# How Fat is Too Fat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622 "2012-11-30T22:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/141 "2012-12-03T22:43:18Z")
> [@Weedy](#): > > I brought it up because skinny people often say they eat whatever they want or similar things… I don’t know if I would say this is often. In my experience it is usually someone else saying the skinny person eats whatever they want. Most of the time I watch portions and quality of my food pretty closely. But like anybody I have favorite fatty foods and the desire to binge. I exercise a lot because; a) I enjoy the activities I participate in. and b) I really enjoy the side benefit of getting to indulge my food urges fairly regularly. Countless times I have listened as friends and relatives describe to someone my “amazing metabolism that lets me eat whatever I want and not get fat”. I gave up trying to explain it to them. People just think you are bragging when you tell them all the activities you are involved in in a week. ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/142 "2012-12-03T22:47:48Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Most of the time I watch portions and quality of my food pretty closely. But like anybody I have favorite fatty foods and the desire to binge. I exercise a lot because; > a) I enjoy the activities I participate in. > and > b) I really enjoy the side benefit of getting to indulge my food urges fairly regularly. I call bs on bullet point letter b because if you indulge you’re probably regaining the calories you burned plus more. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/143 "2012-12-03T23:04:30Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > I call bs on bullet point letter b because if you indulge you’re probably regaining the calories you burned plus more. Unless you know what **Hbns** considers an indulgence and know how much activity he does to counteract it, you calling BS is meaningless. I’m another skinny person who exercises a ton and watches what I eat, while being accused of having a fast metabolism and being “lucky”. I’d be the first to admit that I am lucky. Not everyone can devote 2.5 hours a day to exercising, and I am fortunate that I’m in the position where can. But having the discipline to do this _every single day_ is lot of hard work, even though I do find it enjoyable. So it is supremely annoying having to hear teeth-sucking from the peanut gallery whenever I decide to take another donut from the breakroom. I worked for that damn donut, goddammit! I would never tell a fat person, “Hey, you could be skinny too if you just exercised more!” because I don’t really know what they are doing and I think I’d be rude to say something like that. So it seems like it is equally rude to assume a skinny person is NOT doing anything. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/144 "2012-12-03T23:10:42Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Apparently, the target markets for these gyms are people who want to hit the gym for an hour each day, and who are already in shape. They don’t want the fatties, and they sure as hell don’t want anyone with any mobility problems. That’s not a weight issue, that’s a newbie issue. Gyms often do a very poor job of educating newbies on how to use the facilities. I’ve never seen any fat bashing go on at the gym. I’ve never even overheard someone criticizing someone for being overweight at the gym. Occasionally people will gripe about someone who is not following gym etiquette, but never for not being in shape. I’m sure it happens, but it’s much more the exception instead of the rule. I am always in awe of someone who is very overweight at the gym. It’s inspiring to see them make the effort to improve themselves. Some gyms have realized that there’s a market for overweight people who want to work out. Some gyms [ban thin clients](http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/06/29/new-trend-gyms-banning-slim-clients-to-foster-comfort-for-overweight-patrons/). I know the Planet Fitness gym makes their workout environment newbie-friendly. They actively dissuade the meathead powerlifter type of person. ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/145 "2012-12-03T23:11:46Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I’m another skinny person who exercises a ton and watches what I eat, while being accused of having a fast metabolism and being “lucky”. I’d be the first to admit that I am lucky. Not everyone can devote 2.5 hours a day to exercising, and I am fortunate that I’m in the position where can. I think you may very well be addicted to exercise. 2.5 hours is excessive. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/146 "2012-12-03T23:12:33Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > I call bs on bullet point letter b because if you indulge you’re probably regaining the calories you burned plus more. Yes, please lecture the person who has found an appropriate diet/exercise balance to maintain a healthy weight about their inaccurate perceptions regarding their diet, after referring to it as “the hamster wheel”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/147 "2012-12-03T23:14:06Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I would never tell a fat person, “Hey, you could be skinny too if you just exercised more!” because I don’t really know what they are doing and I think I’d be rude to say something like that. So it seems like it is equally rude to assume a skinny person is NOT doing anything. Huh? You actually believe that people go out of there way to assume a skinny person is not doing anything? Wow. I am just. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/148 "2012-12-03T23:15:08Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Yes, please lecture the person who has found an appropriate diet/exercise balance to maintain a healthy weight about their inaccurate perceptions regarding their diet, after referring to it as “the hamster wheel”. > > :rolleyes: How do you know it’s appropriate? :rolleyes: What do you refer to it as? To be honest, I thought it was clever. Also, what is healthy weight? If you’re going to cite BMI than just quit while you’re ahead. Additionally, can you cite where weight was mentioned? How do you know that my perceptions are inaccurate? What are your “correct” perceptions? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/149 "2012-12-03T23:17:41Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > I think you may very well be addicted to exercise. > > 2.5 hours is excessive. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/150 "2012-12-03T23:25:57Z")
[Article summary](http://bases.bireme.br/cgi-bin/wxislind.exe/iah/online/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&src=google&base=ADOLEC&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=18555055&indexSearch=ID) > [@](#): > > Unsurprisingly, exercise dependents spent more hours each day in the fitness center practicing ( **2.1 vs 1.5 hours per day** ). They went to the fitness center more often each week (3.5 vs 2.9 days per week). Exercise addicts smoked less; alcohol consumption was equivalent in both groups. Compulsive buying was significantly more frequent in exercise dependents (63% vs 38%), which means they scored higher in the compulsive buying scale (5.4 vs 4.1). Bolding mine. Also from the same article summary: > [@](#): > > CONCLUSION: Our results lead to systematically study the addictive relation to exercise among regular clients of the fitness rooms. **Exercise addicts are exposed to negative consequences for their excess of physical activity.** Exercise addiction is also associated to compulsive buying, bulimia, and, in a lesser extent, hypochondria. Bolding mine. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/151 "2012-12-03T23:40:34Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Some gyms have realized that there’s a market for overweight people who want to work out. Some gyms [ban thin clients](http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/06/29/new-trend-gyms-banning-slim-clients-to-foster-comfort-for-overweight-patrons/). So what happens when these people start to shape up and slim down? They get thrown out of their oh so supportive, tender and welcoming environment? Or do they not put in a real workout, just 5 minutes on the treadmill and 55 minutes talking about how nobody knows what it’s like so nothing ever changes and no one ever has to move on? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/152 "2012-12-03T23:42:59Z")
**Modern Master** , your cite does not support the claim that exercising 2.5 hours a day is excessive. But I’m amused that you would try so hard. Does it matter at all to you what kind of exercise I do? Does it matter that I don’t go to the gym at all? Does it matter that I do a half an hour of yoga every day during my coffee breaks? And that the remaining 2 hours is spent walking at a very modest clip, barely working up a sweat? Most importantly, does it matter at all that my doctors give me kudos for being able to keep up with this regimen and encourage me to keep with it? I understand that haters gonna hate. But damn. At least find out what you’re hatin’ on first. ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/153 "2012-12-03T23:44:48Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > **Modern Master** , your cite does not support the claim that exercising 2.5 hours a day is excessive. But I’m amused that you would try so hard. > > Does it matter at all to you what kind of exercise I do? > > Does it matter that I don’t go to the gym at all? > > Does it matter that I do a half an hour of yoga every day during my coffee breaks? And that the remaining 2 hours is spent walking at a very modest clip, barely working up a sweat? > > Most importantly, does it matter at all that my doctors give me kudos for being able to keep up with this regimen and encourage me to keep with it? > > I understand that haters gonna hate. But damn. At least find out what you’re hatin’ on first. I think you need to reread the cite. Walking is exercise? Since when? I would never classify walking as exercise. I guess I exercise whenever I walk to the store or get out of bed. Does getting out of bed count as exercise too? When I think of exercise, I think of exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/154 "2012-12-03T23:45:00Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > What happened to being happy with your body? Someone upthread hit the nail on the head when they said body acceptance can actually be a great starting point for losing weight. Getting into shape doesn’t equate to ‘‘not happy with your body’’ and “fat acceptance” doesn’t equate to ‘‘give up on getting healthy.’’ They aren’t mutually exclusive concepts. I’m sure some people use it as an excuse to stay unhealthy, but those people would cling to any excuse they could find. Others, I think, are just learning to find motivation for healthiness beyond self-hate and shame and all of the negative things associated with being fat. Regardless of where you want to be, weight-wise, the reality is you are the way you are _right now_, and nothing can change your present experience of your own body. I’ve always found, with life in general, that accepting things as they are in the moment is really helpful for finding a sense of contentment about life. That doesn’t mean you cease having fitness goals or anything. It just means you open your mind to different ways of seeing your body… we tend to identify most with the shame story, but there is also the sex story, or the creation story, or the immersing in a hot bubble bath after a hard day at work story. I dunno if that makes sense… In reality, when I can calm down and accept my current circumstances, I’m often able to see things more clearly and make better, less reactionary decisions for my health. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/155 "2012-12-03T23:53:04Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > You need to re-watch that commercial. The couple together lost 109 lbs. and the wife alone lost 53 lbs. 109-53=56 lbs. I just watched it again. At 0:21 it clearly states that “Jim lost 109 lbs” and “Laura lost 53 lbs” > [@](#): > > Of course Weight Watchers sells the fantasy of being one of the thin people. They’re in the weight-loss business. Yes of course. But it doesn’t change the fact that they are promoting a mentality which is counter-productive. > [@](#): > > What the hell else are they supposed to sell? I don’t know. What difference does it make to my point? > [@](#): > > That being said, Weight Watchers’ focus is, and has always been, about adopting a healthier diet and modifying behaviors. That very well may be true. So what? ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/156 "2012-12-04T00:03:46Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > **Modern Master** , your cite does not support the claim that exercising 2.5 hours a day is excessive. But I’m amused that you would try so hard. It does. Reread it. Oh my, it said fitness centers. It must be false! OH NOOO! /s > [@](#): > > Does it matter at all to you what kind of exercise I do? Getting out of bed or walking to the store is not exercise. > [@](#): > > Does it matter that I don’t go to the gym at all? Think outside the box a little bit. Studies are not going to say “you have to go to a fitness center in order for x to be true.” > [@](#): > > Does it matter that I do a half an hour of yoga every day during my coffee breaks? And that the remaining 2 hours is spent walking at a very modest clip, barely working up a sweat? Walking is not exercise. I’m not being politically correct, but it just isn’t. That’s like moving around in a pool and saying you went swimming. To you, it might mean I was physically in the pool moving around. To me, it means the act of doing laps in the pool. > [@](#): > > Most importantly, does it matter at all that my doctors give me kudos for being able to keep up with this regimen and encourage me to keep with it? I would think that you’re doctor would want you to move occasionally. We have different definitions of exercise. Your definition of exercise is also probably different than your doctor’s definition also, which is why he encourages it. Your doctor will hopefully discourage excess exercise. > [@](#): > > I understand that haters gonna hate. But damn. At least find out what you’re hatin’ on first. It’s not hate. It’s discussion. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/157 "2012-12-04T00:06:51Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > I think you need to reread the cite. > > Walking is exercise? Since when? I would never classify walking as exercise. I guess I exercise whenever I walk to the store or get out of bed. Does getting out of bed count as exercise too? > > When I think of exercise, I think of exercise. Your cite does not support that as a definition of exercise addiction, and even if that were the threshold, you’d essentially be relegating every marathoner, triathlete, or ultrarunners into the “exercise addiction” category. And yes, walking is a form of exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/158 "2012-12-04T00:10:30Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Your cite does not support that as a definition of exercise addiction, and even if that were the threshold, you’d essentially be relegating every marathoner, triathlete, or ultrarunners into the “exercise addiction” category. > And yes, walking is a form of exercise. Missing the point. The point is that excess exercise is harmful. No, it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/159 "2012-12-04T00:12:44Z")
This is a stupid game. Just because you don’t believe walking is a form of exercise doesn’t make you the final word on the subject. Just as one example, the [Mayo clinic disagrees with you.](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612) And you’ve still failed to define “excess”. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/160 "2012-12-04T00:13:49Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > I think you need to reread the cite. I think you need to learn the difference between “going to the gym” and “exercise”. And while you are at it, you need to learn how to read critically. For instance, the abstract doesn’t really list the diagnostic criteria for “exercise dependence”. Are dependents those individuals who report to having feelings of unease/discomfort when they can’t exercise? Or are these individuals who report exercising more than 2 hours a day? I’m thinking it is the former. And if I were you, I’d be interested in seeing how much variability there is between the exercise dependents and non-exercise dependents in terms of the number of work-out hours. But alas, the authors don’t provide standard errors in their abstract! Indeed, the paucity of statistical results causes me to suspect that the “differences” they are report don’t amount to a hill of beans. At any rate, 2.1 hours of visitation time at the gym doesn’t translate into exercise time. Exercise can be anything from P90X to walking at the mall. > [@](#): > > Walking is exercise? Since when? > > When I think of exercise, I think of exercise. Do you walk six miles a day. Every single day? If you don’t, you should probably shut the hell up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622.md?page=9)