Thank you Marco, Mike_Steve, Brian, Michael, and Jen for your interesting posts !


Gaining some weight is common after stopping smoking, but still thought to be less risky than continued smoking .


Gyms are not just for “ fats who want to lose weight “ . Many do find going to a gym ( not just paying the membership fee ! ) helps them get fit, either put on or lose weight with help to do so, and enjoy the social aspect. I’m lucky, living a few minutes’ walk from the beach and would rather walk there.


To say that “ if you consume more calories than you use, you will get fat “ is too simplistic for everyone ! There may not be one “ fat gene “, but genes DO have an influence on whether or not an individual gets fat. Studies of siblings and twins support this. Jen mentioned Filipinas who may be “ genetically petite and sexy “. However, other – environmental - factors are also involved. Simply being informed about health issues ( reading this thread ! ), and being able to afford access to gyms, parks, healthy food, and doctors, all play their part.


There are “ causes of causes “ ( as Donald Rumsfeld might have said ) . Low physical activity, for example, is associated with living conditions which encourage sedentary behaviour. Jen touched on this – offices surrounded by fast food chains - in her post. Advice which might be helpful in the UK, such as walking briskly, is also not so easy to apply in a tropical climate, except early morning or late evening !



Even the English Chief Medical Officer doesn’t understand all the causes of being overweight, and realises that a tax on sugar ( and/or fat ) – ANY levy on consumption – hits the poor hardest.



We can be reasonably sure about the major risks of being overweight, as already mentioned. However, the relationship between diet, obesity, and physical inactivity to cancer is NOT so well defined or easy to prove. Advice from cancer experts ( " be lean, physically active, avoid energy-dense foods, eat a variety of fruits, vegetable, wholegrains and pulses, and limit total consumption of alcohol " ) needs to be taken with a " pinch of salt " when the OVERALL reduction in cancer risk is 5% !


Our diet is complicated. It’s also hard to persuade volunteers in studies to keep a diary of what they eat for long enough ( several years ) to prove cause-and-effect of specific items. Moderation in all things - for life - still seems sensible advice !