America's Obesity Problem

[archerarmored]

Instead of making you people read through my stuff, I'm cutting right to the cheese and asking what you guys think about it....

[Funk]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

It's a large problem.

[IRC]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

[John Mora]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

They're not fat chicks anymore, they're BBWs.

Mm-mm.

[IRC]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

Wow, america's corrupted youth.

[Kire]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

I really try not to judge, having not been at the weight I'd like to be and struggling w/ not being able to eat the same stuff as my friends cuz I can't keep up w/ their metabolism, but you should really start taking care of yourself when you get to a certain piont of being overweight..

I think American society promotes our fatness just by structure alone. Have you ever tried getting a healthy lunch on your lunch hour? You have to look hard...and on top of that, work long hours at a desk, come home, hardly be able to motivate yourself to do anything...

*waits for Terr's post about the American work week*

[Denmo]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

America's culture and economy as a whole is designed to make the middle-class lazy, compared to other third-worlders.

However, there really is no excuse to be fat or overweight, unless it's disease/work related. I think everyone has the ability and time to get up and get out. They're just not choosing to.

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

Yeah, when you think about it, fat people really don't have an excuse. I know I didn't. I just kinda looked down at my body and was like, "WHOA. How did THIS happen?" I mean, how do you miss the opportunity to correct that?

P.S. I'm not fat anymore.

[The Toecutter]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

the American work week

That's half the problem. Thus, fast food has become the norm here, while in other industrialized countries like Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, fast food is generally shunned due to its lack of quality and due to the fact that people actually have time to sit down and enjoy a meal, unlike America, where people shoving low quality food down their throats while trying to make a commute on time because their greedy employer wants to work them like dogs for as little pay as possible is the norm.

Add to that a lack of income for food means you're going to buy lower quality and fattier foods, usually fatty low quality hamburger, cheap government-subsidized dairy products(high calories per dollar ratio), and lots of cheap starchy filling foods like potatoes. Low quality, poor nutrients, cheap, and high in calories. The American diet. Throw some hot Pockets in the microwave and scarf it down while you're on your way to work. Can't be costing any precious company time now with trivial things like eating, sleeping, and enjoying yourself.

With the advent of genetically modified crops and their complecations, poor sanitary conditions in food processing plants, and the spread of BSE within cattle, the American diet is also quite poisonous. I won't go into some rant, but an excellent source of info is a book titled Fast Food Nation. Although not all-encompassing or comprehensive on the nature of the problems, it is a must read.

[Nixon]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

Yeah, when you think about it, fat people really don't have an excuse

Actually, some of them do. Sometimes their weight is directly related to a medical condition. One of my friends at work is overwieght, but she can't help it. She has a number of health conditions that make it almost impossible for her to lose weight. It's tough for her, because people judge her harshly for something she really can't control at all.

I try to be sensitive to those types of issues, although usually, most people that are overweight can do something about it.

Dave was slightly overweight for a while because his diet sucked. He was eating junk and had no time or money for decent meals. Once his situation improved, he was able to lose the weight he had gained and get back to a healthy norm. Exercise seemed to be the key.

I think we as a nation need to get more active. Just taking walks around your neighborhood or 10-15 mins of other types of exercise a day can help.

[Loki]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

Exercise seemed to be the key.

You're a fool! Exercise shmetzersize. It's all about Carb counting!

[The Toecutter]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

Actually, some of them do. Sometimes their weight is directly related to a medical condition. One of my friends at work is overwieght, but she can't help it. She has a number of health conditions that make it almost impossible for her to lose weight. It's tough for her, because people judge her harshly for something she really can't control at all.

My friend Jenny has this problem due to hormone imbalances. People used to mess with her because of it.

Dave was slightly overweight for a while because his diet sucked. He was eating junk and had no time or money for decent meals.

This is the situation for most people that are overweight.

Once his situation improved, he was able to lose the weight he had gained and get back to a healthy norm. Exercise seemed to be the key.

Too bad exercise takes time. Time which no one making < $12/hour, with kids, and/or not living in their parents' home has. Otherwise the problem in America would be solved.

In Europe with 30 hour and under workweeks the norm, even after taxes people there still get paid more per annum than we do(Compare after tax purchasing power parity per capita of the U.S. and Finland, or the U.S. and Switzerland on a per hour basis. About a 30% disparity...). And they have free time. Free. Time. In America, it's a luxury, especially if you are trying to raise a family. I know people in my neighborhood that claim they have gone three years without having a weekend off to themselves or a vacation longer than 4 days, working 3 part-time jobs with no benefits, trying to eek out enough money to pay their bills. Time for exercise is not at all present, let alone time to unwind or even sleep.

[IRC]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

No it's not. It's a simple equation. If you burn more calories than you consume, you loose weight. Because of this, you simply cannot get away without exercise.

Atkins diets **** me off because its a sham that became a fad diet and everyone is doing it. The reason that it works is that instead of having carbs which are harder for the body to absorb, you have protein which is easier. But not eating any carbs and eating all meat is horrible for you. There are good carbs and bad carbs, just like there is good meat and bad meat, and good fats and bad fats. Our bodies are made of all three so you can't tell me that if I cut one out my body will be fine. That's bull****.

The key is to eat the good meat and good carbs and cut down on the bad stuff. It's about moderation and getting exercise. And when I say exercise I don't mean you have to go work out hard for two hours. Usually on the average person just a thirty minute workout will work. If you get your heart rate up for 30 minutes you will burn off the calories you've consumed. It's that easy.

[John Mora]

Re: America's Obesity Problem

Too bad exercise takes time. Time which no one making < $12/hour, with kids, and/or not living in their parents' home has. Otherwise the problem in America would be solved.

There are plenty of people that could use exercise but don't do anything about it that don't fit those criteria.