Learned something interesting in Nutrition

[nursemelani]

I just finished my Nutrition class, one of the pre-requisites for our program. It was a very interesting class. One of the more interesting things I learned has to do with obesity. It turns out that kids gain the most fat cells of their lives during puberty, approximately ages 9-13. You can never lose fat cells, so if you gain too many during that crucial time, you will struggle with weight for your whole life. Interesting, huh?

[live4today, RN]

Well, the changes in my weight since childhood until now do not back up that "setpoint theory" at all.

I weighed 8 pounds at birth. Was never a chunky kid...just average. The fattest thing on me until I hit 40 was my cheeks (um...facial cheeks).

In my teen years, I was so skinny...except for my facial cheeks. I weighed between 96 and 98 pounds all through senior high school. At age 18 when I got married for the first time, I was 98 pounds. I also weighed 98 pounds when I got pregnant the first time. My weight went up and down with each pregnancy (I had three), but I always managed to come within ten to twenty "healthy" much needed pounds until age 40. Yep..after forty, it can potentially be all downhill.

[suzy253, RN]

and the 4 food groups are not caffeine, fat, starch, and sugar. suebird

they're not???????

[live4today, RN]

I always thought the setpoint was more of a tool for loosing weight. It kind of lets you know when it's going to get tough. So, I don't think the setpoint thing has anything to do with obesity. If Americans sit on their rear-ends all day and night and eat take out 5 nights a week, they are going to pass their setpoint no matter what. I don't understand why people act like obesity is such a mystery. I am not saying that the above posters are lazy, I think women, because of hormones, have it much harder. But, realistically, you can't eat take out from your teens into your 30's and not expect it to catch up with you, I don't care how fast your metabolism is. Especially when over those years, soda cans, serving plates , glasses and serving sizes at fast food restaurants have just gotten bigger. Obesity is sad, American's have a few things to learn from other countries when it comes to this. Just my 2 cents.

Suzi

Suzi - I have family members and close friends who eat nothing but what dieting people call "junk food" and their weight looks like they are malnourished or on a diet all the time.

It is NOT true that skinny people stay thin due to what they put in their mouth anymore than obese or overweight people are overweight due to what they put in their mouth. That may ring true for SOME, but certainly not for all people.

Any skinny person eating the way SOME people think obese people eat may not gain the weight, but it by no means suggest the skinny peeps are healthy.

Some obesity IS genetic..............not always attributed to over eating or pigging out.

[Kelly_the_Great]

I think it's [obesity] a multifactorial phenomena: activity, genetics, diet and hormones (which I suppose is also genetics to some degree). And, honestly, I think genetics is the strongest factor. Just my totally unproven, unfounded, unscientific opinion though.

[nursemomruns]

I think it's [obesity] a multifactorial phenomena: activity, genetics, diet and hormones (which I suppose is also genetics to some degree). And, honestly, I think genetics is the strongest factor. Just my totally unproven, unfounded, unscientific opinion though.

I agree with you. I think most things are nature AND nurture. There is very little that is either/or.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Another "interesting" fact: when you have liposuction and a tummy tuck, and then gain weight, you gain it in the most unusual places:chuckle

Those places NOT being your tummy.

Im curious, where are the unusual places?

[Jo Dirt]

I've learned not to necessarily believe everything I was taught, even if it was in a college textbook. Interesting theory, but I don't take it for the gospel.

[rivir25]

Yep, interesting.

Each and every person has a 'setpoint'. If a 13 year old girl weighs 250 pounds, that's her lifelong setpoint, meaning that her body feels most comfortable at 250 pounds. If, at age 21, she attempts to lose pounds to achieve a normal body weight, her body will fight her weight-loss efforts every step of the way via 'hormone warfare'. It is possible for her to get down to a normal weight, but she'll just need to work harder to get there.

most if not all the kids i grew up with lost all their fat in the teenage years, but now when i see them they look the weight from when we were younger! and i remember some yo-yoing in hs

[rivir25]

My grandmother is from another country and her and her whole family consider extra pounds a sign of beauty. And it is a very serious thing to them.