This is not a post about overweight people and obesity. I mean no disrespect. Well, -------- I'm not writing with the purpose to blame people for being overweight. It's meant to be satirical, [hopefully, I never know where this will go], but with the world in such a state of unrest, it got me thinking. You all know how dangerous that can be.
Several years ago I read a fantastic book entitled, "SURVIVAL OF THE SICKEST" by Dr. Sharon Moalem
Through examining evolutionary history, he questioned how certain current diseases didn't become extinct and that perhaps, actually helped our ancestors survive unusual conditions.
What started his research was a disease called hemochromatosis. It's a genetic disorder that causes iron build up in the body. Left unchecked, over years, it will kill you. It killed his grandpa.
HISTORY OF A DEADLY DISORDER
| Iron Man or hemochromatosis |
From 1347 and over the next few years, the bubonic plague swept across Europe killing somewhere between one third and one half of the population. Can you even imagine? The disease finds a home in the bodies lymphatic system and it then becomes airborne. Meaning it spreads like wildfire.
Question
So. Why didn't everyone die? They were all exposed. They had to bury the bodies, they had no idea how it was passed or what was causing it. The answer, it seems, may have been due to the disease of hemochromatosis What? How can they "know" that?
A study of the plague in St. Botolph's parish in 1625 indicated that more men between fifteen and twenty-four were killed by the disease than any others. This outnumbered women of the same age by a factor of two to one. Wha?? That makes little sense since everyone knows that strong, young men are more likely to survive illness. Right. Apparently, no.
The men who had the hemochromatosis weren't affected because of their iron levels.* If you want to know the particulars, read the book. If is wonderful and explains things like epigenetics and he does it so you can understand it. Not remember it if you're me, but you might.* They procreated back then, long before the disease killed them. So, their having a "bad" gene, saved their lives at the time. And passed along dna that was a sickness.
The same seems to be true for Diabetes. Since you all know, that my memory is for shit, and it's an entire technical chapter, I'll do my best to try not to give too much misinformation. Eleven thousand years ago there was an ice age in northern Europe. It happened quickly, so many thousands of humans froze. So, how did the ones who didn't die, survive? Some of course, through adaptation. You know, building huts and making warm clothing. That worked for some. Dare I say the smart ones?
Research on dead bodies ,that have since been excavated and f course found frozen, yuck and ooo shows some interesting possibilities. Science wise, people begin to shiver and that burns the sugar stored in your muscles and creates heat. You also need to pee. Remember, I'm just skimming. So the people who created more sugar and peed a lot survived. It seems that today, the predisposition to Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes is related to the human cold response. So Diabetes has some deep connection to the response to cold. That would make it seem that those who had a genetic predisposition to be able to deal with the cold, survived. Then, was then passed on their dna which is related to Diabetes. Since most people no longer have to deal with cold in that way, the gene has created a disease which is no longer an asset.
In any event, for a number of current illnesses, people survived because of that gene, then passed it on generation after generation. However, as climate and other factors changed, the genes were no longer assets. However, due to modern science, many people are able to survive now, even with a "defective" gene.
BACK TO OBESITY AND SURVIVAL
Perhaps if the world were a stable place, obese people would reproduce and either genetically or through conditioning, produce more obese people and I wouldn't give a rats ass. Not that I would even know where to find one. blch. Well, actually, that seems to be what's happening.
Personally, I don't care. I thank God it's not something I have/am?. Being obese can't be easy. But that's not my point.
The government is upset with obesity only because of the cost the health care. The government only cares about us if we cost them money.
THE WORLD IS AT WAR
Okay, maybe not every country right now. Although it seems that there are always several wars going on at any given time, and if one ends, another begins.
What has this got to do with us?
A lot
Right now we have troops all over the world. Fighting, keeping peace (yeah that's rich), and fighting. Did I mention we have men and women fighting wars? Except they aren't wars. Wars usually have names. Well, anyway, we're fighting and losing, beautiful, wonderful American men and women.
We don't have a draft because it would be very unpopular. Even though statistics show that when we have a draft, we get a higher grade of solders. Again, no disrespect. Do a fact check if you don't believe me.
My mind wanders to the, what ifs?
Like what if, we really had to mobilize to save ourselves from the evils of terrorists like Isis? {Or whatever they are and however they spell it.}
First, if we did do a draft, who would go? Generally, we have requirements for the draftees. Right? I think one of those requirements is to be physically fit. So, would they change that if they couldn't get enough people fit to draft? I don't know.
One scenario is that we send every fit person between the ages of 18 and 45 to fight. I can't predict the outcome. At the very least. Lots of people will die.
However, let's say," GOD FORBID", we lose. Their Army is now coming to our shores and we have to defend ourselves. How well is that going to work?
The lean, mean, killing machines are gone. Who's left?
And over they come. What a grand resistance force we have left behind. Who's left to fight for our Children??
okay. that's pretty depressing.
AFTER THEY WIN THEY DON'T INVADE. I like that idea better.
Well, thank God for small favors. We are left alone. Except for, maybe the gene pool has changed. The people of reproductive ages are, well, mostly obese , or otherwise unfit with other diseases, disorders and whatever it was that kept them from the fray.
And that's how Obesity survives. The gene pool of Americans that once was, no longer exists. I suppose those left standing, or sitting, can figure out how to run a country, so the USA will still be able to fly its flag. I never ever suggested that the obese are not smart. The two are not correlated at all.
And that's the story of how the fattest survive.
THE END
ps. I just liked the title. that happens sometimes. I think of a great title, and then, well, that's it. I truly did not mean to offend anyone. I'm tired of governments. it's all their fault.
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