In her book, Rethinking Thin Gina Kolata argues that being fat is not something that people have control over. A researcher asked the question:
Would you rather be fat or blind?
Kolata, a science reporter for The New York Times, shares the answers to the researcher’s question. 89 percent of respondents to this question all agreed that they would rather lose their sight than be fat.
When you’re blind, people want to help you. No one wants to help you when you’re fat.
The idea that people would rather be blind than fat is shocking, but once you start reading Rethinking Thin you get the idea that maybe the idea isn’t that shocking. In fact, Kolata details study after study where being fat is not something many people have control over. Battling weight and obesity is about battling biology.
The long-term rewards of dieting for most overweight people seem to be modest at best. There are literally hundreds of diet and fitness plans out there all designed to help people battle the bulge and every day you read a new article challenging the rising obesity rates despite all these diet plans. In fact, with so many diet plans out there – the attitude towards someone who is overweight is they are only that way because they are either too lazy to lose it or they are choosing to be fat.
Kolata followed a clinical trial that lasted for two years at the University of Pennsylvania. The study was testing the low-carb, high fat Atkins diet against a low-calorie, low fat one. She finished the book before the study was completed, but a different study published in The Journal of American Medical Association found that the Atkins diet was far more effective at keeping the weight off, provided you maintained that diet change for the rest of your life.
Instead, Kolata personalized her research by focusing on four specific participants in the research study. These four people were likeable, hard working and determined people who benefited from the nutritional advice, support group and status from being involved in such a professional and supportive study. While each person did lose some weight, none of them achieved the 50 to 100 pound weight loss they all wanted.
Kolata uses scientific evidence to detail why losing weight and keeping it off is so hard. Last month, research has discovered what they are calling the “fat gene” and that seems to support Kolata’s position. Kolata challenges the mindset that between genetics and evidence, we should stop insisting that all fat people can become thin people if they are just determined enough.
The only quibble with her book that I have is that she doesn’t take into account that eating is a factor in our weight. Not only in portion size, but also the content of the food we eat. The simple fact is, cheap food is fattening. Anyone who has done Atkins knows this is not an inexpensive diet and that eating healthier choices isn’t that cheap.
A few weeks ago we were shopping and we bought a bunch of bananas – there were about ten bananas in the bunch and it cost around $3. That’s the same price you pay for an oversized box of Ding Dongs and for the same price you can buy two huge bags of candy. Apples, oranges and other fruits do go on sale, but if you are looking for quality fruits and vegetables, you’re going to be paying for it.
The genes that make people fat need an environment in which food is cheap and plentiful – Kolata writes
We live in a world where food is cheap and plentiful – but not the healthy food.
Do I think obesity is a problem in our country? Yes I do. But I also know, from experience that you can exercise, eat healthy and make all the right choices and the weight still doesn’t come off. This can be a real challenge to your personal self-image and when you are a size 16 in a size 2 world – it can feel pretty discouraging to even bother trying.
So let me ask you, would you rather be fat or blind? I’d rather be fat – I love what I see, fat, thin, short, tall, colorful and colorless.
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