Michael Buerk. Is obesity a disease?

Alexa, we've been though all this.

Most of the time, I will agree, people are eating too much and not moving about enough

But there are some people, enough to show concern for, that a restriction of calories will not result in weight loss.

I could have got away with 1500 in my 20s and lost weight but not now.

The appropriate word is 'sometimes', notanan2.

I'd go so far as to say most times.

But we have to accept that we're more sophisticated now and we have to accept that some drugs, a few medical conditions and genes, (not 100% on that one) can affect weight which no amount of calorie counting can help.

Also As FlexibleFriend has pointed out just what are the wheelchair bound to do?

I have chronic pain and can't cycle any more. I'm lucky that I haven't put any weight on due to decreased exercise but my diet hasn't changed. Why's that? And yes, I do know what I'm eating.

There is a direct and simple relationship: calories in calories out.

FlexibleFriend you and your brothers probably WOULD look like the skinny ones (comparatively) if you were transported into a group of kids today!

Meiple long time since I looked at how many calories a day we should have to lose weight and don't know if you are M o F but I think it used to be 1200 for F and 1500 for M. If you are not active obviously it needs to be less. I have to go down to 800 to lose weight.

I wasn't a scrawny kid and nor were any of my brothers or sister. We were well fed as kids and very muscular, we're a family of mesomorphs, great makes you strong and fit and healthy. Even when I'm unable to move without help I'm still really muscular, even though I've been told repeatedly my muscles will waste away due to not using them. I have to say there's absolutely no sign of that at all. I'm overweight because I have to eat to live and really do eat a minimal amount but can't burn any of it off but I'm by no means grossly overweight and I'm still perfectly in proportion, I certainly don't have a massive gut or arse just generally overweight but extremely well distributed. I've certainly never done anything to limit my life expectancy but I have an incurable auto immune condition and that will certainly kill me in the end, how soon is anyone's guess.

To all those opinionated, judgemental folk out there who find it easier to pin labels on people than try to understand underlying factors that may be involved.
I was a size 12 for years, then had a total hysterectomy, resulting in an average weight gain of 5kgs a year with no change in eating habits or lifestyle.
Now in my 70's with Fibromyalgia, including joint pain, depression and chronic fatigue, I have become a compulsive overeater.
Food is my comfort blanket, even though my intellect tells me one thing, my emotions say quite another and so it's a vicious cycle - I eat because I'm depressed and I'm depressed because I eat and am overweight. And perhaps as suggested by Buerk I will oblige by shortening my life as a result of my compulsion!

Consultants would blithely state this calorie/weight thing. However now we're more aware and accept that it's just not that simple.

Sometimes it is that simple. But Consultants arent allowed to state it bluntly, even if they believe it to be so in a particular case.

The fat children problem IMO comes down to as I have said before, fat looking "normal".

In a group of children these days, the one who is all elbows and knees looks comparatively scrawney, but we ALL looked like that in our youth.

A normal/average looking child today may well be overweight, but doesnt look over weight in comparison with their peers.

School uniform waistbands are HUGE these days it can be hard to get a good fit for a healthy weight child.

"Normal" isnt a useful gauge any more

MOnica, I was thinking the same. Some of the comments have reminded me of how things were in the 70s. Consultants would blithely state this calorie/weight thing. However now we're more aware and accept that it's just not that simple.

I'm not overweight either!

Can anyone remember how many fat children there were in their class at school?

In my case there was one. Her family was also overweight. Maybe it was hereditary, maybe they all stuffed themselves with cakes and sweets but there weren't that many

How many overweight children are there in schools these days??

It can't all be down to genetics.

Wow what a post. We all have solutions as to why so many people are overweight. The biggest problem is food that makes us fat is usually not good for us. Food manufacturers put sugar into everything! I remember when yogurt was first being promoted in this country and my mum had never heard of it. The milkman delivered a free yogurt to all the families that had milk delivered as part of a promotion. We all found it very tart. Now they are full of sugar as we are so addicted to it that when it’s removed from foods we don’t like it. Sugar companies are a massive money making business and thrive on our addiction. Our lives are so different from when I was young in the fifties. We never had mod cons, heating, not many had cars or central heating. All calorie burners. I was always slim until I hit the menopause and my body fought against losing weight with a vengeance. Luckily I fall in the safe range but I do have to focus on what I eat and before I think about having that delicious piece of cake I have to ask is it really worth it? Being overweight has become normal from all sections of society. As us women have far less testosterone than men we are always at a disadvantage when trying to lose weight and if we did then mankind would very soon run out. Fattening food tends to be high calorie low nutrient and cheap as well as tasting better than a lettuce leaf!

Obesity is a symptom not a disease, It is symptomatic of several conditions.
1. Hypothyroidism
2. Genetic predisposition to accumulate fat in certain areas e.g.buttock, or thighs.
3. Family culture of overeating learned in childhood.
4. Poverty which often causes a) lack of choices b) comfort eating.

The recent obesity epidemic is caused by poverty, linked with family culture of overeating that's unsuited to present day physical inactivity.

I agree, Rosina. It's terribly sad to see children getting overweight due to poor eating choices by parents. Which is what it boils down to. In most cases. I knew a family, parents, 2 boys and 2 girls. Dad was skinny and Mum wasn't Boys were skinny, girls weren't . Not sure what is going on there

I used to take my daughter to swimming classes with my friend and her child. She was worried that her child was overweight and she didn't know why. As we were getting the children ready after the swim, this child was presented with a bag of Monster Munch and a fizzy drink. My child got nothing!

There are of course many reasons for being overweight; health conditions can pile on the pounds and so can being immobile due to ill health. That said, I too feel quite disturbed by the fat families waddling about . Huge mothers with red faced overweight children puffing alongside them are a common sight. I worked in a school and some of the excuses were so inventive; two children were so fat that they couldn't sit on the floor at assembly and needed chairs - imagine how that made them feel, and their very fat mother blamed it on hereditary factors, 'glands' and other reasons, but stood at the bus stop for a half mile journey to and from school while her offspring ate snacks. Such a sensitive subject too as it looks like cruel criticism if anything is said, but what is the fate of children who spend their whole childhood overweight?

Nonnie. I don't know how many times I have to say this but some woman can't convert so need to take T3 along with the T4 for levels to be optimal. However, T3 is not easily accessed in the UK.

And without the T3 the pt will still be symptomatic despite having a 'good' TSH level.

The concentration camp analogy was one that was used 50 odd years ago by my parent's generation as a rule. I've not heard it for years. Disappointing to hear it on here

Miepl I am fairly average height and to loose weight whilst being physically active I need to take in 1100-1200 daily. 1500 would put weight on me if I was immobile. And would be what I would eat to maintain weight if active.

I don’t think overweight ppl are weak as such.i do believe it’s much more complex than that. Several factors addiction to sugary foods, comfort eating . Boredom, health issues. I am a big person 2 stone overweight. Despite health problems I’m as happy as a pig in .... , I also don’t judge ppl. Yes I was a size 10 when young , I don’t do aerobics etc as I simply cannot due tomobility probs. Also on steroids I exercise when I can, I neither drink nor smoke . I also don’t beat myself up on being overweight I’m grateful I wake up every morning to great family n friends

I wonder where I fit in. I use a wheelchair outside the house as I cannot walk or stand and taking exercise is not easy. I have been on a diet (self regulated)is for a month: less than 1500 calories a day - and yes I work out every mouthful - no sweets, fizzy drinks, takeaways, alcohol etc. And have put on 3lbs. Now I am fed up and wonder why I am bothering, it certainly doesn't seem to be working and I miss my g and t!

Obesty is a problem, one I have been battling with ever since the menopause. I swim and do the gym everyday. Eat only the food I cook, which does not come from a supermarket. I either grow my own or buy from a farm. These activities I have done all my adult life and never had an ounce of fat on me until I hit 55.
Last year I managed to lose 10kgs but due to the stress of house renovating this year I have put it all back on.
So what is the answer. At the gym they tell me I don't eat enough to replace the calories I use up everyday. Eating large meals is something I find difficult as I am not a big eater and I have never had the need to graze. I know I don't drink enough water like most people.
I would love to know the secret of my very active DIL and DD who seems to always be eating but have not an ounce of fat on them.

FC61 slimming world is a low fat lowish protein high carb diet and as such there are people who wont do well on it.

Your food looks whilst not at all excessive in quantity, quite carb dominated. How do you do on more protein heavy diets?

There are also certain (usually healthy) foods that people with thyroid issues should avoid if I remember correctly. Things like broccoli

Myfitnesspal app is good at showing you WHERE your carbs/proteins/fats are coming from and which vitamins and minerals you are not getting enough of from your whole food sources. Sometimes if you cut quantities without properly balancing your nutrition the weight doesnt come off.

You also need to make sure you arent over restricting. Which myfitnesspal wont let you do.

The concentration camp comparison may not have gone down well but it is still true. It was meant to shock to make a valid point. It was what an Endocrinologist said to me!

minnie anyone who needed medication would have died in a cc so not really relevant to a weight thread. Those who are hypothyroid could lose weight, with difficulty but they could by eating much less than normal. That was my point.

I think the problem is that too many of us make excuses for ourselves and others. That is of course on one hand very kind but is it helpful? Surely, just like smoking, we should have an open discussion about it. Our weight can be controlled if we try and telling people it is not their fault is actually harmful. I am by the way half a stone overweight, I know why and I take responsibility for it and don't blame it on any 'condition'

Strange how people are anorexia and insomnia a disease and obesity is not say some.

Incidently I am not very thin anymore (getting older and health issues have seen too that) nor am I obese. Just slightly overweight

It is a disease! It's called comfort eating. There are reasons why people get like that. They need support and therapeutic impute. Working with mental health I see this alot

Also remember there are some illness such as Cushing's disease/under active thyroid etc that make people overweight

PS I feel a lot better reading some ladies comments ! Thank you to all the lovely ladies on here.