>KEN:
>>This assumes that losing weight is an appropriate goal for an >unhealthy
>>person.  In actuality, obesity is a symptom of an unhealthy >physiology.
>>For an obese person, to lose weight while continuing to >eat in an
>>unhealthy fashion is the worst possible thing, because they >will think
>>they can eat "Snackwells" with impunity.
>>One of the popular media myths is that obesity causes the diseases of
>>civilization, when in actuality it is just another symptom.
>
>JUSTIN:
>This is something I've always agreed with.  A fat person who decides to
>start eating healthy but doesn't want to go below maintenance calories, can
>be perfectly healthy even though they're obese.  As far as obesity being a
>*symptom* of an unhealthy lifestyle as opposed to a *cause*, I couldn't
>agree more.
>
>Justin Hasselman (who can't believe he's finally agreeing with Ken on
>something)



I agree that obesity is just another symptom. I think the underlying cause
is some sort of immune system problem relating to our lifestyle, addiction
to carbs (which actually produce endorphins) and the things that go on with
the pancreas and our mormones. This is possibly related to what I mentioned
earlier about living in full light for too many hours and telling our
bodies that we are preparing for fasting and the cold of winter.

I feed dogs on raw foods, and it is typical for them to change body
composition gradually as the body gets rid of the residue of years of
grain-eating. Roly-poly pups and adults change to lean, muscular dogs with
no particular attempt to lower calories. Of course, the diet itself raises
fat levels. I see no reason to think it wouldn't work the same way for
humans. I think the extra fat is "insulation" and water storage as the body
tries to defend itself against  what it sees as allergens from the grains
and lack of enzymes with which to deal with them.

Everyone does have a genetic fat percentage level, but in a "natural" diet
and environment, I doubt you'd see anything like real obesity. It might
take a long time for the body to reset all the way, but I think it will if
health is sought.

ginny and Tomo, lean and not-very-mean

All stunts performed without a net!