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mikebw
OK, without even reading the article I would like to say that exercise has as much of a role here as any other factor.

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freeradical
Building muscle mass can help, but cardio exercise doesn't do much.

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vision63

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freeradical
Building muscle mass can help, but cardio exercise doesn't do much.

Building muscle mass does help, but why do you feel cardio doesn't "do much?"

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freeradical

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vision63

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freeradical
Building muscle mass can help, but cardio exercise doesn't do much.

Building muscle mass does help, but why do you feel cardio doesn't "do much?"

Because most people don't do it long enough for it to cause weight loss. When I start swimming, I always actually gain weight.

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davester
Actually, that's quite an interesting article. Apparently you didn't read it if all you took away from it was your post title.

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vision63

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freeradical
Building muscle mass can help, but cardio exercise doesn't do much.

Building muscle mass does help, but why do you feel cardio doesn't "do much?"

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mattkime
>>It's diet that does the most for fat loss and gets you in that 1-2 pound a week territory.

Isn't that toward the high end of sustainable weight loss? sure, you'll lose weight quickly but will you keep it off?

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guitarist
Also agree that's its an interesting article.

I disagree that food is too cheap. The problem is that crappy food is too cheap. Micky D's and the other corporate food pushers spends billions a year to convince people its fun and exciting to eat their fried lard sandwiches.

I think that's half right.

The eye-rolling speech blaming the "corporate food pushers" who spend billions to 'convince' people... is a cliche more stale than a 1974 Hostess Twinkie.

I saw a video of a study that had some fun with this perception. They put test subjects in a room and served them samples from popular fast food restaurants, presented in its original packaging, then asked for their impressions. Soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, snacks, etc. The subjects commented on how salty and high fat and unhealthy and mediocre it is.

Then the test subjects were served gourmet foods, on fine china, with good silverware, and fancy soup bowls, and asked for their impressions. They commented on how healthy, tasteful, low-calorie, nutritious the samples were.

It was the same food, basically. The "gourmet" food they just ate was also from typical fast food restaurants. KFC, etc.. Just taken out of its packaging, arranged on nice plates and bowls, served in an different context. Surpise! The study was about context, and its relationship to our perceptions, prejudices, and even our tastes.

Lard? Delicious. Butter tastes good, too. So does salt. So do soft drinks and milkshakes.

Where it's right, I think, is that if it's convenient, it's probably fattening. Healthy eating isn't difficult, but it takes effort, it isn't nearly as convenient. Anything processed and easy to lay your hands on, which is unfortunately how many of us eat, unconsciously, to satisfy hunger. (the opinion that people are devoid of free will and victimized by corporate advertising is a subject for another day, I think the truth is simpler, it's tasty, fast and convenient, too many of us sit at computers and TVs, and don't walk as often)

I'm on a low-carb diet, as we type this, for two months now. My wife, too. It really reorients a person. I'm fortunate because I like to cook, I can eat at home 99% of the time, and I know everything I eat. I'm getting good results, and feel good, too. (I was about 30 lbs. overweight, now about 10 lbs. to go) Lot of guys respond well, because protein is satisfying, grilling chicken and steaks, making salads, is not as easy as grabbing a sandwich or a pastry. Fats and oils are not the enemy. If anything, processed corn, potatoes, flour, and sugar is.

Cost is one factor, but convenience, that's the thing.

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vision63
McDonalds' tag line was "You deserve a break today," which implies that you didn't go there too often.

It's not as simple to prepare 15 minute meals for everyone as someone mentioned above. Many people live in food deserts where there are no fresh vegetables available for miles. People are stringing together multiple low-wage jobs to make for the pay of one job. People are tired. They're microwaving boxes of food. Now people want to arrest them for going to the Popeyes Chicken on the corner.

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nytimes
That the conventional wisdom of 3,500 calories less is what it takes to lose a pound of weight is wrong. The body changes as you lose. Interestingly, we also found that the fatter you get, the easier it is to gain weight. An extra 10 calories a day puts more weight onto an obese person than on a thinner one.

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nytimes
People think that the epidemic has to be caused by genetics or that physical activity has gone down. Yet levels of physical activity have not really changed in the past 30 years.