h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Has anybody carried out a survey to find out if there is a common denominator between the grossly overweight and something in their lifestyle? Is it all lack of exercise and overeating or is their more to it than that? Is it what they eat, their genes (too loose /too tight?)or additives in the food or drink itself? It has to be at least partially genetic, if others eat the same amount and exercise the same or is it that some people can deal with toxins better, yet others store it overwhelmingly in fat?

Research into obesity is ongoing, from various different angles, but it is definitely the case that it is not a simple matter of lack of exercise and overeating...

For example I know someone who was on a cocktail of medications, at least one of which caused water retention, so for them it was like getting on to the scales with a bucket of water and the doctors wondered why the resulting BMI was in the obese range...

I am also aware that the body can go into starvation mode, where it extracts every possible nutrient out of the available food, and then when food becomes more plentiful the food is processed so quickly at first a relatively large proportion of nutrients is lost...

All very complicated...

I believe in my case it's a case of all the added sugars in our processed foods combined with a sedentary lifestyle creating metabolic syndrome.

All the factors mentioned so far are important.

Bacteria in the digestive tract are a factor as well.
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2008/10/06/human-gut-bacteria-linked-to-obesity/

Bacterioides are microbiota that you need in order to stay lean. Also, the increased use of antibiotics has shifted the balance of bacteria, throwing things off.

having said which... the overriding main factor, above genetic, other environmental factors, meds, etc, is the in/out balance. There are few circumstances in which switching it the correct way round, is unable to cause weight loss and a successful normal weight... - I've been overweight a few times in my life, initially it was just too much in, and insufficient out, and I reduced portion size, and cut out a few calory dense foods, to lose about 6 stone, over a few years...
That was relitively easy to then maintain the lower weight, by continueing with a lower intake (at that point I'd not really increased out via exercise)...

The second time was due to over-eating, caused by medication, and metabolic changes in metabolism caused by the same medications, with a concurrent vast amount of water retention/oedima.... - the oedima alone made me gain three shoe sizes
I was told by my medical specialists that "you'll never lose weight due to the medication"... which as it sounded like a challange to me, I accepted, and lost 4 stone in a year, this time with a mix of exercise and diet changes; Due to medication my body no longer processes sugars and c arbohydrates correctly, so reducing carbs worked well, replacing them with protein, but, again as before, the main thing was I just cut down my calory intake to 1/3 of what it had risen too... - even with the medications trying to force/tell me to eat more, I eventually re-taught the body to accept the newer, reduced intake, and now find it entirely adaquat. to date I've lost 4 stone and 9 inchs off my waist despite still being on the medication

Some people just make bad food choices, - I've gotten into the habbit of cooking lunch and dinner, rather than just having a cooked dinner; a sandwich at lunch doesn't seem much but its often way more than a simple cooked meal (like a stir fry or homemade kebab) but, its still portion size, and calories at the end of the day IMO...

"Due to medication my body no longer processes sugars and c arbohydrates correctly, so reducing carbs worked well, replacing them with protein, but, again as before, the main thing was I just cut down my calory intake to 1/3 of what it had risen too... - even with the medications trying to force/tell me to eat more, I eventually re-taught the body to accept the newer, reduced intake, and now find it entirely adaquat. to date I've lost 4 stone and 9 inchs off my waist blush despite still being on the medication" [2Legs]

That is very well put.

I've pretty much accomplished the same thing. I eat far fewer carbs than I used to, and this seems to lead to lower weight. What I'd prefer is lower and stable weight. It takes daily dedication.

Yes, quite well put but it does sound to me like you're also saying it is all very complicated...

You've been overweight a few times, so maintaining reduced calories wasn't sufficient for all occasions. Oedema was part of your weight at some point. You changed the type of calories you were taking in and were able to exercise in a way that utilised the protein, and that worked for you...

I eat sandwiches for lunch and lose weight if I spend too much time calculating in relation to traffic lights on food packaging but I'm in the 2% minority, so there we go...

I'll just put this here: https://healthateverysize.org.uk/about/

Exercise seems to be a plus at most weight categories. If you're carrying a lot of fat, that can give you extra buoyancy in a swimming pool. You might also be okay with weight-lifting, though you'd need to be careful to get check out medically first. Or bicycling, or walking at a comfortable speed. Bad food choices should be avoided no matter what you weigh.

Did you say it takes daily medication? If so, what?