Slashdot Mirror
Born with Couch Potato Genes?
An anonymous reader writes "Science Daily is reporting on an experiment that suggests that an individual's activity level shows a genetic basis. From the article: 'Research conducted by scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University reveals that a person's level of activity is likely an intrinsic property of that individual. [...] Overall, these findings suggest that it is likely to take a significant conscious effort to change one's level of physical activity and override one's intrinsic inclination to be active or inactive. To state it more plainly, if you're a couch potato, suddenly becoming active may be harder than you think,'"
The parent poster, little-known Slashdot user UnxMully, tried to beguile unsuspecting readers into believe that the experiment originated at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, both by posting a quote about the OISM and ignoring the fact that TFA not only clearly states that the experiment is being conducted at the Oregon Health & Science University, specifically at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, but was even *originally published on the OHSU website*.
The parent post is a clear example of failing to RTFA or even its headline on Slashdot. The post was not based on a review of the article, nor was its poster expert in the various institutions with the words "Oregon" and "Science" in their names. In fact, the only criterion for creating the parent post was the ability to type. The post should not resurface in a renewed attempt to undermine reading comprehension.
I'd rather trust the Iraqi minister of propaganda than the Slashdot user UnxMully.
I know lots of Fat people... how can I not? I am an American. I am surrounded by fat people all the time. Hell, I used to BE a fat person, but after losing 70 lbs and becoming the poster-boy for weight loss, I've discovered that it all comes down to one thing:
If you consume fewer calories than you expend, you will lose weight. PERIOD. Of course, there are many ways to go about doing this, and the only sustainable way is to exercise to maintain muscle mass.
The whole idea behind long-term weight loss is to increase your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) by increasing your muscle mass, while at the same time decreasing your caloric intake to below your BMR. That's all it takes. The rate at which you lose weight will be proportional to the delta between your Daily Caloric Intake and your BMR - on average.
One pound of fat contains approximately 3600 calories. So, for example, you consume 200 fewer calories per day than you expend on average, you'll lose one pound of fat every 18 days. Of course, fat is not the only thing you can lose, so weight loss will vary somewhat.
Also, exercise adds to your daily caloric expenditure, which can accelerate weight loss significantly. One might expend 1800 calories by riding a bike 50 miles at a high rate of speed, or expend 800 calories by running 6 miles, or expend 400 calories shoveling snow for an hour.
In any case, what it all boils down to is being aware of the simple fact that you have to get your energy from somewhere, and if you do not get enough energy from the food you eat, your body will turn to its fat stores. It doesn't matter what excuse a fat person uses, whether that be, "It's my glands," or "It's my genes," or whatever. Thermodynamics is LAW, and excuses cannot break it.
Your post made a lot of sense up till the third paragraph. I think you're reading into it things a bit too much.
Americans are fatter because we have the wealth to be. We've got tons of food, an automobile based society, and plenty of entertainment that caters towards sitting in a chair and not moving. Many of us can make it through the day and earn a living without doing any sort of serious physical activity. And while sports and athletic activity and whatnot is great, there are plenty of more relaxing leisure activities for those to compete with. It's really that simple.
Besides, everyone knows that fat people are jolly, not depressed.
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
http://www.jengajam.com/r/fat-woman-in-couch
01/20/09
Try lifting weights. Your metabolic weight is partially a function of your muscle mass. If you increase your muscle mass, your metabolic rate must also increase. It could very well be that 1500 calories a day was still too much. Despite being geared towards women, this site is an excellent reference for anyone who's interested in starting strength training.
Going to a gym is not an option - bad knees, you see.
False. There are plenty of other exercises you can do that don't put strain on your knees. Swimming is an excellent workout. It sounds like you've stopped exercising completely, which is why you gained weight. Diets don't work in the long term. You need regular exercise. You do have a choice to be an active person.
There are many points of view