Genetic obesity

youknowit · October 27, 2005

Right on Vines...

As for the issue of behavior being the defining factor... good points about behaviors, but I think we all know that anything, like obesity, like culture, like life in general is VERY complex... and because of that, I feel we shouldn't just shove the genetic component under the rug, AND, we also can't sweep behavior, environment, culture, etc under the rug. Obviously this is a deep issue/problem. And because of that very reason, there is no "real" answer... and may never well be. And in my ever so humble opinion, who cares... I know I have a problem. I know I need help. And in the end, if I can lick this problem, it won't matter what the "reason" was that I was fat, just that I'm not anymore... Thanks for letting me ramble. Peace.

Marimaru · October 27, 2005

I'm not quick to blame my obesity on anything but myself. I was on Depo for 6 or 7 years and never thought it had caused me to gain weight. Apparently my mom tried to tell me at the time that it was, but I didn't listen, so I recently switched off of that.

I'm the only person in my family that I know who's been as obese as I was. I've had cousin's who had trouble with their weight, but I doubt that they ever had BMI's over 35. I haven't been diagnosed with anything that contributes to obesity either, so I've basically come to the conclusion that eating was my rebellion (parents had me dieting young), and so that's why I'm fat. I'd probably be glad to hear that something else contributed and it wasn't ALL my fault, if you know what I mean, but at this point that's pretty much where it sits, lol

ReneBean · October 27, 2005

So, I am shaped just like my mom. For all of my life, I remember her being large - and I know at her highest she weighed about what I do now...

I also recall my Great Aunt & my Grandmother (paternal) having a little wide-load action going on. Both sides of my tree have tendencies toward obesity.

HOWEVER - I also know that my Mom was hungry during the depression and she never got over it. We always had a pantry & a freezer FULL of food. Our family dined out - and dined well. Full adult-portion prime rib dinners at 10 or 11 yrs old stand out in my mind.

My Grandma was a "Starving Children in China" person. To this day, I have to consciously force myself NOT to clean my plate.

So, we just have two things working in concert: A highly efficient food processing machine with a tendency toward excess energy storage and generational habits - learned practically in the cradle - that lean toward over consumption of fuel.

It's all connected....