Why Are Americans So Fat

To be honest, I can't really comment because I don't eat McDonald's, or any kind of fast food like it (i'm one of those crazy health-freaky vegans). But when I was over in there I did try Burger King and one thing I recall is that the sauce (ketchup, whatever) was free in the states, whereas here you have to pay for it! Same thing in Taco Bell - all the condiments were FREE. So just in case your burger and fries weren't disgusting enough, have a free sauce to make it even worse!! Actually, I feel kinda sorry for anyone who's health conscious and living in that country. It must be so hard....

Also Hush-puppies, a traditional american food. Deep fried bread? I mean, hello! someone call the carb-police!!

 

Ok then, you can come and take a bite of me...I am pretty sure I am organic (a double bonus) with no added hormones (well, only natural ones) and no added sugar (sweet enough). Plus I'm feeling a little undernourished myself...

 

ewwww.
I mean, that's a natural part of life...
but ewwwwwww!

 

There is a fat man in town that I don't like very much for various reasons.Would it be wrong of me to recommend him a diet high in complex carbohydrates and low in all fats icluding the good ones?(I would'nt phrase it like that though).I would say I have read about it, which would be true.

 

Yeah, portion size and overconsumption are factors. But so is price. Ever noticed that twinkies, Chef Boy-R-Dee, cereal, all that stuff is cheap compared to the organic, low fat, stuff, even compared to meat and vegetables. Now, if you have a tiny budget, and you need food, are you gonna get the steak and squash that'll feed you for a night, or are you gonna get the wonder bread, the PB and the jelly that'r gonna feed you for at least a week? Healthy food is expensive, and most people jus can't afford it.

 

Yeah, you have a good point there!

 

There are so many factors It's insane to try and pin one or two. Even more odd is that there are several causes for any given individual or groups of individuals. is it the drugs that throw your metabolism out of whack? The Fact that you were raised in a car, or that you never walk more than from your car to the escellator in your office. Serriously, Too many factors, and Besides that , americans arn;t the only ones, they are just

the biggest target.

 

Amen.

The most important thing now is to stop the problem NOW and hopefully reverse it. And parents are the ones who have to do it. We gotta stop blaming McDonald's (did I hear it right, a 1500 calorie hamburger?!?! ) and commercials. Yes they're evil, but theyr'e not holding guns to our heads and shoving fries, milkshakes, and sodas down our throats. We need to educate our children about proper health. Then maybe a few generations later, the more health-educated bunch won't condone or reinforce these facilities that contribute to our country's weight problem.

 

Because we watch too much tv, we don't get fresh air enough, we eat crappy ass food stuffed with preservitives, We have fast food on every corner, were depressed and medicated, Medicated and unhealthy,

 

I dont think there is any one reason why americans are overweight in high numbers. I dont buy into the genetics bullshit. Unless you have problems with your thyroid or something, i think its utter BS. I personally believe the obese americans are that way because of lack of exercise and consumption of soda/beer(other shit drinks). I know once i cut out soda almost all together and started exercising daily i began losing a lot of weight. I didnt really alter my food intake much.

I think its a sad effect of becoming prosperous. The richer(from dirt poor to middle class) you get, the more you can afford things like tvs, computers, dvds etc. Also, American jobs have moved away from manual labor to desk jobs. I'm honestly shocked that only 1/4 of America is obese. Of course, i think the testing for obese is whacky. BMI shuold nto be used to determine obesity, it should be body fat %.

This is not an american problem, it is a western problem. Many western countries are right behind america in obesity statistics. Australia, UK, New Zealand and many many other western nations have VERY high %'s of people overweight/obese.

 

I actually am one of the few that DOES have a problem with my thyroid. I take my dog on runs most nights and at school, the campus is huge and I have to basically jog with 80 pounds on my back between classes so I'm not on any lack of exersize. I also don't eat that much, just a glass of juice in the morning to kick off my metabolism, a big lunch, and occasionally dinner (but most of the time I don't eat dinner at all, just not hungry).

I've been overweight all my life, my family is all overweight, and yet I'm a health freak and eat healthier than all the really skinny people I know (including my boyfriend, who could eat McDonalds for a month and not gain a pound). *shrugs* I really think it is genetic because you inherit your body type from you parents, just like you inherit your nose or eyes or hair. If your parents have large body types, then more than likely you will too.