What if no one were fat? - SuperiorMuscle.com

***THE BOUNCER*** · #1 04-30-08, 09:45 AM

Imagine a lean and healthy America: The savings on medical, fuel, food and other costs would be enough to give every U.S. household more than $4,000.

By Shirley Skeel

In the United States today, 66% of adults are overweight. Almost 33% of adults are obese, and 4.7% are morbidly obese, or more than 100 pounds overweight. But . . .

What if nobody in America were fat?

We'd save billions of dollars in gas. Airlines would double their profits. A dearth of diabetes and other diseases would save billions of dollars more -- and put thousands of doctors on the street. McDonald's would sell not Big Macs but little steamed chicken snacks -- or watch its profits melt away. Productivity would rise, potentially creating tens of thousands more jobs or higher wages all around.

Full Article: What if no one were fat? - MSN Money

**FitnessBrat** · #2 04-30-08, 10:17 AM

Hypothetical - but interesting, nonetheless...

***THE BOUNCER*** · #3 04-30-08, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FitnessBrat

Hypothetical

really? i thought the "what if" in the title implied that it was actually happening.

Scrumhalf · #4 04-30-08, 12:23 PM

The unfortunate thing is that many countries are close to this ideal. The obesity rates in Japan and Korea are in the single digits if I remember right and those in France, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, etc. are right around 10%.

As long as we are slaves to the automobile this won't change. Unfortunately, our suburb-centric cities are designed for the automobile. If our local governments make a concerted effort to make walking and bicycling more accessible and safe with dedicated walking and biking paths, maybe this will get better.

***THE BOUNCER*** · #5 04-30-08, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

If our local governments make a concerted effort to make walking and bicycling more accessible and safe with dedicated walking and biking paths, maybe this will get better.

that would cost more money then the world has. and while you are making the transition the economy would be in the shitter because of less traffic for businesses etc..

Scrumhalf · #6 04-30-08, 12:52 PM

Other countries especially in Europe seem to have done a pretty good job of this..... it requires commitment and yes, $s.

***THE BOUNCER*** · #7 04-30-08, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Other countries especially in Europe seem to have done a pretty good job of this..... it requires commitment and yes, $s.

those countries were never setup for the automobile like we are. the transition would be FAR harder.

**Shibby** · #8 04-30-08, 02:23 PM

It is very frustrating that you can't really find side walks anymore and if you do they stop after a couple blocks.

Scrumhalf · #9 04-30-08, 02:49 PM

I think more people need to get involved in local government. I have had very good experience with influencing the city government in making more pedestrian and bike-friendly streets. Now Copenhagen it ain't, but the Portland metro area is not too bad.

***THE BOUNCER*** · #10 04-30-08, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

I think more people need to get involved in local government. I have had very good experience with influencing the city government in making more pedestrian and bike-friendly streets. Now Copenhagen it ain't, but the Portland metro area is not too bad.

i have been to the Pacific Northwest, for the most part it is some of the cleanest and newest areas in america.

have you ever been around my way bro? ever been to Newark NJ? turning areas like you live in to be more bike friendly is one thing. but areas that are strictly concrete jungles, i just dont see it happening.

not arguing with ya, hell i agree, but it is easier said then done.

**FitnessBrat** · #11 04-30-08, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

really? i thought the "what if" in the title implied that it was actually happening.

I didn't mean the "idea" itself - I just meant the actual statistics, etc...

The_Grinder · #12 04-30-08, 07:22 PM

I wonder if having no fat people would really help things though. I see a big overpopulation problem with that. People live longer. Not as many ugly people so more people are getting laid, which means more babies. We need a certain amount of fat people to not get laid and die a bit sooner.

***THE BOUNCER*** · #13 05-01-08, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Grinder

I wonder if having no fat people would really help things though. I see a big overpopulation problem with that. People live longer. Not as many ugly people so more people are getting laid, which means more babies. We need a certain amount of fat people to not get laid and die a bit sooner.

agreed with your point. take away fat people and many buisness suffer, many jobs lost etc..

**Shibby** · #14 05-01-08, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Grinder

I wonder if having no fat people would really help things though. I see a big overpopulation problem with that. People live longer. Not as many ugly people so more people are getting laid, which means more babies. We need a certain amount of fat people to not get laid and die a bit sooner.

Well the ugly people would still be ugly and even though the people aren't so fat they are about to die, their would still be a "fat" group. If there wasn't any extremely fat people then the "average" person would then be seen as the fat person.

Scrumhalf · #15 05-01-08, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Grinder

I wonder if having no fat people would really help things though. I see a big overpopulation problem with that. People live longer. Not as many ugly people so more people are getting laid, which means more babies. We need a certain amount of fat people to not get laid and die a bit sooner.

Good grief! I hope you were being facetious. Japan has one of the fittest populations in the world based on obesity and one of the lowest birth rates.

Scrumhalf · #16 05-01-08, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

agreed with your point. take away fat people and many buisness suffer, many jobs lost etc..

Well B, for every business that would go under for lack of obese people, another one will flourish. Maybe Jenny Craig will no longer exist, but presumably fit people would be more interested in eating right and exercising, so there may be a boom in farmers and growers of healthy food. Maybe the sales of bicycles, cross-country skis and hiking gear would go up and new businesses catering to a more healthy lifestyle will flourish.

There is no rational argument that can advocate for obesity being a virtue, economic or otherwise.

***THE BOUNCER*** · #17 05-01-08, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Well B, for every business that would go under for lack of obese people, another one will flourish. Maybe Jenny Craig will no longer exist, but presumably fit people would be more interested in eating right and exercising, so there may be a boom in farmers and growers of healthy food. Maybe the sales of bicycles, cross-country skis and hiking gear would go up and new businesses catering to a more healthy lifestyle will flourish.

There is no rational argument that can advocate for obesity being a virtue, economic or otherwise.

i agree with that. just saying that if all the sudden fat people disappeared the economy would definitely suffer. for the short term at least.

3v1lj03 · #18 05-02-08, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

There is no rational argument that can advocate for obesity being a virtue, economic or otherwise.

Well I think we need to know what is considered obese. I have in fact been diagnosed as obese. At 5'7" I am supposed to weigh less than 155 lbs. Last time I saw my doctor 12 weeks ago he diagnosed me as obese I weighed 215 lbs at that time that made me a nearly a 33.7 on the BMI chart I now weigh 220 lbs and that makes me a 34.5 on the BMI so according to medical science (which you guys sing the praises of all the time NOT) I am morbidly obese. Well guess what I hope I hit 35 by next week when I go back to see my doctor. My body fat % right now using calipers is 15% while that is fat compared to some of you and it is driving me crazy I am not fat or obese. So what is obese anyway? Maybe its like porn we all know it when we see it but is it what the AMA says it is? I don't think so. ( you want to see obese look at that nasty pic of tits that B posted)

fog_hat1981 · #19 05-02-08, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3v1lj03

Well I think we need to know what is considered obese. I have in fact been diagnosed as obese. At 5'7" I am supposed to weigh less than 155 lbs. Last time I saw my doctor 12 weeks ago he diagnosed me as obese I weighed 215 lbs at that time that made me a nearly a 33.7 on the BMI chart I now weigh 220 lbs and that makes me a 34.5 on the BMI so according to medical science (which you guys sing the praises of all the time NOT) I am morbidly obese. Well guess what I hope I hit 35 by next week when I go back to see my doctor. My body fat % right now using calipers is 15% while that is fat compared to some of you and it is driving me crazy I am not fat or obese. So what is obese anyway? Maybe its like porn we all know it when we see it but is it what the AMA says it is? I don't think so. ( you want to see obese look at that nasty pic of tits that B posted)

While I will agree that your argument has some validity in another form of thought it is pointless in reference to what this thread is essentially implying - "we" are in the minority but tit boy is no longer one of the few and unfortunately is now considered something of the norm - WAY different set of circumstances to be concerned with....

3v1lj03 · #20 05-02-08, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fog_hat1981

While I will agree that your argument has some validity in another form of thought it is pointless in reference to what this thread is essentially implying - "we" are in the minority but tit boy is no longer one of the few and unfortunately is now considered something of the norm - WAY different set of circumstances to be concerned with....

You are right this is not the thread. But if you reach your goal you will be a 38 on the BMI and your health insurance does not care about BF %. Sorry if I hi-jacked the thread. I have more to say I will think about a coherent title for a post.

fog_hat1981 · #21 05-02-08, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3v1lj03

You are right this is not the thread. But if you reach your goal you will be a 38 on the BMI and your health insurance does not care about BF %. Sorry if I hi-jacked the thread. I have more to say I will think about a coherent title for a post.

I'm sorry bro - I didn't mean to sound like you were "wrong" to have voiced what you did - just that it seems like a far bigger problem for 99% of the obese population to actually be obese than for us to worry so much about ourselves....

However, just so you know - I have made your exact same argument countless times not only on this board but even more in depth on another - I have run into several issues regarding life insurance policies that were messed up because of this - it is a mess for sure...