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DOTD - Debate of The Day #52
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Post by
FatalHeaven
#51: Do you think a person's susceptibility to obesity is truly genetic?
Post by
134377
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
gnomerdon
partially genetic.\
i have a friendwho's always skinny but eats like a cow everyday.
5k calories, never works out. but have abs and skinny as hell.
Post by
Azazel
Definitely genetic in some way (but probably not entirely).
I spent (almost) this whole summer in front of my computer, eating fastfood occasionally. And lost a kilo.That's 2 pounds for those using inferior measurement. :P
I think some people are just born to be a little chubbier that others, but I don't think anyone was meant to be half the size of a car.
Post by
Ksero
Yes someones susceptibility to obesity is genetic, but that doesn't mean that all people who are susceptible are going to be obese, diet and exercise have a lot more to do with it. It doesn't matter if your genetics make you predisposed to be obese, because if you exercise and eat healthy anyone can be at healthy body weight (other than those with diseases such as diabetes etc.).
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_125886.html
(more info here)
This is sort of off topic but still related, I think the biggest part of the obesity problem is all of these you are beautiful no matter what your weight is commercials, meant to improve the self esteem of those who are overweight. I'm not trying to say overweight people can't be attractive, just that if they are being told that being overweight is ok, then they have no reason to lose weight and be healthy. If they told people to aim for a healthy body weight this would improve their self esteem, and make them healthier.
Post by
yukonjack
This is sort of off topic but still related, I think the biggest part of the obesity problem is all of these you are beautiful no matter what your weight is commercials, meant to improve the self esteem of those who are overweight. I'm not trying to say overweight people can't be attractive, just that if they are being told that being overweight is ok, then they have no reason to lose weight and be healthy. If they told people to aim for a healthy body weight this would improve their self esteem, and make them healthier.
Ya because the status quo of skinny models we have had since the 50's has done so much good for the self esteem and body image of young girls.
Skinny does not = healthy, you have only to look at roman gladiators and sumo wrestlers to see hefty can also be very healthy.
On topic, I don't know if obesity is partially due to genetics but from my own observations I think its some what caused by learned behavior.
Post by
Azazel
I don't think roman gladiators nor sumo wrestlers are particularly healthy lol.
Post by
Ksero
This is sort of off topic but still related, I think the biggest part of the obesity problem is all of these you are beautiful no matter what your weight is commercials, meant to improve the self esteem of those who are overweight. I'm not trying to say overweight people can't be attractive, just that if they are being told that being overweight is ok, then they have no reason to lose weight and be healthy. If they told people to aim for a healthy body weight this would improve their self esteem, and make them healthier.
Ya because the status quo of skinny models we have had since the 50's has done so much good for the self esteem and body image of young girls.
Skinny does not = healthy, you have only to look at roman gladiators and sumo wrestlers to see hefty can also be very healthy.
I never said skinny, i said lose weight, and aim for a healthy body weight. Sumo wrestlers have a lifespan 15 years shorter than the average japanese male, not so healthy. Also, a sumo wrestler does ridiculous amounts of exercise, much much more the average obese person, its not really a fair comparison. Roman gladiators may have been overweight, but they got there by eating barley, beans, and dried fruit, not french fries and burgers, there is a big difference there.
Post by
FatalHeaven
I think some people are just born to be a little chubbier that others, but I don't think anyone was meant to be half the size of a car.
This made me Lol.
Post by
Kristopher
I think some people are just born to be a little chubbier that others, but I don't think anyone was meant to be half the size of a car.
This made me Lol.
I want to be half the size of one of those Japanese mini-cars!
Post by
160546
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
donnymurph
Yes and no, but mostly no.
Basically how it works is that there are 3 basic body "somatotype": ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph:
Ectomorphic:
characterized by long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage; usually referred to as slim. Ectomorphs are not predisposed to store fat or build muscle.
Mesomorphic:
characterized by medium bones, solid torso, low fat levels, wide shoulders with a narrow waist; usually referred to as muscular. Mesomorphs are predisposed to build muscle but not store fat.
Endomorphic:
characterized by increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure, usually referred to as fat. Endomorphs are predisposed to storing fat.
That's just the start of it though. While you can't change certain aspects of your somatotype, such as bone structure, you most certainly can change your body fat and muscle mass. Being endomorphic predisposes someone to being overweight, but it certainly doesn't predispose them to obesity. Eating too much food is what makes someone obese. Endomorphic people simply need to eat less calories (and cut the sugar!) and do some cardio training.
Post by
donnymurph
Skinny does not = healthy, you have only to look at roman gladiators and sumo wrestlers to see hefty can also be very healthy.
If you think sumo wrestlers are by any means healthy... You need help.
Post by
yukonjack
Skinny does not = healthy, you have only to look at roman gladiators and sumo wrestlers to see hefty can also be very healthy.
If you think sumo wrestlers are by any means healthy... You need help.
Help with what? The fact that I recognize sumo's as athletes and therefore healthy?
I regret using that example now because my main point was
Ya because the status quo of skinny models we have had since the 50's has done so much good for the self esteem and body image of young girls.
which of course was completely ignored, by now I should know better.
Actually there would be an idea for a DOTD Air brushing and other forms of altering the appearance of models for or against?
Post by
Azazel
Skinny does not = healthy, you have only to look at roman gladiators and sumo wrestlers to see hefty can also be very healthy.
If you think sumo wrestlers are by any means healthy... You need help.
Help with what? The fact that I recognize sumo's as athletes and therefore healthy?
Dude, they're not
healthy
athletes.
Post by
yukonjack
Skinny does not = healthy, you have only to look at roman gladiators and sumo wrestlers to see hefty can also be very healthy.
If you think sumo wrestlers are by any means healthy... You need help.
Help with what? The fact that I recognize sumo's as athletes and therefore healthy?
Dude, they're not
healthy
athletes.
/facepalm
Post by
Azazel
Skinny does not = healthy, you have only to look at roman gladiators and sumo wrestlers to see hefty can also be very healthy.
If you think sumo wrestlers are by any means healthy... You need help.
Help with what? The fact that I recognize sumo's as athletes and therefore healthy?
Dude, they're not
healthy
athletes.
/facepalm
Tell me how being extremely obese, even though you train, is healthy.
Post by
donnymurph
Help with what? The fact that I recognize sumo's as athletes and therefore healthy?
Oh yeah, because participating in a competitive sport is the only criteria for measuring one's health... /facepalm
Seriously, that is probably the most narrow-minded thing anyone has ever said on this website - and that's saying something!
As Ksero has already said, sumo wrestlers have a life expectancy of 60-65 years, compared to 80 years for the average Japanese male. That, uh, doesn't sound particularly healthy to me.
Sumo wrestlers average 34% body fat. A body fat level of higher than 20% (for men) massively increases the risk of heart attack, type 2 diabetes, kidney cancer, colon cancer and sleep apnea. Also, their high body weight causes excessive stress on their joints, and many develop arthritis.
An average sumo wrestler consumes 12 pints of beer per day. Do you want me to start listing all of the long-term health risks associated with that level of alcohol consumption? Very, very far from healthy.
The only thing going for sumo wrestlers is that they have a lot of muscle mass. But muscle mass is not, and has not ever been, a measure of health.
TL;DR
: to base an evaluation of one's health solely on the fact that they partake in a competitive sport is completely laughable. Now let's get back to the actual debate at hand.
Post by
Monday
I regret using that example now because my main point was
Ya because the status quo of skinny models we have had since the 50's has done so much good for the self esteem and body image of young girls.
which of course was completely ignored, by now I should know better.
Because a "healthy body weight" totally means weighing 80 pounds and having your ribs showing.
You misinterpreted his question and brought up some ridiculous examples, and now you're being called out for it. You shouldn't be surprised.
Post by
yukonjack
Ok one more time, I read this
This is sort of off topic but still related, I think the biggest part of the obesity problem is all of these you are beautiful no matter what your weight is commercials, meant to improve the self esteem of those who are overweight. I'm not trying to say overweight people can't be attractive, just that if they are being told that being overweight is ok, then they have no reason to lose weight and be healthy. If they told people to aim for a healthy body weight this would improve their self esteem, and make them healthier.
I responded with this
Ya because the status quo of skinny models we have had since the 50's has done so much good for the self esteem and body image of young girls.
which is where I should have stopped. But of course people completely ignore that and go right to the other part.
So to clarify I disagree with commercials showing models of varying body weights as being wrong. I am all for commercials using models of all shapes and sizes. The way I read that is anyone not at optimal body weight does not deserve to have any self esteem.
I'm done with this now.
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