Why are computer people so fat?

[bdoggman]

That’s a question one of the guys I source parts from ask me. I guess because we sit so much. No exercise lol.

 

[GTP]

I jog, ride my bicycle, workout to Fitness Marshall at least 3 times per week, walk regularly and eat healthy foods.
I sit a lot too, but i'm not "fat."
I'm currently 102 kg. Maybe a little over weight but I am 187 cm as well.
My BMI is 24.5 so just on the upper end of normal for a guy my age.

 

[sapphirescales]

It's a stereotype, and like all stereotypes, it's often true. Most computer people I know are overweight and die in their 40's and 50's. I know my health is suffering because of this, but I'm hoping to change that.

 

[Moltuae]

Exercise helps improve fitness and health but has little bearing on weight, unless you're working out almost continuously. Unhealthy eating and consuming too many calories is what piles on the pounds.

I don't exercise nearly enough but I'm very slim (175cm and about 75kg) -- I am an 'opportunist exerciser', in that I'll usually take the stairs rather than the lift/elevator and walk fast or run when I can. I occasionally take a walk/hike through the countryside at weekends too but other than that, I have very little time for exercise since I typically work around 70-80 hours a week.

I suspect snacking or eating unhealthily is the real reason some "computer people" are overweight. I put weight on very easily -- I was 2-3kg overweight in my 20s for a few years because I ate a lot of junk -- but I changed my diet, started eating more healthily, lost the weight and never put it back on.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Exercise matters a great deal to weight. I'm not sure where that idea comes from, but it matters a ton, but not in the moment it's over time.

That being said, it's only part of the equation... it's all calories in / calories out. Exercise simply increases your calorie budget, allowing you to eat more. But if you aren't paying attention to what you're stuffing in your pie hole... don't be surprised what winds up on your midsection.

Exercise over time has a direct impact on your muscle and bone density, not to mention your cardio health. The former essentially determines what everyone calls their metabolism. Which when translated is the number of calories per day you burn just existing. This baseline is different for everyone, and it requires a ton of experimentation to figure out.

I count carbs and calories in every meal thanks to my diabetic son, and I still can't accurately tell you what my calorie baseline is. I can tell you that after years of sitting here, that number is certainly smaller than it used to be. Men in particular change a TON as they approach 40.

But whatever you do be consistent about it. This isn't something you do day by day, it's about adjusting what you eat to fit what you're doing. If you want that slice of cheesecake you need to be ready to go for a 45min walk to earn it.

As for the stereotype? Yeah... it's because we all sit too much. We're either at our desks pushing buttons, or driving somewhere to push buttons after all.

 

[Mick]

I jog, ride my bicycle, workout to Fitness Marshall at least 3 times per week, walk regularly and eat healthy foods.
I sit a lot too, but i'm not "fat."
I'm currently 102 kg. Maybe a little over weight but I am 187 cm as well.
My BMI is 24.5 so just on the upper end of normal for a guy my age.

Greg - I'm not sure where you're getting your BMI figure from, but this might help corroborate...or not!

 

[Moltuae]

Exercise matters a great deal to weight. I'm not sure where that idea comes from, but it matters a ton, but not in the moment it's over time.

You're not alone in thinking that. It's a common misconception/myth, and understandably so because much of the studies into weight-loss and exercise are relatively recent. And of course advertisements for gyms, etc continue to peddle the myth.

Numerous scientific studies have shown that 'additional' exercise (ie that which is in addition to any basic physical activity required just to exist and go about one's daily life) accounts for such a proportionately small amount of the body's total energy expenditure that it would be necessary to exercise almost continuously to have any real impact on weight-loss. Additionally, exercising more tends to result in eating more. And of course too much exercise is bad for your health, especially in the long term, because of the ageing effect and damage some exercise can cause to your joints and organs.

There are ton of studies and documentaries I could link to but this article seems to summarise the findings quite well and provides links to some of the studies too:
https://www.vox.com/2018/1/3/16845438/exercise-weight-loss-myth-burn-calories

Don't get me wrong, non-excessive exercise is very important for fitness and health, it's just not going help you to lose weight. Consuming less calories is the only way to significantly reduce weight.

 

[GTP]

Greg - I'm not sure where you're getting your BMI figure from, but this might help corroborate...or not!

Hmmm, from my doctor.
According to that calculator though my BMI is 28.8 so apparently i'm overweight.

Damn, there goes my Saturday night Dominos.

 

[River Valley Computer]

I hate to post my picture on here but here it is. I am going to have to increase the size of my store to be able to fit in. (Alright - just kidding, almost)

 

[overburnz]

38 here, 78kg and 178cm, BMI 18% and i go to the gym 3x per week doing a 1h30 training with the help of a personal trainer that makes my monthly workout plans and I try to eat healthy (sometimes I eat junk food lol )

i came from 90,5kg and lost 14kg in 5/6 months then when I started the muscle train i gained 2kg

 

[frase]

I am 45 walk about 10K's everyday, weight train & eat only white meat (unlike Dahmer). Have a decent diet, though do binge on chips (crisps you UK peeps) and Netflix of Friday nights.

I weigh 79Kg's about the height of a Hobbit 170cms. According to the B*****it Misinformation Index, I am overweight 28.8 and should be 69Kg's.

 

[fincoder]

It's a common misconception/myth

Absolutely right @Moltuae. Weight loss by exercise requires so much work it isn't sustainable for many of us. TV shows such as The Biggest Loser show that it's possible, but incredibly gruelling.
I lost 25kg by severely reducing sugar and carbs in my diet. At the same time eating as much protein, fat and nutritious carbs (e.g. green vegetables) that I felt like eating, so I never went hungry. I don't do any explicit exercise at all. Has lasted for 4 years now.

 

[Moltuae]

Computer technology is getting smaller, right, so you just look bigger next to it.

Maybe they're just further away.

 

[GTP]

I mean Wagon Wheels were the size of an LP

Hmmm, a Wagon Wheel was a must on the way home from school and yeah, they were huge once. Now they resemble a small chocolate biscuit.
I used to love my Choo Choo bars, Golliwogs and "Fags?" Some goody two shoes somewhere decided they were racist or politically incorrect and banned them.

"5 cents worth of mixed lollies" used to get you enough lollies to make you sick hahaha.
Now you wouldn't get one lolly for 5 cents.

I miss the old days...

 

[Moltuae]

"5 cents worth of mixed lollies" used to get you enough lollies to make you sick hahaha.
Now you wouldn't get one lolly for 5 cents.

Most of our local shops had what was known as a "penny tray" when we were kids. We would rush up to the counter and excitedly ask for the penny tray, which was just a large tray full of lots of different sweets, all of which were just 1 pence (some were even 2 or more for a penny). Can't imagine you'd get much for a penny now.

And yeah, Golliwogs -- they were on our jam jars here at one time. I think my sister even had a Golliwog soft toy

Fags were (and still are) another name for cigarettes in the UK. I do remember 'candy cigarettes' were quite popular back in the day too, for kids who weren't yet old enough for real cigarettes but (presumably) wanted to look cool and pretend to be smoking. Bizarre. Perhaps they should've been sold with vouchers to save towards a 'pretend' chemotherapy session.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Wagon Wheel was a must on the way home from school and yeah, they were huge once.

That's because we were smaller then.

 

[InHomeComputerHelp.com]

Funny story

I got called into sub and went to meetings to learn BlackBoarddotcom in two days. Thank God for my background I was able to do so, but I was playing with it during the 30 min breaks of the 90 min classes and forgot to eat. I lost 20 pounds that month .

I called it the Learn Blackboard and Forget to Eat diet. Soon on sale for only 19.95

Rick

 

[labtech]

Many computer folks have really bad sleeping habits.
The most important factor in weight loss and overall health is SLEEP, especially sleep between 10pm through 2am, in relation to HGH.
Here is a link for more info:

There are other people who have studied this.

 

[GTP]

Many computer folks have really bad sleeping habits.
The most important factor in weight loss and overall health is SLEEP, especially sleep between 10pm through 2am, in relation to HGH.
Here is a link for more info:

There are other people who have studied this.

I have gone to bed at 4.00am and got up at 8.00am for about 35 years now.
I seem to do ok on 4 hours sleep.
Probably not healthy but i'm ok right now.

"Gonna live while I'm alive - sleep when I'm dead!" Bon Jovi

 

[frase]

Computer technology is getting smaller, right, so you just look bigger next to it.

I mean Wagon Wheels were the size of an LP and now they coaster sized. Don't get me started on nanny state calorie controlled chocolate bar sizing

HAHAH, I hear ya buddy! They still cost the same or even more. The companies state, oh we are doing it for the health of individuals bollocks.

Funny story

I got called into sub and went to meetings to learn BlackBoarddotcom in two days. Thank God for my background I was able to do so, but I was playing with it during the 30 min breaks of the 90 min classes and forgot to eat. I lost 20 pounds that month .

I called it the Learn Blackboard and Forget to Eat diet. Soon on sale for only 19.95

Rick

Blackboard sucked so much, Moodle is just as bad.

Many computer folks have really bad sleeping habits.
The most important factor in weight loss and overall health is SLEEP, especially sleep between 10pm through 2am, in relation to HGH.
There are other people who have studied this.

I have a book by Dr.Michael Mosley called Fast Asleep, great book
https://fast-asleep.com/