Natural Selection vs. Obesity?

Question

If Natural Selection is true, then does that mean that obese people will eventually start to die?

I know this question seems a bit narrow-minded, but if you saw an obese rat, you wouldn't think that it could even last a few weeks out in the wilderness.

If you take away all the factors such as surgery, mobility, etc., will the world be rid of obesity once and for all?

I'm not talking about "overweight" in general. I understand that humans NEED to store fat and many people in the world have fat.

It's just the EXCESS fat that I'm talking about.

Answer 1

Natural Selection is true.

It isn't about dying (we all do that) but about those who reproduce and how they are the ones that are selected to pass on their genes so it would depend on whether obese people are reproducing and how much they are.

As for why people are obese, that has to do with natural selection in a food limited environment where the best thing to do was to store as much food as you can when you can eat so that when there isn't as much food you could just live off the fat reserves. It doesn't work so well in modern society with abundant food (we might be able to fix it with genetic engineering).

Answer 2

No, because this is not genetic. It's a social thing, the easy availability of high calorie foods and a lack of the need for physical work. Obesity is a natural result, not a genetic fluke. The tendency to be obese was bred INTO us, since those who couldn't store fat perished in times of famine. Obesity never kept people from breeding (as has been pointed out).

But I will take issue with those who claim it has been a "preferred" look in the past based on paintings done by the old masters. Take a good look at those paintings--they're as fake as an airbrushed Playboy centerfold. Look at the hands, wrists and forearms; look at the feet, ankles and lower legs; look at the faces. These are not mature women; they are sexualized children.

Answer 3

You do not understand natural selection. Natural selection is simply passing along genetic traits that enable a species to survive long enough to pass those traits on to subsequent generations. An example would be if the environment was getting colder, the ones with thick fur would probably live longer than their fur-less peers. The result is that the furry ones would most likely breed and the furry offspring would most likely survive the harsh cold conditions. If the weather were getting hotter the reverse would be true.

It is not so with humans. Our ability to adapt our environment and use of suitable clothing, our use of medical intervention and science have transcend the need for or effects of natural selection.

So, to answer your question directly, obesity has nothing whatsoever to do with natural selection.

.

Answer 4

I think that if obese people had to survive in the wild, they would not, in fact last long. I say that because I am obese, and I know how tough it would be for me.

That being said, if it didn't kill me first by dint of not being able to acquire food or outrun predators, it might actually be helpful, since it means I store food well (thanks to several lines of Native American ancestry, according to my endocrinologist). If I could survive long enough, then it would be a factor in my favor. That's why it got started in my ancestors in the first place; we got REALLY good at storing extra food, and now that there's so MUCH food around, we hold onto WAY too much to be healthy.

I suppose it all depends on the situation. Hopefully society won't collapse around me before I can lose it. Wish me luck!

Answer 5

Well natural selection doesnt really count for an advanced society that doesnt have to hunt and gather. An obese person can live many years because of not needing to work. They will have a lower quality of life and die maybe 10 years early but that would be 60 or so.

What is really killing our natual selection is our offspring that will not work or "hunt and gather". They are the ones that have no desire to push forward. Instead of them being forced to work or starve... we feed them and house them and reward this. So they breed and have children and the hard working do not have kids because they are busy working to support welfare. So now, our next generation will be twice as lazy and be of poor seed.

Answer 6

Obesity is not genetic & most obses people cannot use the glands or hormones excuse. so it will not go way of the dodo. And people will still continue to be obese even without the option of surgery at a later date. Even now obese people are not blanket guarnteed surgery becuase they are obese. if they cant be bothere dtaking care of themselves, many surgeons will refuse to help.

Answer 7

Natural Selection applies to people who can't get laid. Obese people pop kids out left and right. Have you never been to the south in the U.S.?

Answer 8

If one reviews past literature and artwork, obesity was apparently quite prevalent, so i don't think that obesity will "cease and desist". Keep in mind that during many historical periods, being "plump" was quite desirable, so only recently has it become a cause for concern and deemed unattractive.

Answer 9

the modern world (in the west at least) allows people to live and survive so easily that there is almost no competition. but if you are obese your chances to reproduce may be lowered and you do develop disease.