Americans are fat

[grudk]

It's a huge problem in the US, but FWIW morbid obesity is actually MORE common in the UK than in the US by percentage of the population now.

The rest of Europe is catching up fast, and as such the diet industry is booming internationally. Childhood obesity is increasingly common in China, too. My friend who sells diet products sells does big business in Asia, India, and even Africa.

Being in the medical profession, I can tell you that the truly obese are seldom seen. The problem is quite a bit worse than you imagine, but to characterize it as an American phenomenon is inaccurate. We are just 'ahead' of most countries with this problem. Not for long, though, I suspect.

[Racerbvd]

[Dottore]

Well, there is that.

[Markus33]

Three common problem with the American diet:

1) Partially Hydrogenated Oil/Fat - it's cheaper than butter and increases shelf life of food but the human body doesn't break it down as well as the real thing. You've got to read the fine print to find it but it's all over the place.

2) High Fructose Corn Syrup - mentioned earlier in thread.

3) Grain Fed Beef - also commonplace in America. Cows are designed to eat grass (2 stomachs). In order for them to consume grain (cheaper, less land needed) they must be fed antibiotics as well. Without the meds, the grain diet will kill the cows. The grain-fed beef is missing Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) which normally helps our bodies burn the saturated fat as fuel. Ever try to find grass-fed beef in America? It's not so easy to find and usually priced at a premium. It's interesting when you cook the grass-fed beef because the fat flows out at a lower temperature!

Of course we don't exercise enough either but I think it all starts with the diet. And as individuals, we all pay for the above shortcuts through higher health insurance premiums. In order to improve the situation, the American consumer has to be more savvy, spend more money on better quality food and spend more time in preparing it. How many are willing / able to do so?

Markus

[450knotOffice]

Richard, you are right on the ball. When I travel to almost any place on this planet (and I've been to a LOT of places over the years), one of the things I notice almost universally is that most everybody is NORMAL in size - unlike here in the US. Imagine that!

Btw, it is a FACT that most of us Americans stand out like bright beacons everywhere we go. I notice them so easily in Europe because they are generally shaped like...well...like Americans - that is to say, like over sized pears.

It is embarrasing actually.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Zef

We went to Disney in Orlando this summer...We saw lot of fat peoples using the electric cart...and not because an handicap was present...but because they were too big to walk...

I see the same thing here at Disney in LA. Grossly obese folks in electric carts with a churro in their hand and the remains of their lunch on their chest. It's freaking disgusting.

[URY914]

Last night I had wings, fries and a few beers for dinner. It was real good.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I almost want to pipe up and say "NO you can't have more icecream! You didn't finish your cabbage!"
LOL, I'm going to be a prick father.

Wrong - you'll make a GREAT father! Speaking of fatness and Canada, I just got back from Ottawa. Not sure what your experience there is but all I can say is "WOW!" It's the opposite of fat there. I've never seen so much concentrated hotness anywhere. We were marveling at it. Told my clients they will receive a substantial discount for any work there! We all refer to it as Hot-tawa now. (rimshot-faint clapping from back of room)

More points-

Most of my old high school friends are Republican. Every one of them is fat! Really sad. Maybe they spend more time making money than concentrating on their health. Not sure. Oh yeah - they all smoke and most of them whine about never getting laid. Go figure.

These same people have fat kids (apparently they got laid once) and an innability to say "No!". I watched at a high school reunion picnic as these little tubs devoured anything in site. ALL of it loaded with sugar and/or fat. I just don't get it. They are killing their kids! I want to tell my old friends to strap on a set and start parenting, but I know it will be in vain.

I don't believe being overweight correlates with a lack of intelligence or income. Many people I know that are overweight are a hell of a lot smarter than I and earn more money too.

I've never been to Russia, but it surprises me that they have good taste. Here they dress very poorly. Ill fitting, out of date, out of season, LOTS of poly. That said, even poorly dressed, I LOVE EE women!