The whole idea of "body types." Irrelevant?

asdfasd4 wrote:

What if the heavies switched to midfoot or forefoot striking (as opposed to heel striking)?

it would fix the fat problem, and create world peace along the way

I would not argue that biology is destiny but it clearly plays a much, much bigger role than many people are willing to give it. I mentioned the Pima Indians earlier in the thread, and noticed nobody has commented on that. There is extensive scholarly literature on the Pima Indians and the genetic precursors and eating habits that have contributed to the overwhelming prevelance of obesity and diabetes among them. It is an interesting case study since it is an extreme example. No, Pima Indians do not have to be heavy but their biology combined with modern diet makes that a overwhelming reality.

We have gotten much, much heavier as a nation in the past 50-60 years. What has changed more, our genetics, or our lifestyles?

Hint: the genetics of an entire nation of 300 million heterogeneous people don't just randomly change in the space of 50 years.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

I would not argue that biology is destiny but it clearly plays a much, much bigger role than many people are willing to give it. I mentioned the Pima Indians earlier in the thread, and noticed nobody has commented on that. There is extensive scholarly literature on the Pima Indians and the genetic precursors and eating habits that have contributed to the overwhelming prevelance of obesity and diabetes among them. It is an interesting case study since it is an extreme example. No, Pima Indians do not have to be heavy but their biology combined with modern diet makes that a overwhelming reality.

I think that is a GREAT example.

Government needs to stop subsidizing corn, wheat, soy.

As someone who has at certain times been considered 'underweight' and 'obese' by the current BMI marks, I can assure you that 99.9999999% of obesity is environmental. Many people like to make it out to be a disease either to make themselves feel better because they don't have control (e.g. it's not my fault I'm fat), or because they are in a medical field and stand to profit from this terrible (joke) disease.

When I run 100mpw, I'm 140 lbs. When I run 0 mpw, I got up over 200lbs in the span of 5 months. Food consumption did not change one iota. I'm not saying all Americans need to run 100mpw, just hop on the treadmill for 15 mins per day and you won't be fat!

The current evidence that more people are becoming obese indicates a life style cause and not body type.

The original poster made statements taht body types were not important or irrelevant. He states that all the variation in body type is within a narrow range. This is really not supported by the evidence.

Stating that many different body types exist due to genetics is also compatible with saying that diet is the overwhelming cause of obesity in modern america.

But I'm convinced the reason that there is such a wide range is because of activity level and not because of genetics. Show me one person that AVERAGES running 100mpw for a year that is still considered obese and I will become the biggest believer in obesity as a disease that there is on this planet.

Do you ever think that maybe people who are obese find no rewarding effect from physical activity. If you hated every second of your run, would you be a runner?

2:44 guy wrote:

But I'm convinced the reason that there is such a wide range is because of activity level and not because of genetics. Show me one person that AVERAGES running 100mpw for a year that is still considered obese and I will become the biggest believer in obesity as a disease that there is on this planet.

2:44 guy wrote:

But I'm convinced the reason that there is such a wide range is because of activity level and not because of genetics. Show me one person that AVERAGES running 100mpw for a year that is still considered obese and I will become the biggest believer in obesity as a disease that there is on this planet.

Have you ever been told that you are a black and white thinker?

Yes. And it's what makes me a decision maker and a do-er.

I weigh over 500 pounds.

When I first starting running in college, I started by jogging a mile or so every day and it was pure hell. I was so out of shape... it was the worst 8 or 9 minutes of my day, and I dreaded it constantly.

But a funny thing happened. I kept working hard because I wanted to lose weight, and a few years later I was running 40 miles a week. About six months into my "training," I'd lost a ton of weight and actually liked running because I was getting good at it.

People hate exercise because they suck at it at first. And they're too lazy to put in the work and push themselves to get in shape. It goes for any exercise, not just running.

I agree with this in general. But this is not true for everybody. Some people will never feel any reward from exercise and about 10% of people will never even show any improvement no matter how much they exercise.

Used to wrote:

When I first starting running in college, I started by jogging a mile or so every day and it was pure hell. I was so out of shape... it was the worst 8 or 9 minutes of my day, and I dreaded it constantly.

But a funny thing happened. I kept working hard because I wanted to lose weight, and a few years later I was running 40 miles a week. About six months into my "training," I'd lost a ton of weight and actually liked running because I was getting good at it.

People hate exercise because they suck at it at first. And they're too lazy to put in the work and push themselves to get in shape. It goes for any exercise, not just running.

I was a pretty good runner in the NAIA (All-American in the mile). I know the NAIA is nothing close to the NCAA in most aspect. Regardless, I had some success. Most would say I am bulky, muscular for a runner, a Josh McAdams type. I had to work very hard to get my weight down. I weighed around 150 when I was in race shape. I probably looked a little emaciated.People would always come up to me and tell me they could tell I had lost weight. I got injured during my prime and gained 20 pounds in two weeks. Now I have to work pretty hard to get back to under 160. I'm not overweight by any means. I'm muscular and lean. My dad's a cook--he weighs in the high 300's I believe--and my family loves food. But I eat pretty healthy. I'm just saying I can see it from both sides. I probably will never be under 140. This is just the body that was given to me.

Only on Letsrun.com (or one of the numerous pro-Ana sites) can a guy who weighs 150 lbs. describe himself as "bulky" and "muscular"