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Comment by gthtjtkt | Hacker News Reader

Everything about modern fitness is fascinating. We have access to more data about health and exercise than ever before, all kinds of personalized fitness trackers, calorie counters, meal planners, personal trainers, exercise routines and equipment. Yet somehow our society still seems to be getting fatter and more out of shape every year.

What is going on!?

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A big reason why is that information is not enough. There are multiple 100B+ industries that are dedicated to driving sedentary and calorie-increasing activities (TV, gaming, fast food, soda, beer). There is far less effort devoted to getting people to exert more physical effort.

Think about how the only real way most white collar workers exert ourselves is through "exercising". Aka moving around for the express purpose of burning calories.

Sugar, corn, carbohydrates and bad science from folks like Ancel Keys (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancel_Keys).

Look at something like a fruit juice from Odwalla, it says 'Super Food' on the label so it must be healthy right? Compare how much sugar is in a 16oz 'superfood' fruit juice (http://www.odwalla.com/products/smoothies/original-superfood - 49 grams) vs. a 16oz Coca-Cola (http://www.coca-colaproductfacts.com/en/coca-cola-products/c... - 52 grams). We're drinking the same amount of crap but with a prettier feel good label.

The people who are affluent enough to buy all those gizmos and apps and educated enough/have enough leisure time to care are generally already the healthier ones.

We got fatter and out of shape over the course of the last 30-40 years. All these tools and trackers and planners are only from very recently (less than 5 years?). And I understand the getting heavier curve has indeed leveled off in the last few years, we are no longer getting fatter.

We also have higher energy food products. And an obsession with speed and productivity

Food releases dopamine, an app doesn't.

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