Seriously, how is anyone dumb enough to be fat?

[KichigaiNeko]

Good morning Daniel.

Good (WA) morning, Kichi.

Type 2 diabetes can also be caused by a change from a traditional diet. Seems to indicate that it is more DNA driven than anything else.
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Your reports are a bit on the old side. Is there any new data?

Yes I have, and the more recent data on type-2 diabetes is that the biggest contributor is high visceral fat, with lifestyle factors also being responsible (eg. low physical activity, diets high in fat, diets high in sugar, high blood pressure, overweight in general), type-2 is considered preventable and even more importantly, Prediabetes is considered reversible most of the time and believed to be a medical condition that if left undiagnosed/untreated leads to type-2 (hence the name "prediabetes")

High visceral fat is linked to body shape, and hence DNA, and thus why Indians, South Asians and Africans are at higher risk - so far I've not seen conclusive evidence that links DNA apart from visceral fat to type-2, however it is perfectly possible that other contributors can be genetic as well (eg. high blood pressure).

Have you seen the latest studies with Aboriginals going BACK to more traditional food? I think it was released earlier this year.

No I haven't, however it would be advised that aborigines that want to eat traditional foods do so in a safe way (eg, don't eat the full kangaroo carcass as your ancestors did, much of the meat is not good for you and why most of the meat from roos ends up as pet food).

You do realise that the researchers are questioning everything to do with diet and people. Heard that saturated fats are not the big taboo that causes obesity and heart attacks.

That's right, it's high blood cholesterol that causes strokes and heart attacks (not directly dietary cholesterol or dietary fat).

I think (as a guesstimate) we are talking about roughly 20% of the total planetary population being diabetic?

Oh gosh no, that number would be totally unthinkable! Diabetes is a horrible disease.

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Has anyone seen this series - Secret Eaters?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMFZ2b920As
Don't think it's shown in Australia, but it's pretty funny - and informative. In the above episode the dude cooks his cheese sauce with a block of butter and a block of cheese and then puts cheese on top, and then says "I didn't know it was that unhealthy"! LOL. But also they have an interesting, and quite informative social experiment where they give two groups of people the same dinner, but with one group all the food is left on the dining table to pick at and for the other it's in another room, so if they want more they have to make a conscious choice to get up and go get more. That's really good because it does highlight how our decisions can be affected by what's in front of us, I'm well aware that if I eat at a buffet type dinner I'll eat more - luckily though I am aware of this, but it seems a lot of people aren't aware. I would say though that even though I'm aware I'll eat more I wouldn't necessarily know exactly how much more I would have. But also, in my experience, when I've been to parties etc where people have over-catered, the hosts always put pressure on the guests etc to eat more which is very counter-productive to anyone wanting to diet.

It brings up some good eating habits you should develop - for instance when you cook whether for yourself, your family or for a group, only cook as much as you need for everyone, do not over-cater, and if there are going to be "leftovers" put them away right away so that nobody is tempted to overindulge! Also, if you're dining here, fill your plate up once with your portion and don't keep picking!!

In fact, I think it's the simplest solutions that are the most effective - if you're going to diet properly do this: 1. set a calorie goal, 2. eat three meals every day, 3. eat up to 3 planned snacks every day, 4. do not allow any other snacking outside of what's on your planned list, 5. either don't drink alcohol or be very well aware of the calorie count you're getting from alcohol and limit it accordingly, 6. always use low-fat milk in tea or sugar, use sweetener not sugar and drink water, diluted juice and low-cal softdrinks, don't drink juice except as part of a meal and don't drink non-diet coke/softdrink etc.

Dinner time here mate, with cheese and meat and pasta.

Will get back to you later...WA time on this. It is an interesting topic.