the word 'greed'

ethelbags1 what a lovely word Glutton is! Much nicer than greed which brings pictures of grabbing everything around you whether it is going into your mouth or not - - -

Glutton gives me pictures of large rounded smiling people with turkey legs in each hand and gravy dribbling down their chins - - or am I spending too much time alone??

Yes I agree, if we weren't so greedy (some of us) there wouldn't be an obesity problem.

It would seem to be the truth, wouldn't it. If you compare the size of portions ten, twenty or more years ago compared with today you couldn't deny that we are greedier. In my local gastro pub the standard single portion of chicken is actually HALF a chicken...

when I was young a whole chicken had to last a family of three for two days as the main meal with broth from the bones on the 3rd day.

That's my memory too, ethelbags1. Think about our restaurant buffets and how high we pile our plates...embarrassingly greedy!!

It still does in many families. Some people eat far too much - but at least chicken isn't fattening (without the skin).

I can never eat a whole meal in a restaurant or pub, the portions are far too big for me.

I am overweight although now I am getting the dose of thyroxin my weight is going down slowly but surely. Certainly the unattractive puffiness (a result of various organs not working as well as they should) seems to have disappeared.

I imagine the use of a word other than greed is because those who care to think about it know that there are many "invisible" diseases which cause people to become overweight or even obese; these conditions are not only caused by greed.

In pedant's corner I would think you need the right word rather than one that may only cover a percentage of the condition you wish to describe.

Greed is defined as an excessive desire for something and these days is more usually applied to bankers than to consumers of food.
I think that the causes of over-eating are far more complex than simple greed.
They relate to our emotional relationship with food and also to the fact that many foods are high in sugar which actually stimulates the appetite (artificial sweeteners have the same effect).

Perhaps we could consider the addition of addictive substances like sugar by manufacturers as another example of greed - the greed for profit over (or without) the concern for public health...

I thought the scientists have decided that there is, in fact, an "obesity gene".

A bit glib to label all over-weight/obese people as greedy. Or gluttons.

I think to speak of greed and gluttony when referring to people who are obese/over weight is so insulting I feel cross. Some people eat too much but this doesn't mean they are greedy or a glutton, there are people who comfort eat , they have emotional or mental health problems , they turn to food as some turn to drink or cigarettes etc.

Then there are those like Gracesgran who are over weight because of health problems, you have insulted her, I hope you haven't caused her distress . Shame on you for being so judgemental ethelbags, you have a right to call yourself a glutton because you are obese, you have no right to say it of Gracesgran and many like her . Obese covers all, not political correctness, just caring for people's feelings

One of the causes of weight gain is Vitamin D deficiency.

The main cause of obesity is over eating,end of,self control is what's required.and get up and do something.
Fire away,see if I care
I have a under active thyroid.and I've not long stopped taking Arimidex,I'm not over weight.

You are wrong, end of

Is lack of will power greed?

End of what ab?

End of this attack on people who are overweight for difference reasons not just being gluttons Jingle. Everyone knows a person become anorexic because they do not enough to maintain a healthy body weight, not all who suffer do so because they want to be super thin . Same for those who are overweight , neither has just one cause

In my opinion, for what it is worth, in some cases obesity can be an illness the same way as anorexia. My DD's school friend valiantly battled anorexia for over 20 years and sadly lost her fight last week aged 35. Some people choose to be gluttonous, others can't help it. Not everyone is blessed with the ability to self control.

Hmm... I weigh too much by about 2 stones.
I eat healthily at mealtimes during the day although yes we will have a cake/bun with our cup of tea/coffee after out dinner, it is not needed but it is definitly enjoyed.

However, I am a very poor sleeper, every night. Tonight/last night, went to bed at 11.30pm. Lay down to read my Kindle book, read it using my iphone as the phone is so much more lightweight and doesn't make an almightly crash if I doze off and it hits the floor.

Started reading at 11.30pm. It is now just after 5am. I have been reading, got up to stretch my aching bones, walked about a while (also have Restless Leg Syndrome), back to bed and read a while, got up again.

This is my third time up, this time I had a glass of milk, 2 McVities choch digestives, and a 4 finger kitkat. I did not need this..... it filled a spell while I try to feel ready for bed again. This is possibly comfort eating.

I went for a walk 2 days ago, since then my painful hips are more painful, as are my arthritic feet. Coming down the stairs causes diffs for my knees. That's what happens when I try to exercise.

Am I a glutton - I don't know ......

I'm definitely greedy,I read the sweet menu first,every time,in fact I would love to just eat snacks and sweet things.I don't though.

How does a preference for sweet things make one greedy?

As a society I think we are greedy - not just for food but for everything. We want it now, we want lots of it, and we don't really care who hasn't got it as long as we have.

You only have to see the over-stuffed trolleys at supermarkets, filled with unnecessary stuff like giant bags of crisps and bottles of fizzy drink etc to be convinced we are, generally (fat and thin) greedy - think 2-4-1 offers rather than one half price, we like more for less and generally the more you have the more you eat.

And I'm back to the cheap end restaurants - eat all you can, refill your plate or your glass etc. I point to my local pub restaurant with half a chicken as a standard single portion and can say that locally it's not the only one.

Yes we are greedy. Fat and thin. And I'm a fat person, before anyone asks.

Mollie, the O/P is obesity and greed , how can a thin person be a glutton?

I am overweight, could do with losing two stone, but I am always hungry too greedy. I don't keep chocolate, biscuits etc in the house because I would eat them and become fatter.
I can blame five years of one medication, 12 years of a medication which causes odoema but if I ate less than I want (which is mainly healthy food) I would probably lose that two stone.

Some people may have a medical problem, manufacturers are partly to blame for all the hidden sugar and transfats and portion sizes are too large on the whole. But, in the main, people are fatter because they are greedy for whatever reason.

Bankers' 'greed' should be termed avarice as should the 'greed' for more and more material possessions.

Coolgran, try a bowl of cornflakes in the night when you can't sleep. They -and the milk- act on the brain to make you sleepy. Might be something to do with serotonin or something. I can't remember, but it works. Remember, chocolate's got caffeine in it.