Learned something interesting in Nutrition

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jan 5, 2006

Yeah, I am a living example of this.........lol

Seriously though, it IS very interesting.

Kelly_the_Great · Jan 5, 2006

Wow, that is interesting. And that's true, you never actually "lose" fat cells they only "shrink".

truern · Jan 5, 2006

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.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jan 5, 2006

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.

So true too! I actually know someone who ballooned up in the most awkward places.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

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?

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.

suebird3 · Jan 21, 2006

funny....i learned that "we are what we eat". i doubt i look like a chocolate bar, though. :uhoh3: and the 4 food groups are not caffeine, fat, starch, and sugar.

suebird

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 22, 2006

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?

I was a really skinny kid and very slim until age 25 and at 50 y/o I am fat. When I went to school, 30 years ago, we were told that those fat cells are gained during infancy. They're always changing everything, but yes it's interesting and I do believe it no matter when it occurs.

I was 95 pounds at age 13. My set point got radically reset somewhere along the way!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

I was 95 pounds at age 13. My set point got radically reset somewhere along the way!

Or perhaps your metabolic rate simply became sluggish. This usually happens to women once they reach the age of 30, but the slowdown might have possibly occurred in your body 5 years earlier than expected. This is just a thought. :)

nursemomruns · Jan 25, 2006

I was a really skinny kid and very slim until age 25 and at 50 y/o I am fat. When I went to school, 30 years ago, we were told that those fat cells are gained during infancy. They're always changing everything, but yes it's interesting and I do believe it no matter when it occurs.
I was 95 pounds at age 13. My set point got radically reset somewhere along the way!

There are some theories that compete with "setpoint" theory. Your experience offers support against the setpoint theory. If we truly had a setpoint, we would weigh the same all of our adult lives. Further evidence against the setpoint is the widespread obesity in the United States. Also, what about those people that have trouble gaining weight? There is a "settling point" theory that is a little easier to buy into. It is similar to the setpoint theory, but basically says your weight changes depending on your calorie/activity ratio.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

I was a skin-and-bones adolescent and never struggled with my weight until my 40s. Perhaps it's a predictor of young-adult weight (and you can always find examples of people that don't fit the theory), but middle age has it's own challenges with the hormal drops and such in my opinion.

Also for a lot of people weight gain is very sublte, maybe 1/4 pound a year until in 30 years they're overweight.

suzi_h · Jan 25, 2006

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