Gator Country

Dreamliner · 01-12-2013, 10:49 AM

Some of you may have seen the massive compilation of studies, released last week, showing lower all-cause mortality for overweight people than people of normal weight. Here, Megan McArdle addresses the considerable pushback the revelations have engendered.

Additionally, McArdle demonstrates that it is not the case that Americans are simply "living longer, sicker."

Yes, I am well aware of the various health risks associated with obesity. Certainly I can think of a number of reasons to lose weight other than fear of dying. And for the record: as a trainer, I appeal to vanity first and foremost. The article:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...king-thin.html

Spurffelbow833 · 01-12-2013, 11:56 AM

The best argument against obesity is the mutual attraction force known as gravity. You're carrying around a ball and chain that not even the government is trying to force you to carry.

If you only have one reason for losing weight, feeling better, not looking better, should be that reason.

Dreamliner · 01-12-2013, 12:07 PM

Again, I agree that there are a host of reasons to lose weight if you're fat. As the writer allows, it's "hell on your joints." I hear this all the time.

But the research does seem to eviscerate the "lose weight or die" argument. Indeed, it appears to be the case that if all you want to do is live longer, get slightly fat.

Matthanuf06 · 01-12-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

Again, I agree that there are a host of reasons to lose weight if you're fat. As the writer allows, it's "hell on your joints." I hear this all the time.

But the research does seem to eviscerate the "lose weight or die" argument. Indeed, it appears to be the case that if all you want to do is live longer, get slightly fat.

Sweet. Ill tell that to the wife

**Juggernautz** · 01-12-2013, 05:52 PM

I lost 25 lbs since I had my H A back in December.

I haven't been to that weight since I got out of the USAF.

Dreamliner · 01-12-2013, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernautz

I lost 25 lbs since I had my H A back in December.

I haven't been to that weight since I got out of the USAF.

Good going! Just don't lose enough to be normal bodyweight unless you want to die!

Dreamliner · 01-14-2013, 09:24 AM

Surprised that this hasn't gotten more pushback. Look, as a fitness trainer, if obesity is killing people, then I certainly want to tell them so. But this doesn't appear to be the case, as we are som commonly told.

Also, if obesity actually has health benefits, as it appears it does, how can it be likened to a disease ?

corpgator · 01-14-2013, 09:28 AM

This article points out some flaws with the study as well.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health...ie.single.html

Dreamliner · 01-14-2013, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corpgator

This article points out some flaws with the study.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health...ie.single.html

These include the same counter-arguments that McArdle demolished in her article that I posted. To center on one: "But, but, we know that obesity correlates with any number of diseases!" Of course, but these are the very mechanisms through which (we are told) obesity is supposed to be killing us. Yet, the overweight and obese appear to be living longer than those of normal weight.

Dreamliner · 01-14-2013, 09:46 AM

Based on the Canadian obesity study, the two categories most at risk were Class III obesity and underweight.

Accordingly, I would have to more than double my bodyweight to find myself in the former category, but only lose 13 pounds to find myself in the latter category.

orangeblueorangeblue · 01-14-2013, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthanuf06

Sweet. Ill tell that to the wife

Now why would you want your wife to get slightly fat?

**G8trGr8t** · 01-14-2013, 02:40 PM

slightly is the key word there..and that is based on the body fat indexes that seem to be set up for bird chested european men...

Dreamliner · 01-14-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G8trGr8t

slightly is the key word there..and that is based on the body fat indexes that seem to be set up for bird chested european men...

Researchers have been wringing their hands about rising BMI for decades. Now, they see the actual research on obesity and longevity ... and start attacking the BMI concept!

Yes, slightly longer. But that isn't the question. The question is, are we allowed to lie any longer to fat people ?

**DeanMeadGator** · 01-14-2013, 07:18 PM

When I was a child, we run, played baseball, played sandlot football and rode our bikes until dark. There were only a few "fat kids" in our school.

Now, many kids do not run, do not play baseball, do not play sandlot football [never allow football on your property or you will surely get sued!], do not ride bikes and generally get no exercise. Equally distrubing is the fact that phys ed has been eliminated in a lot of schools. There are now a lot of "fat kids" in schools.

Query: Which generation will have higher rates of heart disease and diabetes? Which generation will have a higher average life expectancy?

Assume that the "new" generation has higher rates of heart disease and diabetes. Assume further that they will have a lower average life expectancy.

Assuming that these things are true, will the cause be lack of exercise, poor eating habits, obesity or all of them?

Regardless of what these "studies" show, I think it is intuitive that lack of exercise and obesity will kill you and/or led to heart disease, diabetes and other diseases.

Dreamliner · 01-14-2013, 08:18 PM

Okay, yes, well ... no, it may not be that cut and dried. Obesity does not appear to be killing us. Heart disease is largely hereditary. Even cardiovascular fitness is largely genetically determined.

Regarding activity, remember that we may be the least active generation in history ... and we're living longer than ever.

Am I saying get fat and sit on your ass ? Nope. Fitness trainers need SOME work.