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,'"
Then again, I see nothing in the article that suggests such behavior/attitudes isn't learned from parents at an early age.
They need to do a lot more study, involving actual humans, twins separated early, adopted children, blah blah blah.
Nothing to see here, move along. (Never thought I'd actually say that on here, but this article is wildly speculative, with little evidence put forth for a true genetic basis. It fully warrants such a comment.)
....but the fact that we are here is directly related to the fact that our foreforefathers had to run away from scary predators; like tigers and dinosaurs and macrosoft. If they weren't athletic they'd be dead - and therefore we would not be here. SO if its couch-potato in our genes then technically our ancestors would have been bloody lazy. And dino food. Survival of the fittest anyone?
/. would have had ancestors who woulda been too friggin lazy to uh... procreate anyway.
Besides, if it's in the genes then
I love humanity, it is people I hate
I completely think that we never had free will, that everything that we do is because of all the circumstances that came before it. Sure, you THINK that you're choosing to do something, but the reason you're choosing that option is because of the experiences you've had.
Who says everything isn't to blame on genetics?
I saw a show not long ago about a guy who was extremely overweight, and of course he blamed his weight on genetics. He was finally starting to do something about it (due to being told "do something or you will die").
They showed him doing some exercise, then pausing to ask his wife to bring him a cherry soda. I thought "perhaps WATER would be a better choice there". Later he was shown eating a bucket of KFC. Hey buddy, try eating some VEGETABLES once in a while. The whole time, he was complaining that his weight was a "genetic problem".
Perhaps he did have a genetic pre-disposition to put on weight, but he definitely could have made some better choices in his diet. I'm pretty sure he didn't because he would have to take responsibility for his own weight, in which case he might be seen as a 'failure' for being overweight. It's far easier to blame someone else (your parents) than take responsibility for yourself.
My own experience: I have never had any issues with my own weight (actually, I have trouble putting on weight). My wife, however, was VERY overweight, and made all the usual excuses for it. About 18 months ago she decided she was going to take responsibility for her own weight. She now eats a far healthier diet, gets lots more exercise, and has so far lost nearly 50 kilograms (and still going).
Maybe you can blame everything on genetics. Doesn't mean you can't do anything about it.
Ho! Haha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!
When I saw the title, I expected a study involving hundreds of separately adopted twins. 29 female monkeys in cages is a methodological joke. No conclusions can be made about genetics from this study, and the conclusions made should not necessarily be generalized to humans.
They showed him doing some exercise, then pausing to ask his wife to bring him a cherry soda. I thought "perhaps WATER would be a better choice there". Later he was shown eating a bucket of KFC. Hey buddy, try eating some VEGETABLES once in a while. The whole time, he was complaining that his weight was a "genetic problem".
Well if his genetics or at least social disposition lead him to believe that he wanted a cherry soda and a bucket of KFC he had no choice in the matter. Well... He sort of did, but the neurons in his brain automatically fired off saying he needed or at least desired the cherry soda. His mind was simply unable to comprehend the desire for water so it did not happen.
Now saying people have no free will make many people angry and start talking about personal responsibility and he mearly had to choose the water.
Well... If you study Buddhism you will discover there is free will but it doesn't work like that.
Where as the normal free will person will say "I shouldn't drink the cherry soda because it is making me fat." and he will more likley fail to do so because he will come up with a counter reason like "Maybe just this one time" or "I'll drink one now but tommorrow I won't..."
That doesn't solve the problem. Chances are he'll just keep drinking the soda.
The more self-aware Buddhist person will go "I am aware for my desire for cherry soda. This maybe because of my genetics and I know it tastes better than water." and then goes on to meditate or at least rational and seperate themselves from that desire... (And maybe speculates on what makes a cherry soda and water taste the way it does and why he desires one over the other) not the obtainment of cherry soda itself.
It sounds hokey but it works. Or at least better than sheer willpower... But you have to learn a bit more about Buddhist meditation to really understand.
"I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
-Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
I'd give anything to be 200lbs again, but it's going to be a struggle and may never happen. I don't overeat, but I do have a sedentary job. Going to a gym is not an option - bad knees, you see.
This is an interesting statement. I have struggled with weight issues my whole life. Two years ago I decided to make a change. Thing is, many people SAY they would 'do anything' to be at Xlbs, but it's just not true. They only way to actually make this happen is to commit to making a change - no matter what and follow through by making quality lifestyle changes that will help them lose fat and keep it off.
Bottom line is you DO overeat. You may not eat an extrodinary amount, but if you took in less calories than you burned your body would use up the nutrients in the other tissues of your body. You would lose weight. If you are gaining weight, you are consuming more calories than your body needs.
Bottom line is, if you are serious about achieving that 200lbs mark there is only one way to do it, get serious. It will mean making difficult choices like eating foods you don't like, giving up some things (soda, beer, ice cream, whatever...), not going out as much as you used to, etc... but it can be accomplished. Just remember weight is not something you will get under control in a day. Set realistic goals and when you have a bad day don't beat yourself up about it.
Don't assume fat people have a choice. Most would rather be slender, but nature is working against us.
Nonsense. EVERYONE has a choice. We may not be willing to make the choices that are required - or follow through with them, but there are very few people in this world that could not improve their overall health by adjusting their diet or increasing their activity level.
Find coupons in Greeley