History of the Human Interpretation of Weight
For most of human history, extra weight (obesity as we would
now consider it) was desired as it indicated affluence.1 This was
because of chronic food shortage and malnutrition since the initial evolution
of modern humans.1 A recent example of this chronic shortage would
be the struggle of Americans in the Great Depression to obtain food. After
technological advances of the eighteenth century to revolutionize the
agricultural industry from a mechanical standpoint as well as food
distribution, food became readily available for the Western population.1
Initially, the results of increased food intake were
improved public health, improved quality, variety, and quantity of food, and
increased longevity.1 Everyone had the opportunity to enjoy good
health and enough to eat instead of just the wealthy. However, since World War
II, an overabundance of accessible food in Western culture and reduced physical
activity has led to weight gain or obesity for the masses rather than just the
wealthy.1 Follow THIS LINK
to see an excellent video of the transition of the “ideal” female figure over
time. The “ideal” male figure has also changed over time. Follow THIS LINK to
see a video of how it has changed.
Modern Interpretation
of Weight
The current worldwide public health crisis of obesity is not
even a century old.1 However, as it became “easier” for the masses
to become obese, the ideal physique changed as well. Approximately 150 years
ago, the “perfect” figure for either male or female would be considered
overweight and even obese by modern standards.2 Currently, excess weight
is considered a medical condition and is a condition that even the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention feels the need to fight.3
In 2011-2012, nearly 17% of children and adolescents were
obese.3 However, it was found that ignorance of obesity can be bliss
as “reality checks” of weight can reduce the health-related quality of life of
not only children but adults as well.4 This fear of being fat can
not only reduce quality of life but also lead to eating disorders such as
anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.5 All
of the previously mentioned eating disorders could fall under the phobia of
pocrescophobia (the fear of gaining weight).6 Another phobia,
cacomorphobia, deals with the fear of obese people.7
As can be clearly seen from all of the disorders and phobias
related to weight, not only the cultural perception of what is the ideal weight
has changed, but also the emphasis of how important an individual’s weight
should be to their life and self-worth. How are people attempting to attain the
“perfect” physique? The popular options are working out at the gym, dieting
(with methods such as Weight Watchers), and diet supplements or pills. Sadly,
this emphasis hits home strongest with women and teenage girls. A perfect example
of this is the suggested searches when I typed “diet pills” into my Google
search engine. The first hit is “diet pills for women” then seventh is “diet pills
for teens”.
Big Brands
According to Consumer Health Digest, the top five most
popular diet pills of 2018 are Phenocal (ridiculous advertising WEBSITE HERE), Green Coffee Plus,
Lipozene, PhenQ, and Phen375.8 They open the article with “Are you
aware that excess weight does more than make you unattractive?”. It is clear
they are trying to sell you not just on improving your health, but mostly about
how other people feel while looking at you and how you should feel about
yourself. The next paragraph states:
“Most people who try to lose weight find it difficult
because of many reasons like a hectic schedule, unhealthy eating habits and
laziness. This is where using diet pills can help. The truth is that many
products are not really effective and some are even unsafe. When you’re in the
market for a diet pill, you need to find one that is perfect for your needs.
For instance, if your problem is sticking to your diet, then you can benefit a
lot from appetite suppressants. There are also products that enhance the fat
burning process of the body for fast and considerable fat loss…”
Let me break this paragraph down. Most everyone who tries to
lose weight is disgusting and their weight “problem” is directly because they
are lazy and inferior humans. Diet pills are the only hope of such a person.
Diet pills are unsafe and probably won’t work (mostly because the person is so
lazy and hopeless). Despite RISKS to your health, if you are obese or not a
size 0, you NEED a diet pill. There is a pill for every “situation” and you
should probably be taking one of everything.
The company behind the top diet pill (Phenocal) is Pharmaxa
Labs.9 Pharmaxa Labs (acquired by Seroyal International in 2009) introduced
Phenocal in 2009.9 They are a Florida based company that also makes
supplements for sleep, bone, joint, and menopausal complaints.9
Phenocal increased in popularity like a scavenger after the FDA published a
report highlighting associated risks of taking prescribed drugs for weightloss.10
Chemistry
Phenocal contains the following components: cholecalciferol,
niacin, niacinamide, thiamine HCl, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine HCl, riboflavin,
hydroxacobalamin, biotin, picolinate, folic acid, fucoxanthin, and a blend of
green tea components and extracts. An in-depth chemical analysis of the most
prevalent compounds in Phenocal (cholecalciferol, niacin, niacinamide, thiamine
HCl, and calcium pantothenate) is provided.
Cholecalciferol is a type of vitamin D commonly made by the
skin following UVB light exposure (sunlight).11 It can result in
vomiting, constipation, weakness, confusion, and kidney stones.11
Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin B complex that can be used
to treat high blood cholesterol.12 This compound is harmful to
aquatic life with bioaccumulating and biomagnifying effects.12 Niacin
can cause eye irritation, impaired liver function, skin dryness, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, activation of peptic ulcers, hepatic disease, and
circulatory collapse.12 It emits toxic NOx fumes when
heated.12
Niacinamide is the active form of vitamin B3 and a component
of the NAD coenzyme.13 It acts as a chemo- and radiosensitizing
agent by enhancing tumor blood flow and therefore reducing tumor hypoxia.13
Niacinamide is caustic and causes skin, eye, and respiratory irritation.13
It is also a highly flammable and explosive compound that can release toxic
NOx gases.13
Thiamine HCl is the salt form of thiamine, which is an
essential vitamin for aerobic metabolism, cell growth, and nerve impulse
transmission.14 Thiamine HCl can suppress metabolism and
causes respiratory, eye, and skin irritation.14
Calcium pantothenate is a calcium salt of water-soluble
vitamin B5.15 It is a growth factor essential for metabolic
functions and synthesis of cholesterol, lipids, neurotransmitters, steroid
hormones, and hemoglobin.15 This compound has no known environmental
of physical hazards.15
Of the most abundant compounds in Phenocal, the notable
effects include aquatic toxicity, impaired liver function, and circulatory
collapse. Additionally, the compounds are highly flammable and explosive. Ironically,
some of the compounds actually decrease metabolism, which would increase rather
than decrease the weight of an individual. Gosh, Pharmaxa Labs must be a great
place to work! Sounds like something you would want in your house or near your
children, right?
The Gist
The human ideal of “beauty” for an individual has evolved
over time based on the availability of food and the prevalence of disease.
Currently, modern culture has become fearful of excess weight. One method for “treating”
weight problems in the masses is diet supplements that can seriously harm not
only the user, but also the environment!
Don’t get me wrong. I am all for fitness in the general
population. I completely believe that your weight has a direct correlation to
your physical healthy. However, I don’t think that you should compromise your
health by taking dietary supplements to get/stay thin.
Also, I am all for the pharmaceutical industry. Advancements
in the pharmaceutical industry have drastically increased the life expectancy
and quality of life of man-kind. However, companies (cough Pharmaxa Labs cough)
that exploit an unhealthy condition by creating a supplement or drug that is
just as unhealthy or even more unhealthy to “treat” said condition is
completely immoral. As a society, we need to take a long hard look at our
priorities and stop encouraging unhealthy means to attain a healthy body.
References
[1] Eknoyan, G. A History of Obesity, or How What Was Good
Became Ugly and Then Bad. Adv Chronic
Kidney Dis. 2006, 13(4), 421-427.
[2] Diebelius, G. How the “Perfect” Male Body Has Changed
over 150 Years – from Wide Waists in the 1870s to the Muscular Man of Today. 2016,
DailyMail.com.
[3] Sarafrazi, N.; Hughes, J.P.; Borrud, L.; Burt, V.;
Paulose-Ram, R. Perception of Weight Status in US Children and Adolescents Aged
8-15 Years, 2005-20012. 2014, NCHS Data Brief, 158.
[4] Hayward, J.; Millar, L.; Petersen, S.; Swinburn, B.;
Lewis, A.J. When Ignorance is Bliss: Weight Perception, Body Mass Index, and Quality
of Life in Adolescents. 2014, International Journal of Obesity, 38,
1328-1334.
[5] National Institute of Mental Health. Eating Disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml.
Feb 2016.
[6] Barron, C. The Fear of Gaining Weight: A Monologue about
a Struggle with Food. 2016, Psychology Today.
[7] Scheel, J. The Fear of Fat: What Does It All Mean?. 2013, Psychology Today.
[8] Consumer Health Digest. Top Rated Diet Pills of 2018 –
Do They Really Work?. https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/weight-loss/top-rated-diet-pills.html.
[9] Banks, S. Phenocal Review – 17 Things You Need to Know. 2018, DietSpotlight.
[10] NewHope Network. Pharmax Labs Sees Opportunity in Wake
of FDA Warnings on Diet Drugs. http://www.newhope.com/news/pharmax-labs-sees-opportunity-wake-fda-warnings-diet-drugs.
Jul 2010.
[11] PubChem. Colecalciferol. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Vitamin_D3#section=Top.
[12] PubChem. Niacin. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/938#section=Top.
[13] PubChem. Niacinamide. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/936#section=Top.
[14] PubChem. Thiamine Hydrochloride. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6202#section=Top.
[15] PubChem. Calcium Pantothenate. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/calcium_pantothenate#section=Safety-and-Hazards.
I'm really glad that you wrote about diet pills. Honestly, I knew absolutely nothing about diet pills prior to this except that you shouldn't take them. After reading this I still think you shouldn't take them. It's interesting that the company was saying there are diet pills out there that are safe to consume. But after reading the chemical compounds, it's hard to believe that it's true. I am a believer weight loss is obtainable with time, hard work, and a stricter regimen.
ReplyDeleteWOW. What a lot of great information. I'm struck by how HARD it's going to be to parse / comprehend by any normal person, and by how present that 'Puritan' strain Brendan identified is: the promise of getting-something-for-nothing, no work, no workouts. And the guilt for wearing the wrong body....
ReplyDelete