According to some sources, at least 1 in 8 of the world population is classified as ‘obese’. Since nobody in any government seems to have thought up a working solution, what do you believe can be done to solve the epidemic?
According to some sources, at least 1 in 8 of the world population is classified as ‘obese’. Since nobody in any government seems to have thought up a working solution, what do you believe can be done to solve the epidemic?
Firstly, BMI only really works for people of otherwise average height and musculature. A bodybuilder could be seen as obese for example. So just fixing for that would help.
But more importantly, and perhaps unpopularly, I think people have gotten too used to feeling full all the time, and that the slightest feeling of hunger signals red alert. I see people constantly grazing throughout the day the moment they get even slightly hungry, sometimes without evening noticing it themselves, then they’ll still eat big meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Unless you’re regularly getting a good amount of exercise from work or your personal lifestyle, then of course you’re gonna put on weight cause those calories have got nowhere to go. Now while there are other factors that can tip the scales into or out of your favour, ultimately:
Now some will say they can’t not eat, because they can’t concentrate otherwise, it gives them the shakes, or something else. But for 99% of people, that “need” is all psychological, and can be shaken off with time and patience.
I would know, cause I experienced this when I was younger changing my diet to help lose weight. Being purposefully intermittent about eating will suck at first as your body and mind adjust to the new status quo, but stick with it and your body and mind will be healthier for it.
((Just to be clear, I’m not promoting any kind of eating disorder or crash dieting. Losing weight sustainably is about small changes that you take with you into the future, not making huge changes that make you sick/depressed, or throwing your body around like a metabolic ragdoll. But I do mean it when I say putting more planning and restraint into when and what you eat will do you a world of wonder))
Good comment - two notes only:
BMI misses in the other direction much more frequently - very few people are overweight without being overfat, but many are overfat within BMI guidelines.
And secondly I don’t think we can judge the appetite of an obese person by what we of normal weight feel. I can forget to eat for hours, and can’t eat when stressed, I cook good food and enjoy it but don’t overeat because it feels bad and gives me anxiety. Going to bed full feels dreadful, empty but not hungry feels best. Other people may feel anxious when hungry and comfortable when too full. My husband bulked and ended up fat (ish) because he said he just felt So Strong and good while putting on weight.
The comfort-eating point you mentioned is why I stressed I’ve been there.
I used to have a really bad problem with overeating. Like to where I was classed as morbidly obese as a kid.
Which does add another difficult point I didn’t mention. The motivation.
You need that to push through, cause it will suck to start with - and without motivation you’re likely to go back to what comforts you, instead of forcing the change you want.
Again, I went from comfort eating to being able to being perfectly fine not eating for hours, and even being uncomfortable when full. It’s doable, but you have to fully want to do it.
Just to add, countering that is most of what GLP1 drugs do.
To add to this, it seems like a lot of people in the US have a problem with overeating at meals. We just continue to eat long after we’re full. I used to do it too. Stopping eating when you’re not hungry anymore is a foreign concept to some, but can actually make a big difference as far as weight goes. I also feel better, in general, since I started doing that.