A relative of mine is a dietitian and always talks about obesity being, as you say, about “differences in physiology, psychology and circumstances”.
It’s terrific that you’ve found an approach to food and exercise that you enjoy and that is working for you. Good for you! Slow and steady is a great way to make continued gains in any area of life.
"What am I? A hot water bottle . . . ?" LOL. I started to gain weight when I hit puberty. By my later teen years, I found a diet that would help me lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight. I've continued to grapple with weight gain ever since. I don't comment on others' weight. And when others indicate that they struggle with their weight and celebrate their victories, I celebrate with them. Of these categories of sanctimonious assholes (sorry, American), the worst for me has been the (feminist) fat activists.
True story: many years ago, a friend and I were having a private conversation at a feminist conference, when an older, famous and, yes, very large, feminist walked by. Having overheard part of our conversation, she bellowed to the entire room, "lose weight? Feminists should try to take up as much space as possible!" No.
Great taxonomy of various extreme takes on diet. I’m sure this article will be appreciated by anybody interested in the meaning invested in body weight and food and particularly by those who are on trying to lose weight
Perfectly put. People carry a lot of guilt about being fat, so the moralists use that against people.
Let's remind people what you said, "We are all apes whose fat storage systems were built for times in which food was scarce and it was good to overeat when we had the opportunity and store the surplus as fat for later. We do not live in such an environment now and consequently many of us are too fat."
I don't shame fat people because I don't know if they're actively trying to lose weight or if they understand their situation. Especially at the gym - I know they're trying.
The diet evangelists often come from junk food diets where ANY diet would be an improvement. In fact, the term 'evangelist' is apropo because often religious salesmen had a dysfunctional life which any religion would improve as well.
I also don't believe that losing weight is 'fat genocide' since the person is still alive after losing the weight. Last time I checked, genocide has to involve killing or removal of a person.
Glad you decided to write a full article despite feeling dissuaded from writing about it ever again. Without reiterating anything i said in the previous thread, the reason these debates gets so heated online is that it is almost entirely governed by pseudo science. By that i explicitly talk about the Holistic ™️ Industry on the one hand and the activist side on the other hand.
Good job on this piece. The right tone of scold without turning obesity into some new victim category.
I have been fit my entire life... have more problems retaining wait as I don't retain fat so I can only keep weight in by building muscle. I have obese family members and friends. I love them dearly and would never be hurtful to them about their weight but certainly worry about their health outcomes.
My view is that there are five contributors to obesity (and not in any order):
1. Genetics - some people have stronger metabolism like me and my genetic relatives.
2. Diet
3. Activity
4. Psychological issues related to food and eating (i.e., filling gaps of happiness with food consumption)
5. Health related issues that impact weight gain or loss
#2 and #3 I think absolutely warrant some soft criticism and judgement. 1, 4 and 5 should be off limits and elicit nothing but empathy and support.
I just love to hear you mapping a rational path through all the quagmires.
p.s. that's great. good for you.
Thank you for your wonderful writing, and congratulations on your good health and optimism!
Fantastic piece of writing and thinking.
A relative of mine is a dietitian and always talks about obesity being, as you say, about “differences in physiology, psychology and circumstances”.
It’s terrific that you’ve found an approach to food and exercise that you enjoy and that is working for you. Good for you! Slow and steady is a great way to make continued gains in any area of life.
"What am I? A hot water bottle . . . ?" LOL. I started to gain weight when I hit puberty. By my later teen years, I found a diet that would help me lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight. I've continued to grapple with weight gain ever since. I don't comment on others' weight. And when others indicate that they struggle with their weight and celebrate their victories, I celebrate with them. Of these categories of sanctimonious assholes (sorry, American), the worst for me has been the (feminist) fat activists.
True story: many years ago, a friend and I were having a private conversation at a feminist conference, when an older, famous and, yes, very large, feminist walked by. Having overheard part of our conversation, she bellowed to the entire room, "lose weight? Feminists should try to take up as much space as possible!" No.
Excellent
Great taxonomy of various extreme takes on diet. I’m sure this article will be appreciated by anybody interested in the meaning invested in body weight and food and particularly by those who are on trying to lose weight
Perfectly put. People carry a lot of guilt about being fat, so the moralists use that against people.
Let's remind people what you said, "We are all apes whose fat storage systems were built for times in which food was scarce and it was good to overeat when we had the opportunity and store the surplus as fat for later. We do not live in such an environment now and consequently many of us are too fat."
Tally me in the column labeled, "That's great. good for you!"
I don't shame fat people because I don't know if they're actively trying to lose weight or if they understand their situation. Especially at the gym - I know they're trying.
The diet evangelists often come from junk food diets where ANY diet would be an improvement. In fact, the term 'evangelist' is apropo because often religious salesmen had a dysfunctional life which any religion would improve as well.
I also don't believe that losing weight is 'fat genocide' since the person is still alive after losing the weight. Last time I checked, genocide has to involve killing or removal of a person.
Glad you decided to write a full article despite feeling dissuaded from writing about it ever again. Without reiterating anything i said in the previous thread, the reason these debates gets so heated online is that it is almost entirely governed by pseudo science. By that i explicitly talk about the Holistic ™️ Industry on the one hand and the activist side on the other hand.
Good job on this piece. The right tone of scold without turning obesity into some new victim category.
I have been fit my entire life... have more problems retaining wait as I don't retain fat so I can only keep weight in by building muscle. I have obese family members and friends. I love them dearly and would never be hurtful to them about their weight but certainly worry about their health outcomes.
My view is that there are five contributors to obesity (and not in any order):
1. Genetics - some people have stronger metabolism like me and my genetic relatives.
2. Diet
3. Activity
4. Psychological issues related to food and eating (i.e., filling gaps of happiness with food consumption)
5. Health related issues that impact weight gain or loss
#2 and #3 I think absolutely warrant some soft criticism and judgement. 1, 4 and 5 should be off limits and elicit nothing but empathy and support.
❤️