A metaphorical slap in the face is needed

[briantrumpet]

Dr Jacquie Lavin, the head of nutrition and research at Slimming World, which conducted the survey, said: “This worrying new data reveals the complex psychological issues associated with being overweight."

No chance of an agenda or bias there then. I wonder if they did another survey about how anorexic people still think they look fat.

Apologies - it is a serious subject (and there's probably truth in there) - but as soon as I see a survey that's been commissioned by (let alone conducted by) a party with an agenda in the subject being considered, my cynic circuits cut in.

 

[Fab Foodie]

No chance of an agenda or bias there then. I wonder if they did another survey about how anorexic people still think they look fat.

Apologies - it is a serious subject (and there's probably truth in there) - but as soon as I see a survey that's been commissioned by (let alone conducted by) a party with an agenda in the subject being considered, my cynic circuits cut in.

Whilst I generally agree about sponsors of research, this has only confirmed what had already been found in other research by more independant bodies.

The problem is that we don't readily identify fat people in the way we once did, overweight is now normal. After the war for example and well into the 60s, overweight was abnormal and skinny normal. If parents for example do not recognise 'overweight' in their kids then no action will be taken.

 

[downfader]

No chance of an agenda or bias there then. I wonder if they did another survey about how anorexic people still think they look fat.

Apologies - it is a serious subject (and there's probably truth in there) - but as soon as I see a survey that's been commissioned by (let alone conducted by) a party with an agenda in the subject being considered, my cynic circuits cut in.

I agree, there is some conflict of interests. I do think its important enough to discuss and in-line with what we're all seeing.

 

[briantrumpet]

I agree, there is some conflict of interests. I do think its important enough to discuss and in-line with what we're all seeing.

Oh yes, indeed. It's just that if the research had come from a disinterested body, it would have been that much more powerful.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Well i've lost 2kg's over christmas ... 121 miles cycled over 4 rides @15mph average and having a bad cold that put me off my food seemed to help.

 

[SoloCyclist]

I have lost over 2 stone in the last year. One of the first things I did was get away from just using scales and BMI to work out where I was with my weight loss. When using BMI to assess whether an individual is overweight, remember it is usually doctors talking to 'normal' people. This 'muscle weighs more than fat' argument will be one of the things they are talking about when they mention people being in denial about their actual condition. So you will have an overweight, beer bellied guy saying yeah I'm the same weight and height as a rugby player, but being in denial about the bodyweight composition.

Omron Body Composition Scales, while not being perfect, are a much better way of measuring your progress Along with a tape measure. Bear in mind that my overall bodyweight has come down 32lbs (was 35lbs) but I will have gained some muscle mass so will have lost more than 32lbs of fat.