To not know whether people are getting fatter or thinner?

[giantwaterbottle]

I am trying to lose weight (again!) and I can't figure out whether people (in the developed world) are getting thinner or fatter. I keep reading that the population is obese/getting fat but then it seems like their are so many gym bunnies and slim people around (although I will say this is mainly on social media/TikTok) but there seems to be such a weight loss/health kick about where everyone looks tiny and fit, and is wearing corsets and amazing cosmetics and just generally looks amazing, but is the opposite the reality? And if so how do people feel about this!? Does it make you want to just give up before you even begin? I don't know..I can't figure it all out. I do think when I go out I see quite a lot of larger people but also loads of young very slim and fit people.

It is absolutely socioeconomic.

The train station (serving commuters to London) and the bus station in my town are metres apart but the weight of the average working age adult you see there is very different.

Same for the parents using the private nursery vs deprived state primary 5 mins walk away.

@DrunkAndAlone2 yet some people are and studies are showing that genes can make a huge difference and something we are learning about more all the time
Some overweight people have no health issues whilst some have many
My nan has been overweight since her 40's at least and is now 88 but has little health problems, she should have all sorts but doesn't ?
There is still much we don't know
People never reached 6ft 100 Years ago either so in general we have grown in lots of ways

@Mulhollandmagoo so if someone is anorexic or bullemjc should they also pay or someone breaks a leg playing football etc as they are all choices by your reckoning

Obese people absolutely should not have to pay for NHS treatment. We had this during Covid too with antivaxxers. That really would be fat shaming.

@DrunkAndAlone2 many kids don't vape though , I have teenagers a couple vape a couple smoke , at that age apart from me pretty much all my friends smoked
Teenagers often smoke now but not cigarettes

No, but if a morbidly obese person gets type 2 diabetes, or somebody gets injured fighting whilst absolutely wasted drunk then why should everyone else suffer the consequences?

Anorexia and bulimia aren't lifestyle choices either are they, they're eating disorders and sever mental health conditions so they're bad examples

@DrunkAndAlone2 also you have no idea why someone may be overweight , you have instantly assumed not motivated etc
They could be overweight for many reasons , if someone is anorexic would you say oh just unmotivated to not put weight on
Makes me so cross that people are so judgemental
Yes i am overweight due to medical issues and I am currently on about 1200 calories a day and nothing shifts , exercise and work full time, def motivated but i can't do much more

I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes at a size 12. I have now reversed it. Some communities are more susceptible to diabetes.

Fatter for sure

@Mulhollandmagoo and many people overweight are because of poor mental health so they are totally on par

@JanisMoplin yes exactly people think slim people never get diabetes but thats very untrue and also poster doesn't realise depression etc can all contribute to weight gain and for many being overweight is very much a mental health issue as well

@Mulhollandmagoo being overweight isn't always a lifestyle choice either you need to be less judgemental about why you assume people are overweight
You have no idea what people are battling behind closed doors , medication, depression, MH etc all things that also contribute to some being overweight

God you sound like hard work

Everybody in my family is between 10 -14 at the most, and many have diabetes. My dad was a very tall and slim man, and had diabetes despite eating no sugar or drinking. It's our S Asian genes:(

At 54 I'm getting fatter. I've always hated any form of exercise. I've got an epigastric hernia which would be exacerbated by fat losing exercise. My legs, although short but in proportion to my body are still slim. My boobs are now 32E. I'm starting to look like a robin redbreast.

People are visibly significantly fatter than they were 20 or 30 years ago.

Look around you in any major town or city in the UK, and you will see overweight and obese people, including plenty who are aged under 30. 25 years ago, an obese young person was a rarity, now you'll likely see one within a few minutes of people watching.

That's true. The problem is nowadays being overweight or obese is cheered on by many.

Also agree with PPs that wealth/class is highly correlated with weight.

Walk around a wealthy area and you will see far fewer overweight and obese people.

But across the population as a whole, the trend is still definitely upwards.

I'm in the City of London and I see very few obese people here, bar the occasional tourist.

Not so when I visit my (significantly poorer) home town, where I'd guess at least three quarters of the people I encounter are at least overweight, regardless of age. Poverty has a lot to answer for.

This is true.

I think this is correct, and also agreeing with a pp about age/class divide.

Definitely a perception change. Anyone remember the Roly Polie dancers in the early '80s they were hilariously fat?

I've just looked them up they are no where near as fat as I remember them being. They look average by today's standards.

But other nations are taller than us, but are not as overweight as us.