The true cause of obesity

Natural or unnatural, if there is plenty food around and they have a sedentary lifestyle, they'll get fat. You can see it with people who sometimes own a wild animal and also just with our pets in general. They are not immune to being overweight, its just their lifestyle on having to work for their food keeps them from going overweight. There isn't an ample food source for most wild animals to obtain with little effort, its a continuous struggle on finding/hunting for their food.

I used to agree with this completely... A few things lately (last 5 years or so) have made me question this belief.

1.) I have read articles describing animal (mostly mice) feeding trials where they were fed ad-libitum and did not have to struggle and hunt for food, where the mice did not get fat.

2.) The deer population is exploding in my area and they are having very little trouble finding food. They also are having to spend less and less time running from predators, yet they are not getting fat.

3.) I have observed a number of humans who have lived a sedentary lifestyle with ample food available and have not gotten fat.

4.) I personally have lost 35 lbs (7 since joining MFP). During this time I have actually DEcreased my energy expenditure and INcreased my energy intake.

5.) I have read some compelling analysis that argues that the first law of thermodynamics does not apply to human energy balance. Change in fat mass = Energy in - Energy Out assumes that energy in and energy out are the only variables. There are many other variables that can affect both E(in) and E(out) as well as them being able to affect each other...Its not just a simple math problem. Anyone who has ever struggled with sustained weight loss knows this.

These ( and other factors) have caused me to question the typical nutrition advice. I am not claiming to have any answers.

Well if you ask my Anatomy teacher he would tell you the over consumption of High Frutos Corn Syrup. High Frutos corn syrup is a man made sweetener that your body doesn't recognize as a sugar so it can't break it down then stores it as fat. So if you want to lose the pounds cut down on the HFCS .:flowerforyou:

processed food does not satisfy a belly the way actual food does. most of what americans and the western world eat is processed - BREAD IS A PROCESSED FOOD - even if you made it yourself, that flour has been processed. sugar is processed. most western base ingredients are processed. this goes beyond the artificial additives, hfcs blah blah.

sodium makes you thirsty and a lot of times hunger is actually misperceived thirst. we eat a TON OF SODIUM.

people feel like they need to eat more because they are not full from processed food.

people who are not actively busy or conversely, people who are too busy and then stressed out, eat out of a way to satisfy their dissatisfaction. our commercial culture that food is a 'treat' and 'treating ourselves' will help you be happier.

it's all our own individual faults technically but a lot of it is how we run our society.

Mice on their own are able to get fat.

Deer have a very different physiology and anatomy then we do and you only mention that "you" have not seen them get fat, did this article state anything about them not getting fat and is it they are having enough food but it still may not be to a point where it will cause them to get overweight? They are probably still moving as well.

I'm sure it depends on the species on how easy they can get fat but thinking wild animals in general can't get fat is purely wrong. Eating natural won't keep you from getting fat if you are still overeating.

I don't believe and I don't think that I have said that wild animals CAN'T get fat. I have only sat and wondered why they DON'T get fat. The more I think/read about it, the more I question most commonly held beliefs about obesity.

Lack of understanding of energy intake vs energy needs.

Now, do I think that everyone should count calories? Of course not. But I DO think that there's a significant portion of people who do not understand how energy balance dictates weight change, and knowing this could help people either lose, or not get that way to begin with.

I agree that a lot of people do not understand how much they need to eat. What puzzles me is how does every other animal do it? With ample food around you don't get fat lions and fat deer and fat cheetahs. How do they know how much they need?

We aren't wild animals. You see a lot of fat dogs and cats.

Lack of understanding of energy intake vs energy needs.

Now, do I think that everyone should count calories? Of course not. But I DO think that there's a significant portion of people who do not understand how energy balance dictates weight change, and knowing this could help people either lose, or not get that way to begin with.

Dogs and Cats DO get fat eating just dog and cat food if they have an owner who continually overfeeds them.

I say forget ALL of those theories.........they MAY have some validity, but I think that it has to do with today's society. I have heard this over and over again..........obesity in the US is such a problem, but everyone throws up their hands like they don't know how to help this scenario while throwing money to programs that may not need it or should not be funded THAT much and it really gets underneath my skin. The reason for WHY this happens is because there are a multitude of easy fixes as far as meals are concerned because there are a dozen.......billion........fast food places one could go to, they have pop and candy vending machines in schools FILLED with fattening products, and the hot lunches schools provide are a joke I think.........I mean yes, all of these places, save for vending machines that is, have to abide by nutritional standards and all. But still.........its today's society that is the problem. Everywhere you look everyone is looking for that quick fix.........youre out and you are tired and don't want to cook and yet you don't want to go out to eat--you want to eat at home--what do you do? Get a greasy nasty pizza, go get fried food at a drive thru, or get chinese food that is wrought with God knows what.

I seem to think that its not laziness........I think its the fact that we have already a taste of what we like and what we don't like and its an automatic thing. I honestly know from experience that before I started losing weight myself, I would go for things that I knew tasted great to me, but I never gave it much thought of what I was putting in my mouth. Now, I know. Like for instance, I would go to the movies and get popcorn every single time. Is it wrought with grease and God only knows what else? Yes........but does it taste good? very much so..........so smelling that popcorn as you walk in is just going to pull you in unless you get it through your head before you enter the theater........no, I am not going to do this.

This sounds almost exactly like the TOXIC ENVIRONMENT theory.


Okay, I can see where you think that it would fall into this category, but honestly it doesn't. Yes, environment MAY play a role in our lives........yes, the popcorn in the theater example I gave........as well as schools and vending machines.......ect. But that is a VERY small portion of it. Portion nonetheless, but the sole reason that people over eat isn't because junk food is being shoved in our faces all the time when we are out and about. That is just a lame excuse so we can blame someone else for our own mistakes. There are places where you CAN get tons of nutritious and healthy stuff.........its called whole foods.........its called a grocery store.........its just whether you choose to change your thinking. I could be the healthiest person on the planet, but if I am not willing to be responsible for what goes in my mouth, then I'm done for and the weight can and will be packed on. Its not strength in fighting laziness its strength and will power to change a mindset. Your brain is a muscle that, when weakened, will take the easy road ALL the time........but if you practice willpower over the every day ditches, it will get stronger and suddenly those automatic reaches for things that are unhealthy will change to automatically reaching for things that ARE.

To be honest, I have had my fair share of issues.........right now, its learning to reach for the right foods. I do eat healthy and I barely ever eat anything that can be labled "junk food", but you still can keep from losing the weight you want to.........you could even gain still depending on what you are doing........not eating enough calories during the day.......ect.