Perception of distance/altitude by the chronically obese

[WaitingForBardot]

Just listened to an interesting segment on the radio. They reported that chronically obese people had statistically different perceptions of distances and elevation differences from normal weight people, manifested as them thinking things are farther away/higher than they actually are. They then speculated that it may play a role in them walking and exercising less, thus contributing to their obesity. Even more interesting was that these misperceptions were not dependent on the person actually being obese at the time the measurements were taken. Unfortunately I was late to the segment so I didn't catch the name of the researcher, but I'm going to try and find the study. I'm curious about their methodology.

 

Also, I'm now thinking if I can get my wife to put on 10-15 lbs she might find me a bit more... manly! ..lol..

[Imported]

But what about treadmills and stair steppers?

[fitnessfan365]

But what about treadmills and stair steppers?

 

The main problem w/both is that people tend to use them incorrectly by holding onto the machine the entire time. This causes people to really over-estimate how many calories they've burned.

 

For example, people LOVE to raise a treadmill incline to the max of 15 and then walk endlessly holding on. After an hour when the person sees that they "burned" 800-1000 calories they figure they can eat more. But in reality, holding on the whole time cuts actual calorie burn by 75-80%. So what they actually burned was 200-300. This is why so many people who do "cardio" on a regular basis struggle to lose weight. They can't understand why they're not losing weight when they're burning "thousands of calories" per week. So if you're going to walk on a treadmill, DON'T hold on. Walk like you normally would outside. If you're able, start doing actual stairs without using the rail instead of a Stairmaster. You'll get far more benefit and burn way more calories. There are flights of stairs everywhere.

Edited February 18, 2016 by fitnessfan365

[dreamingoftigers]

I definitely see this in me!

 

No kidding!

 

In fact I started hiking a couple years back and I was flat-out AMAZED at how far I could go in a couple of hours. It actually stated to correct some of my sense of "distance."

 

Now that I am practically on bedrest, it seems as though everything is MILES away. I am not "just saying that."

 

It really seems to be a perceptual issue.

 

I gave no idea how my ancestors were so nomadic.

[MuddyFootprints]

Everything is a million miles away for you right now, DoT!

 

I looked out the window this morning and asked for a ride over to the barn. It was a million miles away, too. Through the snow, uphill the whole way.

[dreamingoftigers]

Everything is a million miles away for you right now, DoT!

 

I looked out the window this morning and asked for a ride over to the barn. It was a million miles away, too. Through the snow, uphill the whole way.

 

LMAO.I'm in Calgary.

 

No snow.

 

Unlike Ottawa right now.

[MuddyFootprints]

You don't have snow right now???

[dreamingoftigers]

You don't have snow right now???

 

Not even in the many feet that look like miles surrounding my house.

 

One day last week we had a 17C Chinook.

 

But that happens commonly out here. We get spurts of snow in the winter, then the winds come over the mountains and the warm air melts everything every couple to few weeks or so. Despite what Leonardo DiCaprio says (Idiot. Google Chinooks, Alberta). Been that way for centuries. Every year.

 

But overall there has been almost no snow this year.

 

If I wasn't pregnant and very sick from it, I would be out all over the place. We've even played some badminton outdoors and the skating rink in the park behind my home melted.

[WaitingForBardot]

But what about treadmills and stair steppers?

I think the problem there is in how to quantitate the perception. At least having them estimate a known distance or elevation change is measurable.

 

I don't think it's too much of a stretch though to think they might imagine how far they plan to walk is not actually as far in reality.

[Jame22]

The main problem w/both is that people tend to use them incorrectly by holding onto the machine the entire time. This causes people to really over-estimate how many calories they've burned.

 

For example, people LOVE to raise a treadmill incline to the max of 15 and then walk endlessly holding on. After an hour when the person sees that they "burned" 800-1000 calories they figure they can eat more. But in reality, holding on the whole time cuts actual calorie burn by 75-80%. So what they actually burned was 200-300. This is why so many people who do "cardio" on a regular basis struggle to lose weight. They can't understand why they're not losing weight when they're burning "thousands of calories" per week. So if you're going to walk on a treadmill, DON'T hold on. Walk like you normally would outside. If you're able, start doing actual stairs without using the rail instead of a Stairmaster. You'll get far more benefit and burn way more calories. There are flights of stairs everywhere.

 

 

Yeah, that and the fact that you're not building nearly as much muscle with Cardio. When you have muscle you burn more calories 24/7. When you spin away on the elliptical you burn more calories for an hour or two.

 

Plus distance doesn't even matter. A person doing 10 X 100 yard sprints every couple of days is going to be in better shape than the person who runs 5 or 6 miles everyday.