Hello Everybody,
Why do fat people stay fat? Surely they have the motivation to lose weight. Life for the obese cannot be easy, the breathlessness, the difficulty finding seats and climbing stairs, the health problems. Why put up with it?
We know that some obese people have health problems and deserve our sympathy and support. But what of the others? They seem to be in a state of obesity denial. The British Information Centre for Health and Social Care tells us that in the UK between 1995 and 2004 obese men increased from 13 percent to 24 percent and obese women from 16 percent to 24 percent of the population. One in four young people between 11 and 15 years old were also considered obese. These are old figures, but it is doubtful if the situation has improved today.
Looking at matters internationally in the same period. The USA was first on the list with 30 percent of the population obese. Mexico and the UK were fighting for second place at around 24 percent. France and Italy, both countries famous for their food, were at 23rd place with 10 percent obese people and at 25th with 9 percent respectively. France and Italy consider food part of their culture and view it with national pride. Mediterranean food is good food. Sadly fast food outlets are now appearing in Paris, Rome and elsewhere and both countries will soon be moving up the list.
From these statistics we can conclude that there has not been a remarkable outbreak of stress, depression, hypothyroidism and insulin resistance (all things causing clinical obesity) in the USA, Mexico and the UK. A more likely explanation is that people are eating a lot of the wrong kind of food and not exercising enough.
But that does not answer the question. Why do fat people stay fat? There are a number of reasons.
Fast Food. This is the main reason. Fast food is everywhere, kids love it and grow up to become adults who love it. Fast food is bad food. It contains fats, starch and sugar in abundance and the portions are massive. Eat fast food and you will get fat and stay fat.
Peer Pressure. If everyone in your neighbourhood is obese why be the odd one out? You will be told diet and exercise don’t work, so just enjoy life and eat up. That is probably what you will do. You will become fat, and so will your kids and you will fit into your neighbourhood really well.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. Most fast food has very few fresh fruit and vegetables included. Sandwiches with salad will have one tomato cut up to serve half a dozen customers and a pinch of lettuce. An apple in a fast food outlet will cost three times the price of an apple in a Superstore. There is no incentive to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, so you don’t.
Too Much Starch. Bread is fine, but a lot of bread is not fine. Lunchtime sandwiches, although often sold as having healthy fillings, will pile on the pounds. But, once again it is quick and easy to eat sandwiches every day.
Lack of Exercise. Fat people do not exercise. They got fat through not exercising and sure as eggs is eggs they are not going to exercise now. So they are in a circle - they are fat because they do not exercise and they do not exercise because they are fat. If they are going to do anything about their obesity they must break out of the circle.
Now that you know why fat people stay fat the solution should be easy. Stop doing the things that make you fat, resist peer pressure and do the things that make you lose weight. Start gentle walking exercise every day, eat more fruit and vegetables, cut down on fats, sugars and starches. You will see results and with results will come motivation to lose weight. But most important of all, stay a long way away from fast foods.
See you soon,
Peter Stockwell
14 February 2010
Photo. Fast Food Critic
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