Just how bad is obesity? It is the second or third leading cause of preventable death killing around 300,000 Americans each year and that may sound bad but doctor blunders alone kill at least that many and the medical industry kills well over a million Americans each year and make a huge fortune in the process.... More on this in another post.
What this blog is also intended to do is to offer alternatives to the butchery that is weight loss surgery. So then, if you are fat and you can't handle being fat and feel as though paying a hacker to butcher you is your only option I offer you some help and tough love from health expert CG Brady.
Many of you have tried diets but you probably didn't try hard and you didn't work smart. Your diet didn't fail. You failed and you failed because you have fattitude. Most fat men will grudgingly admit thet they are gluttons. Women tend to lie about that and a whole lot of other things.
As part of CG's research he went on to a diet forum that was primarily Atkins. The administrator was an angry fat girl -- talk about the blind leading the blind.
He posted a study by Temple University that showed who "high self esteem" makes and keeps women fat.
Proof That High Self-Esteem Keeps You Fat by CG Brady
How High Self-Esteem Keeps You Fat
A new study sheds light on why some women find it difficult to lose weight. When obese women have positive self-image, 1 in 5 will choose a silhouette of an obese woman as being at her “ideal” body weight.
This study also supports other research that has shown that fat people tend to have fat friends. Alcoholics or drug addicts who are overcoming addiction are taught to get rid of the friends that enable their dangerous behaviors.
Maybe a person on a diet needs to do the same?
In research published in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Temple researchers studied the body image perceptions of 81 underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese women in the North Philadelphia area and found that as their body mass index (BMI) increased, two-thirds of the women still felt they were at an ideal body size.
n research published in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Temple researchers studied the body image perceptions of 81 underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese women in the North Philadelphia area and found that as their body mass index (BMI) increased, two-thirds of the women still felt they were at an ideal body size.
"So the question for doctors then becomes, 'How can we effectively treat our overweight and obese patients, when they don't feel they're in harm's way?'" said study researcher Marisa Rose, M.D., assistant professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences in the Temple University School of Medicine. "It stresses a need for culturally sensitive education for this population."
All participants were measured for height and weight and completed an anonymous survey to determine their self-perceived, current and ideal body sizes. Each woman was then shown an illustration of different-sized women that correlated with increasing BMIs, and were asked which size they felt they were at currently, and what their ideal would be.
While most of the participants selected illustrations of women in the normal to overweight range, about 20 percent of the obese women selected an overweight or obese silhouette as their ideal body shape. Further, 68 percent (15 out 22) of overweight participants and 84 percent (26 of 31) of obese women underestimated their current BMI. African-American and Hispanic women had significantly underestimated their current body size, while the white women overestimated.
Rose and her fellow researchers say this is the first study to evaluate body image discrepancy specifically in the inner-city population of women seeking gynecologic care.
"For this group, gynecologists often serve as the primary care provider as well," said Rose. "As more women become obese and overweight, it becomes critical for gynecologists to know how to talk to their patients about the adverse effects of obesity."
The researchers say that their next course of action is to determine from a more diverse population whether the trend of women incorrectly perceiving their body size extends to most underweight, overweight and obese women or whether the trend is specific to the inner-city population.
"Informing our patients about the dangers of obesity, even when they feel they're not at risk, can help empower them to change their lifestyles and lead healthier lives," said Rose.
Other authors on the study were: Sushma Potti, M.D.; Marina Milli, M.D.; Stacey Jeronis, M.D.; and John P. Gaughan, Ph.D of Temple University School of medicine.
The first response came from a paranoid Michael B:
So the article appears to be indicating that the problem stems from not high self esteem, but lack of recognition that one is obese or at an unhealthy weight.
I don't see crushing a patent's self esteem as the solution they offer. Instead, they indicate that "it becomes critical for gynecologists to know how to talk to their patients about the adverse effects of obesity."
Moreover, you might take note of another point made in the article, "It stresses a need for culturally sensitive education for this population." Basically, the audience will heed your advice and be more receptive you your message, if you approach them from a non-judgmental position.
My Response:
Here are my comments on the above article.
It is scientifically valid.
It was done by some very bright people at a very good university
There are other studies and research than backs up Temple's findings findings including an exhaustive survey of several thousand completed and graded MMPI indices and other psychometric tests.
Casual observation of the obese reveals much of what this experiment revealed. Other researchers have found that if fat people did not have higher self esteem than the general population then they would lack the psychological fortitude to be seen in public.
I a private message I told the admin here that it is my belief that fat people have what is commonly referred to as high self-esteem. I told him if he wanted to see "low self esteem" all he need do is observe an anorexic. The idea that fat people have low self-esteem is a logical fallacy. Now the "fat people have low self-esteem" myth has been busted.
At this point I will bid you all a fond adieu. If you would like me to explain why the obese develop higher self esteem than the general population then simply respond to this thread.
Another liar responds:
I'm not sure your game. If it's trolling then you're doing a good job because you're getting a lot of responses. If you're trying to sell people on your method or your intelligence then misinterpreting a study might not be the best way to go about it. First of all proof is almost impossible, second of all the proof that you find is different than what the researchers appear to be studying.
Self Esteem /= to body image. There is no evidence that the people in the study are fatter because of their body image. Although I'd agree it's possible. And there's no evidence that being happy with your weight keeps you fatter than someone who is unhappy with their weight. Considering studies that show dieting results in higher overall weight on average it might have the opposite outcome. Basically the problem is you're taking a study and simplifying it way too much for it to remain useful.
I'd tend to agree with Michael that this study is probably most helpful in providing a different way to try and tackle the obesity problem. Not for making absolute truths.
EDIT: I find it a bit hard to believe that a research scientist would have such difficulty understanding the research process. So I'd have to assume you're either trolling or making up false titles.
Followed by another sneaky liar:
Interesting article, and I think I get what they are saying. But a sample size of 81 hardly “proves” anything… depending on the variables the were using the data in such a small sample is prone to being skewed by a few outliers. My inner nerd is curious to see their raw data.
Anecdotally (which doesn’t prove anything either). I don’t know any obese women that feel good about their bodies. I knew a few that have accepted their bodies, but I wouldn’t say they have a very positive body image. I do know some obese men that like their bodies. Even though they have high self esteem, they still talk about needing to lose weight for health reasons. It would be interesting to see a similar study with male participants.
The main point of the article makes sense, though, that if you are happy with your physique you are less likely to want to change it. I don’t think you are necessarily getting the same conclusions as the authors stated. You seem to have an agenda, which I am still not understanding…
Posting this article, though, still makes me think that maybe you are coming for the perspective of anti-fat acceptance. I mentioned in a previous thread that was locked that this website doesn’t promote fat acceptance. We are all striving to lose weight and be healthy. So, again, we may not be the audience you think we are. (I hate to generalize with a “we” like that… I don’t speak for everyone of course. That is just my assessment of this website based on my first month of being a member here.)
Are you really here for purely altruistic purposes? Or are you selling your services? A book? Are you just bored and you like to post on forums? What up?
Of course… since you bid us “a fond adieu”, I assume you are done doing whatever it you wanted to do here. Good luck being a “research scientist”.
My response:
Dr Albert Ellis, father of Rational Emotive Therapy pretty much proved that this thing we call self esteem is a very dangerous thing. Ellis contended that it was because self-esteem is conditional. I agree with that but I take it a few steps further. The idea of self esteem is a nebulous concept at best. It is not really measurable. For instance an Amish person may be perfectly well adjusted but the Amish are a humble people who are taught humility. Someone may see that as "low self-esteem". I see it as humility. Humility is one of the heavenly virtues.
As to culture; if you were to look at the obesity maps you will see that the Bible belt leads the country in obesity. If you examine what these people believe you will find that they believe that grace or being born again assure them a place in heaven. In a sense they think they are better than everyone else. They lack humility. They are also the fattest people on earth. They ignore the Biblical warnings about excess as they drive their SUVs and gobble down everything in sight at there church picnics.
As to culture; Americans are the fattest people on earth. We are a culture of excess and pride. The humble and frugal Japanese have an obesity rate of 3.2% whereas the prideful and wasteful Americans have an obesity rate of over 30% according to this site Obesity statistics - countries compared - NationMaster
I don't see how being "sensitive" to a destructive cultural behavior is going to make people do the right thing. Take your average over weight Southerner. He needs to stop behaving like a Southerner and Americans as a whole need to stop behaving like the greedy professional consumers they have become. We like to blame fast food and large portions but they fact is the companies who offer fast food and obscenely large portions are merely giving the consumer what he wants. Think about it. If McDonald when back to its 1970's portion sizes they would be out of business in a few months.
Americans did not get fat by being frugal, humble, or responsible. Americans got fat by being prideful, irresponsible and gluttonous about everything. That is why by 2020 America will become disabled by obesity. You don't want to hear it but is is the entire truth.
I spit in their soup.
Liar MichaelB Responds again:
Here is how this piggy lies:
My main thought was just that it's a pretty rough generalization to say that all obese people "suffer" from high self-esteem. Some may have a positive body image, but that's not necessarily the situation with everyone.
Nobody has said ALL fat people suffer from high self esteem/egoism. See how they lie?
Just as everyone's body loses weight a little differently, everyone's situation in life is a little different. Our experiences, our history, our past has shaped us. And even though we may all be obese as a group, we may have gotten here via very different paths and for very different reasons.
Sorry liar, you all got fat the same way. You ALL ate irresponsibly!
My response in general:
A couple of points I need to correct. There are other studies that back the Temple study. Several years ago a survey of the MMPI showed the same thing. ie fat people have high self-esteem
I am anti-fat acceptance. What is fat acceptance? When a spouse goes from a size 6 to an 8 and does nothing about it, that is a form of fat acceptance. When that spouse reaches 250 pound and her hubby complains and her response is, "If you loved me you would accept me for what I am" that is fat acceptance. If a parent allows their kids to eat unhealthy food that to is fat acceptance. The organized fat acceptance movement promotes obesity, misinformation, myths, bad health, and gluttony and the call it HAES Health At Every Size.
If you are losing weight in a sense you are a recovering fat acceptor. I am lean because I find for myself being fat is completely unacceptable. Is it unacceptable to me that people are fat? I suppose it is.
Ahhhh Altruism. I am here for insight and to help. I have nothing to sell and I even offered to help one member here free of charge. I will not accept paying clients from this site unless the admin wants me to.
More Altruism: One thing that helps my clients turn the corner is when I ask them for noble or unselfish reasons for why hey want to regain good health. I start out asking them why the want to regain good health and so far none of them have given and altruistic reason. When I gently force the issue they really have to give it some thought and they struggle to come up with some. When I ask them why they want to lose weight the answers are right on the tip of their tongue and they always start with I and end with me. I don't think selfish reasons should be on the tips of their tongues or in the forefront of their motivation to take the steps required to get healthy.
What I do is lead clients to the right information and help them apply it. It is actually quite easy. I have had a lot of success and I continue to hone my skills. I hope someday that my protocols are used everywhere. I think you will agree that everything tried so far has not worked. People who continue my program usually get results in 6 to 12 sessions. If they don't get results I will not accept payment. If they do get results I will not accept payment until they are close to or at their goal. They pay me what they think my services are worth. That may not be altruism but it's pretty damn close.
Again, do not PM me for contact info. I will not post any contact info so don't ask. Your admin has the info. If you wish to contact me ask him for it. I am not here to drum up business. I am here to discuss obesity its cause and it cure.
My more specific response:
It is not a generalization but it is a fact that most obese people have higher slef esteem people at low or healthy weights. Michael Jackson suffered from horribly low self esteem and he starved himself to death while the people around him bled him t\dry.
For most people junk food its pleasures are a greater payoff than good health and an attractive body. People get fat for most of the same reasons. There is no mystery as to why they chronically eat too many calories. Believe me, you guys are not that special. Food and its pleasures mean more to most people than good health, attractiveness, personal and social responsibility. That is a tough pill to swallow but it is the case.
MamaPig chimes in with a lie fest.
