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So I'm at the part of the book where I go through public health data: "Here are all the things that we know increase diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, etc that AREN'T diet."
holy shit this is dystopian
holy shit this is dystopian
Sleeping less than 7-8 hrs/night messes up appetite AND glucose tolerance, to the point where it's a huge risk factor for diabetes. *After* controlling for demographics, lifestyle/activity, age, & other factors.
Worse, we've known that for 15+ years. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/#a2000f7efddd00073
Worse, we've known that for 15+ years. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/#a2000f7efddd00073
Insofar as being fat is in itself a health problem (the data don't necessarily hold that up- as we'll cover more in the thread)
it doesn't come from "just eating too much junk food & not exercising enough."
The body is a complex machine w lots of potential for software bugs.
it doesn't come from "just eating too much junk food & not exercising enough."
The body is a complex machine w lots of potential for software bugs.
I just think it's funny how ~the obesity epidemic~ started at the same time that falling real wages, longer work hours, & longer commutes started to eat away at Americans' sleep time
almost like it's a symptom of larger-scale societal problems that are profitable for some people
almost like it's a symptom of larger-scale societal problems that are profitable for some people
Chronic stress (overwork, poverty, sexual harassment, discrimination, etc) also has a lot more to do with fatness than anybody wants to admit. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428710/
More on chronic stress: fight-or-flight destroys your body when it goes on too long.
One good way to tamp down the fight-or-flight reflex?
Stress-eating high-calorie foods.
it's self-medicating 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15142987/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17543357/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12975524/
One good way to tamp down the fight-or-flight reflex?
Stress-eating high-calorie foods.
it's self-medicating https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15142987/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17543357/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12975524/
An important source of chronic stress: untreated PTSD. Which is surprisingly common- a lot of us pick it up very early.
@DrBurkeHarris has done a lot of work on this in marginalized communities. Her TED talk on it is unmissable. https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime
@DrBurkeHarris has done a lot of work on this in marginalized communities. Her TED talk on it is unmissable. https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime
And an important note: While Dr Burke-Harris works with poor BIPOC communities, she points out that untreated early-life trauma is super common in high-SES people too.
The study that out out how much childhood trauma fucks people up? Done in patients that were 70% college grads & 70% white.
Over half had at least 1 ACE (adverse childhood event- DV, abuse, neglect, untreated mental illness in the family, etc). https://pinetreeinstitute.org/aces/
Over half had at least 1 ACE (adverse childhood event- DV, abuse, neglect, untreated mental illness in the family, etc). https://pinetreeinstitute.org/aces/
In other words, as much as the middle & upper class might want to see this as a "those people" problem : /
childhood trauma is an extremely middle & upper class problem too.
childhood trauma is an extremely middle & upper class problem too.
Remember when lots of young people told Freud about sexual abuse by family & close family friends, & people said "haha NO WAY Freud that can't be right. Find the *real* answer" & that's why we have this Oedipus/Elektra complex bullshit?
Yeah turns out we're still doing that.
Yeah turns out we're still doing that.
Dr Burke-Harris put it this way:
"I’m beginning to believe that we marginalize the issue because it does apply to us. Maybe it’s easier to see in other zip codes because we don’t want to look at it. We’d rather be sick."
"I’m beginning to believe that we marginalize the issue because it does apply to us. Maybe it’s easier to see in other zip codes because we don’t want to look at it. We’d rather be sick."
It helps explain why rich white people are so fucking dead-set on blaming all these health problems on diet, doesn't it.
It's not JUST about blaming the poor for their own problems.
It's also about avoiding the real problems in their own house.
but we fuckin' see you, rich ppl
It's not JUST about blaming the poor for their own problems.
It's also about avoiding the real problems in their own house.
but we fuckin' see you, rich ppl
I'm pulling all these data together to push back on the stupid-ass narratives we've had the last 30+ years about "you are what you eat uwu." That food is medicine, THEREFORE if someone is sick it's because they eat junk food. And they are a bad lazy person who should feel bad.
This is why you hear constantly hear about "consumer education" in foodie/sustainability circles.
It really sucks that they call it that, bc what they really mean is telling people "if you buy my health food it'll cure your sick body."
THAT'S NOT EDUCATION. IT'S ADVERTISING.
It really sucks that they call it that, bc what they really mean is telling people "if you buy my health food it'll cure your sick body."
THAT'S NOT EDUCATION. IT'S ADVERTISING.
Veggies & cooking from scratch are great & all! Healthy food is a fine & good thing.
But it's no substitute for sleep, PTSD treatment, & ending domestic violence & overwork.
And that's how health food is being sold.
Sorry folks, farmers markets are capitalism too.
But it's no substitute for sleep, PTSD treatment, & ending domestic violence & overwork.
And that's how health food is being sold.
Sorry folks, farmers markets are capitalism too.
Anyway this is all stuff I kinda knew already. I'd seen studies here & there.
Yesterday was supposed to be finding the 5-10 studies on it & moving on.
But turns out the volume of data we have on "obesity & metabolic disease come from stress & trauma" is goddamn overwhelming.
Yesterday was supposed to be finding the 5-10 studies on it & moving on.
But turns out the volume of data we have on "obesity & metabolic disease come from stress & trauma" is goddamn overwhelming.
so idk pour one out for me today while I figure out how to pull this all into a coherent narrative about how much of the food movement is a reactionary disinfo-for-profit enterprise
& try to stay focused instead of running off to light something on fire
& try to stay focused instead of running off to light something on fire
the problem with naps and not beating your family,, is you can do those things for free
If this stuff is ringing a bell for you (and for whomst does it not), this bird site is full of nutritionists & public health professionals who have been working on this stuff for years!
I am but a lone weirdo who really does more on the ag/distro side of the food system.
I am but a lone weirdo who really does more on the ag/distro side of the food system.
For just a couple starters check out @fattyMPH, @fatnutritionist, and "health at any size." These folks & terms are about actually doing evidence-based healthcare instead of recycling just-so stories.
