Debate Obesity: Bad or Good?

Hello.

This is a debate about obesity. America claims that obesity is one of their biggest problems. Almost all of us Americans are fat. I'm a little hefty myself. But I don't think that obesity is bad. I mean, so many people who are skinny and good looking are saying that obesity is bad. It isn't bad if and obese person likes being obese, is it?

Well, I'm providing some links on obesity for some discussion starters:

http://www.obesity.org/subs/childhood/

Childhood obesity, people say, is the worst possible kind of obesity because they say it normally follows children into their adulthood lives.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/state_programs/index.htm

A map of the U.S. displaying states trying to solve obesity problems. I guess they think obesity is bad also.

So, in conclusion, people think that being fat or obese is bad. I've even heard some people on T.V. saying that obesity is "evil". What do you all think?

 

Evil? No. Bad for you? Yes. I'm packing on some pounds myself- too much time in front of a computer and not enough hitting a track or living a useful life.

I don't believe for a second that vague study that says slight obesity is a good thing. It sounds like something a bunch of people got together and made up to make the aging, overweight baby boomers feel better about themselves.

'Sides, most chicks seem to dig the slimmer fellows.

Now a know one or two are going to hop on here and yell at me saying it's not true and not all girls are into looks, yaa dee yaa (at least I think one or two will... :\ ), but from a man's point of view we (and by 'we' I mean 'I') notice that slim jims tend to get more serious looks rather than the rest of us. Slim jims and ripped Ahnolds.

Two reasons why being fat is bad- Your health suffers, as does your love life. Mmm Hmmm.

But losing is easier said than done.

~W

 

Like I said before, if you're happy being obese, I say be obese. It's really your choice, right? I mean, you aren't born obese, it's your eating and exercise habits that affect your obesity right? I do agree that skinny guys get more love than us hefty fellas, but hey, that's life right?


Muscular guys=Hott chicks
Fat guys=Fat chicks

Life is cruel...

 

Well I think there's a difference between being "fat" or "chubby" and being "obese". Obese is like Elvis when he died or this morons you see on talk shows who need cranes to get out of their houses. I weigh a little under 300 pounds, at 6' and I only really look, and feel, chubby. By no means "obese". And, either way, I think you're really messing up this argument. You're not asking of being "obese" is good or bad, because obviously it is bad, there's too many complications. You're asking if being "obese" is liked or disliked. You should probably revise your argument to better suit what you're REALLY asking.

 

obesity is becoming more and more common, people will have to adapt because as long as people have eating obsessions it aint gonna change.

 

I'm arguing with what I have. I asked if obesity is bad or good to some people. Some people like being obese, others don't. I'm asking for your thoughts and opinions on obesity. Ba bam.

 

Being formerly obese, let me just say that anyone who is happy to be obese needs to seriously rethink their life. It's not fun at all. I personally was made fun of all day, and not to mentioned I sucked at sports. But losing weight is easier than you think. I know many people (like myself) that just needed some direction. I joined the Wrestling team, and have lost 22 pounds, before gaining it back in muscle My advice: find something you can follow, and don't give up on it.

 

Go for you! Yay... The minature Jackabee cheer squad applauds your efforts towards a healthier life style. (to Alchemy_Dude)

Yes people do go by looks... Yes being obese is bad... More to the point it causes numerous health problems, straining your systems. Eh I would go on but I haven't looked at this topic recently.

I personally do not mind overweight people to a certain extent... I mean that's your choice right? Your decisions right? Unfortunatly Dialysis isn't cheap.... My friend's father was obese, he had been for as long as I can remember. His health had been going downwards... He used up all of his leave for Dialysis treatments. He died this year. Diabetes, heart disease... If you can live with that and are still happy be my guest... Oh wait... it goes beyond that. I'm not obese but tax money is going to help the obese... well okay. Insuarance money is spent on the health problems... does it raise what my parents pay?
I guess I would say that if you are happy okay, but where will that happiness be when you have tubes stuck in your body and you have to worry about dieing? Yeah that sounds real happy to me. Oh loads of fun.

Edit: They say that obesity is becoming an epidemic... and yet they also say that the number of people with anorexia is higher too. I look at the info and all I tend to see is two very different ends of the spectrum, neither of which are good. Maybe Americans are evolving into two races... the skinny and the obese...

 

I find the debate forums to be getting more pointless...

Obesity is bad. It causes high blood pressure, heart attacks..ect. Even if the person is fine being fat, it still isn't healthy or good for them to be. Also it is hard to define bad and good from an opinion point of view.

I think if a person is fat and fine with it, then I am happy for them to be able to be that way and say happy. I am just trying to point out that no matter what the actual feeling of the obese person might be, that is it still not good for there body to be obese. I don't know of much or anything that says being bigger is healthy for you body.

 

This coming from a big guy, it's not fun. Guys, unless you got moves and lines that are ingenious, you better be accustomed to having your wallet full. Girls, especailly nowadays, rely on looks more than anything else. IMage is key. 75% of American is obese and we are the FATTEST country in the world! Which is why I suggest this. Pick a sport or activity, that involves some exercise, and do that, like alchemy dude said. I do martial arts and I'm gonna begin running again. Doing that and watching what you eat will help you. Granted, I'll never be less than 190 ever again probably and I'll never me skinny guy, but I can be muscular. If you're big but it's because of muscle and not fat, you got a good chance, trust me on this.

 

Ok I just read this thread.. And if your obese you HAVE A PROBLEM..

What Is Obesity?
Being obese and being overweight are not exactly the same thing. An obese person has a large amount of extra body fat, not just a few extra pounds. People who are obese are very overweight and at risk for serious health problems

http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/obesity.html

Now if your a bit chubby, or overweight but still in pretty good health and fitness then no thats not a problem.. If you look at some of the strongest men in the world.. (not body builders but STRONG men) most of these guys are fat and probably overweight.. But under a layer of fat they have a huge amount of muscle.. So in other words a bit of fat is not a bad thing..

Another question is why are there so many Obese people in north America.. Fast food, tv and lack of physical exercise are the problems.. I am a thin guy.. Why am i this way.. Its because I do manual labour all day 5 days or more a week, I dont eat fast food, and I go to judo regualary.. Do I work out and watch my weight?? Not a chance... its just the activities that I do in the course of the week burn everything I put into myself..

So why is it that the gov is trying to fix the problem.. Because to many people are ending up in the hospital that dont need to be there..

 

I think you need to change the Topic of this thread because "Is obesity good or bad?" is different from what I gather you are trying to say. When you ask if it is good or bad, it's inferring that you're asking about the health side of obesity. If youre talking about the right to want to be obese, please change the topic to something along the lines of "Obesity: do people have the right to want to be obese?"

Umm I think you need to do a little more research on your topics before you start posting. Obesity can be a medical condition. Whether its ridiculously low metabolism or the inability of the body to burn and/or digest fat properly or other reasons, Obesity is in a lot of cases a medical condition.

Now to answer BOTH of these questions you seem to be asking, yes obesity is bad for your health infact many obese people end up dying because of it. its quite obveous that being obese is BAD for you. Everyone else has already posted more or less what I wanted to say in this area.

As for whether or not people should have the right to be obese if they want to, I say sure. I mean they've been warned of the health risks that come with being fat. It's everywhere. On TV, radios, magazines, friends/family and especially doctors. If they wont listen to people who care for their well being and want to eat themselves to death, that is their choice. Sad but there's only so much you can do. Right to freedom.

As for obesity as a medical conditon, there are treatments for it.

...Also, why would anyone want to be obese? Other than the fact that it is BAD for your health, is the fact that people taunt and tease and make fun of obese people to an insane extent...why would anyone want to be subjected to that kind of treatment?

 

Because we like to eat. We're not hefty because we enjoy buying pants that are larger than everyone elses.

90% of it is mental, which makes it a pain in the ass to lose it. When you're eating you're happy, so why stop. When you're not, and your hungry, why not get some food- it makes you happy and makes the hunger go away.

Now most of the hunger is in the head, and that's where the problem lies. If you're bored or sitting around without much to do ya get hungry for no real reason. "It's time to eat" is the reason why you're hungry- no so much because your stomach is empty. So apply the truths from the above paragraph and there you have the problem.

"So you wanna lose weight? STOP EATING!!"

Sure, I'll get right on it. I'll just re-wire my thinking just like that.

Running and exercising is also tedious. Hefty people usually feel like *ss after working out. Their bodies dont like the strain and usually kick back in retaliation. When I was in New York I ran every other night religiously for about 20 -30 mins varying from a light jog to a rapid pace depending on my mood. I didn't lose any weight- at all, and for the entire 6 months the jogging tore me up. My body never got used to it.

I think the trick to losing weight lies in cutting down how much you eat when you eat and in finding an activity that is as enjoyable as it is active. Raquetball is a good time and is a very active game. I can play that all day, instead of running. It gets my heart rate up, the time passes by faster, and I'm not miserable while I do it. Jagging lacks all of those advantages, and I feel like sh*t afterwards.

I agree that a few people are "gifted" with bad genetics, but that only really applies to the morbidly obese who really do watch what they eat like a hawk and exercise daily for at least 30 mins. I'm getting sick and tired of aging yuppies going around stuffing thier faces, then hitting the reclining chair and then blaming thier bad health on thier "genetics".

"But Mom and Dad are fat."

Mom and Dad are EIGHTY YEARS OLD and can no longer live the active lifestyle they once had. They don't watch what they eat, and when both of them were your age they WERE SLIM.

If you're going to be fat at least be honest with yourself- You eat too much, you don't work out enough and it's a pain in the ass to try and lose it. It's not instantly gratifying. A weight loss program is a long term self imposed pain and hassle on your part and it's easier just to live with it.

Ahh, but we're still talking about the baby boomer generation. An entire generation that got what they wanted and still demand the same now-a-days. As thier kids we're no better (probably worse), but regardless, the excuses these people come up with to make themselves feel better.

If you like to eat, just say so. Where's the sin in that?


~W

 

Best way to lose weight.. get active.. Do something anything.. the no pain no gain is bull. Just do something instead of sitting around.. And when it comes to eating.. eat in moderation.. Eat what you like but dont chow down all the time.. Also listen to your stomach not your brain.. when the stomach says hey Im hungry then eat.. if your not actualy hungry but you want to get go get active take your mind off it.. the more active you are the better you will feel..

 

lol that's really not what I was asking XD. Just because somone enjoys eating and the feeling that comes with eating doesnt mean they WANT to be obese. I was asking why anyone would want to be obese as in "YAAAAAY IM FAT WOOOHOOO!".

Yes there are people out there who don't have Obesity as a medical condition and use it as an excuse anyway. Those people sicken me. however, I wasn't talking about those poeple. I was referring to the people who ACTUALLY have the disease to dis-credit Shijins statement.

 

Trust me, genetics plays a big role in it. When my mom was a kid, she was skinny but my dad's always been big. Now, I'm big and my little brother is skinny as a rail. When we were babies, we were both fat. What happened? My brother was blessed with a high metabolism. Losing weight is hard and most people don't feel like doing it.....GET OVER IT! Nothing in life is easy, so why should this be. You wanna lose weight, check this site out:

naturalcures.com This guy has a couple good ways to do it.

 

right mouse button isn't working so I can't paste and copy a pic of subways jerid.....bleh

I would say that this is a crock of poo. True that there are some people with low metablism and real bad genetics. But most of the fact obseity is so bad on society is because society has gotten omega lazy. We barly make the effort to walk to our friends house let alone make the effort to watch what we eat.

 

Hotkeys: ctrl+c, ctrl+v. Works even if you can't right click. :3

Anyway we're all aware of Jared. Losing weight isn't what you eat, it's how you live. There are all sorts of fad diets and weight-loss tricks floating around, "health" food and such. Really, the best thing is a healthy lifestyle.

Although I'm not one to talk.

I've never been out of shape, but I can't say my lifestyle is the best ever.

 

If you were to get on a scale and it said, for example, 220, about 20 of those pounds is water weight, maybe more. When I was in the hospital, I lost about 20 pounds because I couldn't eat or drink. Now I'm not saying do that, I'm just giving you a little key here. You can also subtract 1 or 2 for clothes. The rest is divided into muscle and fat. So you cxan pretty much find out how much body fat you have by visiting a doctor. It may actually be less than you think.

 

At 160 lbs, 5'11", and a relatively slender build, I think my weight is one of the last worries on my mind. I don't know my body fat percent, but I bet it would be quite low.