Fat Cops

rgambs said:

I think the reason cops and firefighters are among the fattest in the nation is a combination of the facts that they are mostly male professions and the fact that they stick together in a brotherhood to protect each other from legitimate dangers and criticisms.

"Boys' clubs" ALWAYS bring out and reinforce the worst aspects in men.

So truck drivers must stick together too?  That's why they are so big?

Sitting is a killer.  That is why they get big, not because they stick together.  Unless a cop is walking the beat he is sitting.  Same with firefighters.

I'm surprised office workers didn't make the list?

tempo_n_groove said:

rgambs said:

I think the reason cops and firefighters are among the fattest in the nation is a combination of the facts that they are mostly male professions and the fact that they stick together in a brotherhood to protect each other from legitimate dangers and criticisms.

"Boys' clubs" ALWAYS bring out and reinforce the worst aspects in men.

So truck drivers must stick together too?  That's why they are so big?

Sitting is a killer.  That is why they get big, not because they stick together.  Unless a cop is walking the beat he is sitting.  Same with firefighters.

I'm surprised office workers didn't make the list?

Truck drivers don't have policies or tasks that ostensibly require physical fitness.
They also don't have on-site fitness equipment like most police and fire departments, so deconstructing their obesity levels is pretty straight-forward.
According to the study, police and fire professionals report higher levels of off-time vigorous activity than other professions so that is another anomaly that leads to alternate explanations, like mine.

Regarding office workers, it may be that studies are unable to accurately compile that data as it is a very, very broad category.
I haven't looked into it, but I know this study is only a fairly recent one that Google pulled up to confirm for me what I've heard in study after study over the years.

Fat cops, fat cops, what you gonna do, what you gonna do when they come for you?

Overweight and obese are different things by definition. Studies are great but the eye test tells another story. Also, being fat and being a “fat beer gut slob” are two very different things.  A lot of people are “skinny fat.” Appearing thin, but having very little muscle mass and a high percentage of fat. That is not healthy either. Perhaps that category is included in the 80% number. 

bbiggs said:

tempo_n_groove said:

rgambs said:

I think the reason cops and firefighters are among the fattest in the nation is a combination of the facts that they are mostly male professions and the fact that they stick together in a brotherhood to protect each other from legitimate dangers and criticisms.

"Boys' clubs" ALWAYS bring out and reinforce the worst aspects in men.

So truck drivers must stick together too?  That's why they are so big?

Sitting is a killer.  That is why they get big, not because they stick together.  Unless a cop is walking the beat he is sitting.  Same with firefighters.

I'm surprised office workers didn't make the list?

Sitting is the new smoking. I hate the fact that I have to sit so much for work, but I exercise daily to help counter it. And I pace around the office when I’m on a call to try and keep moving. 

Working out helps, but if your diet is poor, it doesn't matter. This is the major problem with obesity in America. I feel as if a lot of Americans feel ripped off if they don't take home half their meal when they eat out. Portion sizes are ridiculous. Couple that with the crazy amount of fast food eateries and it's a recipe for disaster. Wealth also contributes greatly to this, but that's for another thread.

eddiec said:

bbiggs said:

tempo_n_groove said:

rgambs said:

I think the reason cops and firefighters are among the fattest in the nation is a combination of the facts that they are mostly male professions and the fact that they stick together in a brotherhood to protect each other from legitimate dangers and criticisms.

"Boys' clubs" ALWAYS bring out and reinforce the worst aspects in men.

So truck drivers must stick together too?  That's why they are so big?

Sitting is a killer.  That is why they get big, not because they stick together.  Unless a cop is walking the beat he is sitting.  Same with firefighters.

I'm surprised office workers didn't make the list?

Sitting is the new smoking. I hate the fact that I have to sit so much for work, but I exercise daily to help counter it. And I pace around the office when I’m on a call to try and keep moving. 

Working out helps, but if your diet is poor, it doesn't matter. This is the major problem with obesity in America. I feel as if a lot of Americans feel ripped off if they don't take home half their meal when they eat out. Portion sizes are ridiculous. Couple that with the crazy amount of fast food eateries and it's a recipe for disaster. Wealth also contributes greatly to this, but that's for another thread.

Exercise is good for several reasons...whether you eat healthy or not.  That said, I spent years trying to exercise a bad diet away.*  Didn't work.  There's no getting around it...you need to eat the right amount (less for most of us) of the right (much healthier for most of us) food.

*People were impressed that the fat guy could go hard for 45-60 minutes on the elliptical.