View Full Version : Why are Americans obese?
EmeraldAxe
06-03-09, 04:07 PM
Let's find out what people think. Extra points for whomever uses evolution in their explanation.
mikenostic
06-03-09, 04:11 PM
Let's find out what people think. Extra points for whomever uses evolution in their explanation.
How would evolution fit into the scenario?
Orleander
06-03-09, 04:13 PM
Native Americans are getting more obese because their bodies have evolved to hang onto every calorie it can due to periods of starvation.
Other Americans are fat because they eat too much crap and exercise too little.
spidergoat
06-03-09, 04:23 PM
There is that evolutionary reason, combined with deregulation of our food industry leading to widespread use of high fructose corn syrup, and a landscape designed around the automobile.
EmeraldAxe
06-03-09, 04:47 PM
HBO removed the interview with David Kessler MD/PhD, proprietary rights. This is all I could find.
http://fora.tv/2009/04/27/How_to_End_Overeating_Dr_David_Kessler
He just wrote a book called, The End of Overeating. I haven't read his book, but I'm guessing over the course of an hour (video above) he covers most of the main points.
So, if he's right. Do we need to take action on the food companies similar to what happened in the 90's with nicotine?
joepistole
06-03-09, 05:05 PM
Answer to OP, because we can be!
nietzschefan
06-03-09, 05:07 PM
People eat too much. The food is shit generally. People are lazy and do not exercise, even with a sit-on-yer-ass job.
Japarican
06-03-09, 05:20 PM
Diet. Sedentary lifestyle
chris4355
06-03-09, 06:11 PM
cheap fast shit food
spidergoat
06-03-09, 06:23 PM
An obesity virus, or perhaps a deficit in some kind of beneficial bacteria of the colon, leading to nutrient deficiency.
superstring01
06-03-09, 06:29 PM
Why are Americans obese?
Because they eat too much junk and get too little exercise.
~String
cosmictraveler
06-03-09, 08:02 PM
Why are Americans obese?
Foods today contain more fatty crap than ever before as well as chemicals and other ingredients that create more fat in humans. Without exercising to remove all this excess fat humans become fatter.
Carcano
06-03-09, 08:14 PM
Is there any such thing as a fat chimpanzee???
superstring01
06-03-09, 10:33 PM
Is there any such thing as a fat chimpanzee???
The combination of their natural and necessarily balanced diet (veggies with a smattering of bugs they scarf up) and their mobile lifestyle keeps such things in check. I doubt you'd find an obese human being before 10,000 years ago. If so, I'd be willing to wager that they were so exceedingly rare as to be statistically unimportant.
~String
PieAreSquared
06-03-09, 10:43 PM
it's only the men... no such thing as a fat woman ;)
madanthonywayne
06-03-09, 10:45 PM
Eating is pleasurable, and us Americans can afford all we want. Exercise isn't pleasurable, and we've aranged our lives so that we really don't get any exercise in the course of a normal day unless we go out of our way to hit the gym.
PieAreSquared
06-03-09, 10:55 PM
I find exercise quite enjoyable .. I like my 5 or 6 mile bike rides everyday.
I don't want to be a sloth.
Carcano
06-03-09, 11:14 PM
The combination of their natural and necessarily balanced diet (veggies with a smattering of bugs they scarf up) and their mobile lifestyle keeps such things in check. I doubt you'd find an obese human being before 10,000 years ago. If so, I'd be willing to wager that they were so exceedingly rare as to be statistically unimportant.
What happened 10,000 years ago...grain agriculture???
Let's find out what people think. Extra points for whomever uses evolution in their explanation.
1) Caloric intake has remained static if it hasn't increased slightly over that last few hundred years. In the same time frame, physical activity has been slowing gradually.
2) Processed food. High fructose corn syrup has been show in rats to fatten the liver and induce type 2 diabetes when combined with a high fat diet in just 4 weeks. Also, HFCS doesn't signal to the brain that any food has been eaten. So if you down a 300 calorie Coca-Cola... your body just looks at it like it's water.
3) In a few social circles, one is applauded if they are fat.
4) The shift in our diet over the last few thousand years. Our bodies evolved to eat high protein and high fat foods. Meat, nuts, and a few berries along the way. When fruits were in season and they were plentiful.. that's when we would eat them.
cosmictraveler
06-04-09, 07:58 AM
I don't want to be a sloth.
Hey why not, sloths are very interesting animals that are very fit although they just "hang around" allot. They also don't get fat either. ;)
http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/sevcik/three-toed-sloth--choloepus-hoffmani.jpg
Foods today contain more fatty crap than ever before as well as chemicals and other ingredients that create more fat in humans. Without exercising to remove all this excess fat humans become fatter.
I hope that you aren't implying that eating fat makes you fat.
cosmictraveler
06-04-09, 08:04 AM
I hope that you aren't implying that eating fat makes you fat.
No, not at all. My point was that the chemicals they put into foods makes fat harder top remove because the way the chemicals act upon your metabolism.
Challenger78
06-04-09, 08:28 AM
We australians are now the most obese. I blame Beer.
phlogistician
06-04-09, 08:40 AM
Exercise isn't pleasurable,
Shagging, surfing, and snowboarding are all exercise.
Try one of them sometime.
inzomnia
06-04-09, 09:26 AM
I have a question which is still related with the topic: why is it that only American got obese? :shrug: Some posters here have said that it's because they (American) can (afford it). But what about this:
http://www.oftwominds.com/photos07/global-BMI.gif
Body mass index (BMI) Categories:
* Underweight = <18.5
* Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
* Overweight = 25-29.9
* Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
Surely it doesn't mean the Japanese or French can't afford their foods? :shrug:
Edit: sorry, I read the graph wrong. The y axis is not BMI, but percentage of population above 25 years old with BMI above 30 (obese). Still, American has the highest number (30.6%).
inzomnia
06-04-09, 09:41 AM
1) Caloric intake has remained static if it hasn't increased slightly over that last few hundred years. In the same time frame, physical activity has been slowing gradually.
2) Processed food. High fructose corn syrup has been show in rats to fatten the liver and induce type 2 diabetes when combined with a high fat diet in just 4 weeks. Also, HFCS doesn't signal to the brain that any food has been eaten. So if you down a 300 calorie Coca-Cola... your body just looks at it like it's water.
3) In a few social circles, one is applauded if they are fat.
4) The shift in our diet over the last few thousand years. Our bodies evolved to eat high protein and high fat foods. Meat, nuts, and a few berries along the way. When fruits were in season and they were plentiful.. that's when we would eat them.
Are these limited to American? Also, I wonder why Mexico comes up as second most obese..
madanthonywayne
06-04-09, 10:34 AM
Shagging, surfing, and snowboarding are all exercise.
Try one of them sometime.
Shagging? Who are you, Austin Powers?:) But seriously, I've actually tryed that argument with my wife. We should have sex twice a day for the aerobic exercize. Sadly, she didn't buy it. But that is one exercise I engage in as often as possible. Surfing? Pretty tough to do in the middle of a continent with no ocean's for thousands of miles. And snowboarding? Well, in addition to a dearth of oceans, it's quite flat around here. You could stand on a snowboard, but you're not going anywhere.
By the way, the reasons I gave were general. I actually work out 2 or 3 times a week. (well, I have been for the past month or so).
madanthonywayne
06-04-09, 11:17 AM
I have a question which is still related with the topic: why is it that only American got obese? :shrug: Some posters here have said that it's because they (American) can (afford it). But what about this:
http://www.oftwominds.com/photos07/global-BMI.gif
Body mass index (BMI) Categories:
* Underweight = <18.5
* Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
* Overweight = 25-29.9
* Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
Surely it doesn't mean the Japanese or French can't afford their foods? :shrug:
Edit: sorry, I read the graph wrong. The y axis is not BMI, but percentage of population above 25 years old with BMI above 30 (obese). Still, American has the highest number (30.6%).
Looking at your graph, all the fatest countries seem to be English speaking (except for Mexico, but perhaps her proximity to the US is responsible for Mexico being the exception to that rule). Perhaps the diet we all inherited from England (meat and potatoes and not many other vegetables) is responsible.
inzomnia
06-04-09, 11:28 AM
Looking at your graph, all the fatest countries seem to be English speaking (except for Mexico, but perhaps her proximity to the US is responsible for Mexico being the exception to that rule). Perhaps the diet we all inherited from England (meat and potatoes and not many other vegetables) is responsible.
Yea, the English speaking countries are on the top 10 (US, UK, Australia, NZ, and Canada)... interesting observation! As for the meat and potatoes, I'm not so sure.. many Europeans drink so much beer, cheese, milk, pasta, and I guess meat, too.. Perhaps it has to do with them (the top 10) as plural or new countries, i.e. has a lot of immigrants and so lots of variety of cuisines? :p
justwonderingjoe
06-04-09, 11:46 AM
HBO removed the interview with David Kessler MD/PhD, proprietary rights. This is all I could find.
http://fora.tv/2009/04/27/How_to_End_Overeating_Dr_David_Kessler
He just wrote a book called, The End of Overeating. I haven't read his book, but I'm guessing over the course of an hour (video above) he covers most of the main points.
So, if he's right. Do we need to take action on the food companies similar to what happened in the 90's with nicotine?
From what I watched it looks like a great video.
Personally, I feel much better when I eliminate sweets and bread from my diet. It takes me about a week or two to stop the cravings.
I don't believe taking action on food companies is needed. I feel a person needs to make decisions on their own about what to eat or what not to eat.
Syzygys
06-04-09, 12:19 PM
Extra points for whomever uses evolution in their explanation.
I want the extra points! The technical revolution (kind of evolution for humans, less physical work) causes Americans to move less and the aviability of cheap and good food (good food doesn't equal healthy!) causes them to be fat.
What did I win?
inzomnia
06-04-09, 12:34 PM
I want the extra points! The technical revolution (kind of evolution for humans, less physical work) causes Americans to move less and the aviability of cheap and good food (good food doesn't equal healthy!) causes them to be fat.
What did I win?
The Japanese don't have technical revolution? :confused: On the basis of the percentage of population above 25 y.o, there are 10 times obese people in USA than that in Japan. I have to agree with Absane and Madant, something with American makes them like to eat meat so much.
Norsefire
06-04-09, 12:47 PM
Syzgyz hit the nail on the head.
As technology develops, we move and work less and less...and food, especially that yummy greasy food we all love, is more and more available.
Fatty, calorie-packed food + next to no exercise = obesity!
inzomnia
06-04-09, 12:50 PM
Heyyy... the Japanese and the Germans aren't obese.. they don't have the technology or luxury to live in comfort like Americans?
inzomnia
06-04-09, 12:51 PM
Heyyy... the Japanese and the Germans aren't obese.. they don't have the technology or luxury to live in comfort like Americans?
Ok, I am going to answer that for myself. The Japanese and Germans are known to be hard working / serious people... while the Americans... hint.. hint.. :D
Japarican
06-04-09, 12:53 PM
The japanese diet is very different from the U.S. They eat lots of fish and don't snack on junk food every day.
Syzygys
06-04-09, 01:25 PM
Heyyy... the Japanese and the Germans aren't obese.. they don't have the technology or luxury to live in comfort like Americans?
Have you ever eaten at a Chinese all-you-can-eat buffee? You eat yourself to death and 2 hours later you are hungry again. (same with Japanese food)
I don't even want to mention German food, because there is a reason why there are no German restaurant around the world...
Mickmeister
06-04-09, 01:25 PM
Because the food served here is shit and finding restaurants that serve healthy food are few and far between. Most don't even begin to realize how horrible the food is they are consuming in most restaurants.
Plus, the serving sizes are ridiculous.
Syzygys
06-04-09, 01:28 PM
Plus, the serving sizes are ridiculous.
True:
http://blog.syracuse.com/storefront/2007/08/large_bigmacII.jpg
For comparison, here is an American size and a German size burger:
http://www.competitiveeaters.com/images/108_000.JPG
Syzygys
06-04-09, 01:31 PM
Harrisburg, PA just for puking purposes:
http://www.dennysbeerbarrelpub.com/IMAGES/DSCN0155.JPG
At one of my fav restaurant, Bucca di Beppo, they don't even have single meals, you have to order a double...
inzomnia
06-04-09, 01:35 PM
Harrisburg, PA just for puking purposes:
http://www.dennysbeerbarrelpub.com/IMAGES/DSCN0155.JPG
At one of my fav restaurant, Bucca di Beppo, they don't even have single meals, you have to order a double...
Omg.... :puke: (the burger)
It seems that tasty food aren't healthy or junk foods are tastier (than healthy foods).
otheadp
06-04-09, 02:11 PM
1) There is so much food readily available and for cheap -- probably more than in any other country on earth.
2) A lot of it is made of toxic waste (ok - hyperbole there, but it's not too far from the truth)
3) Inactive life style:
- Office work - we sit on our asses all day as opposed to working the fields
- Computer games - kids increasingly get their after-school entertainment at home behind a desk / on the couch
- Cheap cars - because cars are so affordable, more and more people have them, and use them, to go everywhere instead of biking, walking, etc.
Nowadays when somebody is fit it is more likely because they actively make an effort to, and not because of their natural life style. In 2nd/3rd world countries people are fit (or at least not obese) because their regular routines make them so. They don't need to go on a special diet or sign up to a fitness club.
PieAreSquared
06-04-09, 02:25 PM
Mexico may be 2nd in obesity, but their incidence of heart trouble is a lot lower
Mickmeister
06-04-09, 02:52 PM
True otheadp ..... americans use their cars in stead of walking ... statistics show americans walk about 1000 steps a day .... french people take 10000 steps a day ......
American food has too many calories ..... ever been to an american diner and ordered full breakfast ??? .... enough calories for a day !!!
Also americans are stressed - long working hours and long transport ... short holidays ..... eating relieves stress .... it is easy to fall into a pattern and get bad eating habits .......
Genetics ....... hmmm, might be a reason .... also there is this "obesity virus" around ....
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482788,00.html
LOL! I always just shake my head at ones that I see drive around and around a parking lot looking for the closest parking space. It's not like this is a few, it's a lot of drivers that do this. I am always thinking what the issue is with walking a few more steps instead of being lazy and wasting gas and time. :rolleyes:
You also have to look at American mentality. If you are walking or bicycling somewhere, then you are automatically assumed to be in a lower class and are poor. :rolleyes:
EmeraldAxe
06-04-09, 07:54 PM
Saving steps in the US of A ................. :p
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9074/fitnessw.jpg
Brilliant. I hope you don't mind if I use this.
superstring01
06-05-09, 07:08 PM
Yea, the English speaking countries are on the top 10 (US, UK, Australia, NZ, and Canada)... interesting observation! As for the meat and potatoes, I'm not so sure.. many Europeans drink so much beer, cheese, milk, pasta, and I guess meat, too.. Perhaps it has to do with them (the top 10) as plural or new countries, i.e. has a lot of immigrants and so lots of variety of cuisines? :p
That last observation is interesting.
I tend to see it as lifestyle. The English culture, for all its gifts, has imbued us with an austerity that makes us think "we deserve it..." and "we want it NOW" which translates into bad eating habits for most of us.
Shit, I'm addicted to pancakes. I'm obsessed. I think about them all week. I allow myself to eat them ONE day (Fri, Sat or Sun... whichever) and I totally pig out. If I gave in to my baser instincts, I'd be as big as a house. And weighing 190lbs (6' though) right now, I really don't want to put on any more weight.
~String
Because we eat large portions of fatty food and take the car to the corner store.
PieAreSquared
06-05-09, 07:43 PM
Shit, I'm addicted to pancakes. I'm obsessed.
stop...you're making me hungry.....guess i could ride my bike over to IHOP ;)
Shit, I'm addicted to pancakes. I'm obsessed.
stop...you're making me hungry.....guess i could ride my bike over to IHOP ;)
MMMM blueberry pancakes
Syzygys
06-05-09, 08:49 PM
Also I bet car ownership and usage is bigger in the States then in Japan. Even if you use public transportation you still have to walk a lot. Not with a car...
Edit: USA 478, Japan 396 per 1000
CutsieMarie89
06-05-09, 09:04 PM
We eat too much and more than 5 steps is too far to walk. So we drive.
lightgigantic
06-05-09, 09:06 PM
industrial white collar economy = sedimentary lifestyle
superstring01
06-05-09, 11:22 PM
industrial white collar economy = sedimentary lifestyle
You mean sedentary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedentary), right?
~String
Lucysnow
06-06-09, 04:54 AM
Eating is pleasurable, and us Americans can afford all we want. Exercise isn't pleasurable, and we've aranged our lives so that we really don't get any exercise in the course of a normal day unless we go out of our way to hit the gym.
Oh please the French and Italians have a much more refined sense of culinary delights and they aren't fat porkers. The average American finds eating crap pleasurable because they have forgotten the art of wholesome meals!
Thank you for your inquiry. This topic has been analyzed in considerable detail here: http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=67091
Indeed, the blubber epidemic is notorious. God bless.
Oh please the French and Italians have a much more refined sense of culinary delights and they aren't fat porkers. The average American finds eating crap pleasurable because they have forgotten the art of wholesome meals!
Or how about... the French are homosexuals with nothing better to do than act pretentious?
I don't give a shit about "culinary delights." And I don't eat like an "average American." My plates are quick and to the point... fuel with flavor.
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