[roqi]

> Diet/exercise changes of course may be some contributors but they’re clearly not being widely followed.

Over the past two decades, the number of gyms and fitness centers saw exponential growth to the point where they became ubiquitous, and some workout programs became widely recognized memes. Working out is now socially acceptable, and in some places social pressure tilted to the targeted against those who do not exercise.

Even though diet/exercise changes may not be widely followed, don't you agree that they have been widely adopted?

[laratied]

I have gone to gyms since the early 90s.

30 years ago, so many guys had a bench and cheap weights in their basement that they barely used. Now that group just has a gym membership they barely use. Women had home VHS aerobic workouts they barely did instead of a gym membership they barely use. It has really just reflected the change in gym membership prices. My first gym was $75 a month adjusted for inflation and it was nothing special. The nice Golds Gym that was the alternative was $100 a month adjusted for inflation. It is just easier now to pay $15 a month and not use the gym.

I can't imagine we have a more fit population now. Maybe there is 10% more very fit people in the tail but the median is most likely much less fit.

What I notice most is going for an hour walk at sunset on a beautiful spring night in a nice suburban neighborhood, there is absolutely no one outside. Everyone is inside sitting. When I see a kid they are usually riding a motorized scooter to zoom between places to sit.

You also have to factor in that old people now grew up with so much more physical activity than young people now. I can't imagine the knock on effects of what all this sitting by young people will have once they are old.

[eastbound]

Does gym correlate with being fat later in life?

I’ve seen it a lot: A sports jock at 20-25, gets a manager job and becomes quite unhealthy at 40, much more in US than in, say, France, where gyms arrived much later and there hasn’t been a culture of muscle size in high school/uni until very recently.

[kelipso]

Athlete turned overweight is so common. They keep up their diet as they grow older but not their exercise. Opposed to someone who have the same diet their whole life and only occasionally exercised, they'd just maintain their weight.

[bluGill]

Many sport create bad eating habits. Wrestling is the worst where kids are taught to cut a lot of weight in a short time (by dehydration), but even in other sports the coach will often give out diet advice that is at best good for the year but not good for long term health. (and at worst it isn't even good advice for the current year - coaches are not nutritionists)

[evantbyrne]

I would assume the opposite. Childhood obesity probably correlates very strongly to obesity in adulthood. What you are observing is probably just an overall trend in society and not specific to jocks.

[zen_1]

ime Gym or high intensity physical activity correlates with getting fat when you stop unless you put a lot of effort into eating less. When I stopped all sports and powerlifting during covid lockdowns I certainly gained a few pounds because my appetite was still at around 3500 kcal/day despite my physical activity not being at that level anymore.

[zzbn00]

In the UK, the _average_ time spent watching TV/streaming content is about 40 hours per week. This in combination with generally sedentary lifestyle that relative wealth allows. Unfortunately gyms and fitness centres, as good as they are, I'm not sure can counter this trend.

[xii23]

Funny but most of my streaming happens as I'm cycling at home

[panda888888]

You can't outrun a bad diet. Exercise is ~5% of weight loss. Diet is ~95%.

[daydream]

You can almost outrun (or out-sport) a bad diet when you’re 16. The problem is those bad diet habits stick with you then when you’re 35 or 40 or 45 and can’t outrun it you see screwed.

[pilsetnieks]

That argument is solely about weight loss but there are many other reasons like cardiovascular fitness (keeping in theme with the article), or overall fitness level that lead to to better outcomes.

[FollowingTheDao]

This is not true if you have the genetics for hyperlipidemia.

Genetics matter, we’re not all the same. These generalizations are OK but they won’t mean they will work for you.

[blfr]

Yes but you can strengthen your heart to a degree. Even most anti-cardio lifters eased up a little. I still won't run but I do tabata every other workout.

[bartonfink]

You can absolutely outrun your fork, even into middle age. You just have to run a lot fucking farther than you think. A mile burns about 100 calories, very conservatively. Do the math, then do the miles. It's not going to be easy but it's unequivocally possible without a Herculean training regimen.

[lm28469]

75% of Americans are overweight or obese

Gyms aren't that popular, most people going to gyms aren't doing enough

[throwaway132436]

As a generalisation, get fit in the gym, lose weight in the kitchen.

Whilst it is possible to lose weight by eating a similar diet and increasing exercise you just end up someone who is fitter but still eating what will almost certainly be a poor diet.

Most people are overweight because they have a poor or terrible diet, not because they don't do enough exercise. (Although to be fit or healthy you need to tackle both.)

(Again this is a generalisation. There are many reasons why people are overweight. I am, and I'm changing my diet and the amount of exercise I do to sort this out.)

[lemonberry]

Not only are they not doing enough they don't know what they're doing. Worse, the fitness industry is not science based and the barrier to entry to be a personal trainer is pathetically low.

I was a certified trainer under NASM years ago. It was fairly intensive, but largely nonsense.

This is a huge bummer.

If one wants to get in shape they almost need to make fitness a hobby.

[sasaf5]

> If one wants to get in shape they almost need to make fitness a hobby.

"In shape" is the normal state of a human being. If you want to get in shape you just need to disconnect from the high calorie food supply and eat normal, plus do a bit of walking.

For some reason we have come to believe that everyone is born fat and only lose weight through costly and time consuming interventions.

[blfr]

Most people expect more from being in shape than just not being fat. I expect to look good without my shirt on and have at least some endurance.

For that you probably need at least 3h of decent training per week. After you add changing, showers, etc, it's a commitment of 5-6h a week. Quite a hobby. I certainly consider it a hobby.

[saiya-jin]

Well you can consider eating healthy a hobby, it sure takes more than just quick visit to McDonald or any similar junkfood joint, and it costs more too so there is another skewed justification for why not do anything and have more miserable life.

I think you are not getting the point - being fit was the default since humans mutated from our predecessors, till very very recently. I mean I can't believe I have to explain this to anybody, especially here.

Also, you have incorrect world view on what it means 'being fit' that may be very effectively hindering your motivation to get better. Its definitely not about looks, if somebody is selling it as such they are doing a great disservice. Some people have genes that make their bodies look very different from ripped bodybuilders with 4% body fat, yet if they are very fit can achieve pretty amazing things.

Don't look for external validation, if you are happy in your own body (which being fit brings pretty much guaranteed, some mental disorders notwithstanding) then its all good and you can focus on other amazing things in life, while being happier, living better and longer and so on. Everything is connected.

[arbitrage]

> Working out is now socially acceptable

When was working out socially unacceptable?