Wondering Question?

I am just wondering, why did we 'choose' to overeat/under exercise? I know some of us had other reasons we were obese - health related, etc., but for the rest of us, I have been wondering this. Other people in life don't chose food, so what is it about us that we took this path? Some chose other 'drugs' of choice, but some deal with life in non self abusive ways. I know and have heard/read about several people who have made positive outcomes from their lives, whether their lives have been ok or totally not ok.

I think it's genetics, you deal with life how your family dealt with it. Rarely do you see an obese kid born out of two health obsessed parents, i'm sure it could happen but it's got to be pretty unusualy. My people eat (we're jewish) so when someone dies, everyone brings you food for the seven days of shiva, when we're happy we celebrate with dinners out and with elaborate family meals. My mom, G*D Bless her thinks the jewish holidays are a call to arms to make everyone their favorite meal. My sister loves stuffed cabbage, my niece needs a brisket, i adore turkey, you need the matza ball soup with noodles, you need 12 side dishes because what if one of the peeps didnt' have something they just loved that my mom makes? We were at her house for Jewish New Year last Fall and i counted 47 dishes....seperate compenents of one meal for cripes sake, now who can eat all that? I did count the olives, chopped liver, challah bread, and apple sauce seperately when she counts them all as the "ETC" part of the meal. Then she wanted to know why we all had weight issues....uhhhh i'll go out on a limb here and say it's because you cook like this is the last supper. Hugs, ANDI

Your right it is a choice with some genetics mixed in. We choose to do the easy thing. Eat what we want, do what we want without regard to the bigger picture.. its like we think we are not accountable for our actions in life, but we are. We are held accountable for many things in our life.. legally and ethically. When our environment does not hold accountable for what we put in our mouth such as food we can choice anything. Lighter people do hold themselves accountable for their weight and health. they choice to make better choices. they choose to eat slower and better to feel the way they are comfortable. I know somewhere in there is a psycological aspect as well.. our upbringing, our insecurities and the way we cope with them. stressors that lead to eating such as depression, aniexty, or fear all in some way affect our lives and have added to our problems with obese. Reconizing what the trigger is that makes us over eat is the key to changing our behavior for a thinner and healthier life.

Ruth, Ive been thinking on this lately too...I keep asking why I chose food and still obesses daily with it....for me, my parents didnt use food the way I do - but my father was an alchoholic and drug user and my mother buried herself in work and feminism. I started along being both a faminist and a drug user in my teens....but soon gave up the drugs for food. I traded one thing for another essentially. Thats how I see it now. I wish I didnt want to "use" food to feel better - but I think I always will ( want to at least) Kathryn

I know I have an addictive personality. In my younger years (when had no responsibility), I dabbled a bit here and there and abused alcohol. Never got to a point where I couldn't function without some type of chemical in me. But food was an easier drug, it was readily available, relatively inexpensive, and you wouldn't get fired from a job for using it. Diane