Obesity - a real or an invented problem?

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

What do you think that this obsession with perfect (meaning thin) body-line ? With diets, with kilos/pounds, measuring your weight every day and getting a nervous breakdown for any extra kilo?

It all started with "models". Then many women wanted to have perfect lines and look like the "models", so they endured even hunger and turned into skeletons with skin. Then it got the better of men as well, who are now on the average as obsessed with kilos nad line as women.

I am not talking here about the pathological obesity, which is rare and can be brought about by the disfunction of some glands. I am talking about the self-inflicted madness of many women and many men these days.

In some parts of the world there is a reverse phenomenon.

[Freebooter]

I've always been interested in it because I'm intrigued by the idea of being in peak physical condition. I'm of the mind that the body is a single working unit. Being in good (or peak) physical condition is complimentary to your mental condition. But, of course, being super-skinny is not, in my mind, equatable with peak (or even good) physical condition.

But obesity is certainly a problem, over on this side of the world anyhow. One of the reasons is because junk food is seemingly so much cheaper than healthy food. A person can go to the store and buy a dozen cupcakes for FAR less money than it costs to make yourself a well-balanced meal. And because everyone's priorities over here are retarded, they couldn't possibly sacrifice that new video game or the expensive sports car they want so badly rather than maintaining a proper diet, no matter the cost. And then when middle-age comes around and they're all suffering from cancer, arthritis, heart disease, etc., they whine and complain and desperately seek a quick fix that will reverse the years and years of terribly unhealthy habits (people make me sick, BTW).

Another is that people are lazy. They haven't any idea how much exercise per week the human body should be getting, and sometimes I don't think they care. Much of this is because the culture is, in general, rotten. Why eat healthy when you can just hop in your car and go the fast food place down the street? Why exercise when sitting on a couch and eating a piece of cake while watching TV is so much more enjoyable?

So I'd say obesity is a problem, but so is the obsession with being skinny. I don't think being obsessed with physical fitness and good health in general is necessarily a bad thing, so long as people are doing it for the right reasons. Being skinny just so you can conform to society's definition of beauty is retarded, and only stands as testament to the sheepishness of the average person. And, again, skinny =/= healthy (necessarily).

[Sergius]

Even though obesity and obsessing about weight are polar extremes in one sense, they are both a part of the problem (or, if you will, The Problem), and neither one is the solution to the other. On the contrary - both are sicknesses that are inflicted upon people by a sick society.
They are closely connected.

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by Vasconcelos

Being in good (or peak) physical condition is complimentary to your mental condition.

Correct.

Originally Posted by Vasconcelos

But, of course, being super-skinny is not, in my mind, equatable with peak (or even good) physical condition.

Fat and Fit? New Research Rebuffs Obesity Activists\' Weight-Obsessed Food Crusades

Fat and fit is better than thin and idle

Originally Posted by Vasconcelos

One of the reasons is because junk food is seemingly so much cheaper than healthy food.

Correct. Junk food is the problem, not the obesity per se.

Originally Posted by Faustas

Even though obesity and obsessing about weight are polar extremes in one sense, they are both a part of the problem (or, if you will, The Problem), and neither one is the solution to the other. On the contrary - both are sicknesses that are inflicted upon people by a sick society.

They are closely connected.

Yes, that is true.

[M.R.]

I have a little to much kg, but I don't bother with that really. It's in my genes I guess. I live quite healthy life, but I wouldn't say no to some good food just to "not get fat".

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by M.R.

I have a little to much kg, but I don't bother with that really. It's in my genes I guess.

Yes, that is what I always say: it depends individually, on each man's physical constitution. Some fat becomes certain men or women, while it looks ugly on others.

[svin]

My position is that I try to be active (I run, do some weightlifting etc) and I try to eat more or less healthy food.

[Ariets]

Originally Posted by svin

My position is that I try to be active (I run, do some weightlifting etc) and I try to eat more or less healthy food.

Same, but I try to eat more (and better food) to earn weight .

[svin]

I'm fine with my current weight ~92kg.

[Carnyx]

False problem. We know the why and the how. Only a small minority of those super overweighted people are big for some genetical reason. The rest is caused by a rotten environement and extremly poor hygiene of life.

[Vincent]

I just try to have a healthy life. I don't bother about such things as 'too much' or 'too less' pounds.

To keep it simple... Medio tutissimus ibis.

( just keep it in between these two photos )

[Carnyx]

Originally Posted by Vincent

It's alive!! Alive!!

[Savorgnan]

Thanks Vincent, you just ruined my appetite. I won't be able to eat tonight.

Obesity is the result of the mixture of American way of life plus American food. In you keep away from that crap, you'll keep away from obesity, it's as simple as that. Use your feet to go to places, and eat the less transformed food as possible.

[Ariets]

Originally Posted by svin

I'm fine with my current weight ~92kg.

Minus ~30 , exacly minus 28,5 kg. 178/63,5 its a bad score.