"Obesity is a disease not a decision"

[Predarat]

[blaise]

I think for a lot of people poor sleep habits and dehydration lead to poor eating habits. They're tired and dehydrated and they perceive their body's reaction as hunger. The problem is that it leads to spur of the moment snacking, which is often junk food. Chips, cookies, drive thru, etc. Convenience food.

[luv]

There are medical conditions that can lead to obesity, but they don't have to. Those conditions actually do require medical treatment. However, I seriously doubt this is the case for 1/3 of Americans. It's actually probably a very, very small percentage.

I do think that the signs stand a chance of getting more people to consult with their doctors in order to get some help. It's a step, anyway. And, if they're going to see their doctors, then they can also be checked out for the many conditions that can be caused by obesity.

For those people who look for something else to blame for their laziness/inability to eat properly, then, yes, they will view this as an excuse. However, they will look to anything as an excuse. Those people probably would not seek help anyway. Hopefully, these billboards can reach those people who will eventually seek help.

While the basic concept of weight loss is simple (I know there are many ways to make it a little more complicated), there are probably people who just feel that it is out of their control for whatever reason. Maybe a doctor can put them on a wellness program, suggest a nutritionist, or send them to a personal trainer.

My only concern with this is whether this type of campaign will affect insurance rates. Will these types of things start being covered? In any case, the increased number of doctor visits surely would affect them.

[Lurk]

Originally Posted by luv

There are medical conditions that can lead to obesity, but they don't have to. Those conditions actually do require medical treatment. However, I seriously doubt this is the case for 1/3 of Americans. It's actually probably a very, very small percentage.

I do think that the signs stand a chance of getting more people to consult with their doctors in order to get some help. It's a step, anyway. And, if they're going to see their doctors, then they can also be checked out for the many conditions that can be caused by obesity.

For those people who look for something else to blame for their laziness/inability to eat properly, then, yes, they will view this as an excuse. However, they will look to anything as an excuse. Those people probably would not seek help anyway. Hopefully, these billboards can reach those people who will eventually seek help.

While the basic concept of weight loss is simple (I know there are many ways to make it a little more complicated), there are probably people who just feel that it is out of their control for whatever reason. Maybe a doctor can put them on a wellness program, suggest a nutritionist, or send them to a personal trainer.

My only concern with this is whether this type of campaign will affect insurance rates. Will these types of things start being covered? In any case, the increased number of doctor visits surely would affect them.

Don't see a doctor. They will just tell you have some kind of condition and put you on meds. They will also give poor nutritional advice. What people need to realize is that it is a long process, shows like the Biggest Loser gives unrealistic expectations. Our society has done a very poor job educating people on how to eat and take care of themselves. The snake-oil salesmen make it worse with their crash diets.

Losing weight is simple. All you need is the willpower, dedication, and patience to make it happen.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Lurk

Don't see a doctor. They will just tell you have some kind of condition and put you on meds. They will also give poor nutritional advice. What people need to realize is that it is a long process, shows like the Biggest Loser gives unrealistic expectations. Our society has done a very poor job educating people on how to eat and take care of themselves. The snake-oil salesmen make it worse with their crash diets.

Losing weight is simple. All you need is the willpower, dedication, and patience to make it happen.

Do you really think this is true?

1. Whose job is it to teach people that Calories in < Calories out = weight loss?

2. Are there people walking around who don't know the lesson in #1?

Everyone knows that fast food, Twinkies, and inactivity make people fat. Everyone knows that being fat leads to loads of health issues. Nobody is forced to opt for fast food, Twinkies, and inactivity.

[Lurk]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Do you really think this is true?

1. Whose job is it to teach people that Calories in < Calories out = weight loss?

2. Are there people walking around who don't know the lesson in #1?

Everyone knows that fast food, Twinkies, and inactivity make people fat. Everyone knows that being fat leads to loads of health issues. Nobody is forced to opt for fast food, Twinkies, and inactivity.

To a degree, yes. Think of the food pyramid crap that the gov pushes.

I agree that in the end it can be chalked up to an excuse. But people being confused about what they are supposed to eat and then giving up because they can't lose weight is a problem. How many times did you ever hear cals in/cals out before you got in to fitness? I never did.

How many people do you talk to that spout out nonsense that they have been educated about in regards to dieting. I hear it damn near every conversation with people.

We all need personal responsibility and to take charge of our lives, but the nonsense that is pushed out for how we should eat doesn't do anyone any favors. And as I said in my first post, obesity isn't a disease, it is lazy people that don't want to take the effort to get fit. That is what our society is mostly made up of now...so yes, if educating them on proper nutrition will help them, then we should do it.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Lurk

To a degree, yes. Think of the food pyramid crap that the gov pushes.

I agree that in the end it can be chalked up to an excuse. But people being confused about what they are supposed to eat and then giving up because they can't lose weight is a problem. How many times did you ever hear cals in/cals out before you got in to fitness? I never did.

How many people do you talk to that spout out nonsense that they have been educated about in regards to dieting. I hear it damn near every conversation with people.

We all need personal responsibility and to take charge of our lives, but the nonsense that is pushed out for how we should eat doesn't do anyone any favors. And as I said in my first post, obesity isn't a disease, it is lazy people that don't want to take the effort to get fit. That is what our society is mostly made up of now...so yes, if educating them on proper nutrition will help them, then we should do it.

Actually, I can remember discussing that in 2nd or 3rd grade when we learned about food groups. I wrestled in junior high & high school, so managing weight was always a topic of discussion.

Most of the "nonsense" that I hear is in the form of excuses. "Fatness runs in my family" "I don't have time to exercise" "Healthy food is too expensive" "I'm big boned"

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Do you really think this is true?

1. Whose job is it to teach people that Calories in < Calories out = weight loss?

The problem is that people are bombarded with mixed messages. Every popular weight loss book seems to have the message of "eat all you want as long as you don't eat carbs, fat, etc". I see "calories don't matter" all the time on the internet.

Originally Posted by Omaha

2. Are there people walking around who don't know the lesson in #1?

Everyone knows that fast food, Twinkies, and inactivity make people fat. Everyone knows that being fat leads to loads of health issues. Nobody is forced to opt for fast food, Twinkies, and inactivity.

I think most people realize that that stuff leads to obesity. Part of the problem, though, is that people think just eating Snackwell cookies will help them lose weight because they have no fat or eat bacon and hamburger because it has no carbs.

The calorie message can get drowned out in the sales pitch. I've seen boxes of Red Vines with big "0 FAT" stickers, as if that makes them healthier. Pork rind bags have "O CARBS" stickers on them.

None of this stuff should fool the health conscious but it does seem to fool the masses.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Frosty

The problem is that people are bombarded with mixed messages. Every popular weight loss book seems to have the message of "eat all you want as long as you don't eat carbs, fat, etc". I see "calories don't matter" all the time on the internet.



I think most people realize that that stuff leads to obesity. Part of the problem, though, is that people think just eating Snackwell cookies will help them lose weight because they have no fat or eat bacon and hamburger because it has no carbs.

The calorie message can get drowned out in the sales pitch. I've seen boxes of Red Vines with big "0 FAT" stickers, as if that makes them healthier. Pork rind bags have "O CARBS" stickers on them.

None of this stuff should fool the health conscious but it does seem to fool the masses.

That reminds me of one of the dumbest gimmicks I've seen in years: Fat Free Bread!!!!!

[Saul Good]

"Our society" (whatever that means) has not done a poor job of educating people on what makes us fat. It just makes it too easy for people to come up with excuses for why we aren't in shape.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

"Our society" (whatever that means) has not done a poor job of educating people on what makes us fat. It just makes it too easy for people to come up with excuses for why we aren't in shape.

Excuses are always easier to find than solutions...

[luv]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

"Our society" (whatever that means) has not done a poor job of educating people on what makes us fat. It just makes it too easy for people to come up with excuses for why we aren't in shape.

I agree with this. I'm not young anymore, and I don't have kids, but I think people are doing what they can with the children's Play 60 and such. And it's not rocket science to know that cals in < cals out is the basic solution to weight loss.

You've got fast food places promoting "healthy" options. It's a gimmick. They make people think that they are doing a good thing by eating out. Sure the healthier options are better, but better than what? Better does not mean good. Until you take the time to learn about food and prepare meals for yourself, you will never really know what all you are putting in your body. I'm not blaming fast food places. I'm blaming people (myself included) for being too lazy to learn, cook, or not fall for the convenience fast food offers.

[topher79]

High fructose corn syrup. That is all.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by topher79

High fructose corn syrup. That is all.

As long as you've found a bogeyman to blame, being fat isn't your fault.

People who are in shape live on a planet where HFCS doesn't exist...otherwise we'd be fat, too.

[blaise]

If someone can't grasp the fundamentals of what's good or bad for them then I don't know what hope there is for them anyway.