Obesity Discussion Forums

[joanF]

Wow, just looked at the preview for the new Biggest Loser which starts this week, and it looks like they are casting larger people than in the past. One kid is 454 pounds at 19 y.o.! I think it will be good for us all to see someone like him succeed. I hope he does well, and I hope it changes his life. And I hope he doesn't become one of those that ends up at his original weight years later.

Although I am wondering if there are obesity genes, is it possible for someone that big to lose hundreds of pounds?! Perhaps someone out there knows more about this.

The Biggest Loser - The Biggest Season - Video - NBC.com

[ZeroTX]

I believe that the propensity to be obese is genetic. The problem is that we (the genetically obese) cannot eat the same as our genetically thin counterparts and expect to stay the same as them. We all have one of those annoying friends who can chow down on 3000 calories a day and never gain a pound, while we can eat 1800 calories and perhaps still gain weight if we are inactive. No fair! Well, it's life and it isn't fair.

What's important is that we learn to live with what we know: we burn food/fat/calories slower. So what, then? We have to live our lives differently to be on-par health-wise with our thin compadres.

It's interesting that they are taking on such a heavy group this time. I think it's a good thing. The moderately obese aren't living day to day, hoping to not die. A boy at 500lbs at age 19 may die any day. That's not right. We should be helping fat people as a society, not making fun of them and enabling them (how many times do people leave DONUTS for all to eat at work?? Giving CANDY as Christmas gifts? etc.).

A friend of mine was over 550lbs. She is now about 170 and is likely to remain below 200 for the rest of her life, because of bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is no miracle cure. It just forces you to do what you CAN do without it: eat less, eat right. (note: she had a band put in and stomach reduced, NOT a bypass, which allows people to continue to gorge themselves like a fat slob with less consequence).

Anyway, I bet that boy loses 200lbs in this season.

[Obesity Discussion]

Wow, I'm sure a lot of it is due to the shock factor they're trying to get for ratings. I hope they all do well!

[Takingcharge]

I don't quite agree with it all being genetics, Here is some interesting reading:


Obesity is not caused by slow metabolism « Panaceia or Hygeia

As for calorie intake, according to mydailyplate.com: I weigh exactly 139 if I wish to lose 2 lbs per week I can only consume some 830-1,111 lbs. depending on my activity level

However if I weigh in at 250-300 lbs I can eat up from 1,727 - 2,146 to lose the same 2 lbs per week, does anyone know why?

[chubbymommaNdallas]

My entire family (nine siblings) is obese except for me. They are obese because they eat too much. My truly close friends around me that are also obese, all eat too much of the already WRONG things. While I do feel that most (the overwhelming and VAST majority) of obesity is caused by overeating the wrong foods over a long period of time (and inactivity) I do know there is a small number of those predisposed to being larger than others.

For me, leaving obesity behind also meant leaving all my excuses behind.

[chubbymommaNdallas]

Taking Charge, 830-1111 seems way too low. I have always read that no adult should be below 1200 daily. I stay around 1500 and still lose--I am also running.

[ZeroTX]

Originally Posted by Takingcharge

I don't quite agree with it all being genetics, Here is some interesting reading:

Did you actually read what I said and/or know the definition of all the words? I said I believe that having the propensity to be obese is genetic. That means for some people, becoming obese is "easier" (not in a good way) than others. If you believe that all people have the same metabolism/burn/rate and ability to tolerate rich or sweet foods, then I think you're delusional.

Tell that to my 150lb 6'0" tall friend who eats 2 full-size hamburgers, large fry and a large sugar-filled coke, while I eat the grilled chicken sandwich and stay fat. He eats junk all day long, while I eat an average diet and stay fat and often get fatter. I walk and stand more in my job than he does (he has a desk job, I do not), and yet I'm fat and he's not. We are the same age, same education, same basic ethnic background, etc. Differnet genes. Nobody in his family is obese on either side. Me, I have obese people on both sides of my family.

That doesn't dismiss behavior as a major contributor, but my point is that some people have a PROPENSITY to be fatter by eating the same diet as another person, because that person, for whatever reason, doesn't process the calories/sugar/fat/whatever the same way. You can call it what you want, but to deny it is being a big fat liar... or maybe a skinny bigot liar.

-Z

[chubbymommaNdallas]

Originally Posted by ZeroTX

Did you actually read what I said and/or know the definition of all the words? If you believe that all people have the same metabolism/burn/rate and ability to tolerate rich or sweet foods, then I think you're delusional.You can call it what you want, but to deny it is being a big fat liar... or maybe a skinny bigot liar.

-Z

You will find you will have more support, answers and success here and on other weightloss forums if you approach others with respect and exuding an attitude and willingness to empower yourself and others with knowledge. I would also like to suggest that this advice will also lend itself to lasting weightloss itself.

[ZeroTX]

I don't need support from someone who never weighed over 148lbs and makes what amounts to personal insults. I have close blood relatives who I never even saw until I was an adult (rules out cultural eating issues from social contact) and who did not grow up around our family (rules out family cultural issues) or even in the same state and they also are obese. Coincidence or genetics?

I agree, I have eaten somewhat badly in my life, but I've never been a severe over-eater. I was fat at age 6, eating regular 6-year-old foods. My mom weighed 110lbs. I ate the same thing as my friends all through elementary school... I know, because we ate together at lunch and compared! We ate/drank the same stuff. So why was I fat and they weren't? We did the same activities, played the same sports together, etc.

[chubbymommaNdallas]

ZeroTX, it is the same for me. I have cousins, aunts and uncles that lived several states away but were all obese. I can say though, we are all from the deep south. I watched my mother (every morning) fry a pound of bacon in an iron skillet, take it out and then cook a dozen eggs in the grease. Of course, this was served alongside a pan of biscuits dripping with butter. As an adult, I stayed with an aunt I had never really met before, do the exact same thing. In my case, I think southern cooking did/does play a part in my family's problem. Even I (before I started my new life choices) would add butter and sugar to darned near everything. The most amazing thing I have discovered these last few months is that I actually enjoy the healthy food creations I am coming up with as much as the bacon, butter, biscuit variety.

You know, I hear what you are saying about genetics. I really sucked at Math. I hated it. So many of my friends could whiz through the stuff giving no thought to it being difficult. I guess we all have to compensate for our shortcomings though and work with what we have been given.

[Takingcharge]

ZeroTX you sure have a lot of negative problems here. The link I gave above just gives food for thought and possibilites, but I don't completely rule out genetics. You don't have to agree with every thing you read, you just consider the information as to how it may or may not agree with your thoughts and experience. However you do make some valid points in your case. Chubbymoma's right, just calm down, chill out and stop the hate vibes okay? The Stress factor Cortisol is not your friend.

Truly obesity is rather complicated when dealing with each individual. My younger sister is obese, but it seems to do alot with the way she was raised, every time she cried we gave her sweets and all the time when she was bored, we gave her more sweets, we were just kids, but the poor kid never stood a chance! She now eats terrible and sometimes hates herself for it.

All the rest of us sisters gain weight easily, but we can also lose fairly easy with diet and exercise.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Takingcharge

I don't quite agree with it all being genetics, Here is some interesting reading:


Obesity is not caused by slow metabolism « Panaceia or Hygeia

As for calorie intake, according to mydailyplate.com: I weigh exactly 139 if I wish to lose 2 lbs per week I can only consume some 830-1,111 lbs. depending on my activity level

However if I weigh in at 250-300 lbs I can eat up from 1,727 - 2,146 to lose the same 2 lbs per week, does anyone know why?

There's a very easy reason as to why that is....it takes more calories to maintain a given body weight (along with other factors). And in order to lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit compared to what you're currently eating so to speak. A calorie deficit of 1000 calories a day will lead to a roughly 2lb fat loss per week.

So if you eat 3500 calories a day which causes you to maintain a 400lb weight, then eating 2500 calories a day should get you losing around 2lbs a week.

If you're eating 2500 calories a day to maintain a 200lb weight, then eating 1500 calories a day should also get you to lose 2lbs of fat a week (all else being equal).

Originally Posted by chubbymommaNdallas

Taking Charge, 830-1111 seems way too low. I have always read that no adult should be below 1200 daily. I stay around 1500 and still lose--I am also running.

1200 is just an "arbitrary number" that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone. It's thrown around for smaller minimum as a rough guidline. someone who is 4'10" tall and weighs 120lbs and wants to get down to say 95lbs should be OK eating under 1200/day...but then consider if people exercise too! Then what!

Everyone's situation is slightly different and should be addressed individually instead of with one broad number.

[kyle_zack]

I think it is amazing that these people are able to achieve what they are able to do, however it is the 'ideal' environment for weight loss. Imagine being given absoloutley nothing else to do, a personal trainer, personal gym and nutritionist I think that the chance for success is so much greater. I personally wish I could go to a place like that.....
But as for the bigger people, maybe its also because there are a lot more people who are more obese now, like myself, over 400 pounds, I haven't been able to watch the show for years due to other commitments (class on tuesdays ), but I never remembered seeing anyone over maybe 350 pounds doing it before, so for someone like myself it is motivating to see that people as big as me are successful.

And as you mentioned a 19 year old who is almost 500 pounds is living day to day, and thats not right, I think its great they are able to help these people, without maybe the risk of the show that they won't succeed.

[fatgirl_inlove]

I think Biggest Loser is a great show. Mainly because it gives these people the motivation they have obviously been lacking. I mean, who want to fail in front of America? These people obviously couldn't do it for themselves, or their health, but this show gives them the tools to change and the ultimate motivation for success.

Genetically speaking I'm doomed to be overweight (with almost every member of my extended family overweight or obese), which is why my goal is 190. However, I know that that is in fact a healthy weight for me. My mother is 204 and goes in for yearly check ups only to have the doctors looked shocked at the results that say that my technically obese mother has perfect health.

[ZeroTX]

Man, I was in tears last night when Jerry posted the 1-pound loss. The look on his face was heartbreaking... and yes, I'm a guy. He has more heart than everyone else on the show, especially Joel -- she needed to GO and the other two guys needed to STAY.

Poor Jerry. I see that he has lost a lot of weight on his own at home, which is great. But, he could do so much more at the ranch. At his age, he needs to get the weight off so he can live to see his grandkids grow up. If I were on the show, I think I'd have thrown a fit and let myself be kicked off in his place. It was a moral travesty kicking that man off.

I wish there were a show like this where there was still competition, but EVERYONE gets to lose and no one goes home. There are prizes to be had that go beyond losing your spot on the show. Ultimately, the show is cruel.

[joanF]

Oh I know. I really wanted Jerry to hang in there and keep going. Boo hoo.

But the good news is, all of the contestants who go home ARE still on the right track, ARE still working to get healthy, and actually they are the lucky ones because they are driven to learn it for themselves at home.

Did you see Bob flip out? whoa. That's a first. I think I counted 8 blips. LOL

The Biggest Loser - Week 2 - The Blowout - Video - NBC.com

[chubbymommaNdallas]

I really want all the contestants to be successful. I do worry about what happens when the lights go off, the people leave and the show is over.

[kct]

It certainly takes the confidence out of someone to be taken off the show, knowing that it's the ideal weight loss environment.

On the other end of things, if someone thinks their success is based on 'outside factors' rather than themselves, deep inside they'll still have a hard time believing they can stick to the work that got them the results.

If we look at some of the successful contestants are later found to have regained lost weight, I think some probably attribute too much of their success to being on the show and in that environment. Without the belief in themselves, the lifestyle change just won't stick.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by chubbymommaNdallas

I really want all the contestants to be successful. I do worry about what happens when the lights go off, the people leave and the show is over.

I do too, but I too fear that the results for many are like those of fat camps, where you lose weight while you're there over the summer but put it back on as soon as you leave.