Letters to the Editor
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Obesity
Am I the only one who has a problem with this quote:
"when you consider that there is a strong genetic component to weight. We now have ample scientific evidence suggesting that we are each born with a set point within which our metabolism will automatically adjust no matter how many calories we consume."
If the above statement as actually true, then the CDC is lying and the population's BMI has remained steady over the past 20 years, unless this rapid shift towards obseity worldwide has come about only in a certain age range, leaving the older population thinner than the younger population, indicating that some foul, hitherto unrecognized, pre-natal virus has developed or genetic catastrophe has occurred in the past 30 years.
Let's admit the truth: on average, we eat more and exercise less than people did even 20 years ago, and certainly we eat far more and exercise far less than people did 50 years ago. Want proof? If you live in a city with good public transportation, move to a suburban neighborhood without public transit and buy a car. Use the car to get around. Watch your girth spread. Conversely, if you live in an area of the country without public transportation, move to a part of the world where people use public transportation all the time and walk the rest. Sell your car. Watch your ass shrink.
If you work in an office all day, go find a job farming or working in a mill or anything that involves moving all day. Watch as you become thinner and more muscular.
Set point. Hah.