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65% of Americans are Overweight: Why?
Posted by averagejoetoceo • 11/11/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: health, obeisity, weight control
In 2007, 65% of Americans are overweight, as opposed to 56% in 1994.
What would you say is the largest contributing to
America's growing weight epidemic?
User Comments
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The giraffe had me laughing too hard to ever read the post, Urikalish.
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We eat too much? -
We drive too much. If every American spent more time walking or riding a bike, consumption. -
Inactivity and "bad" food. Can that be one reason? I didn't take a breath when I typed. -
we're not fat, we're big boned -
Most Americans eat poorly, the government subsidizes corn products not vegetables making it much more expensive to eat healthy, so the lower you are on the socio-economic scale the more likely you are to be overweight. Very few exercise enough. I had a man behind me in the supermarket yesterday with a box of sugary donuts, a box of sugary cereal, two liters of soda, another box of some kid of coffe cake, bacon , eggs and what looked like ten pounds of hamburger...I wanted to vomit.-
So it's the governments fault? Damn corn!
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Fast food and the way the media pushes it in our faces with so much advertising, large portions, inactivity, and sitting in front of the computer all day. (as I turn in my chair to check the size of my rear end). -
Faulty measurements. Example...
My company recently asked a consultant for new insurance quotes. The consultant asked if he could fudge my weight to 209 instead of 215. Why? Because the tables say I should weigh 180 at 6-foot, never considering that I have a 33-34 inch waist.
The irony is that I very little body fat and work out daily. In fact, I am leaner now than when I was 190 and didn't work out. So while I know everyone could mind what they eat and have more physical exercise ... saying we're all fat means more money and higher readership. Fear sells in the U.S. -
laziness. people are too busy and too lazy to cook. carrying out from restaurants and drive thru...high in fat and sodium, leading to more people being overweight and having heart disease! -
Fast food, Americans are spoiled, too big desserts, 5 dollar buffets, and no exercise -
I know a lot of Americans who aren't spoiled.
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I appreciate the comments, and hold most of the similar sentiments.
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fast food and FAT food and no exercise at all.. that was an easy shot -
they blog all day? -
As a 400+ pound 25 year old man, living in new york. I can speak clearly about this subject without any prejudice and I would say the main reason I am as big as I am would be as stated many times above. Lack of activity and a very heavy diet.
first of all the real nutritious stuff is expensive as hell, needs to be prepared and well needs to be prepared. It is so much easier, cheaper and faster, to go to mickey d's and buy a burger from the dollar menu, especially when they are in just about every corner. I can count up to 5 mcdonalds I can go to in walking distance from where I live. Heck, even if i wanted to switch, I can't it's like a drug, that I have grown used to already.
I am not a manual worker, I was raised as a homebody and have pretty nerdy all my life. So I think it's only natural my enviroment would be some kind of office enviroment. Try to burn calories pressing keystrokes, in fact my hands are probably the skinniest part of my body.
I am lucky in a sense that I do not always have to buy outside food, I still live with my mother she cooks lunch for me every now and then. But then again she is getting old and sick often so even that type of food will be missed eventually and hopefully not so soon.
on a side note.
Ironically I work at a gym and I get free membership. But do I go? Not really. Not because I do not want to but mainly I work 9-5, rules prohibit my free use of gym from 5-10. So what is left? Either wake up everyday at 3am so I can get at least an hour of execersize and work tired all day, don't eat lunch and take a gym break instead or just don't go at all. What would you do? -
I live in a town that is not real big and we have 2 McDonalds, 2 Burger Kings, KFC, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, a town famous hot dog place, probably at least 5 pizzarias, a well known steak shop(which is excellent) and other places too. Though I like these places on occasion, many people will take their kids here often instead of cooking them dinner.-
well people now days don't really have the time to cook as much anymore. Back then, for the most only one parent had to be working the hard hours to maintain a family. These days both parent's are needed. Both come home either late or just tired only to 'work' some more. I'm getting hungry now lol.
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My junk food eating is for lunch. Sometimes I bring lunch, but alot of times I buy something quick-not always healthy. I am usually pretty tired when I get home from work, but I cook something simple when I get home. I drive a bus 10 hours a day, I'm fortunate that the junk food I eat for lunch doesn't get me in the waist!
It's a special occasion that the family eats fast food though -
Easiest way to drop weight is to not go to fast food places for a month. If you need a sub go to a publix or deli or live off frozen dinners. The additional fat grams & sodium from fast food is where the fat around the belly comes from.
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I think all Americans are too much health conscious and may be that's the reason!! -
Lack of physical activity. I gained 15 lbs my freshman year of college, another 15 my sophomore year... and at the age of 29 I was put on high blood pressure med, and quit having those girly monthly cycles due to the rapid weight gain. I know it was because of the change in lifestyle... from sitting on my butt for hours in classes, to sitting on my butt for hours writing papers... (sigh)
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Because they eat do much fatty unhealthy food with-out thinking about it.
Because they sit at their computers, game systems, and tvs to much.
Isn't that how our media wants us to be tho?-
it's the only escape from reality we have..
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High Fructose Corn Syrup-
the breakfast of champions.
which reminds me I posted a vid I found on youtube of how mcdonalds food decays over time. It was actually pretty interesting.
otaku-anonymous.com/?p=68 have a look if you dare. -
Techfun, you are right on point about High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). In the 1960's, companies started using HFCS as a sugar substitute, due to the fact that it is less expensive than sugar. I will explain why this is a problem.
Our digestive systems have two main hormones which are released to control appetite and hunger. Ghrelin is released by the stomach, and is what tells us that we are hungry. Conversely, leptin tells your brain that you are full.
The problem is that HFCS inhibits leptin secretion, so you never get the message that you are full. In addition, it never shuts off the signal from ghrelin, so even though you have fooed in your stomach, you constantly get the message that you are hungry. -
There is more to it than just the biological aspects.
When HFCS was introduced it was expected to REPLACE a great deal of sugar in the American diet and production and importation of sugar was expected to flatten and decline. Instead we have added all this HFCS to our diets and still continued to see an increase in sugar production and imports at the same rate as before the introduction of HFCS. (citation: The Omnivore's Dilemma review at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040601701.ht... )
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fast food and we are always on the go.. -
A lot of my friends from other countries have commented that the portions that we eat are enormous.. usually twice or three times the size that they consume at a time.. and that we depend on our cars way too much...
I have noticed that when I lived in New York City... I didn't see a lot of obese people.. overweight.. yes.. but not obese.. I think it's all the walking we have to do
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food-
Thanks.
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thanks for responding...
to be honest, i don't live in the US, but we all have a tendency to over eat. What I keep hearing from people is that the American diet is generally not very good at all and people that I have met that go over there are in shock at the way people eat. Most people I know eat very fresh healthy food, but I live in a country area. A lot of kids about 12 that I have met that saw the Siper Size Me movie, will not eat maccas, these are twelve year olds making conscious decisions. My son goes for hot chips, not maccas but he eats very well because he's gluten free. Lots of people are dairy and wheat intolerant but aren't aware of it.
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Portions, certainly, and the long hours with fewer vacations that Americans tend to put in at work.
How many times do you see recommendations in the media to spend a half hour of your lunch break at the gym, or walking a few miles?
Well, that's very nice, but what if you don't take a lunch break because you have too much work to get done? Or you only GET a half hour for lunch?
Exercise is great, but it takes time. -
Stop blogging and start jogging!
Many people spend way too much time on the keyboards (myself included)
My puppies keep me active though and on a weight decline. I have always cooked, so that is not my problem. I like to eat real food too late at night and then fall asleep. I am sure many of you do the same.-
I saw, not long ago, a piece about some doctor who started a line of office furniture that amounted to a standing computer station fixed over a slow treadmill.
Now if I could get a doctor to prescribe the thing I'd be set. As I recall it was something other than affordable.
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Thanks Rozie818. That's actually a good point. We eat our largest meal of the day (dinner), late. After this, we wind down, and go to bed. In reality, it would make sense to eat our largest meal earlier in the day, when it is most likely to be followed by the most activity.
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Hey average JT lol I wasn't talking about dinner, I was talking about post dinner lol I'll sit in front of the tube 10 pm and down a hero sandwich, or a plate of pasta. I wish it only dinner. lol
I used to eat burgers for breakfast years ago, when I need the juice to get through work.
BTW good question -
PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO EAT RIGHT... -
kentucky fried chicken -
I'll ponder this question over a Rueben with extra cheese.
It's not nec. "bad" food. I eat great food. I just like it a lot more than I probably should. I would say that less physical activity than would be ideal is the source of my etra weight. 6'1" 325lbs been there for a year actually down from 380lbs. -
Hmmm, I think back to 1992 when two of us went to Europe on business. We were in the food business, and the express purpose of our trip was to "eat and drink" our way through Europe.
He and I both gained 20 pounds in 22 days. We were very active, hiking around the countryside, and hauling backpacks... the the food and beer and wine had more calories than we could burn.
I've never, ever lost that 20 pounds. In fact, thanks to a ton of stress, and going through "the change" I added another 40 that I've not yet lost.
Now, living on the farm and doing chores every day, I've managed to shed 18 pounds without dieting. Will it continue? Who knows... we've already modified some our chores to make life easier.-
That goes to show that the automation of society also makes us less active.
Eg. A robotic vacuum cleaner??? -
Hey, robotic vacuums are a necessity. How can I eat popcorn if one of my hands is occupied with vacuuming?
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pizza and burger -
that's it I'm gonna go have lapband surgery.
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Really? Because I really like the you I know from BC. You can't contribute if you get sick!
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how exactly would I be getting sick?
I like me too }:o)
Im Sexah -
Thanks for that! I needed a smile today.
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I would say lack of discipline.
When you have a TV to entertain you, there is no need to do anything else, I suppose... -
Did anyone read that book "Fast Food Nation"? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Food_Nation
Aside from fast food consumption, many people are emotional eaters.. they'd rather eat than deal with difficult issues.. and then there are others who eat when they are happy.-
globalgirl, thank you for that link. That really causes you to take an introspective look at how the fast food marketing has worked on us from young, to create a positive association with fast food.
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Marketing and brand loyalty can be very powerful. Fast food chains have done a very persuasive marketing campaign indeed.
Another point worth mentioning is the OLD FOOD PYRAMID that recently got changed. If you remember, the old food chain that most of us were indoctrinated to believe as being true, placed carbs on the bottom. Guess who profited from this lie? You got it: corporations - including the manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies (for the meds!).
They became financially fat while creating an epidemic of obesity.
Processed foods, soft drinks and an excessive intake of sugar have contributed to America's fatness. Who owns these companies? Just like nicotine companies know that tobacco is cancer producing, they continue to produce and market their product.
It's a vicious cycle.
Let's stop the insanity. Shop at Wholefoods, Farmer's Markets, etc and start a passive and peaceful uprising over this!
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it's seriously 65%? i live in SoCal and actually see more skinny people than fat. guess it depends where you are?-
It really is. It's literally an epidemic.
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The American (and European, if something doesn't change soon) way of life makes you fat. I don't think it is an individual issue anymore. If 65 % of americans are overweight, then as a culture you're doing something wrong. -
And I believe individualization actually contributes to the problem. Culturally you're surrounded by food that isn't good for you, targeted with advertisement and then you're suppose to exercise self control? We know Americans aren't going to miraculously wake up and grow a spine, so perhaps considering social solutions would be the answer. Not only education but directly changing the cultural environment, so there are lesser temptations for everyone.
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The ironic thing in all of this, is that the Wellness Industry has grown in the USA from being a $200 Billion industry in 2002, to a $500 Billion industry in 2007. Top economists state that the Wellness Industry will become the fourth Trillion Dollar industry in the USA by 2012.
The other three Trillion Dollar industries are the Healthcare Industry, the Computer Industry, and not surprisingly, the Food Industry.
Unfortunately, the past growth of the Wellness Industry has been attributed to a small segment of the population who has changed their habits regarding food and nutrition.-
What kind of things do you think motivate that small segment of the population? Health issues, self image? Some say it's the aging baby boomers who realize exercise and weight loss are vital to a quality life in their senior years.
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probably the small spread of health conscience media, IE: stuff like the vid I posted earlier.
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Hi kab625. I think it's two-fold. I honestly believe that there is a segment of the population which was already somewhat health conscious, and is making a larger shift towards Wellness.
I also agree with what you said regarding the "aging baby boomers who realize exercise and weight loss are vital to a quality life in their senior years".
The US GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is $14 Trillion. Baby Boomers account for $7 Trillion of the US GDP. While this segment of the population is aging, a large number of individuals in this segment wish to age as gracefully as possible, and are turning to a wellness lifestyle. As you said, many aging baby boomers arerealize exercise and weight loss are vital to a quality life in their senior years.
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Cola and FastFood -
To much JUNK food that is cheap and so readily available. Whenever I visit the States I get back to NZ feeling a litte unhealthy. -
I don't agree that the weight issue in North America is necessarily caused by over-eating alone. It's a myriad of issues (*cue groans from peanut gallery...*). Here's a few as I see 'em!:
-I think we have a shitty outlook on nutrition in general. I don't think the majority think about, let alone understand, the stuff that we push through our lips. Sure, we're just having "a few Oreos", "a brownie", "some fries"... but that won't fill us up, and for all the low-volume fat/calories/sugar we just consumed unthinkingly, we could have had a nice real snack: a veggie sandwich on whole wheat, cereal and a banana, etc. Oh, but that would be being a pig!
-People seem to think diet and nutrition is overly complicated and I don't think we ever give ourselves a chance. Food is considered more of a treat, something to do, than it is a biological component for life.
-The doctors employed to aid us in living a healthy life don't learn much more than the basics about vitamins and nutrients in school.
-There are screwed up extremes here. We have the luxury in N. America of viewing food as something other than a necessity. We have the resources to tart up our food. We can buy prepackaged, interesting, tasty, but utterly useless food with zero nutrition content (juice from concentrate, refined flours, etc.) We feel we are "doing without" something if we eat primarily staple foods: lentils, steamed veggies, fruits, blah blah. -
Food, More Junkfoods
Lack of physical exercise, rather movement? -
some possibilities:
low income family = overweight:
higher income = slimmer
it costs money to eat well and the right things
another possibility:
lazy, too "busy" to cook at home, distracted, not taking the time to chew food but gobbling it down, not knowing when to say no, thank you.-
Good observation.
The fact of the matter is that food companies literally target lower income, unhealthy, overweight consumers for their products.
Certain packaged food companies actually employ psychologists to measure the EEG (brain waves) of a sample group of the demographic which they are targeting, while watching a pilot of the advertisement which they are considering. A past Clinical Psychology professor showed us video of this being done.
As a result, the lower income, unhealthy, overweight consumers are most greatly affected by birrage of messages, calculated to make that segment eat more of the worst possible food.
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We blame blog catalog! :0)-
Ha Ha!! I went to America (FLorida) in the early '90's and I was just amazed (AMAZED) at the size of the portions they serve up! No wonder that country has a weight problem.
Incidently, the worst meal I had over there was a macdonalds. Utter cardboard - just couldn't eat it - felt like Messr DOuglas in Falling Down.
The 'Grassy Knowle Gang' would probably say its a ploy to kill a few of the population off to save on money (and oil). -
Your mentioning the portion size reminded me of something that I should mention.
If you are trying to lose weight, and are using 12 inch plates, switch to 9 inch plates. Part of being feeling full, is visual. If you use a 9 inch plate, the same amount of food will appear to be a greater portion than it would on a 12 inch plate. It has been psychologically proven, that we will feel more full if we eat the same sized portion from a 9 inch plate, as opposed to a 12 inch plate.
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It is the fast food, Americans always have someplace to be and the convenience of fast food is killing us. I think it's time to slow down, take time to cook a decent meal. You will be healthier and if you start eating healthier, your body will respond with more energy as your arteries become less clogged.
McDonalds- where you pay to be slowly poisoned over an extended period of time
I would like to add that I was a Marine...denied all fast food when in boot camp...after boot camp I went to BK and within 15 minutes of eating was puking violently as my healthy body attempted to purge itself of the impurities I had ingested. Anyone can go 3 months without fast food and they will have the same result, I witnessed it too many times with fellow Marines.-
Of course, the counter to this will be that people don't have time to cook meals.
However, I read something interesting on someone's blog yesterday. The blog was actually related to debt elimination and frugality, but made a great suggestion.
It stated that we should cook a large meal on Sunday, and then have left overs throughout the week. Not only will this save money, it will give us the convenience of fast food, saving us from being poisoned over an extended period of time, as ProBlogReviews so accurately put it.
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off topic- I checked out your blog Brian, it is amazing so I posted a review on it. Good Luck on the show.
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We don't get enough sleep.-
That is accurate. Inadequate sleep causes our brains to release less of the pleasure hormone serotonin. To compensate, we try and increase those levels with foods which are high in sugar, or bad habits such as smoking.
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I think fast food has become such a mainstay in our culture, it'd be hard to break the habit. It would be easier to change the fast food menus, which they seem to be slowly doing, adding salads, fruit, cutting out trans fats, etc., than it would be to make everyone stop eating at the fast food places.
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It's in thier diet. Too much grease and too much meat. An American breakfast? Bacon, eggs (not 1 egg but at least 2 eggs), sausage etc... the etc being more fatty and greasy stuff.-
I don't know any American who eats that for breakfast. Actually, I know very few Americans who regularly eat breakfast, but those who do seem to eat mainly fruit, bagels, cereal--things you can eat on the go or at your desk.
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Same here. Those sorts of breakfasts MIGHT be more of a weekend thing for most people, if at all.
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The real "American" Breakfast is coffee.
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Dane, you are probably correct. The problem with that, is that when we do not eat after going so many hours without eating, (ie. breakfast = breaking the fast since dinner), our body goes into starvation mode, and our metabolism slows down. Further, we tend to over-eat at our next meal.
This has contributed to our weight epidemic. -
I don't know anyone who eats bacon, eggs, sausage for breakfast anymore.
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I believe the rise of "new" fast food chains is the main contributor to the epidemic. It's not only about McDonald and KFC anymore.
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I think lots of people skip their morning meal and that's a big part of it and
finding time to go swimming three time a week for a 45 min swim. this will help I do it all the time.
Find time to eat in the morning even swim if the pool opens before you go to school or work. -
It is the growing number of new gadgets and such that make ilife easier, therefore people do not have to put forther much effort to do many things so that rolls right over into exercise. You don't even have to vacuum anymore because there are robotic devices for that, so why would you get up to exercise when you can just sit back with the remote and also visit a drive thru to have breakfas, lunch and dinner within 5 minutes or less. -
I think that a big part of the problem is not what we eat but how much we eat. Look at the sizes of all those fast food meals. Its double meat this and triple cheese that, and the drinks are just crazy big. A large drink from 10 years ago is a small today. Do we really need 64+ oz. of soda in a sitting?
Personally, I can eat just about anything I want, and not gain any weight. I've been 155 lbs for almost 25 years. I don't workout, I don’t eat breakfast (except on the weekends) and I also eat a late lunch...about 1:30, which generally consists of just a sandwich, a bag of chips, and an old school medium coke
Maybe I just have a high metabolism? Or maybe… -
Not enough activity and whole foods in our diets. If people really got the nutrition they needed, they wouldn't crave food all the time.
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