I was watching the Penn and Teller about Obesity and wanted to bring it up here. There are many good points that are..pointed out in the episode. In fact..everything makes perfect sense.


Obesity is found in a person using the Body Mass Index. It takes your height and your weight and assesses your "problem" with a simple math problem. Charts can be found all over the internet. They use this chart when you sign up for health insurance. They use the chart in hospitals to rule out obesity as a cause of your sickness.

Now the problem I want to point out is that people seem to think obesity is a sickness. A lot of people think that obese people are useless, they aren't active in the world and they don't contribute much at all. Some people go as far as discriminating against it. Hell..if you discriminated against a fat man in Roman times that fat man would usually have you brutally beaten or killed. Why? Being fat is a sign of economic wealth. You're able to get fat, which means you may be over eating, thus you are able to afford to over eat.

The bigger problem? Things like diet companies like the trick you. They like to play with your mind and wave risks like heart disease in your face. It's actually more dangerous to use a pill than to be obese...now why you may ask? Type diet pill into google and count how many pills there are...for gods sake. Do they even do trials with the damn things? One diet pill caused heart valve damage and thousands of people probably died with relation to the damage. Some pills just plain don't work. When they don't work the diet companies say you should have stuck to the pill instead of weening off of it.

Although many doctors don't want to tell you, it's more healthy for someone that is obese or overweight to exercise than it is for someone that isn't overweight to not exercise. The only real issue is getting exercise at all.

I, personally, am not obese...
and I do not see obese people as a burden or as just sitting around doing nothing all day. That's judging a book by its cover. I know and have befriended quite a few obese people and they can't help how they look...
I think it has to do with their metabolism.
I'm not able to gain any weight because my metabolism is so fast..
so it could be just the opposite for people who are obese.

Anyways, those people I know are quite the leaders and they take the initiative to start things and finish them (much more initiative than I've ever taken xD). I think that how useful you are and what you can do doesn't really relate to how much you weigh or what you look like.

Fun Fact: technically, based on the BMI test, my partner would be obese. And he is not large, he is not someone you would look at walking down the street and stare at for their largeness.

The whole concept of the BMI is flawed. It doesn't take into account muscle fat or bone structure.

What I'm trying to say is that the term obese is thrown around to easily in the first place. But the real issue, I have to agree, is exercise. I mean, it's simple isn't it? Eat balanced meals, with plenty of fruit, and go for a jog or get on an exersise bike for half an hour a couple of times a week.

Then again, it's not the fault of the larger amongst us for wanted to loose weight fast - it's the people who try and sell these 'quick fix' solutions that I want to throw rotten eggs at.

I think whether you are able to lead or not has almost nothing to do with your fatness unless you have to lead on the battlefield or something.

"rich"nesswise...It was that way in ancient times. However, that is not the way it is today. Today, people are getting fat because they are working really hard, have no time to sit down and cook a normal meal, so they're eating microwave food, fast food, and chugging sodas and such because they are portable.

I think being extremely obese is bad for your health, but I agree that exercising is almost always gonna be better than any artificial dieting idea. The problem today isn't "do people have motivation"--sometimes it is but that's not the majority of it. A lot of it is time and convenience. Not everyone has a home gym ya know? And it takes time to get to the gym, plus you gotta pay for it, AND you have to invest what, an hour or so a day to really get awesome results quickly?

The reason people probably pick pills over gym is the time investment required, AND gym fees are about $60.00/mo where I live..and a bottle of pills at Wal-mart is $19.95 for a 30 day supply.

Obesity IS a sickness in the terms that sickness is any physical ailment. The waving the "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HEART ATTACK" message isn't done for no reason. The thing is, a lot of people don't realize it's a phsycail condition - just something people get when they're lazy. However, there have been genetic and even viral attributes associated to some obesity cases. Like, not everyone who eats a ton and doesn't exercise is fat. (My best friend for example - guh, weighs as much as me and is significantly taller than me, and can eat a whole pizza in one sitting). That said, there are still cases of people who were obese because they didn't take care of themselves. So, like, if you're obese or getting there, you just need to find a way to balance out whatever you've been dealt. for me, I know a low-carb diet works.

That said, the BMI is flawed because it takes so litlte into account. I mean, but that standard, I'm almost overweight. I'd like to be skinner, but most people say I look about 10 pounds lighter than what I really am - and considering I've never broken a bone and my rather large calcium intake as a kid, I think it's that.

As for being fat meaning you're rich - things have changed. Being THIN now means you're rich. You can afford that sleek spa and toning, that trip to the gym, taht botox, that liposuction. Can't use previous standards for a modern argument.

I have a fast metabolism that keeps me from gaining much weight. And I hate it. I eat as much as I can to try and gain weight because I actually have bones that stick out, but nothing ever works. I jokingly tell people that from the food I eat I'm going to harden and arterie and die before I ever gain any weight. Although, now I'm beginning to think it might be true. xp. I once lost 5 pounds ovre night in my sleep. I went to bed that night, weighing 120 lbs. (the most I've ever wieghted in my life) and woke up at 115lbs. It honeslty scares me sometimes. But then its like with ganing weight, peope have to be careful not to gain too much. Everyoen tells me my metabolism will slow. And though, I'm happy that it will one day, I'm also kind of nervous because I don't exercise and I don't eat healthy like I should. So, if I do go overboard and gain too much weight. I'll probably have a hard time losing it, because its soemthign I've never had to try to do before.

Weight issues in general are scary--I wish people would focus on them as a whole instead of just looking at obesity. I see the problem not being weight related but control related; people don't know how to control themselves.

So either people are overweight or underweight and very few people are actually at their ideal weight.

The BMI thing is utter.. excuse my language... crap. The chart was originally intended to compare a child's growth to national averages to see how the child was developing--when you hit puberty the chart becomes completely unreliable. Not only that, but some years ago the chart was changed. My doctor now keeps telling me that at 5'5" I should be 130-140 lbs. @[email protected] Before it used to be 140-150! What happened? And when I was at 105lbs... he didn't say anything about me being underweight. Now I'm pushing 135 and he's asked me if I thought about dieting!

Then there is my friend who can out run, out lift, out anything me, has an amazingly beatiful toned body and her doctor told her she's obese! WTH? She works out two hours a day, has for years, eats better than I do, has perfect blood pressure, perfect cholesterol, but because she has a medical condition that causes her metabolism to be practically non-existant she has a larger frame--but she looks like she's about fifty pounds lighter than she actually is. Heck, she looks better in a bikini than I do! If she weren't so short, no one would ever question her weight.

Obesity is becoming a real problem in this country--kids shouldn't be obese! Gestational diabetes is no longer reserved for the elderly and pregnant! Heart disease in pre-pubescent children! It IS a sickness. It can be caused by genetics, medical conditions, etc. It can kill you, shorten your life. People should do everything they can to be healthy.

People make fun of young childeren who are obese and it upsets me.
I mean, what if the parent isn't feeding the child the heathiest foods? Maybe they can't afford it? Fresh items are a bit more expensive. Half of America is basically living on Food Stamps.

So see, I don't see why the child should always take the blame. "Oh, it's your fault you choose to eat unhealthy!" Maybe not. The parent is the one that supplies the food. Maybe the parent isn't buying the right foods though.

Originally Posted by Bumuu

People make fun of young childeren who are obese and it upsets me.
I mean, what if the parent isn't feeding the child the heathiest foods? Maybe they can't afford it? Fresh items are a bit more expensive. Half of America is basically living on Food Stamps.

So see, I don't see why the child should always take the blame. "Oh, it's your fault you choose to eat unhealthy!" Maybe not. The parent is the one that supplies the food. Maybe the parent isn't buying the right foods though.

pretty much what i was going to say

its the parent's fault for not being able to supply the right foods for the children. to think about it they are our future and if right now we blame burger king or mcdonald's all we will get is to get them to close but what about closing the rest of the "junk food industry" theres more ways to get fat than everyone thinks

chocolate, potato chips, soda.. the list goes on and on

its what the parents show the children is the right way to eat

if a parent shows there 14 year old that eating burger king and mcdonalds is healthy they will show the same thing to their children and etc.. then diabeties and other diseases begin to run in the family :(

Originally Posted by stilettolover

My doctor now keeps telling me that at 5'5" I should be 130-140 lbs. @[email protected] Before it used to be 140-150! What happened? And when I was at 105lbs... he didn't say anything about me being underweight. Now I'm pushing 135 and he's asked me if I thought about dieting!

:shock: that's complete madness!!

As a Brit i have a very generalised opinion that American doctors should be shot! At 5'5 and 135lb you're the perfect weight!
i'm 5'6 and 150lb and no doctor has ever said a word to me about needing to lose weight, though i could do with shedding 20lbs or so.

I totally, totally agree.
I'm not fat myself.
I found out I'm healthy for my age, size and height.
But I'm pretty lazy for a non-fat person. XD''
It's not even funny.

Anyways, yeah, that also reminds me of pretty much any other pill.
They have things to make your period only last two or three days instead of a week,
but there's a chance or heart attack and a bunch of other stuff.
It's disturbing.
Why bother? I'd rather suffer the 7 days we all know we can handle then three days and a chance to die.

*Rolls eyes*

Obesity, in some cases, is most certainly a sickness, because for some people it is an addiction. If you were addicted to say, cocaine, someone would suggest rehab, in a controlled environment. Same with alcohol - you would have a sponsor, someone to help you deal with facing down that drink after work, or turning away the champagne during a friend's wedding toast.

Who is there to help you at breakfast, lunch and dinner when you're addicted to food? Most people don't have someone sitting in the break room to talk with them about not using the snack machine during break.And though some say that there is no such thing as food addiction, it's been proven medically and psychologically. Some people eat and eat, and they really can't help themselves. Some people eat emotionally, because of outside stressors, much like alcoholics or drug addicts, and the more they're emotionally stressed, the more they'll end up eating. There is actual comfort, although temporary, in food.

I know this because I deal with it all day, every day. It's NOT simple. Not in the least.

I made a post about this here, although I won't get far into it now. If you're interested in a bit more detail, please go ahead and read it.

My point here is that I find myself resentful and angry when I hear people say that to be overweight is to be lazy or uneducated, when for so many people (more than you might think), that has nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted by Anubis

Although many doctors don't want to tell you, it's more healthy for someone that is obese or overweight to exercise than it is for someone that isn't overweight to not exercise. The only real issue is getting exercise at all.

This is so true. How active you are is all that matters. You can be overweight and have less heart problems than a person who's underweight, just because you excersise and they don't. BMI is completely flawed and even my gym teacher told us to only use it as a semi-guide... just something to see average. There are tests that can show a more true BMI, those are costly and such, but once technology improves people will be able to get a better understanding of what they really need.

I have personal experiences with obesity... and yes some people who are obese are worthless to this world. my mother is an obese woman... she sits on her bottom all day and does nothing.... me and my siblings are forced to do dishes, laundry, clean the house, and cook meals.... it is absolutly ridiculous....

Whenever a society decides to make an ideal weight that is supposed to apply to all people, that society has serious issues. Some health problems can be reduced by exercise and a healthy diet, but doing those things just to lose weight as quickly as possible can be just as dangerous as the health problems you're trying to prevent.

Not everyone who has a larger build is someone who is slacking off and avoiding a healthy diet and exercise. I go on long excercise walks three times a week, eat as well as I can, and am still taller and wider than most people. Some will still call me obese, but not my doctors.

For some people, obesity IS a real medical issue. Some people have a deficiency in a gene that tells their stomach when they're "full" or a deficiency in their metabolism. My best friend, for example, does hecka more sports than I have ever done. However, she weighs around 40 lbs more than me, and we're the same height. ><; I think these cases classify as a sickness, or, more specifically, a medical condition.

Obesity, though, for the majority of people, is due to lifestyle choices.
I am not going to be sympathetic towards someone who has all the avaliable resources to "shed those pounds" but chooses to eat chips and sit in front of the TV. And then whine later about "I'm so fat. -weepweep- Stupid genes!" No, honey, you made yourself fat.

Hence, I consider these cases of obesity to be more of a lifestyle choice than a sickness. Honestly, the diabetes and stuff you get as a result of obesity are the diseases, not the obesity itself. Obesity is a warning sign that you need to get your booty moving and/or to go onto a diet. It is not a sickness, though. I hate people who pull the "It's my genes, I swear!" excuse for obesity. No, honey, it's not your genes. Go out exercising like my best friend does, diet like she does, and then, if you're still fat, I'll accept that excuse.

Ah, I think Bumuu raises a very valid point about obese children. Imean, it's just... kind of sad, really.

I feel like I;m going to be the only overwieght person here replying. Me, I'm 5'3" and the last I checked, I weighted 200lbs. No one needs to tell me I need to lose weight because I already know. And been working on it. Also, if you look at me, you often could not tell my weight, I hold it well, luckly. But it still bugs me.

To the person who complained about losing 5lbs over night, that is normal. On average the average person fluctuates between 5-10lbs a day. Meaning you can wake up and be 120lbs but at the end of the day you can be 125-130lbs. The only true weight is what you weigh when you wake up and go to the bathroom, that is your true weight.

Yes, the BMI is crap, but for most of society it works. Most of society is not healthy and has a healthy amount of muscle mass, where muscle is heavier than fat.

A lot fo the weight problem comes from the food we eat. Most of it is filled with Sodium and Corn. 2 things that keep weight on you. Sodiom is something makes you hungry and retains water, while corn is used to often fatten up animals, and makes much sense how fat our society became sense High Fructose Corn Syrup is in everything, and is very fattening.

it also does not help that from all of human evolution till now, it has been a benfit to get fat, as a way to survive winters. until farming, and even then, only until Supermarkets came along, was obessity not a problem. Most bodies are designed to keep fat on, because it was such a surival mechanism, and only now is it life threatening.

with kids being obeese, has anyone ever watched "Honey, We're Killing the Kids" I think it is an eye opener. Most people feed the kids the foods because it is conveint, and even then, most children also help choose the foods, leaving little control to parents. With how fast pace society is, it leaves little to help familys eat healthy.

Also, many health food places do take food stamps, and food banks often make sure you get balanced amounts of food. I think a lot of it has to do with this society just wants meat and sugar. One of the reason I feel the Fatkins diet does so well.

I dunno. I'm 6'0, 155lbs. Not sure if that's fat or not. x.x' Prolly kinda fat. XD But meh. Food's yummy, what can I say?

When I get through school It'll free up a ton of time for me to exercise and such..but right now I'm pulling so many all-nighters just to get things done that I have almost no time for sleep much less to make healthy food.

Originally Posted by ScarletStratholme

I dunno. I'm 6'0, 155lbs. Not sure if that's fat or not. x.x' Prolly kinda fat. XD But meh. Food's yummy, what can I say?

When I get through school It'll free up a ton of time for me to exercise and such..but right now I'm pulling so many all-nighters just to get things done that I have almost no time for sleep much less to make healthy food.

Given your hieght and weight, I'd assume most people would think you are under weight than overweight.

While 155 at 6ft comes out really thin. Hell 180lb looks really thin on tall frames. Date several guys who were anywhere from 6 to 6'4" and most at 170 to 180 looked really thin.

Food is yummy, but so is healthy food. I've found with my new way of eating, no dieting, that healthy foods take no longer to make than bad for you foods. We just like to think they do.

Originally Posted by AkashaHeartilly

Given your hieght and weight, I'd assume most people would think you are under weight than overweight.

While 155 at 6ft comes out really thin. Hell 180lb looks really thin on tall frames. Date several guys who were anywhere from 6 to 6'4" and most at 170 to 180 looked really thin.

Food is yummy, but so is healthy food. I've found with my new way of eating, no dieting, that healthy foods take no longer to make than bad for you foods. We just like to think they do.

Yeah, Strath - those stats, you're skinny. XD;

Originally Posted by Anubis

I was watching the Penn and Teller about Obesity and wanted to bring it up here. There are many good points that are..pointed out in the episode. In fact..everything makes perfect sense.


Obesity is found in a person using the Body Mass Index. It takes your height and your weight and assesses your "problem" with a simple math problem. Charts can be found all over the internet. They use this chart when you sign up for health insurance. They use the chart in hospitals to rule out obesity as a cause of your sickness.

Now the problem I want to point out is that people seem to think obesity is a sickness. A lot of people think that obese people are useless, they aren't active in the world and they don't contribute much at all. Some people go as far as discriminating against it. Hell..if you discriminated against a fat man in Roman times that fat man would usually have you brutally beaten or killed. Why? Being fat is a sign of economic wealth. You're able to get fat, which means you may be over eating, thus you are able to afford to over eat.

The bigger problem? Things like diet companies like the trick you. They like to play with your mind and wave risks like heart disease in your face. It's actually more dangerous to use a pill than to be obese...now why you may ask? Type diet pill into google and count how many pills there are...for gods sake. Do they even do trials with the damn things? One diet pill caused heart valve damage and thousands of people probably died with relation to the damage. Some pills just plain don't work. When they don't work the diet companies say you should have stuck to the pill instead of weening off of it.

Although many doctors don't want to tell you, it's more healthy for someone that is obese or overweight to exercise than it is for someone that isn't overweight to not exercise. The only real issue is getting exercise at all.

Okay first of all obeisity is a sickness because you CAN get diseases from it. Pills aren't the only way to not be obese.
Its called exercise and eating right. You act like obiesity is some big conspiracy out to get people.
And where do you get your information on it being more healthy for obese people to exercise than healthy people?
That statement doesn't have alot of validity. Exercise is always good for you and the only way I can see it being more healthy for an obese person is because they are losing weight.
Unless you have health problems that cause you to be obese, there's really no excuse for it.

How the USA is having an "obesity epidemic" really pisses me off. Well, I just find it sad how the public is struggling with losing weight when there are so many countries where people are starving to death... in a perfect world we could ship all of our excess food over there. Something interesting my brother noted, not only do we have so much food, but we waste/spend even more money on slimming products. It seems so pointless and ironic to me. Wishing that the USA wasn't as prosperous doesn't help because there are still homeless people here... argh, it's a hard problem to solve.

I'm not an authority on the subject, but isn't it also mostly LIFESTYLE rather than food? My friend apparently eats a 2 course breakfast but she's lighter than me though I eat less for breakfast... I conclude it's because she lives on a ranch and is constantly running around, knowing her. ^^ And girls who dive for chocolate but don't become obese...probably because they don't snack all the time and maybe live active lifestyles as well, so they're not afraid to leap for the chance of chocolate instead of dieters who avoid it like the plague. Could it be that the USA is having an obesity epidemic mainly because of general laziness or unactive lifestyle, not just that we have fattening food readily available?

Originally Posted by Wisty

How the USA is having an "obesity epidemic" really pisses me off. Well, I just find it sad how the public is struggling with losing weight when there are so many countries where people are starving to death... in a perfect world we could ship all of our excess food over there. Something interesting my brother noted, not only do we have so much food, but we waste/spend even more money on slimming products. It seems so pointless and ironic to me. Wishing that the USA wasn't as prosperous doesn't help because there are still homeless people here... argh, it's a hard problem to solve.

I'm not an authority on the subject, but isn't it also mostly LIFESTYLE rather than food? My friend apparently eats a 2 course breakfast but she's lighter than me though I eat less for breakfast... I conclude it's because she lives on a ranch and is constantly running around, knowing her. ^^ And girls who dive for chocolate but don't become obese...probably because they don't snack all the time and maybe live active lifestyles as well, so they're not afraid to leap for the chance of chocolate instead of dieters who avoid it like the plague. Could it be that the USA is having an obesity epidemic mainly because of general laziness or unactive lifestyle, not just that we have fattening food readily available?

It is both.
We have a very lazy country, and yet very fattening foods all around us and considered what we should eat.