# The dangers of stretch marks and loose skin should be emphasised more. Also, fuck anorexics. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 8, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417 "2012-11-08T22:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/41 "2012-11-13T14:28:29Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Yes, insofar as \*nothing \*motivates most people to lose substantial amounts of weight for long. > > But no, I’m not going to spend the time to go look for support for my claims before the OP supports his. Suit yourself, but I am skeptical of your claim. I agree that there is evidence that most diet attempts fail. But that’s not the same thing as the claim that shame is an ineffective motivator and the least effective motivator. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/42 "2012-11-13T15:22:59Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Suit yourself, but I am skeptical of your claim. I agree that there is evidence that most diet attempts fail. But that’s not the same thing as the claim that shame is an ineffective motivator and the least effective motivator. For that, you would need to know the rates of dieting success in fat-phobic societies like the US (and the long term succes rate for people already obese is less then 20%) to those in a far-loving society, like [Samoa](http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-countries-celebrating-female-obesity.php). ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/43 "2012-11-13T15:25:51Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I think part of the problem is that overweight people who are middle-aged have a fantasy that they can lose weight and get back to the way they were at age 17. That’s simply not going to happen – even if they get back to the same weight, their body will be flabbier and their skin won’t look as nice. Or they will have an overly muscular look like Madonna. Even if they had stayed the same weight between ages 17 and 45, they will be a lot less aesthetic. Not just overweight people. When I started my exercise regime I liked to think I could get down the size I was when I was 21… I’m in good shape now, but I now know I’ll never get down to that waist size (not without simply starving myself anyway), despite my lifestyle being vastly healthier than it was then. > [@](#): > > I agree that there is evidence that most diet attempts fail. But that’s not the same thing as the claim that shame is an ineffective motivator and the least effective motivator. I think telling someone “You look terrible, you’re unhealthy, and if you were to go to the massive effort of significantly slimming, probably you’ll still look terrible” would be crushing for most people. And in real life, if you crush someone’s ego they don’t rise up like Rocky, they stay down for a long time, maybe forever. While eating ice cream. Even the OP didn’t say shame was a good motivator; the claim was that it would be a good deterrent. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/44 "2012-11-13T18:08:00Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > I think telling someone “You look terrible, you’re unhealthy, and if you were to go to the massive effort of significantly slimming, probably you’ll still look terrible” would be crushing for most people. That’s not quite the claim in question, but anyway it does seem that a lot of people are quite motivated to lose a lot of weight and/or to avoid gaining weight. Is it because of the supposed health benefits? Vanity? Shame? I don’t see how you can rule out shame. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/45 "2012-11-13T18:16:06Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > For that, you would need to know the rates of dieting success in fat-phobic societies like the US (and the long term succes rate for people already obese is less then 20%) to those in a far-loving society, like [Samoa](http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-countries-celebrating-female-obesity.php). Well ideally you would want to look countries that are as similar as possible except for the degree of fat-phobia. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/46 "2012-11-14T05:37:27Z")
While everyone is TALKING about having better health, and how to do it, I’m actually _living_ it. Talk is cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/47 "2012-11-14T05:58:12Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > While everyone is TALKING about having better health, and how to do it, I’m actually _living_ it. > > Talk is cheap. > [@al27052](#): > > There is no lack of understanding. I eat a nearly 100% raw diet, mainly fish and fruit, few condiments, one food at a time, and pretty much NOBODY who eats the way I do is obese. Sure, there’s the one person in ten thousand who can still be pretty heavy eating that way, but that’s their unusual genetics. > > Eat like our ancestors did 100K years ago, and you almost certainly won’t be fat. > > There are two factors stopping people from eating this way now, though. First is addiction to unhealthy foods–you develop a taste for overcooked foods when you are raised on them, even though your body doesn’t instinctively like them, and grains and dairy have opioids, which are highly addictive. > > Second is ignorance–people don’t know how to deal with those unhealthy cravings effectively. Eating a diet that is very high in good-quality fats, i.e., wild-caught fatty fish, for instance, reduces cravings pretty effectively. > > Nobody ever listens, though, they just make ignorant objections or ridicule me, then move on. And that’s OK. If all you want to do is brag about how great you are, there are plenty of other threads for doing so. Meanwhile, the rest of us are trying to have a debate about how to create change across society, and you’ve already admitted that describing your heroic exploits against fat is a bad strategy. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/48 "2012-11-14T09:22:44Z")
It’s funny how every thread that touches on diet and weight loss acts as a magnet for people to wander in and share the details of their Super Awesome Diet. Regardless of what the point of the thread is. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/49 "2012-11-14T13:31:39Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Stretch marks and loose skin are inconveniences, not health risks. > If education is needed, then it should be for actual health issues, not vanity. **Simple Linctus** ’s idea seems particulary bad to me because, as you said, it misses the real risks of obesity. First of all, virtually no young person is thinking, “I’ll get fat now, because I can just lose the weight someday and look and be healthy”. But even if they were, the lesson shouldn’t be “Nope, when you lose the weight you might not look great”, the lesson should be “Nope, evidence shows it’ll be really hard for you to lose the fat and keep it off; you’ll probably remain fat and be at risk of a myriad of health problems because of it. So don’t get fat.” Of course that won’t work either. Teenagers can’t think about how a twinkie they eat today will lead to cardiovascular disease when they’re 45. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/50 "2012-11-14T15:31:52Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > There is so much correlation between being overweight and being unhealthy. There are also things that aren’t “unhealthy” but become uncomfortable - bad knees won’t kill you like heart disease, but extra weight will really wear on your joints and very likely make your middle age and senior years less comfortable. > > However, raising teens I know that “sit straight so you don’t have back problems when you are 40” is not a highly motivating incentive. I can’t imagine the “don’t eat that much so that your knees have a better chance of seeing you through life without surgery” is much more motivating. And that sort of feedback “sit straight so you don’t have back problems later” isn’t necessarily predictive either. I have always been an A-cup. My stepmonster used to hammer at me to wear a bra constantly. I couldn’t justify it most of the time. She’d tell me, “Well, you don’t want to sag when you’re older.” Guess what? I’m older now. Never had kids, so never quite got past the A-cup. Still not sagging in middle age. I don’t even know wtf she was talking about. _Sagging_? Isn’t that for people whose breasts are\* visible\* when they have a shirt on? 😕 Most kids have that “it won’t happen to me” mentality. And I just can’t get down with “Also, fuck anorexics.” Anorexia, bulimia, and obesity are all different manifestations of the same disorder, which is a compulsive eating disorder. People starve themselves and/or overeat because it feels like the one thing in their lives they can control. I think, rather than shaming people or threatening to shame people, it would be more effective to teach people how to control their own choices and set boundaries for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/51 "2012-11-14T15:38:09Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > It’s funny how every thread that touches on diet and weight loss acts as a magnet for people to wander in and share the details of their Super Awesome Diet. Regardless of what the point of the thread is. Ridicule me if you want. I just hope you aren’t doing so 100 lbs overweight, with Type II diabetes, unable to run more than 30 yards without gasping for breath, with a bag of chips and a soft drink open beside you, hating yourself for your inability to eat healthier. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/52 "2012-11-14T16:25:27Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > Ridicule me if you want. Glad you’re cool with it. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/53 "2012-11-14T20:19:31Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > Ridicule me if you want. Thank you, although I was not commenting on the substance of your diet. After having studied these issues for a few months now, I am starting to believe that unsolicited diet bragging/advice/evanglism is counter-productive, not to mention immature. > [@](#): > > I just hope you aren’t doing so 100 lbs overweight, with Type II diabetes, unable to run more than 30 yards without gasping for breath, with a bag of chips and a soft drink open beside you, hating yourself for your inability to eat healthier. Lol, thank you for your concern. I am glad you are “living it” as opposed to “talking it” like everyone else in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![GlassSlipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GlassSlipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GlassSlipper)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/54 "2012-11-16T05:09:18Z")
Stretch marks are likely hormone-induced - extreme weight gain or weight loss can induce shifting of hormones, even in the absence of pregnancy or quick growth from puberty. But who knows for certain at this point. I have a slew of them from the baby process, including lactation (and for the TMI factor - no major expansion in that department). Anorexia is different from Body Dysmorphia is different from trying to fit into what are (perceived) cultural norms. Kind of like compulsive eating is different from being stuck at a desk for ten hours a day and then noshing on fast food because you’re too mentally exhausted to cook. Extremely varied levels of mental health there. At this point, we know that obesity can do damage to the body, though we don’t always know who it’s going to affect and to what extent. We also know that people can be jerks. I’m not sure if pointing out that obesity can trash your physique even if you lose the weight would be effective. Not that the line of, “Sugary food is bad and exercise is good” is helpful for all, either. Addressing obesity would require a shift in day-to-day living - let kids have recess back, push for safer neighborhoods to walk in, encouraging physical activities that are actually fun, even if they don’t cause one to break a sweat - it isn’t necessary to get out of breath and drenched anyway, and coaching employees to move more during the workday - standing periodically while taking telephone calls, a brief walk around the building at lunch, maybe some light hand weights, etc. Movement doesn’t necessarily equal skinny, but it does make someone feel better which can help regulate some of the brain icky-ness that seems to be correlated with excess weight. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/55 "2012-11-18T05:42:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Glad you’re cool with it. Do you think you’re the first? Or the hundredth? Dude, please. The ironic thing is, it’s usually the fattest and most out-of-shape people who hate on me for it the most. The drug addict often doesn’t want to hear from the detox center director. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/56 "2012-11-18T05:43:13Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Thank you, although I was not commenting on the substance of your diet. After having studied these issues for a few months now, I am starting to believe that unsolicited diet bragging/advice/evanglism is counter-productive, not to mention immature. > > Lol, thank you for your concern. I am glad you are “living it” as opposed to “talking it” like everyone else in this thread. Oh, I agree, it turns off the audience. I’ve even used that fact to make sure people I don’t like stay away from a healthier diet. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/57 "2012-11-18T10:48:51Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > The drug addict often doesn’t want to hear from the detox center director. Sure, especially if the detox center director happens to be an insufferable know-it-all who regularly injects himself into conversations about drugs so he can boast about how he himself does not have a problem with drugs. And even more so if the detox center director knows how annoying he is but continues his misbehavior in hopes of undermining other peoples’ recovery efforts. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/58 "2012-11-19T04:03:47Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Sure, especially if the detox center director happens to be an insufferable know-it-all who regularly injects himself into conversations about drugs so he can boast about how he himself does not have a problem with drugs. > > And even more so if the detox center director knows how annoying he is but continues his misbehavior in hopes of undermining other peoples’ recovery efforts. Did you win? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/59 "2012-11-19T12:53:07Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > Ridicule me if you want. > [@kayaker](#): > > Glad you’re cool with it. > [@al27052](#): > > The ironic thing is, it’s usually the fattest and most out-of-shape people who hate on me for it the most. Hate? No hate, just ridicule which you specifically OK’d. Got our terms straight? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417/60 "2012-11-19T13:26:56Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > Did you win? Win what? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-stretch-marks-and-loose-skin-should-be-emphasised-more-also-fuck-anorexics/640417.md?page=4)