This Obesity Thing

I thought exactly this while on my European travels over the last 2 summers. How come Western Europe has nowhere near the amount of fatties as the UK?

Based upon my trips to France, Germany and Belgium, because it’s almost impossible to find a bloody supermarket to buy stuff.

yes, the UK is fat.

why? ❓

Maybe the Europeans hug their fatties moar?

I thought exactly this while on my European travels over the last 2 summers. How come Western Europe has nowhere near the amount of fatties as the UK?

Spain’s not far off, at least in Madrid: most of the guys here in my office have a paunch.

No I think we should keep it as it is a straightforward indicator that shows whether or not you need to look into something further. Then you can get the fat calipers out if you like. Complicated messages don’t work which is why people aim for things like traffic light labelling even though there are obvious problems with that as well.

+1

I’ve heard people who don’t eat particularly well and do no exercise saying “Well, the doctor said I was overweight but the BMI thing is unreliable isn’t it, because it would say a professional rugby player was overweight even though they’re fit”.

It’s a guide. It says “Given your height we would expect you to weigh Xkg, you’re over/under this, why might that be?”

It could be that you’re a professional rugby player, it could be that you’ve only got one leg, it could be that you’ve got a medical condition that means you gain weight, it could be that you’re anorexic.

But for a lot of people it will simply be that because of their lifestyle they’re outside a ‘healthy’ weight. Changing the lifestyle is the tricky bit, as is identifying what causes it & how much other ‘players’ influence it (food companies, govt etc).

For every person outside of their ideal weight, as a ratio to thickos with attention issues, is 1:15.

Source: STW Forum (2014) ‘http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/this-obesity-thing’. Pages 1-9.

Well if we’re stereotyping….whenever i’ve been on holiday somewhere hot and seen a fat bloke in speedos they are invariably German!

why?

Because our nanny-state culture has led to a lack of individual responsibility of course.

We should look to countries that place a great emphasis on individualism as an example, like the US.

Are people in the UK intrinsically lazier or greedier than those in Europe, or in the UK before obesity was a major issue? I’d say not. So, something must have happened at a societal level.

Asking people, as individuals, to make major changes without addressing the root causes is not always going to be successful. We need to make large, national-level, structural changes if we’re going to made a difference to a large, national problem.

Taking responsibility for yourself and eating more veg and fewer pies and moving about a bit more is fine, at an individual level. But, that advice isn’t going to work for 40 million people.

Smoking suppresses appetite doesn’t it? Is the decline in smoking related to the increase in eating?

I certainly put weight on when I gave up, but there were broader issues at work (no pun intended).

why?
Because our nanny-state culture has led to a lack of individual responsibility of course.

We should look to countries that place a great emphasis on individualism as an example, like the US.

Ah that bastion of personal responsibility, where there is blame there is a claim.

Obesity levels in France have doubled between 1995 and 2004 (to 11.3% of the population)

whatever is happening here, is happening there, too

I think it’s shocking that we can’t call a fat person fat. It’s a fact, same way you can call a smoker a smoker and a cancer sufferer a cancer sufferer.

I also think it’s shocking that some obese people sit and swear blind it’s not their fault. Granted, they may not have been educated properly and not been made aware of how they should eat and live, but when you get to that stage you DO something about it. They put an enormous strain on the NHS to help relieve the symptoms of something they have basically done themselves.

Of course there are emotional issues and it’s not black and white, anyone who feels the need to point out any such facts can save their energy. I just feel there should be much greater accountability on the people in question and a hard line of communication from medical professionals, family and friends rather than tiptoeing around the problems avoiding using direct language.

anyone who feels the need to point out any such facts can save their energy.

Yeah I hate it when people come out with inconvenient facts rather than just relying on lazy prejudices. I mean, you can prove anything with facts.

Dunno if my observations as a “portly” fellow are any help, but… I might be looking at it pretty simply, and I know that there ARE people out there who have outside influences that make the whole thing a lot more complex, but I kind of put it alongside the smoking thing. I knew smoking was really, really bad for me, but I did it for several years. Tried giving up with varying degrees of success for a number of years before finally getting it nailed – what it came down to, I think, was I really needed to WANT to give up in order to make it stick.

Weightwise, I’ve been slowly ballooning over the last six or eight years, to within sniffing distance of the dread twenty stone. Over the ten months or so up to my wedding in August of last year, I managed to shake almost four of them – since then, I’ve put two back on. What does it come down to? Well, the information’s all out there, for those that have an interest – it’s a matter of wanting to put it into action. Easier said than done, as I know well…

omfg……..please stop arguing ffs.
you are like children, do you want me to slap the back of your legs and mate them smart?

Do you often miss the point grum?

How many calories for 10 minutes of smacking?

Do you often miss the point grum?

Was the point that you made up the idea that we can’t call fat people fat?

I think it’s shocking that we can’t call a fat person fat.

I think this thread is pretty good evidence of what a load of bollocks that is.

I think it’s shocking that we can’t call a fat person fat

But you just did and nobody is knocking on your door to arrest you for it.

Of course there are emotional issues and it’s not black and white, anyone who feels the need to point out any such facts can save their energy. I just feel there should be much greater accountability on the people in question and a hard line of communication from medical professionals, family and friends rather than tiptoeing around the problems avoiding using direct language.

As you point out, there are many reasons behind the increasing waistline of the country. Simply pointing at 40 million fat people and saying “Oi, fatty, sort yourself out!” isn’t going to work. A more holistic* approach where we tackle societal issues as well as focusing on personal responsibility is needed.

*I apologise for using that word.

do you want me to slap the back of your legs and mate them smart

Chase me! Then we’ll both see the benefit! 😉

you are like children, do you want me to slap the back of your legs and mate them smart?

Just don’t smack their guts…

Jamie…where did you get my photo?

I just googled for images of black doctors.

Do that 2 day a week 600 calorie a day. Works great very easy probably psychology as I never have problem. Sack it when stopping with mother(not worth the ear ache) and anytime I am seeing daughters. So not overly rigid. Highly rated from a health point of view. Put on about a stone and half during 6 weeks in hospital and 2 months of the home help force feeding me full Monty breakfast! Have septic arthritis so difficult to get started on the bike again but managed in the end. Rugby is no chance. And now I am out of the habit of 60 mile pub crawls on my bike. Worse still I changed pubs to one that is only 6 miles away instead of the normal 12. Am nearly at my normal weight but have been for 6 months. Need to do that bit more exercise or look a bit more at my calorie intake. Have you noticed how they slag this diet down? Always on about the anorexia when the problem of obesity is many times worse. For the NHS (also known as the taxpayer) the cost are many times higher. Always the minority comes first.

A more holistic* approach where we tackle societal issues as well as focusing on personal responsibility is needed.

*I apologise for using that word.

So, to progress things, what do those in the “it’s complex” or “it’s social-level thing” suggest is done? Beyond appealing to personal initiative, what about subsidies, price incentives, removing tax on veg’, and stronger regulation and legislation on the food industry? Clearly much of his would have to be paid for out of the public pocket. Is there appetite for this? 😉

So, to progress things, what do those in the “it’s complex” or “it’s social-level thing” suggest is done?

Fiddle about with VAT/taxes on ‘healthy’/’unhealthy’ food/drink;
Sugar Tax;
Prioritise active travel, including good-quality bike infrastructure;
Parking Space Tax for businesses;
Gritting of pavements and bike paths in winter;
Free (good) school meals, with a ban on packed lunches;
Discount cars/vouchers for vegetable purchases for low income families;
Better education in school;
Better labelling and food regulations;
1-to-1 support for people losing weight;
Car-exclusion zones around schools;
Road pricing to discourage car commuting;
Subsidised public transport;
Raise driving age to 21;

When the Zombie apocalypse happens you’ll all be glad of the fatties as a food source

I bet they are even Paleo approved 8)

As a food source for the zombies you mean, whilst the skinny folk run for the hills?

Miketually has it.

Fiddle about with VAT/taxes on ‘healthy’/’unhealthy’ food/drink;
Sugar Tax;
Prioritise active travel, including good-quality bike infrastructure;
Parking Space Tax for businesses;
Gritting of pavements and bike paths in winter;
Free (good) school meals, with a ban on packed lunches;
Discount cars/vouchers for vegetable purchases for low income families;
Better education in school;
Better labelling and food regulations;
1-to-1 support for people losing weight;
Car-exclusion zones around schools;
Road pricing to discourage car commuting;
Subsidised public transport;
Raise driving age to 21;

pie-eaters wouldn’t care, they would just eat more pie

It’s somewhat shocking and saddening for me to see how little empathy there is for a significant proportion of the population.

I do feel sorry for those who have genuine medical reasons behind their weight, it’s just those who don’t even try and still moan about it that I have no time for. Again it’s the laziness and excuse making I can’t stand. Poor education on food is also no excuse, the majority of people have internet access to look up good advice. And eating healthy can be cheap. As an ex-fatty I know they love looking for excuses why it’s not their fault or looking for something to blame it on, because I did the same before one day I decided to sort my **** life out. And yes current me is still very much disgusted by the old me 🙂

Imo sugar, “bad carbs” etc can’t really be blamed either, otherwise how would I have managed to lose 2 stone/6″ off my waist and go down 3 t-shirt sizes in a few months when my diet consisted of bread, cereal, microwave lasagnes and beer? It’s because I was riding all day every day and expending more than I was consuming, simple as that!

It’s somewhat shocking and saddening for me to see how little empathy there is for a significant proportion of the population.

Quite right too

I have no sympathy for smokers
I have no sympathy for fatties

Both are choosing bad health

Good list Miketually!

@ _tom_ I reckon most in the “it’s complicated” camp probably subscribe more than they’re letting on to the “put it down and get up and do something” view. That’s not a surprise given that most of us are actually pretty fit and willing to get out there, whatever the weather. But, do you not think it is weird how national averages are so different? Is this because our society’s members are somehow weaker and lacking in will-power than people in other societies, or might different cultural histories, norms, food industry regulations and legal structures play a role?

It’s because I was riding all day every day and expending more than I was consuming, simple as that!

IT IS NOT THAT **** SIMPLE!

It worked for you. You seem only to know about your case. Everyone starts from a different point, everyone’s body is different and reacts differently to food.

Do some **** reading and realise how little you know. It’s great that you achieved weight loss, well done, but this IS a complex issue despite your ignorance.

Oh yes, I forgot that you’re a beautiful and unique snowflake molly 🙂

And yes current me is still very much disgusted by the old me

Good luck with the therapy sessions _tom_!

I think some of it is down to nutritional knowledge. Lots of people start diets in January that are based around salad and more salad because they think thats what a diet is. 2 weeks later they are fed up and back to their usual eating habits.

Oh yes, I forgot that you’re a beautiful and unique snowflake molly

It’s not that. You are a wrong and ill informed snowflake, on this particular issue.