999peachey

horrified

mnprsn

I think those are gallstones.

ldsdj

As I understand it, the driving of evil spirits from a human body requires little in the way of physical activity.

homerjay

If you burn more calories than you take in, you lose weight. It really is that simple. Your body needs energy to stay alive, so it will use it from within if you dont provide it from without.

What this works out to is, eat less and more healthily, and excorsize more, you WILL lose weight. Unless you just die, your body will burn that fat to keep itself going, it cant not.

anathema

Don't you know obesity is caused by space-aliens in conspiracy with the Pope. The only way to rid the planet of this scourge is to forcably mentholate all malaysian lawyers!

Now! DO IT NOW!!

rjfarquhar

adeko44

adeko44

adeko44

adeko44

JuiceROC

I was formerly a published (MSSE, J Appl Physiol, etc) clinical kinesiologist in research at a major university. This is my relaxation site, so I do my best to keep my posts on the level...

That being said, genetic factors have not made the American popultion obese. Rather, it is caused by inactivity (likely due to technological advances) and excessive calorically-dense, nutritionally-devoid foods.

There have been and will always be genetic exceptions within a given population. By no means does that implicate the majority ... the "literature" would indicate that about 3% of the obese population is that way because of a genetic problem that cannot be easily overcome by a good diet and physical activity. By the way, the New York Times is not "literature" in the field of kinesiology/exercise science/etc. One of my studies was grossly misrepresented by their science department a couple years back. I rank their scientific credibility right up there with a dead retarded baby.

Yes, there are metabolic differences from person to person. One person gains weight easily while another drops it at the tip of a hat... This is still not an excuse to be morbidly obese (and a lot of the differences are quickly altered by exercise). These differences have existed forever, but only in recent times have entire societies been plagued by obesity.

Bottom line - Americans as a population are fat because they eat too much crap and are underactive. With the exception of that 3% special case group, anyone that tries to say otherwise is simply unwilling to accept responsibility for their own actions. Obesity is not an infection or disease - it's a series of bad choices that starts with a donut...

hobobobo

Hello_Newman

rustybrown

Mmmm...bacon

While there is definitely a strong link between genetics and obesity, it is flat out dangerous to the overall health of our people to assume that the vast majority of society is obese solely based on genetic factors.

It is simply NOT TRUE.

The vast majority of Americans are obese because their genetics do not play well with things like saturated and trans fats, their genetics do not allow them to get through the day with minimal physical exertion and not gain weight, and their genetics do not support them going on a diet for a month, losing 10 lbs, and then falling back into their old eating habits.

Poor nutrition and a complete lack of physical activity is, in my and many other people's opinions, the proverbial nail in the coffin on state of health in America.

And to back that up you can look at the developing countries where processed foods have just really gotten a foothold in the last 10 years or so. Those countries, particularly in Central and South America, are seeing their obesity numbers increase.

There's no way I could believe that genetics are the main factor when 50 years ago, our population was not 60% overweight and 30-something% obese.

SDBryan

PandaWear

Most obese people are lazy. Are they lazy because they're fat or are they fat because they're lazy?

My aunt is giant. She's giant because she's a lazy POS. Now she's got so many medical conditions that are keeping her that way that its too late.

People don't just wake up obese one day. You can clearly see it coming. Put some effort in and figure out why its happening and change it and maybe you wont end up needing any of this shit.

homerjay

On the plus side of things (mild pun intended) however, overweight individuals have the ability to float very well in water, I just sink like a stone.

PandaWear

kegsofduff

interestingly, when you read the literature you find that caloric intake, weight gain, and exercise are decoupled, that is in many people the numbers of calories consumed, weight gained and calories burned simply DO NOT ADD UP. The science myth you are perpatuating makes sense (that is how it came to be) but occam's razor is simply not always right, this is such a case. The body can waste huge amounts of energy on enefficient processes or it can store it. What the body decides to do with excess energy is genetic and thus in some people excess weight is a disease. However, I readily conceed that many fat people got that way by being lazy. We just don't know what percentage and it would be cruel to tease those who cannot control their weight.

The Lab

robotica

bradley996

On a side note, caloric intake is BY FAR the most efficient way to alter your body composition. For example, Run one mile = 100 calories. Skip one donut = 225 calories. Which do you think is easier?

Lastly, for the BMI guys above ... Body Mass Index is a pointless measure for individuals. It works out mathematically for large population studies (like what insurance companies do for actuarial tables), but an individual using BMI as a measure of fitness will not get an accurate picture of their health. For instance, I am 5'8" and 185lbs. I'm borderline obese by the BMI standards. However, I've got 6% bodyfat ... I'm actually about as far away from obese as you can get. BMI fails to take body composition into account ... a lot of muscle or a total lack of muscle can really screw the measurement up.

hobobobo

Although removing a bacterial population from the intesine is not simple.

The Lab

Ivchead

Try reading the article "Fat Factors" in the New York Times Aug 27th. It will explain a few of the numerous ways an imbalance in a person's body (of either genetic or bacterial nature) can predispose them to uncontrollable weight gain.

Sure there are fat people who are that way due to laziness but, until you have the ability to distinguish them from those that have legitimate health problems, you shouldn't denigrate them, IMHO.

The Lab

bigfoot888

homerjay

RatBastard

nzruss

You all just think of how hard it is to lose 10 pounds, when you haven't excercized for a while and then just think how hard it would be to lose 100-200 pounds just to qualify as just obese. If you know anything about gastral bypass surgury, or even just seen diagrams, you'd understand why someone wouldn't want to do so much harm to their body. I personally have witnessed first hand a man die on the Intensive care table, just because he wanted to lose weight by getting a gastric bypass.

I know this is a snarky, testosterone induced blog, but lets try to keep the humanity. If you can't say something nice...go stick it up your skrawny self wiping ass.

Bryguy1319

One day I realized I had to work at living so I quit smoking, drinking, and laying around on the couch alla time. Started thinking about what I was eating before I ate it, and joined a gym--and used it. Lost a bunch of weight. And my breath is now minty-fresh, and I don't feel jiggle when I walk down the stairs.

This sort of thing doesn't come in a pill, or from eating cabbage, or being hypnotized. It comes from hard work. And I don't know about you but the only people I see working hard in my hometown are the Mexican roofers.

Uurp

InfoMofo

Bryguy1319

I'm uncomfortable at my current weight, which was what prompted me to go to the gym in the first place. I have no idea how somebody who is 400 pounds, needs a plastic arm to wipe the ass, and a toilet that big keeps going. I'd kill myself. It would better the world with beautification, and honestly, at that point, you're just deluding yourself.

The one I don't like on the list is SeatGuru though. I use it all the time, simply because it helps me get leg room.

bigTrue

But the real reason I'm commenting is that perhaps I am doing something wrong when I sit down on the can. I don't have rocks. Have I been completely misled in my upbringing? Someone explain the stones thrown around the floor next to the Orca sized porcelin god in that first picture...

Thanks for your help.

Neight

downboy

Just mash the keypad to request one...

SuppleMonkey

Freebadeebadingdong

Gizmodo, you really dropped your usual high standards on this one.

Mean_People_Suck

DrChaos

zarchitect

Narsil

homerjay

They're probably bound by the same gallons-per-flush rules as everyone else...

Kardster

Someone mentioned stomach stapling up there which is not exactly a cheap and safe thing to do, it is most often used as a last resort.

As for being overweight, I have several friends who are considered "overweight" and they ride street bikes at least 30 miles a week. Not all overweight people are living an unhealthy lifestyle, but with these products...you would have to be too large to be healthy to need these.

Halan

guy 2: "Yeah, i wonder if we can exploit that while making those people live more comfortably and thus make a profit"

guy 1: "prolly"

nakmario

netcretin

thrillhouse

Maybe companies should stop making large person clothes in XXL sizes. This includes sweatpants and anything made of nylon. Then these people would have nothing to wear, and be forced to lose weight.

Coco Schwab

Pyper

CalvanchezX.

As for obesity being a disease and not a moral deficiency or weakness of will, that is only true for a small percentage of obese individuals. A BMI score of 30 or over is obese, I think what these things are designed for are the Morbidly Obese people whose BMI is over 40.

Pyper

I'm by no means thin, but as soon as you stop being able to function in normal society I would think some red flags might go up.

bobman1235

NakedOldGuy

FROST1