30 Jan
Obesity A Problem Because We Have Not Evolved
I heard this over BBC Radio last evening and had a chuckle.
According to the scientist (I think) on the program, the reason why there are so many obese people in developed and even in developing counties is because humans have not evolved from our primal needs for food.
Where once our ancestors hunted animals for food, and therefore needed the high carbohydrates, salt and sugar levels to keep up a good level of energy to do so, we have not evolved from those dietary needs and are therefore getting fatter.
She went on to add that the propensity to always reach out for high-fat, high-salt food items is built-in because of our un-evolved states, therefore explaining why people usually would reach out for carbonated drinks rather than plain water and salted potato chips instead of, say, boiled potatoes.
Right…
I guess we can also blame the fact we have evolved so much that we no longer eat plankton which would have made us really healthier. Perhaps we might not even face food shortages and famines since our food requirements would be so simple if all we needed was plankton.
And if it were the case that people are obese because we have not evolved from our ‘primitive’ dietary needs, why isn’t everyone obese? And does that mean that those who aren’t obese or even slightly fat are better evolved? In which case, the obese and fat should have their numbers trimmed (pun fully intended) by natural selection.
In fact, thin people shouldn’t even marry fat ones, and only slim folks should get married and pro-create!
Nothing is ever an individual’s fault anymore with evolution — blame it on an unproven theory masqueraded as truth.
Maybe one day we’ll even hear a legitimate plea in court like “Your Honor, it’s not my fault. Our ancestors hunted and killed animals, so it was just my nature to kill the puppy!”
Evil-lution indeed!
Shalom Aleichem.
Tags: BBC, Diet, Evolution, Food, Health, Obesity, Radio
Posted by Justin on 30.01.08 at 10:46
I’m never surprised by the foolish comments that come from people who support evolution. Your point about not all people being fat is a good one, but I’m sure they have a way of arguing that too! HAHA!
Posted by Hannah on 30.01.08 at 10:46
LOL I like your spin on this post! I’m in total agreement. Personal responsibility is completely shunned this day and age. I make every effort to hold my children accountable for what they say and do, not to embarrass them, but to help them recognize what they’re doing, why they are doing it and make adjustments accordingly!
Let me apologize for not visiting your blog as of late! Things are settling down on my end ( as much as they can when you have five children!!!) Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts they were felt here!
Your’s in Christ!
Hannah
Posted by Sidharth on 30.01.08 at 10:46
I’m not surprised. The evolutionists are being taken on a ride of confusion! lol
Sid
Posted by Sicarii on 30.01.08 at 10:46
Ha ha, Justin. I won’t try to second-guess what they might give as a reasonable excuse for that. I am not that ’smart’; I am a simple man who rather believes that there is a Creator who created us and loves us. ;-)
Shalom, brother.
Posted by Sicarii on 30.01.08 at 10:46
HANNAH! You’re a breath of fresh air!
How are things with you now, sister? I checked your blog a few times over the months but I have to honestly say that I haven’ done so January. And now that I’ve been there, it’s good to see you’re posting on a regular basis again! Man, am I late, but you can be sure I’ll be there regularly like before. :-)
God bless, and it’s soooo good to know that the LORD has taken good care of you. :-)
Shalom!
Posted by Sicarii on 30.01.08 at 10:46
LOL, Sidharth. The unfortunate thing is that they insist on their ‘wisdom’, while it’s so plain to see that they believe in something so unbelievable it is just blind faith!
I’ll try to catch you on MSN, brother. Been some time since we last chatted. :-)
Shalom!
Posted by Martin Grondin on 30.01.08 at 10:46
Once again you glance over details and jump to ridiculous conclusions in an attempt to make what you don’t understand seem silly and unfounded. Plenty of research goes into dietary needs and a good understanding of evolution is pretty much required.
That said, it makes sense what the scientist was saying. In our immediate past (evolutionarily speaking) we were always on the move, active, and hunted our food. As a result we needed food that was very high in carbohydrates and sugar. We needed the energy.
Now we don’t hunt for food. We sit in front of computers and the TV and we are programmed evolutionarily to eat the same fatty content. It tastes better to us. It makes us feel better. However, we aren’t offsetting this intake.
The ancestor that ate plankton is way too far to account for our current diet. It’s like demanding a baby eat solid food in order to be a healthy “human being.”
That said, there is nothing wrong with the scientists argument logically or scientifically. Could you raise any actual objections other than simply scoffing at the implications? It really does show your lack of understanding on the matter.
Hannah says, “Personal responsibility is completely shunned this day and age.”
The above posting has nothing to do with personal responsibility. Saying we are evolved to eat fatty foods doesn’t mean we are exempt from correcting this problem with our habits. It is good to know, in fact, and the knowledge can be used to make smarter decisions.
How does knowing that we go for fatty foods because of evolution take away from personal responsibility? It says nothing of the sort! It appears you’d rather cry wolf than actually think about the real implications of what is being said.
As per above, again,
“And if it were the case that people are obese because we have not evolved from our ‘primitive’ dietary needs, why isn’t everyone obese?”
This shows your ignorance regarding evolution and genetics. A disposition to do a certain thing or have a certain trait doesn’t mean it manifests 100% of the time. Why isn’t everyone still black from the trek out of Africa? Evolution explains why. Likewise, evolution explains why some people are obese and others or not.
Not to mention you don’t take into account what was actually said. According to you the scientist didn’t say we are obese because of evolution, but that we are obese because of the food we choose to eat, which in turn is because of evolution.
You can stop yourself from eating. You can choose what kind of food to eat. Therefore, you can impact being obese or not. Very few people have true 100% genetic reasons for being obese.
“And does that mean that those who aren’t obese or even slightly fat are better evolved?”
Evolution is “descent with modification.” There is no “better” evolved in the sense you are thinking. There are better changes. There are worse changes. These changes impact survival. Evolution itself can’t be categorized as “more” or “less.” Simply put, even if changes are bad for a species, it is technically “more evolved” since more time has passed.
All of the above said, don’t let your ignorance of evolution make you act as though it is causing the ails of society. There seems to be irony in scapegoating evolution for problems while decrying the scapegoating of evolution for problems.
Personal responsibility is that. Personal actions. We aren’t robots, strictly speaking, and we have choice. We don’t simply follow what genes dictate. There is a lot more to it, and you don’t even bother trying to learn.
You simply stand back in ignorance and attempt to burn poorly constructed straw men.
Please, learn something before you ridicule it and jump to ridiculous conclusions.
Posted by Aaron LJX on 30.01.08 at 10:46
Good one sicarii, I still can’t get it, by the most logical standard, people can believe that they are equal with monkeys. Now that is a great insult to God’s mighty Hands that created us. We are not animals, we are humans.
Posted by Martin Grondin on 30.01.08 at 10:46
There is no marked difference biologically between “human” and “animal.” We are, by all accounts, another animal. Granted, we can do extraordinary things, but I think placing ourselves on a pedestal has caused more harm than good.
We’ve pillaged, destroyed, and killed out many other species. We’ve done this in a ruthless manner. I suppose this is fine, since we are, after all, humans and not mere animals.
Nobody disagrees that we are special. We can make tools, use them, and build great things. We can look at ourselves and ponder many things. Biologically, however, we are just as frail as any other animal. We break. We can be born deformed.
We are “equal with” monkeys only in the sense that we are both species that struggle with life. I find nothing insulting about this.
You are not using logical standards to make that statement. You are making a purely emotional one. I would ask that you recognize the difference and use it in the future.
Posted by Hannah on 30.01.08 at 10:46
Sicarii!
Hello! The smoke is clearing, and we are emerging from the “rubble” so to speak, untouched and (by His Glory) grounded even further in faith. God be praised in All WAYS, I cannot begin to tell you how He has manifested Himself in our lives, but 1 Peter 1:7 meant so much to me these last few months:
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”
I will be blogging from now on a more consistent basis. It will not be everyday, but at least once a week. So, I’ll be back brother! Keep marching onward for Christ!
Shalom!
Hannah