Obesity: Why are we getting fat? :epizza:

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Nitack

You said that there are sociological reasons that need to be considered. One sociological reason is absolutely our way of working... sitting behind a desk. Outfit every desk this way and we have a change to one of the core issues in our society that leads to obesity. If the standard working station was a standing/walking station, how many more Calories would the average person use in a day? Maybe not enough to offset increased food consumption, but definately enough to slow down the weight gain and possibly even turn it around.

Nitack, you are over simplifying something that is really quite complex. It's like saying the answer to the danger of war is taking all the weapons away from every one, of course that would work but it's totally impractical to implement. I am getting fat and I know why, I still eat like I am a healthy 25 year old but I am not healthy, I have health problems that keep my from doing much exercise. On top of that the food I can afford is often the worst I can eat. simply cutting down on my intake in very difficult, far more so than I would have imagined when i was an active 25 year old. many people have metabolism problems that mean they have to eat so very little to keep from gaining weight it's doubly difficult for them. simply sating it's easy to cut back or exercise more is not true and insults lots of people who really do try to both exercise more and cut back. It's not a simple easy fix for everyone. As we grow older our food intake generally needs to decrease but it becomes easier to eat than it is to exercise. I like to eat, I enjoy foods, that often adds up to fat, then there is the fact that if we eat too little our metabolism actually slows down and makes it harder to loose weight. There are many factors that do not apply to everyone and no one thing can work for everyone. It is not as simple as eat less excercise more for many people.

[Kayra]

Originally Posted by Nitack

My understanding is that Obesity is spreading world wide to every area with the exception of sub-Saharan Africa. Everywhere else you can find obesity rates rising and consequently, the amount of Calories available per capita has also risen much more dramatically in those regions.

It may have some correlation to calories available per capita, but only VERY loosely.
Looking at Canada and the US, according to this chart. We have similar access to food type and income, and yet there is a DRASTIC difference in BMI. And Canada is not the only country where this correlation breaks down.

Originally Posted by Nitack

Outfit every desk this way and we have a change to one of the core issues in our society that leads to obesity.

Sorry Nitack, but I think that is an entirely silly suggestion and not really all that helpful. Aside from the astounding cost and immense waste (as most overweight people would likely not accept forced exercise as a solution), we Canadians have identical work habits in general and do not suffer from obesity to nearly the same degree.

Something else is at work here. Cultural is most likely, but certainly not a lock on the cause.

[Nitack]

My walking desk was half joke and half solution and half bragging about my handiwork.

[Moontanman]

Microbe Composition In Gut May Hold Key To One Cause Of Obesity

Microbe Composition In Gut May Hold Key To One Cause Of Obesity
ScienceDaily (Jan. 20, 2009) — Biodesign Institute in collaboration with colleagues at the Mayo Clinic, Arizona, and the University of Arizona, reveal a tantalizing link between differing microbial populations in the human gut and body weight among three distinct groups: normal weight individuals, those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery, and patients suffering the condition of morbid obesity—a serious, often life-threatening condition associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and psychosocial disorders. Obesity affects around 4 million Americans and, each year, some 300,000 die from obesity-related illness.

[Kayra]

You certainly have bragging rights, I doubt I could subject myself to that on a daily basis

Moontanman: Wonderful example of another aspect of obesity, efficiency of digestion.

I had forgotten how much bacteria aided in digestion. Some say as much at 25% of our food energy comes from this synergy, and that is statistically significant. Another aspect is how efficient our system is at

• Storing calories as fat
• Returning fat to our bloodstream for use as energy
• Using fat as a source of energy.

Each of these are separate systems with multiple chemical control paths.

Any one of these systems can be affected by trace chemicals from an environment or food chain and thrown slightly out of kilter. It would not take much as they are quite delicately balanced.
Obesity is a relatively recent problem (the last 30 years).




Nitack: Kudos on your personal victories and sorry I do not pick up on jokes that quickly.

[Michaelangelica]

The thing that is strange or "That's funny" about this obesity epidemic is that it is in many third world countries too not just the USA.

More on gut flora

Could Changing The Bacteria In Your Digestive System Be An Obesity Treatment?
several animal studies suggest that gut microbiota are involved in regulating weight and that modifying these bacteria could one day be a treatment option for obesity.

Could Changing The Bacteria In Your Digestive System Be An Obesity Treatment?

Antibiotics Can Cause Pervasive, Persistent Changes To Microbiota In Human Gut

Antibiotics Can Cause Pervasive, Persistent Changes To Microbiota In Human Gut

Many animals such as pigs and meat chickens are routinely, daily, fed anti-biotics as this makes them put on weight faster. Thus making the farmer more money quicker, and saves on feed costs.
There is a lot of criticism of this widespread (almost universal?) practice.
Many believe we should not be using antibiotics for this trivial purpose as it potentially makes the ant-biotic resistance problem worse.

I wonder if the anti-biotics stay in the meat when consumed by us?

[Racoon]

Originally Posted by Nitack

My Solution: The Walking Desk


I bought a used treadmill off of Craigslist, custom built a desk that would be at the perfect height to use while walking on the treadmill, and now have turned normally sedentary work, surfing the web, and playing computer games into physically active activities.

Inspired by this article at Men's Health
Diet Strategies: Increase Metabolism - Men's Health

If you like the idea, curious about the actual use, or want to build your own and need some pointers don't hesitate to ask.

Theres a guy at the Gym who hooked up a Treadmill to the TV. When his wife wants to watch TV, she has to move the treadmill.
an Hour or two of Soaps on a treadmill is a whole lot different than 2 hours on the couch.



Great call Nitack!
This conversion can be done by the scientific minds here rather easily in terms of engineering.

A little harder to Walk and Type on the computer than it is to simply watch TV; a treadmill to a TV is easier to hook up.

The solution is easy.
Watch TV, but you have to Treadmill the electricity! (or Bike it)

[modest]

Originally Posted by Racoon

The solution is easy.
Watch TV, but you have to Treadmill the electricity! (or Bike it)

That's a good idea. Quickly looking up some figures, it looks like people can on-average produce 125-200 watts pedaling (the second source below has 150 W for 30 minutes). A small television is right around 150 W (plasmas are usually a bit higher).

So, it really would be a challenge to watch a half-hour show making it an incentive to push oneself. I'm surprised I haven't seen an infomercial for one of these

Human Power Generator.The Pedal-A-Watt Stationary Bicycle Generator.
David Butcher: Pedal Powered Generator - DIY Plans

~modest

[cooloola]

There is a link between poverty and lack of education and geographic location. Whilst it seems simple to many of us that increased calorie intake = weight gain/obesity many don't have available to them a varied diet eg: indigenous australians who live in the outback where fruit and veges sell at exhorbitant prices if they are available. Processed foods high in sugar and salt is often all that is available to this population.
Sure for most its all about discipline but for others this is a complex social problem deserving diverse solutions.

[pamela]

The local boys and girls club in my area have two exercise bikes that are hooked up to playstation 2 consoles. These kids are so preoccupied with the game, that they are not paying attention to their continual pedaling. After about 20 minutes, they take a break, rub their legs, and get in line for their next turn.
These bikes are more of an industrial model, but there are a few on the market for the home