Why Do We Get Fat?

Yes it was interesting. However as we are both obese, I'm not sure that knowing it may be gene related helps with our diets. As far as I am concerned it all come down to how much you stuff into your mouth versus how much exercise you take, We do too much of the first and not enough of the second. OK genes may mean we have to try harder than some.

I watched it and thought it was very interesting, especially the bit about replacing gut bacteria. I agree with GandTea; when it comes down to it, if you are overweight, sensible eating and exercise are the keys. The young man from Merthyr was the testament to that. But only after he found a reason to want to do it in the first place.

I agree with GandTea - cut down on quantity eaten.
But I can see how genes come into it from my family - both my parents were very thin, and so is my sister.I'm fairly thin, but don't eat a lot. Though perhaps they were thin because they never ate much

I thought the young man from Merthyr was a brilliant example of what can be achieved. Well done him!

I could not believe the eye-wateringly massive lunch the bus driver was eating!

What kind of irritated me about the programme was that it barely scratched the surface. The bit about the poo transplanting was fascinating, as was the discovery of a link between genetics and excess weight (or the tendency to want to eat more if you have a certain gene).

However, I think the programme did not really address the question set out in its title. Sadly, the fact remains that we get fat if we eat too much, gene or no gene, poo transplant or no poo transplant.

I wish someone would do a programme exploring why slim people are slim.

The slim people I know, who have always been slim, dont much care for chocolate, nor sweets biscuits and treats.
But like fruit and vegetables. And use nuts as snacks if they want a snack. They will eat some cake though, but prefer fruit cake.

I agree, obeione. That's my experience of slim people too.

A friend of mine is pushing 70, with the figure of a girl. . I know exactly how she does it but somehow I can't seem to do the same myself.

There can be other factors. My mum and D both put on weight after puberty going from a size 10 to a 20-22 respectively and both suffered from PCOS. So did I but I've always been overweight but I put on more after puberty.
There are exceptions to this but it is a common side effect.

gettingonabit The book about it which I read, was exactly that. Why the thin are thin. Apparently if you have the right gutbacteria from birth then you have good chance of not becoming obese.
The best thing is to have a thin mother, natural birth - no cesaerean section- and take in all your Mum's bacteria from the birth canal.Then you're safe from obestity but not from being fatter than your Mother. That depends on situations.

margaret that book sounds very interesting.

Its -The Diet Myth- by Tim Spector I'assuming its the book they made the programme from. Tim Spector is scientist and its a heavy read but you can take it easy. I enjoyed it but I worked in a chemistry laboratory and like science.

Since reading it I really try to have as many different foods as possible just to keep the gut bacteria happy!

Thanks margaretx. I like a bit of science, so I'll give it a go.

When I was a teenager we knew someone whose husband was eventually hospitalised to try and make him lose weight. He was kept in for several weeks on a strictly regulated crash diet and lost no weight at all. I don't know what happened to hi in the end.

I am overweight because I love chocolate. I am good in the day, but evenings on my own are not complete without my chocolate, I have put on more than a stone, none of my clothes are comfortable, but get depressed if I don't have my chocolate or sweets,I then start eating anything in the house that is sweet, ham sandwiches anything. Know it is stupid as I am so different in the day.

luckylegs do you have a way of accounting for that chocolate?

I use MFP, which is a way of accounting for everything you eat. I can eat anything, as long as it's accounted for. Even chocolate.

Personally, I think trying to be too "good" all the time and demonising certain foods you love is a recipe (no pun intended) for disaster. Losing weight and, more importantly, keeping it off, is for a lifetime and not just for the duration of the "diet".

Don't be too hard on yourself!

Has anyone tried FITBIT? You wear it like a watch and there's an app on your ipad (or whatever device you have) which measures every step you take in the day and how well you sleep. You just put in everything you eat and drink then you can see whether you're taking in more cals than you're expending during the day. You can set your own goals to lose weight at your own pace. So far it's working for the OH and me.

Btw, that guy who was hospitalised to lose weight, I wonder what exercise he was getting in that time? Might be the reason he didn't lose weight, if he was just sitting in the day. Just a thought.

margaretx I've got that book (from Amazon).

Looks good. Thanks for tip.