Obesity Rates have Doubled Since 1993

[nogoodnamesleft]

"What's going on?"

Er, people eating more sheet and taking less exercise?

Cycling in Netherlands recently and I've not cycled there for 2 years and I was shocked about how much larger so many had become and noted that ebikes were more widespread.

So, totally unscientific, totally anecdotal I did an "experiment". Cycling through the middle of Utrecht at a pretty busy time I'd look at rider first and if notably overweight I'd guess e-bike and if not notably overweight I'd think unassisted and then I'd look at the bike. 90% of the time I'd guess correctly where notably overweight=e-bike and not noticeably overweight=unassisted.

Note that "noticeably overweight" is very different from obese.

If what I noted is the case I guess it's just a correlation not a causal relationship and I recognise that weight is a very complex issue with many factors.

But I did wonder if a contributory factor was that for many they've switched from an unassisted bike to an e-bike but their diet has remained the same thus where on previous bike they'd be using calories cycling now not to the same extent with a battery & motor.

Similar cycling through Groningen but more unassisted bikes maybe as a fair number of Swapfiets (easily recognisable with the blue front tyres).

 

[Drago]

Correlation is one thing.

Cause and effect are something else entirely.

 

[Milzy]

I've learned the good disciple and now its ingrained. The first couple of weeks were a bit fraught, but once I was through that and my mind and body have readjusted its second nature.

Once you make it part of your lifestyle you’ll always get a feel good response from the structure. Just like if you ride with consistency, put them both together and you’ll have a real edge.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Correlation is one thing.

Cause and effect are something else entirely.

Hence my having said in the post "I guess it's just a correlation not a causal relationship"

 

[Mike_P]

Cycling in Netherlands recently and I've not cycled there for 2 years and I was shocked about how much larger so many had become and noted that ebikes were more widespread.

So, totally unscientific, totally anecdotal I did an "experiment". Cycling through the middle of Utrecht at a pretty busy time I'd look at rider first and if notably overweight I'd guess e-bike and if not notably overweight I'd think unassisted and then I'd look at the bike. 90% of the time I'd guess correctly where notably overweight=e-bike and not noticeably overweight=unassisted.

Note that "noticeably overweight" is very different from obese.

If what I noted is the case I guess it's just a correlation not a causal relationship and I recognise that weight is a very complex issue with many factors.

But I did wonder if a contributory factor was that for many they've switched from an unassisted bike to an e-bike but their diet has remained the same thus where on previous bike they'd be using calories cycling now not to the same extent with a battery & motor.

Similar cycling through Groningen but more unassisted bikes maybe as a fair number of Swapfiets (easily recognisable with the blue front tyres).

Maybe the case their but in hilly terrain legal ebike still give a good workout to the point I've wondered on steeper climbs whether the weight of the battery and motor is counter productive. Also obviously the motor is dead beyond 15.5mph. Illegal ebikes and electric scooters are definitely not helping in obesity.

 

[Webbo2]

Maybe the case their but in hilly terrain legal ebike still give a good workout to the point I've wondered on steeper climbs whether the weight of the battery and motor is counter productive. Also obviously the motor is dead beyond 15.5mph. Illegal ebikes and electric scooters are definitely not helping in obesity.

I ridden up some the North Yorks climbs with people on ebikes. They leave me in their wake and I’m a 7KG bike.
One of the lads who rides in the fast group on our club rides comes out with 80 year old Dad on sedate Wednesday rides. Going up hill if his dad gives it full power on the ebike he can’t keep.

 

[gbb]

Having gone through a two meals a day (TMAD) period (which i really really need to get back into) I found myself educating myself as to the need for high protein foods to sustain TMAD properly...and surprisingly easily...you realise that there so much food out there that is filling, but not sustaining, which is why people are grazing and constantly topping up.
In doing so (grazing on low quality foodstuffs, you are always in fat storing mode and never in fat burn mode.
Add to that when youre in fat burn mode, you are also cleansing your body of nasties.
It was remarkably easy once you got into it, you cut out 90% of the carp, felt immensely better mentally and physically.
We're becoming so far removed from 'normal food i think people are genuinely losing sight of what theyre doing to themselves...and we will continue to pay for it individually and collectively if it continues.
I look in Asda, there are notably more and more shelves filled with processed foods and I do suspect changes to established products, nit sure what it is but the consistency is changing. Theres a reason...and it won't be to suit us.

 

[Mike_P]

I ridden up some the North Yorks climbs with people on ebikes. They leave me in their wake and I’m a 7KG bike.
One of the lads who rides in the fast group on our club rides comes out with 80 year old Dad on sedate Wednesday rides. Going up hill if his dad gives it full power on the ebike he can’t keep.

No doubt but with an ebike you can get up hills with some effort that you probably would walk up otherwise. As such in hilly terrain they open up routes probably otherwise ignored, or only done on the opposite direction.

 

[Drago]

Of,course, here in the UK several,pieces of research have demonstrated that legal ebike riders use their bikes more and ride further, so in NET terms are getting as much exercise as the none assisted average. Mrs D wouldnt be able to ride at all without hers.

 

[Pblakeney]

Maybe the case their but in hilly terrain legal ebike still give a good workout to the point I've wondered on steeper climbs whether the weight of the battery and motor is counter productive. Also obviously the motor is dead beyond 15.5mph. Illegal ebikes and electric scooters are definitely not helping in obesity.

Explains why they are always pootling along at 15mph.
Although I do see the appeal on steeper climbs. 😉

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Maybe the case their but in hilly terrain legal ebike still give a good workout to the point I've wondered on steeper climbs whether the weight of the battery and motor is counter productive. Also obviously the motor is dead beyond 15.5mph. Illegal ebikes and electric scooters are definitely not helping in obesity.

I ridden up some the North Yorks climbs with people on ebikes. They leave me in their wake and I’m a 7KG bike.
One of the lads who rides in the fast group on our club rides comes out with 80 year old Dad on sedate Wednesday rides. Going up hill if his dad gives it full power on the ebike he can’t keep.

It's an interesting aspect and as I've never ridden an e-bike one I have no experience of.

But, I keep thinking about getting a dog again (I'd get a Border Collie again). And on my trip to NL I'd come across quite a few people with dog trailers and I'd ask them how much harder it was riding with a dog in a trailer. And they all say that it makes no difference BUT they were all riding e-bikes (they'd comment they "leave assist off most of the time or just on level 1 (minimum". Then I asked somebody on an unassisted bike and they said "yes, dog & trailer makes a very noticeable difference".

Again, just anecdotal.

 

[Punkawallah]

No plenty are gf including a number of Lindt ones and many high in cocoa. Its potential contamination off a production lines being used for other products that means a number have warnings.

There is an important difference between ‘most’ and ‘plenty’.

 

[Webbo2]

No doubt but with an ebike you can get up hills with some effort that you probably would walk up otherwise. As such in hilly terrain they open up routes probably otherwise ignored, or only done on the opposite direction.

There was a GCN video featuring Sid Barrs ex British pro who is 79 and rides usually 5 times a week. He lives at the top of this massive hill so every ride covers some hard hills. He said that at one point he stated there is no way he would ever get an ebike. Now he’s saying if it keeps him riding he will get one.

 

[MontyVeda]

I think what we have is a couple of generations who grew up with too many ping diners and easy access to fast food. That stuff is so normalised i know people in their 30s who's culinary limits are making a bacon butty or putting a pie in the microwave. When i suggest they learn to cook a few basic meals (casserole, sunday roast, omelette & veg) because it's cheaper, healthier and really fecking easy, they have no interest whatsoever. They can't see point of home cooking.

[edit to add] My parents grew up in the time when school meals had to be nutritious and balanced because lots of kids weren't getting fed properly at home and being a school dinner lady, my mum's home cooking reflected that; meat and three or four veg everyday.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I've wondered on steeper climbs whether the weight of the battery and motor is counter productive. Also obviously the motor is dead beyond 15.5mph.

I rarely find I am troubling 15.5 mph unassisted up a steep uphill.