[ceagsoosy]

This overweight young man posted a video a day before his 23rd birthday desperately seeking help in overcoming his weight/health problem.

I've seen close people to me make the wrong decisions when it comes to their overall health such as bad eating habits and leading a sedentary lifestyle. It's true, however, that other causes play into obesity or illnesses like genes, environment, stress, etc. Nevertheless, because of x number of reasons that swayed these close individuals to make those unhealthy choices, they (and their families) are either dealing with the awful consequences or dead. In the case of my grandfather, although he wasn't obese or too overweight, he died about 13 years ago due to heart problems. My father, at a much younger age than his dad was, is already undergoing the same medical problems.

Acknowledging the outcome of living life a certain way has motivated me to not only try to live my life in a healthy manner, but also to help others do the same.

Some questions that interest me are:
What is your perception on the obese? Do you feel compassion? Your opinion on the social stigmatization of overweight people? Which factors associated with the cause of obesity and illnesses linked to it do you believe are the most impacting? (bad eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, genes, environment, stress, etc) Do the factors that you consider most important play into your perception of the obese?

**Woops, I think I put this in the wrong place :/

[sobre]

That's pretty sad. Overall, I think it's a combination of things. Illnesses a side, I think most cases of obesity are due to bad eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, and genetics. The only way to overcome it is by fixing some of these things (Assuming no illnesses are involved), you can't do much about genetics, but lowering the calorie intake, eating healthy, and exercising can take you a long way.

Easier said than done, and I'm not even sure this is enough for this young man, but I'm glad he's putting it out there and I hope he get's some serious help.

[Kemapreedasse]

Obesity is a really huge problem nowadays! Lately I'v seen so many documentaries about obesity and it's not just a problem of certain social groups, it's affecting everyone, but people with lower income are at higher risk to become obese and not because they are eating too much, but because of the quality of food that they are eating.
These BBC TV series illustrates it really well:

The one above is about two Argentinian families living in slums. Really interesting and it illustrates the problem of low quality food.
Parents are first to be blamed for having an obese kid, because they should control what their kid is eating. There is a documentary about how parents can affect the food choices of their kids:

It reveals quite sick relationships between a mother and her son.
In my opinion all the factors that you mentioned affect obesity, but I would put them in a different order:
1. Environment;
2. Bad eating habits;
3. Genes;
4. Sedentary lifestyle;
5. Stress.
And yes, I do feel compassion towards obese people, because no one wants to be fat. There is always something behind it... it's a mental illness, just like anorexia.
I must mention that in certain societies, being overweight is considered as something good and even healthy, but don't get me wrong, I don't think that people should look like walking skeletons, but ofc if you are naturally really thin, that's just how it is, but most people and especially women, naturally have some fat on their bones. I just dislike this attitude towards healthy looking women, like Lizzie Miller... calling her fat. We perceive health and beauty in a really wrong way nowadays.
From my personal experience I can say that I have always been the fat kid. I lost a lot of weight during my teens, but then I gained it back. Now I am trying to find the right way how to become healthy because these weight issues have put me trough so much self hate and disgust towards myself that eventually I wasn't eating enough. And it totally sucks living in the world where the ideal woman looks like Heidi Klum or Gisele Bündchen, you feel unworthy and it doesn't matter if you are smart or just a good person.
Sorry for the emotion ending, that was simply from my female perspective. And I will repeat myself saying that obesity is a really really big problem and we should definitely try to find some way how to fight it.

[muBXvWIC]

If you want to lose weight badly enough, you will. If all I wanted in the whole, wide world was to weigh less I could bring that about- I would say no to bad food, yes to exercise. I don't see why these people make it into a spectacle, it is a personal thing- just do it, or don't. That said, if this attention does end up helping him then good for him.

[Thomas12400]

I have even read that the US is the *fattest* nation above all other countries. We are consumers. There is such an overall access and temptation to eat. Fast food, restaurants, pizza deliveries etc.

I actually work with a woman who is 400 + lbs, she struggles to walk. I do feel bad. I think the other posters hit the nail pretty much on the head with this.

[Beragagnu]

One of my former colleagues was a single mother in her late 40's who also had to adopt a grandchild and raise it. She was well over 300 lbs. She was nodding off in meetings, probably from taking care of an infant all night combined with sleep apnea. Yes, I felt sorry for her. Young people with no responsibility who play video games and eat cheetos all day, no, not so much.

[arriplify]

I feel sorry if someone is suffering with weight. I know it may be hard. Some people have slow metablism. Metabolism changes with age and with progress of illness of obesity. Hunger does not match the need. Stomach gets bigger. SOme peole have nasty eating habits from home.
Still, it is individual. I too often see adults who are twice big as me and they order in restaurant or bars full big meals or double portions- then I dont feel sorry.
I noticed three weeks ago that I gained some weight over the winter- probably not more than 5 kilos and I am just barely over the limit (I dont even look like) I started jogging, I intruduce changes in diet straigh away.
The day after or so I went to a pub to have a coffee (now without sugar) and I see a big fat bloke and a big plate full of meats and chips arriving. I found it funny in a way, but at the same time I thought- wtf, I am 10 kilo over and I sit here drinking coffee with no sugar and he is 100 kilo over and he doesnt care.

[Grapappytek]

I feel sorry if someone is suffering with weight. I know it may be hard. Some people have slow metablism. Metabolism changes with age and with progress of illness of obesity. Hunger does not match the need. Stomach gets bigger. SOme peole have nasty eating habits from home.
Still, it is individual. I too often see adults who are twice big as me and they order in restaurant or bars full big meals or double portions- then I dont feel sorry.
I noticed three weeks ago that I gained some weight over the winter- probably not more than 5 kilos and I am just barely over the limit (I dont even look like) I started jogging, I intruduce changes in diet straigh away.
The day after or so I went to a pub to have a coffee (now without sugar) and I see a big fat bloke and a big plate full of meats and chips arriving. I found it funny in a way, but at the same time I thought- wtf, I am 10 kilo over and I sit here drinking coffee with no sugar and he is 100 kilo over and he doesnt care.

I wonder if *Genetically Modified Food* also plays a large part in this?

[DoctorTDent]

i dont feel sorry for him at all, you are what you eat. Eat sensible cut down on meat/alcohol and start eating fish, veggies,fruits, exercise .

it is really simple to take care of yourself just remove all the rubbish from your diet.

---------- Post added 2012-03-03 at 15:19 ----------

I feel sorry if someone is suffering with weight. I know it may be hard. Some people have slow metablism. Metabolism changes with age and with progress of illness of obesity. Hunger does not match the need. Stomach gets bigger. SOme peole have nasty eating habits from home.
Still, it is individual. I too often see adults who are twice big as me and they order in restaurant or bars full big meals or double portions- then I dont feel sorry.
I noticed three weeks ago that I gained some weight over the winter- probably not more than 5 kilos and I am just barely over the limit (I dont even look like) I started jogging, I intruduce changes in diet straigh away.
The day after or so I went to a pub to have a coffee (now without sugar) and I see a big fat bloke and a big plate full of meats and chips arriving. I found it funny in a way, but at the same time I thought- wtf, I am 10 kilo over and I sit here drinking coffee with no sugar and he is 100 kilo over and he doesnt care.

at what age roughly does your metabolism start slowing down

[BuyCheapest]

I think genetics play a huge part. I´m very thin but I love junk food. I also eat a lot of healthier foods as well... Basically I love all food LOL
I´m not exactly a big fan of exercise either. The most exercise I probably get is when I go out clubbing... Although I do go several times a week and dance for hours. Many people still tell me I am too thin.

Oh, and I forgot to add: While I was in my teens I had a hormone imbalance that caused me to gain weight. It was impossible to lose and I was very frustrated and miserable. I know how this guy feels even though I was nowhere near as big as he is. I feel very sorry for him. My body went back to normal (I lost 30lbs) eventually but it was a really bad phase for me.

[zzarratusstra]

People may carry genes which makes it easier to become obese I guess but genes do not make people obese. They make themselves obese. I do hope this guy can make some changes and loose some weight though. It's pretty sad really. A big part of it is the "food" people eat. Fast food, processed foods, candy, soda(which is candy also really), etc.. Most of the shit pushed on people these days is not fit for actual consumption. Buy some produce, grains, a bit of meat and make your own meal. Prepackaged and frozen food is shit. It is probably a lot cheaper too. Yeah it takes a bit of effort to make but this guy looks like a bit of moving around would be beneficial.

[feedcomnet]

i dont feel sorry for him at all, you are what you eat. Eat sensible cut down on meat/alcohol and start eating fish, veggies,fruits, exercise .

it is really simple to take care of yourself just remove all the rubbish from your diet.

---------- Post added 2012-03-03 at 15:19 ----------



at what age roughly does your metabolism start slowing down

You lack some serious knowledge in the subject. Before you go on to say some of these things, you should learn a thing or two on body types and metabolism, then, learn what foods actually cause weight gains. The fact that you mention cutting back on meat/alcohol shows how clueless you are. I doubt this guy has a problem with drinking, even if he does, it's clearly not the cause of his weight gain. Also eating meat is not what causes weight gain either.

[Frannypaync]

Actually, eating the right meat causes weigh loss, because body burns a lot of calories to digest the meat.

The meat in burgers, kebabs, ect, is really, really bad, it's simply fat with a little bit of meat.

[Jadldqys]

Actually, eating the right meat causes weigh loss, because body burns a lot of calories to digest the meat.

The meat in burgers, kebabs, ect, is really, really bad, it's simply fat with a little bit of meat.

The biggest problem for people with slow metabolism is eating carbs, your body ends up using carbs for energy and saving the fat in places around your body which results in the fat look. Because your body burns energy slower, it will take you longer to burn calories. This is why the only way for people with slow metabolism to lose weight is if they cut down their calorie intake along with eating less carbs and do their exercise.

Unfortunately, I have a terribly slow metabolism but I do work my butt off to keep my body thin, though I gotta admit, getting older has made my metabolism even slower.

[verizon]

I have a cousin who weighed around 300 pounds. I think she lost a lot of weight but I haven't seen her in around five years. Anyhow, she used to tell me how she didn't eat a lot and she didn't know why she was fat etc.. Well I used to hang around her house from time to time to talk to her boyfriend and visit her kids. I would watch her make a box of mac and cheese, put the results into a giant salad bowl and sit on the couch and eat it as a snack. Not even a meal.

I think some people delude themselves about what is normal and what isn't. Either that or they just lie because they don't want to face reality and make the changes.

[Maymayfor]

You lack some serious knowledge in the subject. Before you go on to say some of these things, you should learn a thing or two on body types and metabolism, then, learn what foods actually cause weight gains. The fact that you mention cutting back on meat/alcohol shows how clueless you are. I doubt this guy has a problem with drinking, even if he does, it's clearly not the cause of his weight gain. Also eating meat is not what causes weight gain either.

whatever dude i was not talking about the guy in particular, did i hurt your feelings are you perhaps overweight yourself.

what i silly thing to say i have never stated that alcohol had contributed to his weight perhaps he just overfed himself with fatty foods, fizzy drinks/sugary stuff. i was actually talking about meat in burgers etc i should have been more clear about that

dont give me that excuse about metabolism and genetics, the only thing that is genetic is where about you gain weight some people gain at their stomach area while others more at their bottom/hips area

[NicolasOL]

Fat people have faster metabolism, that is way for really obese people it is quite easy to lose huge amounts of weigh relatively quick. For example, 200kg heavy person could loose 30kg in a month, while 80kg heavy person would have to diet for 3 - 6 months to loose that amount of weight. Ofc, it also depends on the diet, but healthy diet guarantees slow, but lasting weight loss effect.

[Buincchotourb]

whatever dude i was not talking about the guy in particular, did i hurt your feelings are you perhaps overweight yourself.

what i silly thing to say i have never stated that alcohol had contributed to his weight perhaps he just overfed himself with fatty foods, fizzy drinks/sugary stuff. i was actually talking about meat burgers etc i should have been more clear

dont give me that excuse about different body types they only thing that is genetic is where about you gain weight some people gain at their stomach area while others more at the bottom/hips area

I'm not overweight nor do I care what people say if I was one (I have thick skin), I'm just throwing some proper education your way, when you say people have to cut back from meat to lose weight, it clearly shows you don't know much about the subject.

Fat in foods is not what causes weight gain, it's the carbs. Also whether you wanna believe it or not, it's the truth, different body types contribute to different weight gain/loss. Someone who's more of an endomorph will have a slow metabolism which results in fast weight gain and slow weight loss. On the other hand an ectomorph will have the opposite effect. Haven't you seen people in your life that struggle to put weight on no matter how much they ate? That's because they have a very fast metabolism.

[EtellaObtaite]

Haven't you seen people in your life that struggle to put weight on no matter how much they ate? That's because they have a very fast metabolism.

Exactly...That would be my case.

[Vikonbarius]

I liked this BBC documentary a lot. Those who are confused should watch it.


---------- Post added 2012-03-03 at 19:18 ----------

Exactly...That would be my case.

My aunt is like that, she has two kids, she eats a lot and she is a walking skeleton, she looks sick and anorexic, while her sister is not obese, but she has a totally different body type.