Everything else equal we know the most defining factor for health is wealth. The vast majority of the underweight would be made up of people from poor countries but I would bet a large majority of the upper middle class white collar office workers making their six figures (i.e. Calgarypuck users) would be in the slightly overweight category. So this shouldn't be a surprise at all even before factoring in any typical other "health" metrics.
But also from a completely anecdotal experience based on my own loved ones, it does seems like at a certain age it seems to shift into being beneficial to have a little added cushion. When you start getting to that point where you're significantly more susceptible to cancers and you can see how quickly the treatment and disease can wither people, having that little extra of energy storage might make the difference.
I remember being in Montreal back in the 70s and visiting the old well to do St. Charles Club. In the washroom there was a place for people to register their weight. I found it very interesting that in general, over a period of several decades, for almost everyone their weight gradually increased throughout their life. Then in the last few entries, their weight suddenly went down rapidly, and there was no more entries.
I think we naturally tend to become lazier with age. It's probably part of a survival thing, and important to understand our limitations as we get older. I heard someone say, "I get my exercise going to the funerals of all my jogging friends".
I have found walking to be the cheapest, and most beneficial exercise, for us older folks.
Last edited by flamesfever; 05-13-2023 at 12:55 PM.
so, so many bronze and silvers growing up. I feel shame.
I think I had one bronze and the rest were always participation pins. Our school made us do the damned standing triple jump which took far more coordination than I could muster in elementary school.
Mandate - yes, incentivize - yes, encourage - yes, promote - yes, explain - yes. All of those. There is absolutely nothing wrong with mandating exercise at all levels of live from daycare, kindergartens, school, work and even seniors care facilities. The sooner we start doing it the better.
The way things are going, it is not implausible to see people herded into semi-amoebic existence glued to their screens and attached to feeding/excreting tubes in some form or another. It's actually not that far off in a big picture -30? 50? 100 years away, but it will be a reality unless societies wake up and force its populations to become more active.
Or declare another reason to re-distribute wealth of the middle-classes and add another tax in the name of fighting obesity (which I think is forthcoming anyway; just such a low-hanging fruit for any party in power, really).
Or, we resort to conspiracy/sci-fi theories about being taken over by some alien silicone-based AI life form, whose plan is to make us glued to our screens and becoming an energy source.
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I remember being in Montreal back in the 70s and visiting the old well to do St. Charles Club. In the washroom there was a place for people to register their weight. I found it very interesting that in general, over a period of several decades, for almost everyone their weight gradually increased throughout their life. Then in the last few entries, their weight suddenly went down rapidly, and there was no more entries.
I think we naturally tend to become lazier with age. It's probably part of a survival thing, and important to understand our limitations as we get older. I heard someone say, "I get my exercise going to the funerals of all my jogging friends".
I have found walking to be the cheapest, and most beneficial exercise, for us older folks.
It's not just a question of laziness. Metabolisms decrease, you slow down, and you lose physical ability as you age. If anything it takes far more motivation to exercise at, even a lower level, as you get older. It's pretty easy to not be lazy even you're going, have a fresh body, and are full of hormones telling you to be active.
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Having lived in several areas of the world it's interesting how "normal" exercise is in some cultures, however in other cultures certainly not. Throw in considerations for geographical location and economics and it's not feasible for all countries everywhere to mandate exercise.
That said... in the wealthier nations I would certainly like to see more encouragement and participation from elementary school through end of highschool. Having some form of positive reinforcement for some behaviours (and negative for others such as smoking) would be great but a slippery slope too.
There will always be exceptions such as those with chronic issues, some (but not all) disabilities, and pragmatism.
Personally... grew up in a sporting family and for the most part have maintained and advocated for that. Much of my social group finds positivity (physical and mental) through sports but I have certainly seen it go too far with some friends and their expectations for their kids where it's become a problem.
As with most things in life... everything in moderation... including moderation.
Bottom line is if you can make it fun, make it good for your mind and body, and it helps with connections (or alone time) then go for it. But it's your choice and you do you.
I feel like one of the changes that could help would be to make organized sports easier to join as adults. We give kids all of these options and easy opportunities to play a sprt, but then as adults, you have to be pretty proactive and have either the time or money for a sport. I'm about to be 40 and still play hockey, soccer, and tennis, but I'm one of the only people in my social group doing all of this. I'm lucky as I haven't had kids to take up the time and I work very reasonable hours. But even then, it's definitely more of an effort to get involved in these now than when I was in school. And the other big difference is that there is no way to really start these sports as an adult beginner. It's only game times, never practices.
If there were more options for adult team sports, I think that would go a long way to getting people active.
I’d also be curious how the study was done and screened out things like cancer, drug addiction etc that can lead people to being underweight and unhealthy. At first glance I’m getting Minnesota diet study claims from it.
First, no it's not one study, it's a metastudy result.
The categories are just flat out mislabeled, "slightly overweight" is only called that so people would diet. Not because it's actually slight overweight. It's just normal weight. Most people are normal weight, and normal weight is statistically a good thing. They just get labeled "overweight" because of diet and beauty industry lobbying, because then people can be sold things, and they're customers all their lives because statistically dieting helps almost no one in the long term. Because most people just are of the weight that's normal to them and will naturally go back to it over time, and most people gain some weight as they age because again that's just normal. What isn't normal is being the same weight you were as a 20 year old for your whole life.
Second, somehow people are never as interested in all the hundred things that tend to cause overweight when they want to say "weight is correlated with negative health".
Yes, frickin' obviously, because basically any serious health issue will cause you to be less mobile in your everyday life, and thus make you both unhealthy in additional ways, AND more likely to be overweight, whether we're talking physical problems or mental problems.
The science just doesn't really support the idea that BMI categories are valid, let alone that they should be used as health indicators for individuals. Especially because we have actual, real ways to measure health that are much better than your weight.
Promoting exercise is good, but it always takes about 3 seconds when someone says that for the discussion to turn into "people should just really be less fat, being fat is the real problem".
Somehow people don't get excited about the idea that people should be more healthy in general because it saves money on healthcare.
You can't be fat, that's a choice and we shouldn't have to pay for your health problems, but if a normal weight person develops health problems because they love bacon and hate veggies, that's not a choice we should punish people for.
People don't want the government to get into the business of making people healthy by actually making them more healthy. That would mean interventions in diets, working conditions and media, especially social media.
No, they want government to intervene to make other people less fat.
First, no it's not one study, it's a metastudy result.
The categories are just flat out mislabeled, "slightly overweight" is only called that so people would diet. Not because it's actually slight overweight. It's just normal weight. Most people are normal weight, and normal weight is statistically a good thing. They just get labeled "overweight" because of diet and beauty industry lobbying, because then people can be sold things, and they're customers all their lives because statistically dieting helps almost no one in the long term. Because most people just are of the weight that's normal to them and will naturally go back to it over time, and most people gain some weight as they age because again that's just normal. What isn't normal is being the same weight you were as a 20 year old for your whole life.
Second, somehow people are never as interested in all the hundred things that tend to cause overweight when they want to say "weight is correlated with negative health".
Yes, frickin' obviously, because basically any serious health issue will cause you to be less mobile in your everyday life, and thus make you both unhealthy in additional ways, AND more likely to be overweight, whether we're talking physical problems or mental problems.
The science just doesn't really support the idea that BMI categories are valid, let alone that they should be used as health indicators for individuals. Especially because we have actual, real ways to measure health that are much better than your weight.
Promoting exercise is good, but it always takes about 3 seconds when someone says that for the discussion to turn into "people should just really be less fat, being fat is the real problem".
Somehow people don't get excited about the idea that people should be more healthy in general because it saves money on healthcare.
You can't be fat, that's a choice and we shouldn't have to pay for your health problems, but if a normal weight person develops health problems because they love bacon and hate veggies, that's not a choice we should punish people for.
Sorry, most people are normal weight? In what country??? Where I live in suburban Calgary that could not be further from the truth. Most people are packing around 50 pounds more than "normal" if that word means normal healthy body weight. If it means average then sure most people are average by definition.
Sorry, most people are normal weight? In what country??? Where I live in suburban Calgary that could not be further from the truth. Most people are packing around 50 pounds more than "normal" if that word means normal healthy body weight. If it means average then sure most people are average by definition.
If normal is meant to reflect the current state of the population, then sure we're all normal. If it is meant to bring in some aspect of what would be a healthy weight then no, most people are overweight bordering on obese.
Society as a whole has a problem here, and it's getting worse.
I think you might be underestimating the level of obesity in North America (particularly the US) compared to where you're from. Yeah, in Europe most people are a pretty normal weight. But 40% of the US is obese.
I think you might be underestimating the level of obesity in North America (particularly the US) compared to where you're from. Yeah, in Europe most people are a pretty normal weight. But 40% of the US is obese.
I was recently flying throguh the States and could not believe how much bigger, on average, they were to Canadians. It was eye opening. And I know Canada ain't all that great.
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I was recently flying throguh the States and could not believe how much bigger, on average, they were to Canadians. It was eye opening. And I know Canada ain't all that great.
It’s been said a ton, but a large part of it is diet. They consuming so much sugar and so much corn syrup it’s insane. Even the “same” product that we have here, like ketchup, will have HFCS in the US version.
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I feel like one of the changes that could help would be to make organized sports easier to join as adults. We give kids all of these options and easy opportunities to play a sprt, but then as adults, you have to be pretty proactive and have either the time or money for a sport. I'm about to be 40 and still play hockey, soccer, and tennis, but I'm one of the only people in my social group doing all of this. I'm lucky as I haven't had kids to take up the time and I work very reasonable hours. But even then, it's definitely more of an effort to get involved in these now than when I was in school. And the other big difference is that there is no way to really start these sports as an adult beginner. It's only game times, never practices.
If there were more options for adult team sports, I think that would go a long way to getting people active.
Japan just started a soccer league for people over 80.
That's a positive mentality; I do find our culture assumes people shouldn't be able to generally be active over even 50-60ish
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Japan just started a soccer league for people over 80.
That's a positive mentality; I do find our culture assumes people shouldn't be able to generally be active over even 50-60ish
Well this is one of the great things about golf. It’s a good walk, and I see a lot of older people playing.
I've had a love-mostly-hate relationship with my elliptical for over a decade. I'd probably enjoy doing lots of swimming but there's no options nearby and going further means more planning not to mention having to be around people.
Lately I've been doing dumbbells/isometric type stuff in the morning at home at least 3 times a week and for me so far it's the perfect fit. Low cost to start, can do at home. Highly recommend trying this for the older slowing metabolism with weight and is super lazy types (me), I don't know if it's that the time spent doing work feels lower, the fact that rest between sets is part of the design, or what but I find it FAAAAR easier to get up and get done in the morning than half an hour on the elliptical ever was. I wish I'd tried this years ago.
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I feel like one of the changes that could help would be to make organized sports easier to join as adults. We give kids all of these options and easy opportunities to play a sprt, but then as adults, you have to be pretty proactive and have either the time or money for a sport. I'm about to be 40 and still play hockey, soccer, and tennis, but I'm one of the only people in my social group doing all of this. I'm lucky as I haven't had kids to take up the time and I work very reasonable hours. But even then, it's definitely more of an effort to get involved in these now than when I was in school. And the other big difference is that there is no way to really start these sports as an adult beginner. It's only game times, never practices.
If there were more options for adult team sports, I think that would go a long way to getting people active.
Calgary Sport and Social Club has individual sign up teams for almost all of their sports. Now you can get stuck with a bunch of weirdos but it worked if you want to play at the very recreational level. Doesn’t solve your practice issue but the level of play is low enough that anyone will fit.
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First, no it's not one study, it's a metastudy result.
The categories are just flat out mislabeled, "slightly overweight" is only called that so people would diet. Not because it's actually slight overweight. It's just normal weight. Most people are normal weight, and normal weight is statistically a good thing. They just get labeled "overweight" because of diet and beauty industry lobbying, because then people can be sold things, and they're customers all their lives because statistically dieting helps almost no one in the long term. Because most people just are of the weight that's normal to them and will naturally go back to it over time, and most people gain some weight as they age because again that's just normal. What isn't normal is being the same weight you were as a 20 year old for your whole life.
.
Yeah, so how did the meta study screen out for what I mentioned?
Also very much disagree on this. I used to travel to the Southern US a lot for work and obesity is on another level there. The States with the poorest health outcomes are basically over lapped with the most obese States. These aren’t people packing an extra 20lbs. Now there are complex reasons for amount of obesity in these States and obese people aren’t lesser but no amount of lobbying is simply labeling obese people unhealthy and you are hand waving the problem away.
