Comments on: Obesity News Epidemic

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:00:09 +0000

Today’s BBC news highlights research showing that falling heart disease mortality rates are levelling off for women under the age of 50 despite medical advances and obesity, diabetes, smoking, and lack of exercise are to blame. So where’s the news Aunty Beeb?

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:08:51 +0000

The ‘obesity epidemic’ is offensive to heavier people, according to UCLA sociologist Abigail Saguy, the term . Obviously, these are the people the medical community hopes to influence most, so setting them up for discrimination is not a good idea. She was quoted recently on this http://www.college.ucla.edu/news/05/obesitystudy.html

Steve

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:02:35 +0000

That’s exactly what I was thinking…although I’ll skip the burger and opt for a homemade chicken korma with plenty of rice and naan bread, oh, and a few beers…

By: Mina

Mina — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:46:28 +0000

Well it comes right back to my initial comment on attitudes. The psychology of obesity is one of the biggest challenges, I think. I also think you’re right in that people don’t always know the difference between complex and simple carbs, as an example. Yet, those who do may still choose the latter. That is where the struggle lies – first getting people to know about good nutrition and then encouraging them to USE what they know on a daily basis.

Basically, getting people to CARE. But then again, obesity and related health conditions only happen to other people so I suppose I’ll just go back to my burger, chips and chocolate. :p

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:25:32 +0000

I guess herein lies the rub – “a diet focused on complex carbs and well selected protein and fat sources” – many people seem unable either to differentiate between simple carbs and complex carbs and so opt more often than not for the simple ones, which are essentially equivalent to eating bowls of sugar. Moreover, how does the lay person determine which protein and fat source they should choose. Fast-food chains pump out propaganda about how good their products actually are, but on the other hand those who opt for oily fish several times a week are then told they may be exposing themselves to accumulated dioxins, mercury, PCBs etc in tuna, shark, salmon etc. There are of course beans and pulses, but if everyone opts for those we’re going to have up pesticide and fertilizer production to keep pace with the massive ensuing demand because current so-called organic approaches would not cope.

By: Mina

Mina — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:45:03 +0000

See, I don’t think that exercise and eating a healthy, varied diet will ‘mess’ with insulin levels, for the most part (generalizing, of course). Exercise (especially cardiovascular) tends to make insulin pretty darn efficient. If you’re coupling that with a diet focused on complex carbs and well selected protein and fat sources, that in itself can actually correspond with the notion of insulin levels —> obesity, no? What I don’t think is healthy would be to eliminate or limit important food groups with the idea of more is better when it comes to protein (i.e. Atkins).

I’ll still maintain that it’s a minority who will become obese when eating a healthy, varied diet and exercising regularly.

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:34:45 +0000

Mina, totally agree on the exercise, fruit and veg, moderation, and genetics etc, but it seems that from Taubes’ point of view, there is a major factor that is overlooked in most discussion of what causes weight gain and ultimately, obesity, and that is that insulin is the primary regulator of fat storage. Mess with your insulin levels and even if you’re exercising well and eating “properly” you could still end up obese.

By: Mina

Mina — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:28:57 +0000

I’m with Kate on this one. Atkins puts a burden on the kidneys and excludes or limits many nutritious fruits and vegetables. Obesity is complicated – I think most can agree on that but there’s a quote I heard once that I like – ‘Nobody ever got fat from eating too many fruits and vegetables.’ I still think that society makes obesity even MORE complicated than it is. For most people, the basic notions of healthy portion sizes, a range of foods from the food groups (ones you can pronounce!!!!) and regular exercise are sufficient. It’s attitudes that are the biggest challenge.

Disclaimer: No, I’m not ignoring all of the health conditions that relate to obesity nor am I ignoring a genetic predisposition. I’m talking about what I believe works for weight control in the average person. ;)

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:26:45 +0000

Any form of yo-yo dieting whether Atkins or not cannot be good for anyone, that said, if there are toxicity issues with a particular diet then long-term use is inevitably going to cause physiological damage in the long term.

By: David Brown

David Brown — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:09:07 +0000

On November 14 Kate said, “The thing is the Atkins diet is dangerous.”

Indeed it is, for some people. I know a lady who used to be a New York fashion model. She would occasionally use the Atkins diet to drop a few pounds to keep her weight where she wanted it. Unfortunately, her metabolism did not tolerate the low-carb approach very well. Repeated episodes of low-carb dieting almost killed her.

For many, however, the Atkins diet works quite well. It’s important, then, not to think of the low-carb approach in terms of danger but in terms of its appropriateness.

Lastly, all “good” diets are rich in supportive nutrients, those chemicals that are needed for proper energy release and body building and tissue repair. The modern foods of commerce don’t seem to meet these requirements.