to consider my grandma’s theory on why we’re all fatter?

[bagelbreath]

My grandma swears up and down that although food and movement are obviously big factors to the massive weight gain of the country, heating is also very important.

While she lived in a cold house, wore stockings and dresses year round, and spent a lot of time outside, we all sit toasty in our well heated and insulated houses. Her theory is that it took lots of energy to stay warm then vs now.

Is it crazy? I kind of think it makes sense

Your resting brain grabs 20% of your calories - more if you're actually working something out, IIRC.

It's even more when you've have brain surgery. I've never been so slim. My work bought me some pale pink satin pyjamas and an envious visitor told me my legs looked great in them. I couldn't go to the loo on my own without falling over mind but I graciously took the compliment.

It was really hot in there too as anyone who's been in hospital would attest.

My parents never had a car, so we walked or caught a bus or train, depending on where we were going. Going to ballet classes , my mum, my sister and myself rode our bikes. We didn't have 'take aways' and we didn't eat out. Rarely ate between meals.

We don't have a car because public transport here is brilliant. I don't understand why so many people where I live have cars but I'd never say that because it's up to them.

But from reading Mumsnet I understand that loads of people aren't blessed with good public transport and rely on their cars. It's an explanation for weight gain and lack of fitness but I'd be wary of suggesting that or saying that by turning on the heating or eating takeaways people were lazy and feckless fat bastards.

It's really not too much to ask to have things that make life more than a joyless plod to the grave. I enjoyed my childhood but there are things like pizzas and central heating that I've also learned to embrace.

I had my Covid booster today and while waiting read a NHS poster warning people with COPD to keep the heating on this winter even if it's just one room because cold kills people. So if the NHS thinks that turning off the radiators is a crap weight loss idea I don't know what we're all worrying about.

I travel a lot to Asia for work, tropical climate where you sweat buckets and everyone is so tiny. The size of the Singapore Airlines flight attendants is a third or a quarter of the Brits they transport, women in Bali are so light and slim, ditto with Vietnam ... and they eat ..... carbphobic MNetters look away .... rice, rice and more rice.

These days it can be shouting at alexa to set the robot off.

I can't remember what proportion goes on maintaining temperature but I think it may be about 60-70%, (Too lazy to google - saving my calories.) But you are right that it's a very large proportion.

It's a bit more complicated because it involves a the nervous system along with different organs in your body.

It also depends on circumstances, if you spend a night on a mountain in snow you will probably lose fingers or toes because your body diverts the blood to keep your brain, heart and lungs working, you can live without a toe, you can't without your brain.

My starter slide when I was teaching this was two groups of children one a group of African children in school uniform, dress or short.

The other group were Swedish children in snow suits with sledges.

We'd look at the difference, skin colour, clothing, weather and then look at what their temperature should be, the pH of their blood, etc.

I find it amazing that, with very few differences, our bodies regulate things like body temperature to within a degree regardless of where you are in the world.

Sorry to disappoint but I just made it through the Australian winter with no heating and didn't lose a pound 😂

It's a factor but a very minor one, negligible almost.

Diet and exercise are certainly to blame. Ask your grandma if she ever has takeaway or processed food growing up

That depends on whether you were in Cairns or Tasmania. Tassi I'll let you off.

People were poorer and food was muchhh more expensive. They would have had small portions - my Nan using to bake once a week and the cake would last all week.

I think it definitely is a factor although there are many others.

We moved to a cold and expensive to heat house when I was 12 and DM says during that period she was the fittest she ever was in her life because she just kept busy to keep warm.

It is something you read about in eating disorder forums, people who drop thermostats but equally heating has played a handy role in keeping vulnerable people alive in winter.

As kids without a family car we walked miles every day, carrying all shopping if needed. If we had to go car we’d cycle or walk to catch a bus, dad cycled to work each day. I think that did a lot more for us than just having heating in one room tbh.

It's a factor but I also blame tracksuit bottoms too that expand as you put on weight. No tracksuit bottoms in her day I bet

It's a factor but I also blame tracksuit bottoms too that expand as you put on weight. No tracksuit bottoms in her day I bet.

That's true, clothing hides weight gain or loss, they're is a trick for everything.

Vanity sizing helps trick the mind.

People who actively engage in sports or are regular gym goers generally aren't overweight once they attend regularly.

Makes sense to me. Also your grandmother’s generation might have walked/cycled more? Plus visiting many different shops when shopping for groceries instead of getting it all in one supermarket/having it delivered?

look at dinner plates of the 50s - they were tiny. And I've still got glass pudding dishes. less than a handful. and that's why

It isn’t only cold/temperate countries that are seeing massive increases in obesity.

I remember all the threads about 5 years ago complaining about Pizza Express portion size. Pizza Express said they had not changed for years. I think they have now increased them.
Kids meals in restaurants used to be really small. I now have a kids meal in a local pub and it is a normal size that you would have at home.