Haslam 2007 Obes Rev: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 15:18, 27 December 2019
| Haslam D (2007) Obesity: a medical history. Obes Rev 8 Suppl 1:31-6. |
Abstract: Background: Obesity is changing, but its origins can be traced back 30 000 years, to our prehistoric ancestors. Survival of the fittest dictated that individuals who stored energy in the most efficient way would survive the inevitable fast and famine that would follow times of plenty. This has been attributed to the ‘thrifty gene’ (although no such individual gene exists), ensuring the continued dominance of our hunter–gatherer predecessors. But natural selection has turned on us. Life now favours inefficient phenotypes who fail to store energy in adipose depots, while those who lay down fat in the abdomen are condemned to premature death. To fight obesity, we are flying in the face of evolution and instinct, consciously countermanding the urge to eat for survival, and be as inactive as possible in order to conserve energy.
The situation today: The UK is now in the throes of an obesity epidemic, and risks following in the footsteps of America, where obesity has already delivered an epidemic of diabetes. Writers and physicians over many centuries have dedicated their life’s work to teach the preservation of health, and warn of the dire consequences of ignoring good diet and activity. However, their wisdom has been disregarded. Life expectancy has been improving for centuries; advances in hygiene, science, public health and medicine have allowed longer and more productive lives. Obesity threatens to undo many of these gains. Could it even herald a reduction in life expectancy in coming generations? Instead of spending precious resources inventing novel scientific gadgets, the works of our forefathers should be revisited, and the simple lessons learned from history used to once again prioritize the preservation of health.
• Bioblast editor: Gnaiger E
- Note: BMI is not mentioned in this history of obesity.
Labels: MiParea: Gender, Exercise physiology;nutrition;life style
Pathology: Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Obesity
Organism: Human
