Comments on: Weil and fat politics http://www.actboldly.com/2005/11/21/weil-and-fat-politics/ Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:17:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: gravydiet http://www.actboldly.com/2005/11/21/weil-and-fat-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-70 gravydiet Sun, 27 Nov 2005 19:02:56 +0000 http://www.actboldly.com/?p=64#comment-70 I think we need to understand why the " weight loss industry is failing" [to help people lose weight]. It failed at that goal specifically because the diet industry was not designed to help people lose weight, it was designed to bilk suckers out of billions of dollars. I think we need to understand why the ” weight loss industry is failing” [to help people lose weight]. It failed at that goal specifically because the diet industry was not designed to help people lose weight, it was designed to bilk suckers out of billions of dollars.

]]> By: Beth http://www.actboldly.com/2005/11/21/weil-and-fat-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Beth Tue, 22 Nov 2005 14:36:06 +0000 http://www.actboldly.com/?p=64#comment-65 Hey Jimmy, I don't disagree that there are a lot of fat people. What Oliver is saying in Fat Politics is that it isn't their weight that is causing their health problems, and losing the weight may not improve their health. He is making the fairly important point that it's what you eat and whether you exercise that is the real issue, not the number on the scale. I agree that the two (weight and health) are related. But Oliver and Campos (Obesity Myth) are pointing out that there is very little evidence to show that overweight is the *cause* of these health problems, nor is there evidence to show that losing weight improves health. Now there are certainly other reasons to lose weight. And there are also ways to improve health that don't necessarily make weight loss the primary goal (though it may well be a side-effect of a better diet and exercise plan). So I don't think we need to give people excuses, but we need to give them the right prescription. Hey Jimmy, I don’t disagree that there are a lot of fat people. What Oliver is saying in Fat Politics is that it isn’t their weight that is causing their health problems, and losing the weight may not improve their health. He is making the fairly important point that it’s what you eat and whether you exercise that is the real issue, not the number on the scale.

I agree that the two (weight and health) are related. But Oliver and Campos (Obesity Myth) are pointing out that there is very little evidence to show that overweight is the *cause* of these health problems, nor is there evidence to show that losing weight improves health. Now there are certainly other reasons to lose weight. And there are also ways to improve health that don’t necessarily make weight loss the primary goal (though it may well be a side-effect of a better diet and exercise plan).

So I don’t think we need to give people excuses, but we need to give them the right prescription.

]]> By: Jimmy Moore http://www.actboldly.com/2005/11/21/weil-and-fat-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Jimmy Moore Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:13:38 +0000 http://www.actboldly.com/?p=64#comment-64 I have not read Dr. Weil's book, but FAT POLITICS I believe is sending would-be weight losers the wrong message by telling them that there is no "obesity epidemic." Just sit in any mall in America for an hour and count the number of people who pass you who could stand to lose some weight. It will BLOW your mind and give you a better understanding of just how bad this weighty issue has become in the United States and I would assume worldwide. Let's keep things in perspective and stop giving people excuses for ignoring their need to lose weight. I have not read Dr. Weil’s book, but FAT POLITICS I believe is sending would-be weight losers the wrong message by telling them that there is no “obesity epidemic.” Just sit in any mall in America for an hour and count the number of people who pass you who could stand to lose some weight. It will BLOW your mind and give you a better understanding of just how bad this weighty issue has become in the United States and I would assume worldwide. Let’s keep things in perspective and stop giving people excuses for ignoring their need to lose weight.

]]> By: Debra http://www.actboldly.com/2005/11/21/weil-and-fat-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Debra Mon, 21 Nov 2005 19:04:43 +0000 http://www.actboldly.com/?p=64#comment-63 Dr. Weil also makes some wonderful comments about accepting the aging process. At 50, maybe I'm not old enough to understand where all the aging unhappiness comes from, but I pray often that I will accept age as a beautiful part of my life and not fight to look younger and younger through artificial means. Dr. Weil also makes some wonderful comments about accepting the aging process. At 50, maybe I’m not old enough to understand where all the aging unhappiness comes from, but I pray often that I will accept age as a beautiful part of my life and not fight to look younger and younger through artificial means.

]]>