General Discussion

jimlup

(8,010 posts)

25. Antectodal evidence is not cause and effect.

Mon May 27, 2013, 09:54 AM

May 2013

Sorry but by anecdote I know that I have been discriminated against because of my weight. This is a complex problem and to assign it to a "lifestyle choice" is naive and that is giving you the benefit of the doubt. I also know by anecdote and direct observation how much trouble I have maintaining my weight versus the lifestyle of my "skinny" friends who can eat whatever they want and not gain weight. It just isn't a simple problem and psychological factors are no less real problems than many others. One observation that I will add to the discussion is that when I am relatively "poor" I have a harder time with weight control "poor" than when I'm doing well. When you are worried about paying the rent, your brain says you are also worried about calories. Rational or not, it is a psychological artifact of limited income. The "fat is a lifestyle choice" folks kind of remind me of Reagen Administration people who would say that "poverty" is a "choice."

I admit to being particularly sensitive on this issue. Nevertheless I find your statements too general, overly simplistic and also more than a little naive. Sorry, you are free to disagree as am I with you.

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The 7 most obese states... [View all] davidn3600 May 2013 OP

Why are the bars blue? Aviation Pro May 2013 #1

Considering the states in question Cirque du So-What May 2013 #2

I'm surprised Texas didn't make the cut... chervilant May 2013 #3

Any city here in Texas could be on the list. It worse than I thought if Texas didn't crack... marble falls May 2013 #7

Actually Austin is one of the most fit cities in the nation. Lone_Star_Dem May 2013 #31

As a former 78704 hippy, Austin may be in Texas, but Austin ain't Texas ..... marble falls May 2013 #51

I didn't mean to hit a nerve. Lone_Star_Dem May 2013 #65

78704. It's not just a zip code, it's a way of life. :) Javaman May 2013 #137

The People's Republic of Austin isn't exactly representative of Texas arely staircase May 2013 #69

I just read this thread, did not see anyone suggest that Austin is representative of Texas, but Bluenorthwest May 2013 #96

i am sure it does keep the fat stats down somewhat arely staircase May 2013 #97

Nope, the latest population estimate for 2012 has it at 842,000. TexasTowelie May 2013 #102

No shit arely staircase May 2013 #70

Land of the Sweet Tea Party SoCalDem May 2013 #4

and lard R Merm May 2013 #13

fried lard Arugula Latte May 2013 #60

I grew up in Texas. I love sweet tea. liberal_at_heart May 2013 #108

The only time I had sweet-tea was in Tahiti SoCalDem May 2013 #114

I think if Kentucky did not lead the nation in smokers... kentuck May 2013 #5

Just for comparison the leanest 7 ... HereSince1628 May 2013 #6

Sad state of affairs timdog44 May 2013 #8

What?!? chervilant May 2013 #10

I am not fat prejudiced. timdog44 May 2013 #11

Obesity, chervilant May 2013 #19

congratulations to you. timdog44 May 2013 #21

It's both-- quantity and quality. Marr May 2013 #35

Nail on the head. timdog44 May 2013 #38

Please take time to chervilant May 2013 #116

I have the Food Matters documentary. timdog44 May 2013 #118

Thank you for being so considerate chervilant May 2013 #145

Modern research would say that you are partially wrong... jimlup May 2013 #20

I did not talk as if an expert. timdog44 May 2013 #23

Antectodal evidence is not cause and effect. jimlup May 2013 #25

Sorry you feel that way. timdog44 May 2013 #33

From my shoes jimlup May 2013 #34

You probably won't see this. timdog44 May 2013 #37

It's not easy, is it? Aristus May 2013 #49

Thanks for that. timdog44 May 2013 #52

Yes, you are fat prejudiced Warpy May 2013 #27

Why are people fatter than they were 20 years ago? former9thward May 2013 #30

Automation has a share of the blame.... MADem May 2013 #77

Everything you say is true. former9thward May 2013 #80

Epidemiologists have noted that the obesity epidemic Warpy May 2013 #90

Actually poverty rates have been fairly steady over the last 40 years npk May 2013 #113

Only because they've changed the CPI market basket Warpy May 2013 #120

Poverty has risen most notably among children, and mostly inner city poor neighborhoods npk May 2013 #139

There has been a major change in the last 40 years. timdog44 May 2013 #129

It is a life style choice to eat the wrong foods. timdog44 May 2013 #36

Where there is choice, eating poorly is a lifestyle choice, but to be fair, for some Dragonfli May 2013 #64

I find it disgraceful timdog44 May 2013 #71

I agree with what you've typed in this thread. As recently as 2 years ago I was obese, according to bike man May 2013 #66

Thank you. timdog44 May 2013 #68

It's an on-going battle/struggle, an every day thing that never ends - at least for bike man May 2013 #72

Repeating a lie doesn't make it come true. Warpy May 2013 #89

The truth is timdog44 May 2013 #92

I also agree with everything you've posted in this thread. closeupready May 2013 #150

Exactly the way timdog44 May 2013 #152

Glad to hear it. :-) closeupready May 2013 #155

Interesting about putting weight on timdog44 May 2013 #156

I'm of similar ethnicity; it's plausible that some of it is genetic. closeupready May 2013 #157

I am timdog44 May 2013 #158

When I was young the obesity rate was much lower cpwm17 May 2013 #12

All one has to do is to look at old black & white pics on Google SoCalDem May 2013 #15

Ubiquitous is the perfect word. JNelson6563 May 2013 #43

Yep.. a 6 yr old Baby Ruth was about all you'd find SoCalDem May 2013 #45

Doing laundry is a prime example.. SoCalDem May 2013 #46

The change is in the chervilant May 2013 #22

That is truly timdog44 May 2013 #24

Not putting stuff in the grocery cart is key FarCenter May 2013 #54

You are right. timdog44 May 2013 #57

It was the same when I was a kid. CBHagman May 2013 #136

In some cases it is. blueamy66 May 2013 #76

It's clear to me chervilant May 2013 #115

Could be. blueamy66 May 2013 #119

The 10 year old's adult caregivers-- chervilant May 2013 #144

If she knows that she is overweight.... blueamy66 May 2013 #147

Just FYI, chervilant May 2013 #148

I'm sorry you went through that. blueamy66 May 2013 #149

Those states also rank at the top in SNAP usage madville May 2013 #9

Very true. Processed food is cheaper then real food and with the meager SNAP ration YeahSureRight May 2013 #14

That is one of the problems. timdog44 May 2013 #16

Even people who know how to cook often do not have access to cooking facilities. MADem May 2013 #18

A lot of fruit and veggies don't need to be cooked mythology May 2013 #67

Yes, you can cook in a microwave but it can be a real pain in the ass. MADem May 2013 #75

Microwave cooking is easy FarCenter May 2013 #78

Not all microwaves have a "potato" setting, and many in these cheap hotels are 600 watt. MADem May 2013 #79

I don't think anywhere close to 30% of West Virginians live in welfare hotels. FarCenter May 2013 #83

People on SNAP aren't just feeding themselves, often as not. MADem May 2013 #86

Potatos and milk are a fairly complete nutrition combination FarCenter May 2013 #94

Well, they didn't thrive--they survived. They also had fish from the sea and the rivers. MADem May 2013 #95

Potato and cottage cheese complement each other well FarCenter May 2013 #100

The industries that make and sell "not that" wouldn't allow it DBoon May 2013 #85

We did something like that (PSA writ large) in Harlem a few years ago. stevenleser May 2013 #125

More hydroponic gardens! More window growing! MADem May 2013 #127

I'm finding the opposite to be true lately. JNelson6563 May 2013 #47

I agree with you nobodyspecial May 2013 #58

You have an oven, a stove top, and a refrigerator? MADem May 2013 #81

Yes, this is true. JNelson6563 May 2013 #98

It's a bigger issue than many realize--even with people who have a kitchen at times. MADem May 2013 #106

I was in Georgia awhile back, as well as Alabama, and I coudn't tell the difference.... MADem May 2013 #17

We are a food-centered culture. Every holiday is a feast. We have entire TV networks KurtNYC May 2013 #26

I agree: food obsessed. earthside May 2013 #29

Just imagine how much money could be saved & how much healthier school kids would be if SoCalDem May 2013 #48

"half bagel & some OJ in the AM" Scout May 2013 #131

not a breakfast eater here..and we never had breakfast at school SoCalDem May 2013 #140

Folks are being foolish if they start making "Red State Jokes" jimlup May 2013 #28

Yes, a major reason for obesity is poor food choices. LuvNewcastle May 2013 #32

On TV last week, on one of the talk shows, Cleita May 2013 #39

Agree timdog44 May 2013 #41

I'm all for that. LuvNewcastle May 2013 #42

I feel the same way. timdog44 May 2013 #40

poverty and obesity lhooq May 2013 #53

I just want to say. timdog44 May 2013 #44

I think you were ctsnowman May 2013 #153

Thank you for the kind words. timdog44 May 2013 #154

The Internet offers us a unique opportunity to report reality siligut May 2013 #50

Simple answer: Southern Cooking ThoughtCriminal May 2013 #55

Occasional trips there probably won't hurt you SoCalDem May 2013 #61

I love timdog44 May 2013 #73

the secret is in the vinegar-water :) SoCalDem May 2013 #74

That is some good eatin' I must say. MADem May 2013 #87

Death Pannel: Booger King, McDonalds, Wendys, Checkers, Coke, Pepsi, ect. L0oniX May 2013 #56

Shitty thing to say. cordelia May 2013 #84

...to match your shitty response. L0oniX May 2013 #91

YOU set the tone. cordelia May 2013 #99

Ironey escapes you ...try actually seeing the "???" Knee jerk react much??? L0oniX May 2013 #105

No. I'm perfectly fine with irony. cordelia May 2013 #132

LMAO ...some people need to see a sarcasm tag ...others get it. L0oniX May 2013 #133

There's sarcasm, then there's whatever crap you're posting. cordelia May 2013 #134

LMFAO ...please put me on ignore then. L0oniX May 2013 #138

Not a chance. cordelia May 2013 #141

One of The LOWEST, MOST DESPICABLE COMMENTS I've ever seen on DU! DearHeart May 2013 #124

Please continue to knee jerk react and miss the "???" L0oniX May 2013 #130

You're obviously not good at sarcasm, just look at the responses that you've elicited. DearHeart May 2013 #142

Well it's you and one other ...out of thousands of members. L0oniX May 2013 #143

This message was self-deleted by its author DearHeart May 2013 #146

Maps of obesity vs. cola consumption KansDem May 2013 #59

I'm curious about the big hole around Atlanta ThoughtCriminal May 2013 #62

wait till you witness the anorexia trend olddots May 2013 #63

Obesity is a complex issue..... Swede Atlanta May 2013 #82

Good for you. timdog44 May 2013 #88

Now, THAT is an outstanding response. Good for you! nt bike man May 2013 #103

When you do all of that at once, how can you be so sure each and every part of that... Silent3 May 2013 #112

This is a bogus study FreeState May 2013 #93

I think Niceguy1 May 2013 #101

I noted that and wondered if the #1 jello eating state had gone sugar-free n/t HereSince1628 May 2013 #104

It could happen....!!! MADem May 2013 #107

big +1 n/t Psephos May 2013 #109

Even if it's self-reporting, why would there be huge state-to-state differences... Silent3 May 2013 #121

Why did this not surprise me? demosincebirth May 2013 #110

I still think bashing overweight people is hideous. Jamastiene May 2013 #111

I was in W.VA over the weekend and I can tell you why it's #1 justiceischeap May 2013 #117

The most obese states tend to be located in the South or Southeastern United States. Beacool May 2013 #122

All southern and red states. Apophis May 2013 #123

Must be that delicious southern cooking Matariki May 2013 #126

Except for West Virginia get the red out May 2013 #128

I understand Alabama has regressive taxation... CBHagman May 2013 #135

Texas ROCKS !!! nt clarice May 2013 #151