Overweight and Obese Children Eat Less Than Their Healthy Weight Peers

[Ducay]

Yes, some people are obese due to genetics.

The same way some people are skinny due to genetics.


The problem is the % of population in the first catagory is wayyyyy out of wack.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by bcb

I am simply saying that it is my belief that obesity is not the problem it is made out to be. And for those who it is a problem, they should not be denigrated for something they may not be able to control.

In 1978/79, the Canada Health Survey collected measured height and weight data for a nationally representative sample of adults. That year, the age-adjusted obesity rate was 13.8%, far below the 2004 rate of 23.1%.

bcb, lets try to get on the same page here then - in your mind, what actually defines a problem.

30%? 40%?

Or do you feel that health problems aren't caused by obesity?

Seriously, what's your deal?

[bcb]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

In 1978/79, the Canada Health Survey collected measured height and weight data for a nationally representative sample of adults. That year, the age-adjusted obesity rate was 13.8%, far below the 2004 rate of 23.1%.

bcb, lets try to get on the same page here then - in your mind, what actually defines a problem.

30%? 40%?

Or do you feel that health problems aren't caused by obesity?

Seriously, what's your deal?

I never said that obesity didn't cause health problems. I am debating the prevalence and cause.

In the 1978-2004 study, how did they define obesity?

By simply looking at Canadian kids today, there's no chance that 1:5 is obese.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Base metabolism is an odd thing. I mentioned in another thread about losing weight. I'm trying to get down to 163. I'm at 165. And have been stuck at 165 for a month now. Despite getting up at 4am to do 1hr on the exercise bike and 1hr in the pool each day. That's burning 1,000 calories in exercise each morning. I'm eating about 2,000 calories. I'm thinking that maybe when I was burning fat, I was also burning lean tissue and have destroyed my metabolism? I can't figure out why otherwise I would not be able to lose those last 2 pounds.

Maybe it's the last 12 months of eating 1,500 calories per day and the body adjusted the metabolism to the lower calorie count?

That may be exactly what you've done, and exactly why people will always say that you should lift weights alongside cardio to help retain lean muscle mass so your metabolism doesn't go to crap.

Or, like you said, the lower calorie count has reduced your metabolic rate. My advice would be to start eating more. Nothing seriously, maybe 200 calories more to start with. At 165#, you should easily be burning 2,000 calories per day.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by bcb

I never said that obesity didn't cause health problems. I am debating the prevalence and cause.

In the 1978-2004 study, how did they define obesity?

By simply looking at Canadian kids today, there's no chance that 1:5 is obese.

BMI.

Here is some reading if you're really interested in finding out more. Numbers I quoted were for adult obesity in Canada.

[Pinner]

BMI Chart, absolutely silly for me, I could never weigh what this chart says.

[FlamesAddiction]

I don't see how there isn't a genetic factor. I mean, humans have known for centuries that if you take beefier animals and breed them together, you will often get beefier offspring.

Having said that, I do think that many people with a genetic disposition to being "fat" can in fact be thin and healthy but they might need to work harder for it than people without those genes.

[Ducay]

On a side note, that chart is a bit scary in terms of the low end of healthy weights.....how is 5'8" & 125lbs cool?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't see how there isn't a genetic factor. I mean, humans have known for centuries that if you take beefier animals and breed them together, you will often get beefier offspring.

This is 100% true, and you and bcb would be correct if we were talking in terms of timeframes of generations and generations and generations. Evolution takes a long time.

Just because McDonalds comes out doesn't make humans evolve in the course of 30 years.

Just because people become obese due to lifestyle doesn't mean their genes have changed dramatically and now their children will be obese. Their children are obese because of lifestyle as well.

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm just shy of 6'2" and weigh 210lb which puts me as "overweight" on the edge of "obese", which surprises me.

I know I have a little flab, but also a fair bit of muscle too. Does it not consider that?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Ducay

This is 100% true, and you and bcb would be correct if we were talking in terms of timeframes of generations and generations and generations. Evolution takes a long time.

Just because McDonalds comes out doesn't make humans evolve in the course of 30 years.

Just because people become obese due to lifestyle doesn't mean their genes have changed dramatically and now their children will be obese. Their children are obese because of lifestyle as well.

I agree with what you are saying. For sure lifestyle decisions are the major factor. Just like with lung cancer. We know that smoking causes lung cancer, but there are still some people with a genetic disposition to it. They might trigger the cancer after 10 years and someone else might smoke for 50 years and never get it.

Being fat if you have a genetic disposition is similar I think. The lifestyle choices trigger it while other people can get away with it easier.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I'm just shy of 6'2" and weigh 210lb which puts me as "overweight" on the edge of "obese", which surprises me.

I know I have a little flab, but also a fair bit of muscle too. Does it not consider that?

The chart does not at all consider if someone has a shred of muscle. Which is why its not a good indicator for most people.

[bcb]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I agree with what you are saying. For sure lifestyle decisions are the major factor. Just like with lung cancer. We know that smoking causes lung cancer, but there are still some people with a genetic disposition to it. They might trigger the cancer after 10 years and someone else might smoke for 50 years and never get it.

Being fat if you have a genetic disposition is similar I think. The lifestyle choices trigger it while other people can get away with it easier.

And furthermore, but for my first post, which was a bit cavalier, I never said that there was no relation between eating unhealthy and obesity. I only said that there was a huge genetic factor not being accounted for.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by bcb

And furthermore, but for my first post, which was a bit cavalier, I never said that there was no relation between eating unhealthy and obesity. I only said that there was a huge genetic factor not being accounted for.

I don't think genetics is a huge factor at all in obesity. Retaining fat....sure.

Being an enormous blob of human goo? That is lifestyle 1000%

[bcb]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Being an enormous blob of human goo

Well that's one way of looking at it.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Ducay

On a side note, that chart is a bit scary in terms of the low end of healthy weights.....how is 5'8" & 125lbs cool?

Hater.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I don't think it's so much genetic as it is learned behaviour.

Both my parents came from poor households where food was scarce.
Once they both got middle class jobs, we started eating out more. A&W on Wednesday, KFC on Friday, and Burger King and Dairy Queen on the weekends.
Not to mention half-moons, caramel cakes and chips on the counters at home.
Both my parents who were skinny in high school quickly became overweight and my brother and I picked up the bad eating habits.
So often when you see a family of overweight people, I don't think "bad genes", I think "parents with bad nutritional habits".

For me that is what it is.

I never learned portion control, or how to make good food choices when I was growing up.

A couple times I have been on diets that have helped me figure it out, but it is hard to reverse an entire lifetime of not worrying about what I eat.

[Pinner]

Endomorph

An Endomorph's biggest concern should be the losing of fat and adopting a lifestyle that keeps it off. Strength training should be done to get a better muscle to fat ratio and therefore improve metabolism. Use moderate weights at a fast training pace (very little rest between sets and exercises). You should lower your calorie intake (but not try to starve yourself) and should eat frequent but small meals. Sugars, sweets and junk food should be eliminated from your diet. Engage daily in some activity like brisk walking, biking, etc., and try to increase the amount of time you spend each week.

Mesomorph

A Mesomorph has a naturally fit body but to maintain it or improve it they should exercise and diet corretly for their type. Strength training can be done more often and for longer sessions then would be good for an Ectomorph, but you must still be carefull not to overdo it. You should train with moderate to heavy weighs and at a moderate pace, not resting too long between sets. You will find you gain muscle quite easy (some women and even men might not want to get too bulky, but this won't happen suddenly. When you are happy with your muscle size simply train to maintain it). Stick to a good healthy diet to keep you lean and muscular, and watch for any slow creeping fat gains. Engage in and enjoy aerobic activities, sports, etc. but do not overdo.

Ectomorph

Ectomorphs should concentrate on gaining weight in the form of good lean muscle tissue (some women that are too thin may also want to put on a little fat to look more feminine). Weight training should be done but not too often or for too long each session. Weight should be fairly heavy and workout pace slower (longer rest periods between sets). Diet should be high in calories (good quality food not junk) and you should eat more then you're used to and often. Aerobic and other activities (sports, dancing, etc.) should be kept to a minimum, at least until you are happy with your weight and looks.


The three body types are further described below.

ECTOMORPH

fragile
thin
flat chest
delicate build
young appearance
tall
lightly muscled
stoop-shouldered
large brain
Has trouble gaining weight.
muscle growth takes longer.

MESOMORPH

athletic
hard, muscular body
overly mature appearance
rectangular shaped (hourglass shaped for women)
thick skin
upright posture
gains or loses weight easily
grows muscle quickly.

ENDOMORPH

soft body
flabby
underdeveloped muscles
round shaped
over-developed digestive system
trouble losing weight
generally gains muscle easily

[algernon]

I'm an Ectomorph weighing in at 185 lbs, standing 6'1, for a BMI of 24. One more spot to the right, and I'd be overweight.
I assure you, 10 out of 10 people would say I look skinny, and none would say I look overweight, although if I were a 25, I'd be overweight.
WTF?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by algernon

I'm an Ectomorph weighing in at 185 lbs, standing 6'1, for a BMI of 24. One more spot to the right, and I'd be overweight.
I assure you, 10 out of 10 people would say I look skinny, and none would say I look overweight, although if I were a 25, I'd be overweight.
WTF?

I think we've established the BMI scale thing is a pretty terrible guide aside from determining which color is prettiest. There are too many other variables to take into account to make it accurate. However, its pretty much the best we can do short of making individual tables for each person.