#the obesity crisis is solved

[margesimpsonannoyedgrunt]

twitter is so amazing because people i've been casually following for years started talking about ozempic at once last week along the lines of "i can't believe we finally solved the crisis of those gross obese pieces of shit with ozempic and people are hoping for consequences" like oh ok i thought it was primarily a diabetes medication but i guess you've had to hold in your opinion on fat people long enough. jackass.

[moontyger]

Ozempic Can’t Fix What Our Culture Has Broken

If GLP-1 drugs only treated diabetes and did not promote weight loss, they would still be medically groundbreaking. But Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro probably would not have social media hashtags. These drugs are blockbusters because they promise to solve a medical problem that is also a cultural problem — how to cure the moral crisis of fat bodies that refuse to get and stay thin.

That many people don’t even question that eliminating fat people is an objectively good idea is why it is such a powerful idea. Thinness is a way to perform moral discipline, even if one pursues it through morally ambiguous means. Subconsciously, consciously, politically, economically and culturally, obesity signals moral laxity.

Any decent cleric will tell you that there is no price too high for salvation, so an entire class of people — the roughly three in four adult Americans who are overweight — is a target for profit-seeking. Medical weight loss interventions have, over the years, led to heart damage, strokes, nerve damage, psychosis and death. But under this moral code, it’s the social policies that promote, subsidize and profit from obesity that are cleansed of their extractive sins. It’s as if fat bodies, by housing slovenly people, do not deserve the protections of good regulations and healthy communities.

There’s something seductive about a weekly shot that fixes the body while skipping right past the messiness of improving the way people have to live. Both diabetes and obesity are conditions that are as much about social policy as they are about what people eat. Studies show that the crops the U.S. government subsidizes are linked to the high-sugar, high-calorie diets that put Americans at risk for abdominal fat, weight gain and high cholesterol. Sprawling communities, car-centered lives and desk jobs make it hard for many Americans to move as much as medical guidance thinks that we should. Under these conditions, telling people to change their lifestyle to lose weight or prevent diabetes is cruel.

...

There is weight loss for health. There is also weight loss for status and avoiding stigma. While both men and women experience greater discrimination if they are fat, women suffer more for failing to be thin enough. Study after study shows that overweight women are more likely to be unemployed than their thinner counterparts. When they are employed, larger women earn less, with smaller penalties for Black and Hispanic women, who already earn less, on average. Overweight white and Asian women experience the labor market discrimination that Black and Hispanic women already do.

Outside of the workplace, the trend of educational and economic elites marrying, befriending and socializing with one another — assortative matching and mating — is also a marked characteristic of our time. Elite homogeneity has a look, and the look is thin. So when women say that it is better to be sick and thin than healthy and fat, they are perfectly rational.

Kate Manne, a philosopher, says that the fear of being fat — fatphobia — is structural and intersectional. In her forthcoming book, “Unshrinking,” she questions whether solving obesity is something that can truly be done by eradicating fat people. Ozempic mania is not just a perfect example of how self-defeating our health economics are in this country, as Dr. Kahn points out. It is also an example of how the American penchant for solving structural issues by fixing individual bodies is excellent at creating demand without solving social problems.

[ararexic]

GUYS vote me for the real us president i can solve the obesity crisis

[oklahomapartisan]

Governor ‘Doing Well’ Following Spine-Removal Surgery

Valentine's Day took more commitment this year, so we missed a copy deadline.

Here are the stories we should have had ready for print, but didn't

Even Nashoba lawmaker doesn’t know where the hell Nashoba is

Obese kids, hungry cows: State crisis solves itself

Senator calls for special session to finish farewell speech

Governor ‘doing well’ following spine-removal surgery

Cain collapses from bleeding heart

[nurtureivfcentre]

Important fertility complication advice from top IVF doctor in Delhi

What causes fertility and steps to overcome it naturally are the main wishes of couples these days searching for answers from specialist IVF doctors? Are you a working mother facing pregnancy issues for many years with no positive sign of ovulation and sign of embryo growth cycle? The steps to motherhood need special attention and care to manage birth periods, ovulation time, day to day supplements, vitamins, minerals are the basic needs couples must intervene with specialist doctors for an affordable way to monitor early pregnancy complications.

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Do you know! Protection of embryo health during maternity is the main challenge most couples fail to preserve in a safer environment where womb growth is the main  thing couples must follow and stay in an environment where semen healthcare is vital for safe birthing and improving genetic diseases. 

Counsel with Dr. Archana Dhawan Bajaj, best IVF doctor in Delhi for all types of serious health issues you are willing to discuss in-person with prior booking to know how does IVF treatment helps, the budget needed to solve fertility complication such as depression, stress, hormonal, vaginal, fallopian tube blockage, periodic and psychological miscarriage could the be real problem IVF patients mostly have in mind to get support and medical advice to get rid of with IVF specialist doctor in Delhi. To counter attack these challenges let’s find out these basic questions with specialist IVF doctors in Delhi NCR to take care of your health: 

Unable to have safe martial relation

A healthy marital relation is a must if you are having issues about safe sex, can’t figure out about your body weight, strength, fertility disease that didn’t have an ideal answer to pregnancy after several attempts. Counsel with professional IVF doctors for open discussion to know what matters most to keep your pregnancy gut in right order.

Have childhood genetic issues

Do you suffer from cognitive delay response or any kinds of psychological challenges that stop early pregnancy signs and symptoms? A regular doctor consultation is the most important phase patients must not forget to protect your health during crisis time and make your ovulation day happier, free from stress and improve periodic issues during maternity.

Low semen score

Are you having low sperm? Low semen could be drastic if you don't understand the root cause, heal yourself with specialized diet formula for most advanced holistic treatment from highly advanced IVF treatment and diagnosis, supplements that enhance your libido health, core muscle.

Moral disease that stops pregnancy

In the age of high-tech radiation, carbonated environment and living patterns, compared to living in a traditional space such as where there is less noise and pollution that improves your psychological process, improves mental stiffness and genetic lifestyle.

Unhealthy fertility diet 

Goodness of food, sleep and living are the three main ingredients required to keep your fertility health in right shape and boost cardiac health, increase strength.

Blocked fallopian tubes

This is a serious problem for women with these symptoms that reduces the chances of pregnancy and it's very risky to make life easier for women dreaming to have safe IVF birth. The rise of fallopian tubes happens when there is a high amount of stress, diabetes disease, obesity and cancer like diseases associated.

For more latest facts, stories and innovation in IVF medical science please visit us for fresh updates on IVF healthcare, IVF health testing and steps to safe motherhood journey with Dr, Archana Dhawan Bajaj.

[patty-2024]

Houston's Obesity Epidemic: How Medical Weight Loss Can Help

Houston, Texas, often called the "Space City" and known for its diverse culture and thriving economy, is facing a significant health challenge: an obesity epidemic. With its unique blend of culinary traditions, bustling lifestyle, and hot and humid climate, Houston presents a set of factors contributing to this growing health concern. In this article, we will explore the obesity crisis in Houston, the factors behind it, and how medical weight loss can solve this pressing issue.

The Obesity Crisis in Houston

Obesity is a nationwide concern, but its impact in Houston is particularly noteworthy. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, more than 30% of adults in Houston and the surrounding Harris County are obese. Obesity is associated with a range of health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and increased healthcare costs.

Houston's cultural diversity contributes to a vibrant food scene. Still, it also exposes its residents to a wide variety of culinary options, which may only sometimes align with healthy eating habits. Moreover, the city's fast-paced lifestyle and the heat and humidity can discourage physical activity, further exacerbating the problem.

Understanding the Factors Contributing to Obesity in Houston

Several factors contribute to the obesity epidemic in Houston:

Culinary Diversity

Houston boasts a diverse culinary landscape, with a plethora of restaurants offering a wide range of foods, from Tex-Mex to Southern comfort food. While this diversity is a culinary treasure, it can also lead to overindulgence in calorie-rich meals.

Environmental Challenges

Houston's hot and humid climate can make outdoor physical activities uncomfortable and even dangerous, leading many residents to lead more sedentary lives.

Urban Sprawl

Houston's sprawling layout often necessitates long commutes, leaving residents less time and energy for physical activity.

Stressful Lifestyles

The fast-paced lifestyle and competitive job market in Houston can lead to high-stress levels, which may contribute to emotional eating and weight gain.

The Role of Medical Weight Loss

Medical weight loss programs in Houston offer a promising solution to the obesity epidemic. These programs are tailored to address the unique challenges Houston residents face while providing effective weight management strategies. Here's how medical weight loss can help:

Personalized Plans

Medical weight loss programs start with a comprehensive assessment of an individual's health, lifestyle, and weight loss goals. This personalized approach ensures that the program is tailored to each person's unique needs and challenges, taking into account factors such as cultural preferences and the city's lifestyle.

Supervised Medical Care

Medical weight loss is supervised by healthcare professionals, including registered dietitians and physicians, who monitor progress and adjust treatment plans as needed. This level of care ensures safety and effectiveness.

Nutrition Education

Medical weight loss programs emphasize the importance of nutrition in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. They guide making healthier food choices, even within the diverse food culture of Houston.

Physical Activity

These programs incorporate physical activity recommendations that can be adapted to Houston's climate, encouraging residents to exercise regularly to suit their needs and preferences.

Behavioral Support

Medical weight loss programs often include counseling to address emotional eating, stress management, and other factors contributing to weight gain.

Combating Weight-Related Health Issues

Medical weight loss is not only about shedding pounds but also about improving overall health. In Houston, where conditions like diabetes and heart disease are prevalent, these programs can be a lifeline for those struggling with obesity-related health issues.

For instance, individuals with type 2 diabetes can benefit significantly from medical weight loss programs that help them lose weight and manage their blood sugar levels more effectively. Similarly, medical weight loss can lower the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure, thus enhancing cardiovascular health.

Maintaining Weight Loss Success in Houston

Weight loss is significant, but maintaining it can be equally challenging. In Houston, where temptations abound, it's essential to have strategies in place to prevent weight regain. Medical weight loss programs in the city guide how to navigate the local food scene, make healthy choices, and stay active. Weight loss programs equip individuals with the knowledge and tools needed for long-term success.

Conclusion

Houston's obesity epidemic is a complex issue driven by various factors, including the city's cultural diversity, climate, and lifestyle. However, medical weight loss programs offer a promising solution tailored to address these challenges. By providing personalized plans, medical supervision, nutrition education, and support for behavioral change, these programs can help individuals in Houston achieve and maintain a healthy weight, ultimately improving their overall health and well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling with obesity or weight-related health issues in Houston, seeking professional guidance and support is essential. Medical weight loss clinics and resources in the city can provide the necessary tools and expertise to embark on a transformative journey toward a healthier life.

Remember, your health is your most valuable asset, and addressing obesity is vital in safeguarding it for the future.

[foodinsecuritypdx]

Opposing/Varying Views

This article focuses on obesity being a bigger problem than hunger/food insecurity. It mentions that more people die from obesity than being hungry in America, and that politicians advocating for food stamps to get more funding result in them being viewed as a better candidate than someone who advocates for people with obesity. In other words, they get more sympathy if they root for hunger in America than obesity. It is clear in the article that there is a strong bias towards solving issues associated with obesity rather than tackling issues that arise from hunger and food insecurity. 

This article focuses on how much food waste is produced in America along with how efforts made to reduce food waste won’t be enough because of how flawed the food system is. It says that no amount of food redistribution can solve hunger because it is a poverty issue. It also brings up the point that toxic agriculture chemicals are exposed to farmworkers at high rates, and they also deal with high rates of food insecurity. It puts into perspective how in order to solve hunger, there needs to be systemic change in the way people in food systems are viewed. 

[revolutionariesofwellbeingu]

Nurturing a Healthy Workforce: The Significance of Corporate Wellness Programs

In the fast-paced world of corporate life, where deadlines loom and stress levels soar, the concept of corporate wellness has emerged as a beacon of hope and rejuvenation. Corporations around the globe are recognizing the profound impact of employee well-being on productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction. Corporate wellness programs, designed to enhance the physical, mental, and emotional health of employees, have become essential components of progressive workplaces, fostering a positive environment and ensuring a thriving, motivated workforce.

Addressing the Health Crisis:

The sedentary nature of many corporate jobs, coupled with the demands of the digital age, has led to a rise in health-related issues such as obesity, stress, and chronic diseases. Corporate wellness programs serve as proactive measures to combat these concerns. By encouraging physical activity, promoting healthy eating habits, and offering stress management techniques, these programs contribute significantly to reducing the risk of lifestyle-related diseases.

Boosting Employee Morale:

A corporate wellness program not only promotes physical health but also uplifts employee morale. When employees feel cared for and supported in their well-being, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and loyal. Recognition of their holistic health needs fosters a sense of belonging and demonstrates that the organization values them beyond their professional roles. This boost in morale translates into improved job satisfaction, which, in turn, positively influences overall productivity and workplace atmosphere.

Improving Mental Health:

Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, often overlooked in traditional workplace settings. Corporate wellness programs now prioritize mental health support, offering resources such as counseling, meditation sessions, and stress management workshops. By addressing mental health challenges, these programs create a supportive environment where employees feel safe discussing their concerns and seeking help, thereby reducing stress and enhancing overall emotional well-being.

Enhancing Productivity and Creativity:

Healthy employees are productive employees. Regular physical activity and a balanced diet not only boost energy levels but also enhance cognitive function. Exercise has been proven to stimulate brain activity, improve memory, and enhance creativity – all of which are invaluable assets in the corporate world. A healthier workforce is more focused, innovative, and resilient, leading to increased productivity and improved problem-solving abilities.

Fostering Team Building:

Many corporate wellness programs incorporate team-based activities such as group workouts, wellness challenges, and sports events. These activities not only encourage physical fitness but also foster a sense of camaraderie and team spirit. Collaborative efforts towards achieving wellness goals create a supportive community within the workplace. Employees working together towards common objectives build stronger professional relationships, which can positively impact teamwork and cooperation on work-related projects.

Reducing Healthcare Costs:

Investing in the health and well-being of employees can lead to substantial long-term cost savings for corporations. Healthy employees are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases, reducing the need for expensive medical treatments and insurance claims. Additionally, corporate wellness programs can identify health risks early, allowing for timely interventions and preventing the escalation of potential health issues, thereby reducing healthcare costs in the long run.

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Success

In the competitive landscape of the corporate world, companies are recognizing that the well-being of their employees is a cornerstone of success. Corporate wellness programs have evolved from being perceived as perks to becoming integral components of progressive workplaces. By promoting physical health, supporting mental well-being, fostering teamwork, and enhancing overall job satisfaction, these programs contribute not only to a healthier workforce but also to a more vibrant, productive, and successful organization. As business wellness continue to embrace the concept of corporate wellness, they are not just investing in the health of their employees – they are investing in a future where well-being and success go hand in hand.

For More Info:-

workshop burnout

workplace wellness experts

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wellbeing capability plan template

[fitnessaccessoriesandequipment]

Why Workout is Important

In the hustle and bustle of our contemporary lives, finding time to exercise often takes a backseat. However, understanding the profound impacts of regular workouts and integrating them into our daily routines can significantly improve our quality of life. Apart from the well-documented health benefits, incorporating premium workout accessories can make the experience even more fruitful. Let's delve into why workouts are essential and how the right accessories can amplify those benefits.

1. Physical Health and Longevity

Exercise plays a pivotal role in keeping our hearts healthy, reducing the risk of diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and hypertension. Regular workouts not only increase muscle strength but also enhance bone density, decreasing the risk of osteoporosis. With a balanced mix of cardiovascular and resistance exercises, one can keep various health maladies at bay, ensuring a longer, healthier life.

2. Mental Well-being

A workout is not just about physical transformation; it’s a remedy for the mind. Engaging in exercise leads to the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood elevators. As a result, workouts help in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to a more positive outlook on life.

3. Enhanced Productivity

Physical activity improves blood flow, ensuring that the brain gets an ample supply of oxygen-rich blood, essential for optimal function. This boosts cognitive abilities, leading to improved focus, sharper memory, and better problem-solving skills. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a homemaker, a consistent workout regime can make you more efficient in your daily tasks.

4. Weight Management

The current global obesity crisis underscores the importance of regular exercise. Working out not only helps in burning calories but also increases the metabolic rate, which means you burn more calories even when resting. With the right kind of training, one can achieve and maintain their ideal weight, steering clear of weight-related health issues.

5. Boosted Self-Esteem and Confidence

Achieving fitness milestones, be it running a certain distance or lifting a specific weight, can provide a tremendous sense of accomplishment. This, in turn, boosts self-esteem and confidence. When you see positive changes in your body, it encourages a more positive self-image.

[kenzietensei]

Seconding all this, holy shit yes.

I've always been a Big Girl, and there's certainly more fat acceptance now than there was in the early 2000's, but it's very conditional. There always needs to be a "reason" you're overweight - you must justify your existence because you are perceived as something fringe. Welp, the average size of Americans is ever on the rise, and we all know at least one fat person. We are not fringe! We are a sizeable demographic (lol) and discrimination absolutely occurs.

I've also dealt with clothing issues at my workplace, having to get special permission to wear shoes that actually could support my weight. I've felt like a fool in ill-fitting business attire and had to pay premium for my bigger size. I've been limited to two bras that I can wear with any degree of comfort, stuck at home because they were worn earlier in the week, stuck wearing something that needs constant adjustment, embarrassed by the overspill from a bad bra, etc. I've tried (sometimes failing, other times succeeding) to find furniture that works for my size and is affordable. I've spent innumerable hours in my university career squeezed painfully into desks. I've sat in hundreds of waiting rooms with arm rests digging into my thighs and hips. I've resigned myself to pressing against the window or other people as a passenger in a car, contorting myself to make room. There is never enough room.

I've been told to get a reduction too. I've just recently had bariatric surgery, because although many fat bodies can be healthy, mine had become too painful and cumbersome to function well in society. I've spent the last two months reeling from nausea and dealing with other painful symptoms as a result. Don't tell people to cut up their body to fit better into your armchair or clothing line! Just provide more fucking options!!

We don’t talk enough about the systemic health effects of casual fatphobia and how much they fucking skew the data to the point where we literally cannot know how much outcomes are actually related to fatness and how much they are related to society not being designed for fat people, like literal design.

My best friend cannot find a bra.

She’s fat. We won’t get into the ~why~ here because it honestly wouldn’t matter whether it was “all her fault” or whether it was a result of outside forces like genes and such, she still deserves a goddamn fucking bra that fits.

And she cannot find a bra.

She’s short and fat, and Fat Bras are usually full cup, but because she’s short the full cups are usually too tall, or the armbands around them are too tall, to the point where what’ll fit around her chest and over her boobs will also dig up into her arms or have such high coverage that she literally cannot wear a shirt with a neckline high enough. Any bra that goes out enough goes too high.

This affects her ability to find clothing, impacting her ability to go outside sometimes, because she has this tiny selection of bras and she constantly has to wash them and when they’re gone she has no idea when she’ll next be able to find another unicorn bra. They appear in a flash usually in startups that die soon after, and COVID has killed most the small businesses remaining where she had even a hint of a chance of finding a fitting bra.

So she wears bras that don’t fit. Or she doesn’t leave the house. One gives her back pain. The other is, obviously, not very active. She likes to be active.

If she brings it up, people suggest breast reduction surgery.

But the thing is, with a good bra, she does not get back pain.

But if it’s that hard to find a good bra, they say, wouldn’t a reduction just be easier?

Wouldn’t it be easier for you to chop off part of your flesh, they say, then for us to cut fabric and underwire to more sizes? As if that is normal. As if that isn’t horrifying.

It’s not just bras. It’s chairs. It’s benches. It’s goddamn shoes. It’s seatbelts. It’s exercise equipment - I just got an exercise bike for Christmas. I had to shop around to find an affordable one that was also rated to take my level of fat. If I were 100 pounds heavier, which some people are? I don’t think any equipment would have existed in a price range that any working person could expect to afford. I don’t think most people even look at the weight ratings on chairs and couches and furniture. Once you start? They are lower than you think. There are absolutely 100% people you love in your life - whether really tall men or just average kinda overweight fat people - who should not be using the things they are using. Who are not getting support from their mattress, their footwear, their office chair. It might be you! You might be thinking “but I am average size!”, but the amount of furniture out there that’s only weighted to about 200lbs? Or 175??? It’s SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU REALIZE. Get into the Proper Fat? The 350lb, 400lb, 500lb fat? There’s virtually nothing.

Seatbelts are not tested for fat bodies and seatbelt extenders aren’t regulated.

We know about the problems with too small a blood pressure cuff. With too low a medicine dose. With no MRI a really fat body can fit in for a thousand miles.

We know, from multiple studies on multiple oppressed communities, that social bias by itself, with zero other compounding factors, can give people worse health outcomes.

Now add up

+ one of the social biases with the least pushback even from the educated liberal set with

+ having a world that is literally not made for you. Where you cannot get clothes, furniture, or transportation in a way that will actually accommodate you,

+ where society is constantly blaming you for this. And even if you somehow (and if you know how, please tell me) manage to retain some sense of self worth and optimism and determination despite all that

+ that’s not gonna magically give you access to the daily supplies a person needs in their home and out in public that’ll make living safe and healthy life literally physically possible.

If you’re really so concerned about fat people’s health start a bra company. If you’re really so concerned about fat people’s health mandate changes to seatbelt requirements. If you’re really so concerned about fat people’s health have a variety of chairs in your waiting room with at least some being properly Fat Rated. If you’re really so concerned about fat people’s health, make it easier for fat people to be active by making exercise equipment that fits them, swimwear that’ll actually stay on them, athletic shoes that can bear them. If you’re really so concerned about fat people’s health ask they be included in more medical trials. If you’re really so concerned about fat people’s health, promote fat visibility and fat people loving their bodies - because hating yourself has literally never been good for anyone’s health.

If you’re using “concern for health” as a shield to allow you to judge and criticize strangers, you don’t give a fuck about anyone’s health. You’re just an asshole who prefers a veneer of respectability when you bully people. You’re hateful and we can see right through you.

But fatphobia isn’t just bullying. It isn’t just judgment from strangers. It isn’t just medical neglect and medical bias. Even if we could wave a wand and make all that go away, my best friend still wouldn’t have a bra that fits, people still wouldn’t have a chair that supports them, a seatbelt that protects them. It’s literally engineered in. And it slowly kills people day by day by day.

[disgruntled-foreign-patriarch]

Do you have a copy of that one meme where Zoey Deschanel asks some guy to name problem that communism would solve and he replies "the obesity crisis"?

not at all. Is that from some TV show?

[fatasselmerfudd]

Twitter is awesome cuz a white person will say something completely untrue about an Asian country they like and then attribute it to them having no fat people. Like, “South Korea has no problem with income inequality, it’s because they solved the obesity crisis 😁” Like babes�� porn, anime, games, and K-pop have rotted your brain beyond belief

[arcticdementor]

Martin Gurri's The Revolt Of The Public is from 2014, which means you might as well read the Epic of Gilgamesh. It has a second-edition-update-chapter from 2017, which might as well be Beowulf. The book is about how social-media-connected masses are revolting against elites, but the revolt has moved forward so quickly that a lot of what Gurri considers wild speculation is now obvious fact. I picked up the book on its "accurately predicted the present moment" cred, but it predicted the present moment so accurately that it's barely worth reading anymore. It might as well just say "open your eyes and look around".

…

In conclusion, 2011 was a weird year.

Gurri argues all of this was connected, and all of it was a sharp break from what came before. These movements were essentially leaderless. Some had charismatic spokespeople, like Daphni Leef in Israel or Tahrir-Square-Facebook-page-admin Wael Ghonim in Egypt, but these people were at best the trigger that caused a viral movement to coalesce out of nothing. When Martin Luther King marched on Washington, he built an alliance of various civil rights groups, unions, churches, and other large organizations who could turn out their members. He planned the agenda, got funding, ran through an official program of speakers, met with politicians, told them the legislation they wanted, then went home. The protests of 2011 were nothing like that. They were just a bunch of people who read about protests on Twitter and decided to show up.

Also, they were mostly well-off. Gurri hammers this in again and again. Daphni Leef had just graduated from film school, hardly the sort of thing that puts her among the wretched of the earth. All of these movements were mostly their respective countries' upper-middle classes; well-connected, web-savvy during an age when that meant something. Mostly young, mostly university-educated, mostly part of their countries' most privileged ethnic groups. Not the kind of people you usually see taking to the streets or building tent cities.

Some of the protests were more socialist and anarchist than others, but none were successfully captured by establishment strains of Marxism or existing movements. Many successfully combined conservative and liberal elements. Gurri calls them nihilists. They believed that the existing order was entirely rotten, that everyone involved was corrupt and irredeemable, and that some sort of apocalyptic transformation was needed. All existing institutions were illegitimate, everyone needed to be kicked out, that kind of thing. But so few specifics that socialists and reactionaries could march under the same banner, with no need to agree on anything besides "not this".

…

Gurri isn't shy about his contempt for this. Not only were these some of the most privileged people in their respective countries, but (despite the legitimately-sucky 2008 recession), they were living during a time of unprecedented plenty. In Spain, the previous forty years had seen the fall of a military dictatorship, its replacement with a liberal democracy, and a quintupling of GDP per capita from $6000 to $32000 a year - "in 2012, four years into the crisis there were more cell phones and cars per person in Spain than in the US". The indignado protesters in Spain had lived through the most peaceful period in Europe's history, an almost unprecedented economic boom, and had technologies and luxuries that previous generations could barely dream of. They had cradle-to-grave free health care, university educations, and they were near the top of their society's class pyramids. Yet they were convinced, utterly convinced, that this was the most fraudulent and oppressive government in the history of history, and constantly quoting from a manifesto called Time For Outrage!

So what's going on?

Our story begins (says Gurri) in the early 20th century, when governments, drunk on the power of industrialization, sought to remake Society in their own image. This was the age of High Modernism, with all of its planned cities and collective farms and so on. Philosopher-bureaucrat-scientist-dictator-manager-kings would lead the way to a new era of gleaming steel towers, where society was managed with the same ease as a gardener pruning a hedgerow.

…

Realistically this was all a sham. Alan Greenspan had no idea how to prevent recessions, scientific progress was slowing down, poverty remained as troubling as ever, and 50% of public school students stubbornly stayed below average. But the media trusted the government, the people trusted the media, and failures got swept under the rug by genteel agreement among friendly elites, while the occasional successes were trumpeted from the rooftops.

There was a very interesting section on JFK’s failure at the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy tried to invade Cuba, but the invasion failed very badly, further cementing Castro’s power and pushing him further into the Soviet camp. Representatives of the media met with Kennedy, Kennedy was very nice to them, and they all agreed to push a line of “look, it’s his first time invading a foreign country, he tried his hardest, give him a break.” This seems to have successfully influenced the American public, so much so that Kennedy’s approval rating increased five points, to 83%, after the debacle!

…

In Gurri's telling, High Modernism had always been a failure, but the government-media-academia elite axis had been strong enough to conceal it from the public. Starting in the early 2000s, that axis broke down. People could have lowered their expectations, but in the real world that wasn't how things went. Instead of losing faith in the power of government to work miracles, people believed that government could and should be working miracles, but that the specific people in power at the time were too corrupt and stupid to press the "CAUSE MIRACLE" button which they definitely had and which definitely would have worked. And so the outrage, the protests - kick these losers out of power, and replace them with anybody who had the common decency to press the miracle button!

…

Any system that hasn't solved every problem is illegitimate. Solving problems is easy and just requires pressing the "CAUSE MIRACLE" button. Thus the protests. In 2011, enough dry tinder of anger had built up that everywhere in the world erupted into protest simultaneously, all claiming their respective governments were illegitimate. These protests were necessarily vague and leaderless, because any protest-leader would fall victim to the same crisis of authority and legitimacy that national leaders were suffering from. Any attempt to make specific demands would be pilloried because those specific demands wouldn't unilaterally end homelessness or racism or inequality or whatever else. The only stable state was a sort of omni-nihilism that refused to endorse anything.

(I’m reminded of Tanner Greer’s claim that the great question of modernity is not “what can I accomplish?” or “how do I succeed?” but rather “how do I get management to take my side?”)

Gurri calls our current government a kind of "zombie democracy". The institutions of the 20th century - legislatures, universities, newspapers - continue to exist. But they are hollow shells, stripped of all legitimacy. Nobody likes or trusts them. They lurch forward, mimicking the motions they took in life, but no longer able to change or make plans or accomplish new things.

…

How do we escape this equilibrium? Gurri isn't sure. His 2017 afterword says he thinks we're even more in it now than we were in 2014. But he has two suggestions.

First, cultivate your garden. We got into this mess by believing the government could solve every problem. We're learning it can''t. We're not going to get legitimate institutions again until we unwind the overly high expectations produced by High Modernism, and the best way to do that is to stop expecting government to solve all your problems. So cultivate your garden. If you're concerned about obesity, go on a diet, or volunteer at a local urban vegetable garden, or organize a Fun Run in your community, do anything other than start a protest telling the government to end obesity. This is an interesting contrast to eg Just Giving, which I interpret as having the opposite model - if you want to fight obesity, you should work through the democratic system by petitioning the government to do something; trying to figure out a way to fight it on your own would be an undemocratic exercise of raw power. Gurri is recommending that we tear that way of thinking up at the root.

Second, start looking for a new set of elites who can achieve legitimacy. These will have to be genuinely decent and humble people - Gurri gives the example of George Washington. They won't claim to be able to solve everything. They won't claim the scientific-administrative mantle of High Modernism. They'll just be good honorable people who will try to govern wisely for the common good. Haha, yeah right.

…

Gurri divides the world between the Center and the Border. He thinks the Center - politicians, experts, journalists, officials - will be in a constant retreat, and the Border - bloggers, protesters, and randos - on a constant advance. His thesis got a boost when Brexit and Trump - both Border positions - crushed and embarrassed their respective Centers. But since then I'm not sure things have been so clear. The blogosphere is in retreat (maybe Substack is reversing this?), but the biggest and most mainstream of mainstream news organizations, like the New York Times are becoming more trusted and certainly more profitable. The new President of the US is a boring moderate career politician. The public cheers on elite censorship of social media. There haven't been many big viral protests lately except Black Lives Matter and the 1/6 insurrection, and both seemed to have a perfectly serviceable set of specific demands (defunding the police, decertifying the elections). Maybe I've just grown used to it, but it doesn't really feel like a world where a tiny remnant of elites are being attacked on all sides by a giant mob of entitled nihilists.

…

At the risk of being premature or missing Gurri's point, I want to try telling a story of how the revolt of the public and the crisis of legitimacy at least partially stalled.

Gurri talks a lot about Center and Border, but barely even mentions Left and Right. Once you reintroduce these, you have a solution to nihilism. The Left can come up with a laundry list of High Modernist plans that they think would solve all their problems, and the Right can do the same. Then one or the other takes control of government, gets thwarted by checks/balances/Mitch McConnell, and nothing happens. No American Democrat was forced to conclude that just because Obama couldn't solve all their problems, the promise of High Modernism was a lie. They just concluded that Obama could have solved all their problems, but the damn Republicans filibustered the bill. Likewise, the Republicans can imagine that Donald Trump would have made America great again if the media and elites and Deep State hadn't been blocking him at every turn. Donald Trump himself tells them this is true!

With this solution in place, you can rebuild trust in institutions. If you're a Republican, Fox News is trustworthy because it tells you the ways Democrats are bad. Some people say it's biased or inaccurate, but those people are Democrats or soft-on-Democrat RINO traitors. And if you're a Democrat, academic experts are completely trustworthy, and if someone challenges them you already know those challenges must be vile Republican lies. Lack of access to opposing views has been replaced with lack of tolerance for opposing views. And so instead of the public having to hate all elites, any given member of the public only needs to hate half of the elites.

You could think of this as a mere refinement of Gurri. But it points at a deeper critique. Suppose that US left institutions are able to maintain legitimacy, because US leftists trust them as fellow warriors in the battle against rightism (and vice versa). Why couldn't one make the same argument about the old American institutions? People liked and trusted the President and Walter Cronkite and all the other bipartisan elites because they were American, and fellow warriors in the battle against Communism or terrorism or poverty or Saddam or whatever. If this is true, the change stops looking like the masses suddenly losing faith in the elites and revolting, and more like a stable system of the unified American masses trusting the unified American elites, fissioning into two stable systems of the unified (right/left) masses trusting the unified (right/left) elites. Why did the optimal stable ingroup size change from nation-sized to political-tribe-sized?

…

The one exception to my disrecommendation is that you might enjoy the book as a physical object. The cover, text, and photographs are exceptionally beautiful; the cover image - of some sort of classical-goddess-looking person (possibly Democracy? I expect if I were more cultured I would know this) holding a cell phone - is spectacularly well done. I understand that Gurri self-published the first edition, and that this second edition is from not-quite-traditional publisher Stripe Press. I appreciate the kabbalistic implications of a book on the effects of democratization of information flow making it big after getting self-published, and I appreciate the irony of a book about the increasing instability of history getting left behind by events within a few years. So buy this beautiful book to put on your coffee table, but don't worry about the content - you are already living in it.

[aziraphalesangel]

“So, I took {youngest sister} to the paediatrician yesterday. she gained seven kilos. the doctor says she needs to slow down her eating”

“She’s fourteen.”

“I said it was probably the pork buns. I told her if she keeps eating them she’ll start looking like a pork bun.”

“She’s still growing.”

“Apparently she only grew a centimetre this time.”

“She’s only just started puberty. half that weight’s gone to her chest.”

“I know, she went up 4 cup sizes in six months”

“She’s fourteen.”

“She’s 63kg. That’s heavier than you right?”

“...”

“She’s getting a bit of a belly.”

“She’s fourteen.”

There seems to be this idea, that kids just crave being skinny just because. just because of social media, just because of airbrushed pictures in magazines, just because of media, just because of celebrities, just because, just because. And people really thought, the adults really thought, that teaching us about “Body Image” in high school was going to solve that. That telling us that those pictures were doctored, that social media influencers are fake. we know. for fuck’s sake give teenagers a bit of credit. 

You know what was always dumb? When teachers got told to sandwich body image and mental health topics in between subjects like obesity in young people. That one second you have an adult telling you that you should love your body, that it will be changing because puberty is a thing that happens, that you will have a growth spurt, that sometimes you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see and that means you brain is lying to you (that was a stupid thing to say to kids), and then you tell us, that there is a growing problem of obesity in children. That gaining weight is bad.

I can’t speak for other people’s schools, or the areas that grew up in, but my school didn’t seem to have those allegedly CRIPPLINGLY obese kids. Of course there were fat kids; kids with a bit of chub around their waist, teenage girls with cellulite, boys with stretchmarks on their bellies, kids who wobbled when they ran. We were children. We were still growing. You can’t have a growth spurt without gaining weight. You cannot start puberty without the necessary fat stores. You just can’t. but instead of telling us that, they told us there was an obesity crisis, and we looked around the room at all the other normal looking kids and wondered who? And when we couldn’t figure it out, we asked: Me?

let me tell you a story:

When I was 12 I was a particularly weight. By the time I was 14, that weight had nearly doubled.

sounds bad right? 

let me tell you a story:

When I was 12, I weighed roughly 30kg. That is roughly 10 kilos underweight. I had this trick I could do when I was about eight, where I could shove my entire hand under my ribs. People told me I was skinny, but it was never the insult those people who like to derail fat positivity posts like to think it is. Not one adult ever told me I was unhealthy. Not one adult ever told me my weight was a problem. 

By the time I was 14, that weight had nearly doubled.

For the first time in my life I was a healthy weight, and all I could think about was that my stomach wasn’t flat anymore.

I was fourteen

Now lets look at how that mentality happens okay?

2013 I got instagram. I only followed my friends; a bunch of gangly and chubby 12 and 13 year olds. I didn’t care for magazines.

You know what else happened?

We started highschool; year 7. My friend’s parents were finalising their divorce. I didn’t know then, but one of the reasons her dad cheated was because he thought his wife had “let herself go”. Said wife was in her forties, and had given birth to two kids. I don’t know what he expected.

And my friend started parroting her mother. “I’m so bloated, I’m so fat. I can’t eat that, it has too many carbs.”

Never: I’ll get fat. Always: I am fat.

She was twelve. She hadn’t even started puberty yet.

You know what else happened?

2015, my family started going through some shit. My mum got diagnosed with a new chronic illness, which the doctor said she got because she was overweight. The advice the doctor gave her was to lose weight.

And suddenly, everything I ate was a personal attack on her. “Don’t eat that, it’s full of sugar. Don’t eat that, it has too much fat. Don’t buy that, I can’t eat it. If you eat that you’ll end up looking like it. If you eat that you’ll end up like me.”

And of course, my personal favourite: “Are you suuuuuure you should eat that?”

And a year later I was diagnosed with anxiety. Shocker.

My family used to be close to the family of a friend of mine. And my mum still mentions sometimes that the two youngest (a year older and younger than my youngest sister) were always hungry. Their parents used to starve them so that wouldn’t end up fat. I’m still friends with the girl my age, and she gets regularly and violently verbally abused for her weight, because she’s fat, and her siblings are skinny enough that you can see their ribs, and we all eat the same food, what’s your excuse? As if, just because you’re the same family, with the same food, that your genetics, your body, is all the same, all functions the same. As if it didn’t matter how good her achievements were in literally anything, she was fat, and her parents both made sure they would bully her until it just stopped. As if that’s how it works.

Watching my friends, go from these awkward funny kids, to very very anxious and depressed teenagers (and we all developed anxiety and depression to a degree, which is a post for another day), watching as some of them ended up hospitalised and forced to drop out of high school for eating disorders, watch as others tried to justify compulsive puking and laxative addictions with a smile on their face, because of their parents, it’s always because of the parents, or teachers, or whichever adult meant the most to us, because someone instilled that pathological fear of watching that number on the scaled tick up and up and up. Someone warned us that gaining weight meant we failed. And we believed them because we were children.

My little sister is seventeen. She lost seven kilos this year. Her ribs stick out, and when she lies on the floor on her stomach, she gets bruises on her hip bones. She’s still growing.

My little sister is fourteen. She gained seven kilos this year. She hasn’t, yet, internalised our mum’s fatphobia; she doesn’t care, yet, what she weighs. She doesn’t care, yet, what size clothes she wears. She had a big shit eating grin the day she was told her bras were too small. She’s fourteen. This year they did the body image module in PD/H, this year she went to a doctor for her ADHD, and instead they told her she needed to watch weight. This year will be the year adults start ramping up the policing of her eating habits. She’s fourteen.

Telling us there is an obesity crisis isn’t helping. Treating obesity as a social problem instead of a biological one isn’t helping. Doctors deciding their first advice, regardless of the condition, is to loose weight, isn’t helping. People on social media promoting laxative teas isn’t helping. Celebrity endorsement of weight-loss companies isn’t helping. Commercialising weight-loss isn’t helping. All this^ has done nothing to make society, broadly speaking, less fat. It has created a lot of eating disorders and mental illnesses though.

But blaming people’s obsession with being skinny on that, takes away from the very important fact that, the most harmful factor is our parents. And when you’re a teenager, or a young adult who can’t move out yet, you cannot escape that. Because there will always be someone nagging you about your weight, about what you’re eating, when you’re at home. And when you’re not?

Well I can’t speak for everyone, but when I’m eating out, what makes me choose the “healthy” option instead of the filling one, is that little voice in the back of my head muttering;

Are you suuuuuuuuure you should be eating that?

[laketaj24]

So far in 2020 I’ve learned:

Losing +65,000 people to a pandemic isn’t a problem because Americans want to shop.

Losing a presidential race because of your age is okay, even if it’s to a man with a shady voting record and proven sexual predatory behavior

When certain people protest, risk the safety of others and themselves they are “Very Fine People” but when others take a knee that affects absolutely no one they are trash.

When a bill collector smells a check they appear (even if it been years) as if the 1200 dollars the government gave you will solve alllllll your debt

Companies will capitalize off any and everything!! Including Running Black Friday prices to increase traffic into the stores during a health crisis

I’m an essential worker and my health should be put at risk for people to buy dumb shit

Also being essential worker doesn’t give you a pay increase just gives you unlimited “pizza parties” Please let us celebrate your essential status by not paying you your worth but contributing to obesity in America.

Japanese Hornets are thugs.

America ain’t shit.

Me to 2020:

2020:

[drdln3-blog]

Is there a long-term solution to America’s weight problem?

More than half of all American adults are overweight and it's hard to turn on the TV without encountering a commercial for another weight loss remedy. This growing epidemic of obesity has not spared even the young school children who are showing high blood pressure, and other psychological and social problems related to overweight.

 Overweight is not only a personal problem but has become a national crisis that drains our financial resources. Over 30 billion dollars are spent annually on weight reduction efforts in the United States, and the 30 billion dollar figure does not include the medical costs resulting from obesity-related diseases. For example, approximately 100,000 coronary by-passes are performed yearly at an average cost of over $70,000 each (i.e. $7 billion per year), and about 1,000 people in the U.S. alone die every day of cancer.

 Weight control can help with many of the health-related problems which can reduce insurance and medical bills; and help solve the national health care crises.

 Many of us know that to maintain a desirable weight is good, not only in terms of good looks, but more importantly, in terms of good health. However, the relationship between proper weight and health is more complicated than you think. The scales and scientific methods for calculating overweight and over all fat amounts are important, but more important in terms of health is where you carry the fat more than how much extra fat you carry. One of our aims is to tackle this problem, and to provide an effective technique to lose weight. Overweight or obesity is probably one of the most important dietary problems talked about and written about today.

 Weight problems are rare in populations where a lot of natural fruits, vegetables and whole grains are consumed. But excess weight is a common problem in developed countries like the United States, where the progress of scientific and technical development has led to the common use of processed and refined foods, as well as use of growth hormones for profitable animal farming. One of the obvious effects of this move is the high caloric intake resulting from the decreased volume of processed foods. In other words, over-consumption of calories to fill the stomach that leads to an overweight. Traces of growth hormones from farm animals are also a contributing factor for the overweight problem.

 Not only the diet but life style, whether sitting on a computer or watching TV or using a car or phone, is equally responsible for overweight crises. The problem is a new one; never before has man had so wide a choice-or so regular a supply-of good food; or such easy access to vehicles or phones that even natural exercise such as walking requires a special effort.

 All kind of diets, exercise programs and other solutions have not worked even though it has become a billion dollar industry. If it did, we will not have all these grim statistics and over-weight people walking around.

 I have known whatever is to know about weight, health, yoga, meditation from East as well as scientific approach from West. I have studied at Yale University, USA in the West, and Punjab University, India in the East. I have written 12 guides combining Eastern and Western approach to health from happiness to longevity.

 However, I could not reduce even 5 pounds with typical diet and exercise. Look below my daily eating habits and other life style that many of us including medical and scientific experts can call ideal. Here it is my typical day:

After getting up in the morning:

1 cup of tea with no sugar but little skim milk

Breakfast: ¼ cup Oatmeal cereal

Snack: Apple, Banana or other fruit

Lunch: About one cup Frozen Vegetables microwaved, plus egg-white from boiled egg.

Evening Snack: Mostly Tea only (rarely a bran muffin).

Super: Two whole wheat (or millet) chapattis equivalent to about 2 slices of bread. Vegetable cooked Indian style with spices and little olive oil.

Drink plenty of water, 2 cups skim milk, no soda, no alcoholic drink (except in a company or at a party).

Exercise: About 5-10 minutes of yoga stretches in the morning. 3-4 miles walk in the evening.

 This schedule is quite healthy and has kept me disease free, pain free and youthful in all aspects so far in my 70s now.

 You will wonder what is left to tell that can reduce weight and stomach after following the above schedule. I was thinking the same till I tried something very simple and very effective. It can be done anywhere, anytime and requires no special equipment. And this is not even any diet or vigorous exercise or some nutrient, vitamin, hormone, and drug that I am promoting. I am talking about time to kapalbhatise; What's so different about this Kapalbhati Technique that Works!; How does It Work for Weight Loss!; Supplemental Exercises to Boost Energy; Science behind Success of this program.

 “Reduce stomach naturally without surgery; you will lose weight and look great. It's that simple.”

 References: “A Simple Solution To Americas Weight Problem” “The Power of Breathing”

 About the Author: Dr. Sukhraj S. Dhillon is an eminent Scientist with numerous research publications in life sciences who studied at Yale University and served as a Professor at University in North Carolina. He has written more than a dozen books on topics of Health, Aging, Vegetarianism, Weight control, Stress-free living, Meditation, Yoga, Power of Now, Spirituality, Soul, God, Science, and Religion. His articles and books are a pointer to his line of thinking including current publication. He has been the President, Chairman of the board, and life-trustee of a non-profit religious organization and has expressed his views in the congregation and at international seminars.  http://www.dpcpress.com/pa.html

https://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Sukhraj-S.-Dhillon/e/B004584DL0