[Crispy]

A recent survey found 40 percent of Japanese men and 49 percent of Japanese women feel they are overweight.

Has any similar survey taken place in the US? This seems insanely high to me, but maybe a poll of the US would say the same thing about us...

[tokyojoe]

This quote says it all.

"To drink something, and not have to do anything else, like cutting back on food or getting exercise, and still lose weight -- well, it was really nice."

People continue to look for quick fixes to problems without addressing what is causing them in the first place. There are shortcuts but they always come with a price.

[Crispy]

I am reminded of Requiem for a Dream...God that was a disturbing movie, especially the mother's battle with herself over the diet pills.

[gaijinzilla]

This all seems to start in elementary school...last year (when my daughter was in 2nd grade) she comes home from school pissed off and doesn't want to eat dinner that night. the reason: The previous week they had the annual check up at school amd the day in question she gets the "report" It says that weight-wise she is on the chubby side. She was (at the time) only 0.4 kgs over the class average (at 21 kgs)... I wonder what the quack said about those kids who topped 30 kgs (and there were quite a few in the 2nd grade). This year she is still slightly over the class average in weight, but now she is considered on the slightly skinny side
Sometimes I wonder about Japanese doctors..did they all graduate from the same "med" school somewhere in the Caribbean?!?!

[tokyojoe]

I am reminded of Requiem for a Dream...God that was a disturbing movie, especially the mother's battle with herself over the diet pills.

Is that the one by the director who did Pi?

[Crispy]

Yeah, but I haven't seen pi. The woman is severely delusional, and imagines that both her TV and fridge (the two items in her house she interacts with) are out to get her.

[cstaylor]

A little body fat is healthy in little kids, especially girls. It should burn off by the time they're in puberty.

[Crispy]

Yeah, but not down to nothing. There are certain people who can healthily (or at least without dying) maintain a body fat ratio of almost zero, but those people are mutants and not everyone can do that.

[cstaylor]

Yeah, but not down to nothing. There are certain people who can healthily (or at least without dying) maintain a body fat ratio of almost zero, but those people are mutants and not everyone can do that.

And usually they look very unappealing.

[Crispy]

Well, with the right makeup they can be actresses and pop idols, and then people will worship their (mostly artifical) looks.

[mercutio]

Yeah, but not down to nothing. There are certain people who can healthily (or at least without dying) maintain a body fat ratio of almost zero, but those people are mutants and not everyone can do that.

In adults women *need* a higher BFP (Bodyfat Percentage) a good healthy percentage for men ia 13% fo woman it should be more like 18-20%.

Below 10% in men and they have defined abdominal muscles but below 10% in woman and their hormonal axis starts to fall apart and they will often stop menstrating. Professional bodybuilders on contast day will come in at 5-6% bodyfat. Below 4-5% it is comon to start getting internal damage as organs no longer have any cusion around them on impact (internal adipose tissue seperates some organs for protection.) below 3% internal bleeding is definatly present and neural damage begins. The brain and nervous system relies on, and is partially made up of, adipose tissues (sheaths around nerves etc)

QED no one can have a bodyfat percatnage of almost zero and be healthy. Men below 8% and women below 12% will start to have definite adverse effects.

of course that doesnt men people dont try...I was in the bodybuilding and fitness industry for a number of years and never managed to get below 9% but I sure as hell wanted to be at 6-7%.