Why We Get Fat

Also again only applying what I read in the first post if those claims were in fact true. In pretty much every industrialized nation the conclusion would be there would be no skinny people everyone would be fat.

Why only industrialized nations. If carbs are what cause people to get fat I don't think a macronutrient can identify nations let alone industrialized ones. j/k

I was trying to cut out 3rd world nations where starvation is a issue.

It's not about calories it's about carbs, at least that's what taubes alludes to.

Also again only applying what I read in the first post if those claims were in fact true. In pretty much every industrialized nation the conclusion would be there would be no skinny people everyone would be fat.

I find Taubes' argument more believable than conventional wisdom. The big problem with Taubes' argument is that there is too much evidence against it, at least the way he has worded it. If you read some of the other pro-low carb bloggers and researchers, most of them don't fully accept Taubes' viewpoints, but just parts of them.

Well right now we have an unprecedented obesity epidemic. Over 30% of Americans are obese, and within the next 18 years that number is projected to hit 42%. That right there is pretty significant. Now people constantly site sedentary lifestyle as a main culprit, but this problem largely began around 1980, way before video games were that popular and before the internet even existed. Most people didn't know what the internet was until probably mid 1990s. Plus there is little evidence that exercise makes that much difference in managing weight.

Then of course is the evidence that body fat storage is highly regulated by the body. So I find it hard to believe that we are really mentally in that much control over our calorie intake. And with that, I question why 30 years ago many people had control over their calorie intake, but now so many people don't. Is there some outbreak of mental weakness going around or could it be our food supply is affecting our bodies to make us overeat?

I am all for cutting back on carbs. I try to keep mine relatively low and focus on more protein... but I don't think whole grains are going to make me fat. Sugar, ice cream and brownies outside of moderation will!

What is the difference though? When they break down, it all becomes glucose anyways?

What makes whole grain a healthier carbohydrate than a tablespoon of pure sugar?

That's exactly it, once they are broken down there really is no difference.

If you want a really good read on "why we get fat" try Fat: The Story of My Life with My Body, by Jean Braithwaite. Brilliant, and a very absorbing narrative, too. If you are a 50 Shades of Grey kind of person, you will like the naughty parts.

Also again only applying what I read in the first post if those claims were in fact true. In pretty much every industrialized nation the conclusion would be there would be no skinny people everyone would be fat.

I find Taubes' argument more believable than conventional wisdom. The big problem with Taubes' argument is that there is too much evidence against it, at least the way he has worded it. If you read some of the other pro-low carb bloggers and researchers, most of them don't fully accept Taubes' viewpoints, but just parts of them.

Well right now we have an unprecedented obesity epidemic. Over 30% of Americans are obese, and within the next 18 years that number is projected to hit 42%. That right there is pretty significant. Now people constantly site sedentary lifestyle as a main culprit, but this problem largely began around 1980, way before video games were that popular and before the internet even existed. Most people didn't know what the internet was until probably mid 1990s. Plus there is little evidence that exercise makes that much difference in managing weight.

Then of course is the evidence that body fat storage is highly regulated by the body. So I find it hard to believe that we are really mentally in that much control over our calorie intake. And with that, I question why 30 years ago many people had control over their calorie intake, but now so many people don't. Is there some outbreak of mental weakness going around or could it be our food supply is affecting our bodies to make us overeat?

It may be a few things. Longer work hours means less "dinner making" time with family, easy access to fast food since most are within a mile of where you live, portions being enormous when you eat out, entertainment (not just video games) but TV, DVD, computer, etc., fear of parents letting their kids play outside, longer commuting time, lack of sleep, etc. There's such a myriad of variables that may contribute.
I've eaten the same way since the 80's a have relatively stayed the same weight, so it ain't the food IMO.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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It may be a few things. Longer work hours means less "dinner making" time with family, easy access to fast food since most are within a mile of where you live, portions being enormous when you eat out, entertainment (not just video games) but TV, DVD, computer, etc., fear of parents letting their kids play outside, longer commuting time, lack of sleep, etc. There's such a myriad of variables that may contribute.
I've eaten the same way since the 80's a have relatively stayed the same weight, so it ain't the food IMO.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

^^^ agree a lot with this. Look at the food we can buy in a grocery store today vs years ago... 'value added', prepackaged foods that have an unbelievably high calorie density as opposed to basics and baking/cooking ingredients. Look at the quality(?) of restaurant food today versus the restaurants of even 20 years ago - some meals in restaurants have freaked me right out as I've been doing more research on what I'm eating now. Look at the portion sizes today! Extra size that for me please and add a jumbo jumbo sugar cola for me!! I love junk food from time to time and I can definitely be a big eater! (ask me about all you can eat rib nights!!) but some things really are shocking on some menus... Full daily calorie counts on one plate!... Add to that more sedentary lifestyles, more driving, less walking, more 'stress', more shuttling children around so they can do everything - less of them taking care of their multiple siblings and chores... The world has changed, and the 'average' has changed with it.... To be honest it seems almost evident that it should be happening....

Thanks for all the great links and info everyone - great thread for later reading!

Well right now we have an unprecedented obesity epidemic. Over 30% of Americans are obese, and within the next 18 years that number is projected to hit 42%. That right there is pretty significant. Now people constantly site sedentary lifestyle as a main culprit, but this problem largely began around 1980, way before video games were that popular and before the internet even existed. Most people didn't know what the internet was until probably mid 1990s. Plus there is little evidence that exercise makes that much difference in managing weight.

and Internet is the only thing that makes you sedentary?
there's another thing actually, but it seems that in US people are taking it for granted so much that they'll rather think of internet then of - cars. From what I've seen of US and from what I've heard of friends who have lived there for some time, US infrastructure is extremely pedestrian-unfriendly, and even cyclist-unfriendly. People simply don't walk any more. My partner just came back from LA and he was complaining about huge lack of pedestrian zones/paths. A friend of mine lived in mid-west for a year, she didn't have a driving licence and had huge problems doing shopping since everything is designed for cars. She even was openly told that it's her own fault since "everyone should have a car". As far as I'm concerned, this is far greater problem than internet and carbs together. When I was eating 500g of white bread daily (+ pastry from bakeries) and looked like I did on that profile picture, I was also walking for at least half an hour every morning to get that bread. No big shopping malls, no huge shopping once a week - just up and down the hill, up and down the stairs every day, to get your food in local bakeries and small shops. However, westernisation of lifestyle, opening of huge shopping malls and disappearance of small local business are taking their toll in all developed world.
where did you get this about little evidence?

I'll stick to my complex carbs and my running. : )