might opt to sacrifice their companionship, at least during mealtimes.  

 

 

1 hour ago, Ventenio said:

this won't be solved on TV

probably not.     I still wish to hear what others think. 

[Sundown]

Genetic is an excuse as well as ohhh I cannot lose weight because of thyroid problems. Never seen someone with genetic obesity in Africa. 

[OneMoreFarang]

17 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Fat=wealthy perhaps , or early widow hood and inherit 

Not wealthy, no heritage, I just spend most of my money on good food. ???? 

[BritManToo]

100% of obesity is personal choice.

 

There's always people making excuses for their greed and laziness.

Exercise more, eat less = no obesity.

 

No need for healthy eating, if you exercise enough you can eat and drink anything and still remain slim.

I was a 95Kg fatty at age 35-55, now I exercise (usually 20Km cycling every day), and weigh 76Kg at age 65.

This is despite drinking gallons of Pepsi, beer and living on fried food.

Edited June 20, 2020 by BritManToo

[RichardColeman]

1% maybe down to genetics.

99% down to fatties stuffing their faces and blaming genetics

[Damual Travesty]

All of them

[BananaBandit]

Okay... it seems most of you guys think that, for either most cases or basically all cases, obesity is a lifestyle choice. 

 

Then why do we have all these college professors and other health experts trying to talk about complex factors needing complex solutions, etc. etc.... Are they just trying to justify their careers?  Are they afraid to come across as judgmental and politically incorrect?   

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

Are they just trying to justify their careers?

Yes.

 

Same as the vitamin and herbal supplements industries.

Completely worthless for normal people.

 

You'd be amazed at the difference 1 hour of exercise every day can make to your body.

Most people are just too lazy, and looking for a quick fix though.

Edited June 20, 2020 by BritManToo

[Damual Travesty]

1 minute ago, BananaBandit said:

Okay... it seems most of you guys think that, for either most cases or basically all cases, obesity is a lifestyle choice. 

 

Then why do we have all these college professors and other health experts trying to talk about complex factors needing complex solutions, etc. etc.... Are they just trying to justify their careers?  Are they afraid to come across as judgmental and politically incorrect?   

Go to a website to exercise and lose weight. It's not that complex. You just look up your base metabolic rate and eat that amount of calories to maintain, eat less you lose, eat more you gain. Could you be an oddball - the exception THE EXCEPTION to the the rule? Sure you could have some disease, but that is the exception not the rule. For everyone else - eat more calories then you burn and you gain weight. It really is that simple. If you eat bowl of sugar garnished with a doughnut followed by a can of soda and a bag of chips, likely you will be gaining weight quite quickly unless you are an Olympic athlete who is in training all day.

[Ventenio]

32 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Of course it has nothing to do with Coca Cola, KFC, McDonalds etc. American flavoured terrorism!

let's just say your "American flavoured terrorism!" is ..... whatever. 

 

EVERY country knows people get addicted to sugar, drugs, cigs, beer, whisky, and they make money off that.

 

Coffee in Thailand has like 40% sugar.  Snacks like 50% sugar.  Drinks are added with sugar.  food with BAD oils.....everything fried.  fruits with plastic.... NO country is perfect. 

 

What America also has is sports.  The best athletes.  The fittest HIGH-level military (not overall, perhaps).  And the richest when you look at their size. 

 

Now other countries make you eat cabbage, food kids hate, and force religion.  and hatred.  and all this anti-American stuff....which is worse than being fat.

 

maybe you are in Syria.....looking around at all your thin friends.   yea, not a win. 

[Damual Travesty]

3 minutes ago, Ventenio said:

let's just say your "American flavoured terrorism!" is ..... whatever. 

 

EVERY country knows people get addicted to sugar, drugs, cigs, beer, whisky, and they make money off that.

 

Coffee in Thailand has like 40% sugar.  Snacks like 50% sugar.  Drinks are added with sugar.  food with BAD oils.....everything fried.  fruits with plastic.... NO country is perfect. 

 

What America also has is sports.  The best athletes.  The fittest HIGH-level military (not overall, perhaps).  And the richest when you look at their size. 

 

Now other countries make you eat cabbage, food kids hate, and force religion.  and hatred.  and all this anti-American stuff....which is worse than being fat.

 

maybe you are in Syria.....looking around at all your thin friends.   yea, not a win. 

As an American, I just want to say that sadly , American Obesity is quite high, and its directly related to American fast food, but I agree these are the choices people make. Yes, Thailand has one of the highest obesity rates in Asia, precisely because of the diet you mention heavy on bad fried foods and very recently high in KFC. I live in Bangkok, I have learned to order my coffee with little or no added sugar as I do my smoothies.

[nausea]

Banning high fructose corn syrup would be a good start.

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, nausea said:

Banning high fructose corn syrup would be a good start.

Why not just force all fatties to run on a treadmill for an hour every day?

Build a cage around it, lock on the door, start it moving.

The ultimate nanny state.

 

'It's for your own good'

Edited June 20, 2020 by BritManToo

[Damual Travesty]

2 minutes ago, nausea said:

Banning high fructose corn syrup would be a good start.

Why? Are people unable to make their own decisions about their consumption of sweetened food and drink?

[stouricks]

9 minutes ago, Damual Travesty said:

Why? Are people unable to make their own decisions about their consumption of sweetened food and drink?

Unfortunately NO in many cases.

[Stocky]

I don't understand what business it is of anyone else what size someone is. Far too many nutrition Nazis out there. I eat well, I enjoy life, yes I'm overweight but I honestly don't care. I'm in my sixties and I'll be damned if I'm going to see out my days gnawing raw vegetables and drinking water.

[Lacessit]

A doctor once said to me the best way to avoid obesity is to push yourself away from the meal table before you feel full.

I'm convinced one of the major contributors to obesity in America are the huge servings of food. When it's combined with a mindset that says it is wasteful to leave food on one's plate, the outcome is predictable.

[Traubert]

6 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

A doctor once said to me the best way to avoid obesity is to push yourself away from the meal table before you feel full.

I'm convinced one of the major contributors to obesity in America are the huge servings of food. When it's combined with a mindset that says it is wasteful to leave food on one's plate, the outcome is predictable.

I have never finished a restaurant meal anywhere in America.

 

Just too much food.

[Lacessit]

7 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I don't understand what business it is of anyone else what size someone is. Far too many nutrition Nazis out there. I eat well, I enjoy life, yes I'm overweight but I honestly don't care. I'm in my sixties and I'll be damned if I'm going to see out my days gnawing raw vegetables and drinking water.

Depends on how long you want to live. The statistics say obese people are far more prone to diabetes, cardiac disease, stroke, and cancer. Their death rate in the current pandemic is indicating vulnerability on that front as well. Your life, your choice.

 

[nausea]

47 minutes ago, Damual Travesty said:

Why? Are people unable to make their own decisions about their consumption of sweetened food and 

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to avoid and its use is not always that obvious. It's very cheap and commonly added to foods in the US, which might help explain the obesity crisis there.