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Evidence that increased BMI causes lower mental wellbeing
- Thread starter MayauMiao
- Start date
EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.001
No shit
womfalcs3
Banned
I do everything well (I'm 32):
- I have a good BMI.
- Good fat %.
- Do not drink alcohol, or do drugs.
- Not taking any kind of medication.
- My sugar intake is controlled (and no soda or sugar in my coffee/tea).
- Sleep 8-9 hours a night.
YET
I'm getting all these symptoms/conditions that typically older people get:
- A hemorrhage in my brain at 29.
- Signs of early onset dementia.
- Skin tags on my neck.
- A spermatocele.
- I have a good BMI.
- Good fat %.
- Do not drink alcohol, or do drugs.
- Not taking any kind of medication.
- My sugar intake is controlled (and no soda or sugar in my coffee/tea).
- Sleep 8-9 hours a night.
YET
I'm getting all these symptoms/conditions that typically older people get:
- A hemorrhage in my brain at 29.
- Signs of early onset dementia.
- Skin tags on my neck.
- A spermatocele.
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S
SLoWMoTIoN
Unconfirmed Member
Genetics?
womfalcs3
Banned
Probably. The doctors didn't know why I had a hemorrhage; put it down as a birth defect.
S
SLoWMoTIoN
Unconfirmed Member
Imagine if you didnt take care of yourself.
Dontero
Banned
There was a study linking education level and happines claiming that the less education the more happy people are.
Point is just because something correlate does not mean effect of it is actually not needed. People who take care of themselves usually are way more self-conscious about themselves while it does indeed increase strees for some people at the same time it provides benefit of getting better sex partner, better money situation, live longer etc.
Stress is good. It is our basic mechanism to poke us in head telling us that we do something wrong and we should do better. Just like anxiety, anger and slew of other emotions.
Difference you are lacking is that with high fat amount you would get additional party poopers you didn't get because you kept yourself in shape. Just because you take care of yourself it doesn't mean you can't have cancer or die at 20 from stroke or hearth failure.
My grandfather is uber alcoholic that gets wasted almost every day. Dude has 85 years and aside from minor problems with legs he is completely fine. But you won't see me claiming that i should follow his "diet" or something. Genetics are far more important to when you die than almost anything you do in life, still that doesn't mean taking care of yourself don't have impact on it or your life in general.
Point is just because something correlate does not mean effect of it is actually not needed. People who take care of themselves usually are way more self-conscious about themselves while it does indeed increase strees for some people at the same time it provides benefit of getting better sex partner, better money situation, live longer etc.
Stress is good. It is our basic mechanism to poke us in head telling us that we do something wrong and we should do better. Just like anxiety, anger and slew of other emotions.
Difference you are lacking is that with high fat amount you would get additional party poopers you didn't get because you kept yourself in shape. Just because you take care of yourself it doesn't mean you can't have cancer or die at 20 from stroke or hearth failure.
My grandfather is uber alcoholic that gets wasted almost every day. Dude has 85 years and aside from minor problems with legs he is completely fine. But you won't see me claiming that i should follow his "diet" or something. Genetics are far more important to when you die than almost anything you do in life, still that doesn't mean taking care of yourself don't have impact on it or your life in general.
Humdinger
Gold Member
I've never heard of this mendelian randomization technique, from which you supposedly can infer causation. I'm skeptical. The technique itself rests on correlational research. And research into the genetic determinants of mental health is not very advanced, with lots of limitations.
It's also worth noting that the main contributor to "lower mental health" is lower dissatisfaction with physical health. In other words, people who have larger BMIs are less satisfied with their bodies. No kidding.
They also don't give a sense of how large this effect is (effects often reach statistical significance without reaching clinical, aka real-world, significance), nor where the BMI cutoff would be.
In general, it's also helpful to remember that BMI is not a very good predictor. It is used by researchers and medical people because it is very simple to calculate, and that's about it.
It's also worth noting that the main contributor to "lower mental health" is lower dissatisfaction with physical health. In other words, people who have larger BMIs are less satisfied with their bodies. No kidding.
They also don't give a sense of how large this effect is (effects often reach statistical significance without reaching clinical, aka real-world, significance), nor where the BMI cutoff would be.
In general, it's also helpful to remember that BMI is not a very good predictor. It is used by researchers and medical people because it is very simple to calculate, and that's about it.
DunDunDunpachi
Banned
I don't think the study itself was very solid. Lower mental health and lower satisfaction based on self-reflection is -- by definition -- highly subjective.
That said, we know that obesity causes health problems, which invariably lead to stress on your mental fortitude. Having extra body weight also interferes with a proper metabolism and your body's ability to regulate that metabolism. Your insulin sensitivity goes down, requiring higher amounts of insulin in the blood. Insulin itself is needed to convert stored glycogen into usable energy, so as your cells become less and less insulin sensitive they have a harder and harder time producing energy. That includes energy needed to make your brain function. So if you're fat, then your insulin balance is out of whack, no questions asked. It can be corrected with diet most of the time, but by definition if your body is hanging on to too much body fat then it is in a state of insulin abundance.
High insulin also predisposes your body to rely on one type of energy (glycogen). In a natural state, we use a mix of glucose and ketones for our energy. We can "train" our bodies to rely to much on glucose which is the actual source of "hunger cravings" a few hours after a meal: you aren't actually "hungry". Rather, the glucose levels in your blood is dropping and your body is upset it doesn't have an easy source of energy. Unless you are actually diabetic, there is no such thing as "keeping my blood sugar up". Such an argument is identical to a smoker claiming they need to "keep their nicotine level up" or a pothead claiming they need to "keep their THC level up".
Higher insulin and higher body weight also correlate with a higher level of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is helpful in emergencies but otherwise dangerous to have in our bloodstreams in high levels. High cortisol has a lot of negative effects on the brain.
So, I'd say the conclusion was correct, but the method used to "prove" it was flimsy.
That said, we know that obesity causes health problems, which invariably lead to stress on your mental fortitude. Having extra body weight also interferes with a proper metabolism and your body's ability to regulate that metabolism. Your insulin sensitivity goes down, requiring higher amounts of insulin in the blood. Insulin itself is needed to convert stored glycogen into usable energy, so as your cells become less and less insulin sensitive they have a harder and harder time producing energy. That includes energy needed to make your brain function. So if you're fat, then your insulin balance is out of whack, no questions asked. It can be corrected with diet most of the time, but by definition if your body is hanging on to too much body fat then it is in a state of insulin abundance.
High insulin also predisposes your body to rely on one type of energy (glycogen). In a natural state, we use a mix of glucose and ketones for our energy. We can "train" our bodies to rely to much on glucose which is the actual source of "hunger cravings" a few hours after a meal: you aren't actually "hungry". Rather, the glucose levels in your blood is dropping and your body is upset it doesn't have an easy source of energy. Unless you are actually diabetic, there is no such thing as "keeping my blood sugar up". Such an argument is identical to a smoker claiming they need to "keep their nicotine level up" or a pothead claiming they need to "keep their THC level up".
Higher insulin and higher body weight also correlate with a higher level of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is helpful in emergencies but otherwise dangerous to have in our bloodstreams in high levels. High cortisol has a lot of negative effects on the brain.
So, I'd say the conclusion was correct, but the method used to "prove" it was flimsy.
teezzy
Banned
Old study, but it makes sense to me.
People with lower BMIs tend to exercise more. Exercise reduces stress, and releases happy chemicals. Unless you're ultra jacked and BMI doesnt apply to your body any longer.
I'm finally back in the normal range. The high end of normal but I will keep on with what I've been doing this far. Seems to be working. More energy, less fatigue, happier overall... lower BMI.
People with lower BMIs tend to exercise more. Exercise reduces stress, and releases happy chemicals. Unless you're ultra jacked and BMI doesnt apply to your body any longer.
I'm finally back in the normal range. The high end of normal but I will keep on with what I've been doing this far. Seems to be working. More energy, less fatigue, happier overall... lower BMI.
iconmaster
Banned
Science should never trump feelings.
But what if it’s science about feelings?
But what if it’s science about feelings?
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triplestation
Member
when i'm 10 or 15 pounds overweight i feel that shit, you feel like a different person
anxiety
the world/people treat you differently
i've always described it as "tuning into a different radio station"
that's why when people shed crazy weight they feel like gods
anxiety
the world/people treat you differently
i've always described it as "tuning into a different radio station"
that's why when people shed crazy weight they feel like gods
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diffusionx
Gold Member
Anyone who has lost some weight could tell you this. I know for me it was like a fog that got lifted in my brain. And I slept better which helped of course. And I had less weird random aches and pains, which helped my state of time. Then I realized I pretty much felt like shit 100% of the time before but it was normal.
ramuh
Member
Makes sense. Kinda a pointless study. One you are dealing with your body's perception in relation to others (shaming, public herd mentality), but you also have a PHYSICAL obstacle to good mental health. Your body is working way harder to maintain, and you lack things like endorphins that come from physical activity. And a host of other things. Sedentary lifestyle... etc.
IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
Bumping old threads causes poor mental well being.
TheGreatYosh
Banned
Most people are fat because they have poor mental health.
Do you eat steak and eggs?
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GeorgPrime
Banned
That wont change lazy fat people to tell you "I feel good" until they lose weight again.
SurprisedPikachu
Member
Fat people who have zero interest in being healthy and losing weight piss me off, but I guess, survival of the fittest.
GeorgPrime
Banned
I always think about this...
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Here at Anything Zombie, we want to prepare you for the Zombie Apocalypse. Therefore, we watched Zombieland 33 times to make sure we understood Columbus's 33
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Stilton Disco
Member
It should be obvious, but with the recent ‘fat acceptance’ and ‘healthy at every size’ idiocy the more evidence like this there is in the world the better.
I can sure as hell vouch for the fact that eating right, exercising daily and spending time being active outdoors makes me feel physically and mentally far better than any time I get stuck eating crap and being sedentary, which is usually around Christmas, Easter and birthdays in my family.
Slobbing it up can be fun for a day or two, but your body quickly lets you know you’re treating yourself like crap.
I can sure as hell vouch for the fact that eating right, exercising daily and spending time being active outdoors makes me feel physically and mentally far better than any time I get stuck eating crap and being sedentary, which is usually around Christmas, Easter and birthdays in my family.
Slobbing it up can be fun for a day or two, but your body quickly lets you know you’re treating yourself like crap.
Stiflers Mom
Banned
It's just so hard for me to imagine that the biggest issue with my body could be solved by eating less and then not simply doing it.
I wish all things going wrong in my body were so easy to get rid off..
I wish all things going wrong in my body were so easy to get rid off..
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GobbledeeGoo
Member
But to its credit, an increased BMI causes higher BM's and who doesn't love a good shit.
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Super Mario
Banned
Brian Fellows
Pete Carroll Owns Me
I don't take care of myself now. I'm just not a fatty.
synchronicity
Member
The body being unwell affects the mind? Who knew?
EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.001
Full time work outs takes off weight
JareBear: Remastered
Banned
When I was in the best shape of my life, I definitely had less mental weirdness than when I wasn't, for whatever that is worth.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
Absolutely. I was frequently miserable and quite bitter than I was overweight. Being physically fit and healthy certainly provides a lot of mental wellbeing to me.
TheGreatYosh
Banned
What I meant was a lot of obese people get that way because of psychological problems to begin with, but yeah.
gela94
Member
GobbledeeGoo
Member
It blows my mind that people still don't understand the importance of physical health has on your mental state. It just seems like the most obvious thing even a 5 year old could figure out.
Because there is a direct link between exercise and brain health. And I think it's mainly aerobic exercises.
Neurobiological effects of physical exercise - Wikipedia
Happosai
Hold onto your panties
I was 320 lbs and suffering a mess of depression from 2013-2016. When I left the U.S., met my wife, and became a Mexican citizen (in 2017); I decided to better my health for my wife. From April 2017 I started a permanent diet plan (bonus: fresh natural food is affordable in Mexico) and by 2019 I was down to 158 lbs. I'm about 152 and holding right now. In 2014, I nearly entered a program to start lap-band surgery...It's much better to just adjust to not eating junk and living healthier. Those who do get surgery...many relapse.
gunslikewhoa
Member
When all else fails, try a strict elimination diet as a last resort. Try removing oxalates, for example. You may have an autoimmune disorder.
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