Two thirds of adults in England are obese or overweight. It would make as much sense to ask what is different about the other one third.

[H0TK]

This was a comment I read elsewhere. I thought it was an interesting comment.

Rather than wondering what is wrong with overweight people and why they eat like they do. What is different about the people who are not overweight?

That is a very good point! Ask the people who aren't overweight what they are doing right.

In my case, I’ve been “underweight” all my life. I deal with my childhood trauma by starving myself rather than by eating - not consciously starving myself, but if I’m sad/tired/upset/anxious etc, I physically cannot eat, my throat closes up and I can’t force food down. Also I have never had a big appetite, can comfortably miss meals without even noticing, and just don’t really care about food. None of this is a conscious choice, it is just how my brain works, and it doesn’t make me “better” than someone who is overweight ….

I lost weight when I started working in an office where all the women were slim. It opened my eyes to how much I ate compared to them.

Its obvious that if you eat too much you put on weight but I had such a skewed idea of what too much food was. Witnessing people’s healthy habits and self discipline really made me understand that weight loss is mostly about what you eat. I used to walk to and from the office 30 mins each way and also exercise but thought that meant I could eat what I liked. I never really understood how much diet affects weight.

Personally I think most people are in denial about how much they eat. It’s hard to go without and most people don’t want to.

The slim people I know (who have a healthy relationship with food, not yoyo dieting) came from happy childhoods.

Their parents were big believers in "everything in moderation", and so they were active as a family but also not scared of ice cream. Things weren't withheld and there was no moral judgement placed on "good/bad" food.

I think it is a matter of a lot of things lining up including genetics, emotional well being and also finances.

I only know a couple of people like this. They have never dieted, they just enjoy moving their bodies and enjoy food, but do it in moderation. All of their parents are exactly the same and also siblings.

I dunno about other people but I just stop eating when I'm full. I don't exercise ect. I'm 5'1 and around 8stone.

I have 2 relatives who are really overweight and both are always "just have a bit more" with themselves. Even when their full they still feel the need to clear their plate. They also drink a lot of alcohol which I don't think helps

I'm not overweight but have been in the past. I changed my relationship with food. Which in turn has changed my tastes. I cook from scratch and enjoy the process.

I no longer crave sugary processed crap because I've trained myself out of it. And I would never reach for a meal deal unless absolutely necessary like at the airport for example.

Broadly speaking - they eat less.

Genetics and wealth. I live in an affluent part of West London. There is not a single overweight child in DS' class. The vast majority of the parents are also very slim.

I am overweight,

When I wasn't it was because I was lactose intolerant. I ate whatever I wanted but had regular incidents of vomiting and diarrhoea and it also affected how my body digested food.

I now don't eat lactose. I'm over weight, but I don't vomit on a regular basis.

Why is a meal deal absolutely necessary at the airport??

(Lighthearted 😁)

I'm not overweight but dh is. None of my family are overweight either but again, husbands family are.

The notable difference with us that I can say is portion sizes.

Growing up we all ate whatever we wanted but my mum cooked and she dished up what would be considered today quite small portions.

Dh eats massive portions and whenever I've gone to his mum and dad's for dinner they dish up way too much food.

They're probably less likely to use food as an emotional crutch or comfort.
Or less likely to suffer from food addiction, or binge eating disorders.
They may be more active and sporty, they may have a job that burns a lot of energy.
They may consciously count calories and watch their weight, reducing their intake as soon as the scale goes up a bit.
They may have a fast metabolism.
They have small portions sizes, which means your stomach gets fuller quicker.
They may not enjoy the taste of UPFs, fried or junk type foods.
They may have dietary issues that limit carbs, gluten, other ingredients in calorie dense food.

I can't eat less than my medically prescribed 1200 calories a day, but I'm morbidly obese.

Ive been on both sides:

When i was overweight i was very very lazy, alot of takeaways, craved food and alot of processed food.

Now im very healthy and active, i eat whole foods, so chicken with a home made sauce salad and rice or potatoes, pasta like meatballs and spaghetti, lunch again will be wraps with roast chicken and salad, breakfast will be bacon medallions and egg.

For me being a healthy weight takes a bit or work which i think is the issue for people when you have a large family with kids and a job and everything else.

The question here though, is why? We all know they eat less. Why is it natural/possible for some people to eat a maintenance level of calories where others over eat?

It's all down to what you put in. Eat nothing and you'll lose weight, eat a bit and you'll still lose weight, then somewhere there's a tipping point.
It's all about self control.
(I'm overweight but not badly, I exercise a lot but like food)

Home cooked meals, moderation of u healthy foods, and the expectation that every family member will play sport twice a week. It's not that complicated.

They do not have leptin resistence.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4556270/

I am slim because I don't eat all that much. No breakfast, light lunch, ordinary portion of dinner covering all food groups. I very rarely eat cakes, crisps, biscuits etc - only if I go out for cake/tea with a friend - not at home. I don't eat every time I feel hungry - I wait for a meal. I don't snack in the evenings and I don't drink much in the way of alcohol - maybe 2 glasses of wine in a month.

I used to be overweight then tipped into obese, down to overweight again, and then went on a diet and reached a healthy BMI.

I love food and could happily eat all day long but I love being a healthy size more. I never want to be overweight again so every day I make conscious decisions about what to eat and what not to eat.

I will deny myself something that previously I would have eaten without a second thought because I like the way my body now feels, looks, and moves. No bar of chocolate or burger is worth giving up that feeling.

Money, & time & genetics. Especially for over 50s. Overweight ££ in SW London crowd, not many, now all on the jabs so will be vanishingly few any time soon.

I'm 5'7 and weighed between 6st and 9st, up and down, during my 20s and 30s. Hit 40, medication put me up to 15st. Lost 6st late 40s by changing meds and being on the NHS weight loss programme.

52 and up to 17st. New meds. A lot of them, including anti psychotics which are notorious for weight gain.

Have lost 2st 7lb since end of September since getting a dog and only eating one meal a day. Now 53.

Oh…a lovely thread where people can openly judge that fatties are greedy face-stuffing lard arses with no willpower. 🙄

Interesting that Oprah Winfrey has just recently commented that after taking weight loss injections she realised that the ‘food noise’ is the key. It doesn’t matter how much willpower you have, you’re always battling it. Naturally slim people don’t have that battle. People in the developing world don’t have that choice. But if they had the same junk food and poverty food overwhelm they’d be the same.

So quit with your judgey - ‘we’re slim because we’re better humans’ bollocks.

Some people aren't bothered by how much they eat.

Some people lack the willpower.

Some people are afraid of hunger feelings.

Some people don't understand food and nutrition.

Some people don't have the money - junk is cheaper.

I was taught by my parents self control and delayed gratification for lots of things - spending, eating, studying

So it comes more easily to be careful than it might for someone who has to think about it - it's a habit to eat properly. It was bread and butter when I was starving between means ( cheap)

It's quite interesting how those early habits stick - we were always allowed 2 biscuits ( that way a packet lasted the week) - DH used to have one ( bigger family ) and I feel twitchy / insulted when given one rather than 2 for my snack

Delayed gratification is such an important skill to have - be it for weight or finances or working for exams