By COLlive reporter
Rates of adult obesity increased in six U.S. states and fell in none last year, and in more states than ever – 20 – at least 30% of adults are obese, Reuters reports based on new analysis.
The conclusions, based on federal government data, suggest the problem may be worsening despite widespread publicity about the nation’s obesity epidemic and countless programs to address it, the news agency said.
As the issue looms over many trying to keep their diet, a handwritten note from the Rebbe written to an individual about weight loss and eating disorders has come to light.
Written in Hebrew and undated, the Rebbe writes as follows (free translation):
“In regard to your writing about being overweight and worry about it, and that it is difficult for him to decrease in eating and drinking:
“In my opinion, 1. The doctors exaggerate in their assessment of the damage of the size (added weight) of a person,
“2. Distraction – at least not constantly focusing on it will ease the restraint from additional eating and drinking – (and will) at least strengthen the peace of mind and therefore the metabolism of the person, to lessen the fat that is more than proportion,
“In addition and this is central – to serve Hashem with joy.”
The original answer in Hebrew:
לכתבו ע”ד ששוקל יותר מדי ודאגתו עד”ז וגם ע”ז שקשה לו למעט באכו”ש [=באכילה ושתיה] – לדעתי:
1) מגזימים הרופאים בהערכתם ההיזק שע”י דיקייט (תוס’ משקל) של האדם,
2) היסח הדעת – עכ”פ שלילת התבוננות תמידית בזה – תקל ההתאפקות מאכו”ש יתרים – עכ”פ, תחזק מנוה”נ [=מנוחת הנפש] ובמילא ה”מעטאבאליזם” [=חילוף החומרים] דהאדם למעט בהשומן שיתר מהמידה, ועוד וג”ז עיקר – שיעבוד השם בשמחה.
I think that quote says it all, the crux of it. Whether 10 or 100 lb overweight, it is most often a lack of joy that is the root cause. (Of course that lack of joy could be caused by many issues, different in each individual circumstance). The brilliance and simplicity at once is so crucial in this response. Be proactive and bsimcha, that will of it’s own accord help one get back on a healthy happy track in life. Don’t bemoan and focus on the negative, which causes one to be reactive, instead, and likely turn to food for… Read more »
Thank you #10 hope people will listen!!
can make the change.
ha?
I lost lots of weight with one simple rule: cut out (or cut down on a lot) white sugars. I don’t obsess or “diet”- just eat wholesome nutritious foods. I wasn’t trying to lose weight – it just came off!!! The sugars clog the liver with fats that stop it from working properly – hence bad digestion and storage of fat. As I’ve gotten used to less sugar, I’ve found I can think more clearly, feel great and have needed less vitamin supplements, etc. I’m not talking about no sugar even! I still have things with the more healthy sugars.… Read more »
hey, if you need O A don’t hide. All Chadad is about Emes and Bital…..
When I was a bochur I wrote to the Rebbe saying that I was having difficulty losing weight & I asked fora brocha & advice.
The answer that I got was Vyagota umatzosa tamin. So depending on the person & situation so goes the answer,
this letter from the Rebbe appears in the Tishrei issue of the NCN in a big supplement about food, obesity, etc.
excellent read.
Dieting has been proven to be ineffective, certainly in the long term. Most people do not keep the weight off and gain back more than they took off.
Instead aim to live a healthy lifestyle.
If science tells us that obesity leads to many other illnessess, shouldn’t a person be concerned?
I know of someone whom the Rebbe told to lose weight.
The situation was that he was somewhat depressed/ down. The Rebbe told him to lose weight, find a job and look into getting married.
is all rubbish . The wrong oils are used , migdal margarine is a killer . the kosher vendors realise that they have a captive market . Compare any QUALITY placed to a kosher outlet and see the difference . Also the Kosher airline food is a SHAME (another story)..looks like my dogs dinner . Asian veg for me .!!
Never eat to satiety (winter ¾, summer ½) and exercise before you eat. I follow it and eat mostly non processed foods. I’m six foot three, 32 inch waist, and weigh 175lb. I’m almost 40.
bec, being thin (appearance) unfortunately can become a religion . If the Rebbe says (and I’ve heard this many times) that the health risks are exaggerated, then it is so!! (It is possible that the Rebbe wasn’t talking about the extremely obese) but, what’s interesting is, that sometimes I find faces look better, when there is a little weight on the person!
being Besimcha should be our goal- not obsessing about
size.
Mother’s won’t look into overweight girls, but will gladly go for girls as thin as a stick which could be truly unhealthy. There is nothing wrong with a girl being a normal size, perhaps healthier than a super thin girl!
Now give me a burger will ya
This is the malady of the century my friends…most of the people want to lose weight and they can’t, they try and then gain all the pounds back and even more. They simple CAN’T stop eating, and their bodies keep growing and growing, now for all that do ton know there is a new medicine (NOT A SUPPLEMENT OR SCAM) is a new MEDICINE that you can get right from your doctor, it’s called by the brand BELVIQ (drug name is LORCASERIN) that was approved last year by the FDA, Lorcaserin is a selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist,and in vitro testing… Read more »
The Rebbe was far ahead of the research scientists and professors. It could be that he was saying, stress makes a person prone to gaining weight. It is well known that stress produces cortisol (a hormone) and that makes a person gain weight. When one has simcha and is relaxed and not stressed, there is less cortisol, hence one’s metabolism speeds up to burn calories. I tried for two years to lose 25 pounds, and just couldn’t. I would count calories, go to WW, exercise, everything, but the weight was not moving. I kept dovening to Hashem that the weight… Read more »
This letter has already been published in the book Mind Over Matter by Dr. Branover
you are right about the need for context. all too often quotes from the rebbe are presented selectively to fit an agenda
yet here, it feels like there’s enough to go by
my understanding from here is:
1. having a few extra pounds is not the end of the world and people shouldn’t be obsessing about it. one shouldn’t be anorexic and one shouldn’t be obese either
2. worrying and thinking about food all day isn’t healthy either and the main thing is positive thinking [like the rebbe says to be joyful]
what is background?
this is very. interesting.
Without knowing the specifics of the situation to which the Rebbe was replying, it is impossible to extrapolate any general concepts or attitudes from this one letter. For example, for all you know, this individual was only 10 pounds above the “right” weight and was obsessing over his “weight issue.” Or perhaps, the person was in fact extremely overweight, but the person was nevertheless so concerned about the issue to the point where he wasn’t able to function, and to this the Rebbe was responding that the issue is not as bad as he was making it out to be.… Read more »
thank you for the post.