The Cause of Obesity - Robert Lustig MD

phoenix

Expert
Messages
5,671
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
xyzzy said:
I thought the really interesting thing in this debate was in some posts Phoenix made to me on another thread the other day.

If I remember it showed that in the UK the carb / fat ratio has remained pretty constant over the past 30 years or so where as in the States the ratio has risen progressively towards the fat end but in Australia its gone the other way. Yet in all 3 countries diabetes is increasing so from that perspective what people are eating seems to make very little difference.

Of more importance seems to be the link between social class and obesity and activity and obesity and hence an implied link between social class and diabetes and activity with diabetes.

In my mind nowadays I can't see why a upper class person is going to be necessarily any more active than a lower class person. The difference as far as I think must be either something to do with the quantity or quality (or a combination of both) that the different classes eat. So for example rich people can afford on average to eat food that is of a higher quality and higher quality food is normally served in smaller portion sizes.

Of course this leaves you to discuss what "quality" of food is but it appears to be something more subtle than just the carb / fat / sugar balance.

Have a look at energy density/poverty and disease, it's certainly one of the factors.
eg:
http://www.ajcn.org/content/79/1/6.long
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/5_p ... ndex4.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... od-poverty
From personal observation the middle classes aren't immune to junk (high density foods) either. For example my grandchildren, eat good home cooked meals with veg and fruit at home. They are very active and slim. Nevertheless, they seem to have a birthday parties almost every week and whether it's at the the swimming pool, the skating rink, legoland, the climbing centre, junk/fast food is on the menu. Saturday shopping trips also often end up with a meal in a fast food place at the shoppping centre. I also get the impression that most people still have a fair number of Indian/chinese take-aways which are also often energy dense.
 

Patch

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,981
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
phoenix said:
Leptin for anyone interested in it.

I am VERY interested in it!

And I just found my next diet!!! (Sid - check it out! :wave: )

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leptin-Diet-You ... 1933927283

51wqiCs%2BTKL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg
 

Sid Bonkers

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,976
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Customer helplines that use recorded menus that promise to put me through to the right person but never do - and being ill. Oh, and did I mention customer helplines :)
Patch said:
phoenix said:
Leptin for anyone interested in it.

I am VERY interested in it!

And I just found my next diet!!! (Sid - check it out! :wave: )


Have you tried the oldest diet of all Patch? It just requires you to eat less food, and it works too :thumbup: