Wonder why Americans are overweight

[anunitu]

This "might" hold a clue.

http://www.cheese-burger.net/stories/doughnut_luther_burger.html

I like a burger as much as the next person,but I would NEVER eat something like that :dazzled:

[sinsi]

http://www.snopes.com/food/origins/luther.asp

[Twister]

I just knew I had to post this:



Get them before FDA cuts them off!!

Note: KFC insists that their 'Double Down' sandwich only contains 610 calories, but you would have to be a fool to rely on that after seeing what this sandwich is made of. :bg



Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1264166/KFCs-Double-Down-chicken-sandwich-bread-unveiled.html

[baltoro]

We have so many of these people,...they have to purchase earthmovers just to drive around town to shop for more stuff.
Every morning when I'm standing in line at Starbucks, there is inevitably an obese, dimwitted woman at the front of the line, who seems to take forever just to order some coffee.
I always get this nearly irresistible urge to yell out: "CHECK OUT THE ASS ON THAT WOMAN !!!"
...While this would clearly be politically incorrect (and, would probably get me killed),...it would be so much fun,... :eek

[dedndave]

this brings to mind Tyrone, the getaway driver in the movie "Snatch"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiW5YHYlLso

"I thought you said he was a getaway driver!"
"What the F can he get away from?"

:lol

[zemtex]

Why they are overweight? Because calories intake is greater than calorie expenditure.

The philosophical answer? That is a long discussion. It may be a culture thing. Bad food is a big part of social lifestyle in america, when you socialize chances increases that you will find yourself participating in that unhealthy lifestyle.

The technical answer related to types of food? Some types of american food is actually very unhealthy. Once you get sick, you get really sick and its too late to cure it with aftermath wise-words from doctors. Once the damage is done, the damage can be overwhelming.

The problem of the concept of a healthy lifestyle is that it is usually only learned after you suffer stroke or any other diseases related to your lifestyle. If you eat specific types of american junk food in total ignorance, for many years, the damage can be greater and you learn things too late.

You can be somewhat more ignorant without too much negative impact if you live in a culture where crap food is less popular. Education can also be part of the problem, people of low education can't really afford to buy all the essential ingredients needed to give you optimal nutrition.

Another problem might be stress. Living in american cities can be a great cause of stress and we know that stress is a factor with overweight problems.

[hutch--]

I know of a funny example, a lady I knew that used to live down the road was pleasantly plump but attractive enough (big bones and buxom) but she them married a guy in Los Angeles and moved to the States. Some years later she was back visiting here family here with a youngster in tow and she was a genuine yard wide and the kid was grossly overweight as well. Too much American fast food seems to have been the answer.

[baltoro]

Are there any hideously obese assembly programmers out there ???
I'd bet not,...even though it's a very sedentary occupation.
Americans are pathologically obese because they drive everywhere.
And, everywhere they drive there are restaurants,...those,...all-you-can-eat restaurants,...
The solution is simple. Throw everybody in jail. Jail food is terrible,...
...And, think of all the money we'd save on extended medical care,...

[Gunner]

Actually I think it has to do with the serving sizes... the FDA should really re write the rules for them... I think the companies "donate" some money to get them the way they are so their products sound better for you... For example 1 can of soda IS NOT 1 serving  really, do you open a can of soda and drink half the can?  A danish I like to eat here and there is in one piece of plastic 3.5oz it is the size of my hand... a serving is 1/2, then wrap the 1 serving in its own wrapper...  Really I never seen anyone eat half and put the rest away for later...  potato chips, a serving is like 5 chips... get real...  And the packaging has gotten bigger over the years... donuts are bigger, muffins are bigger, bagels just about everything...  A small can of say Campbells soup guess what, more than one serving, stupid.

[Bill Cravener]

Around about my parts of the country its quite common to see big fat women with their big fat kids. The really hilarious thing about it though is their skinny runt husbands walking along side them. :bg

[Gunner]

It's actually  pitiful seeing fat families going into fast food chains....  How much of a burden is it to eat healthy at home?

[hutch--]

it is an interesting factor that most of the western countries are suffereing an obesity epidemic and it appearsw to boil down to crappy diets and junk fast food. I remember at chool that only about 1 or 2 kids in the whole school were fat and they tended to come from families that were fat people. Now days many of the kids are fat slobs who sit on their arse playing video games instead of sport and work.

Another factor is income, usually the poorer the people in western countries, the lousier their diet is and they tend to lean to crappy fast food that is full of trans faty acids and other nasties. Elevated incomes usually mean better education with corresponding better diets that exclude the crappy dangerous stuff.

[zemtex]

The most dangerous fat is invisible, it is attached to internal organs and you cant see it. That is why some skinny people die of heart attacks while apparently fat people live until they are 85-90 years old. You can't measure health by looking at how much fat is apparent on the outside.

The composition of muscle and fat is also of importance. If you are low in muscles and have little fat, you will appear to look fat, while if you are high in muscles and high in fat you will appear lean.

[Twister]

It's actually  pitiful seeing fat families going into fast food chains....  How much of a burden is it to eat healthy at home?

America is fast paced. When it comes to a fast pace, you can't find a sit-down home meal. There is always the frozen lasagne in the freezer, or the Top Ramen in the pantry. Not only is it bad for the health, but this fast-pace kills the family values of sitting down to a home cooked meal. You got John the husband sitting in the den eating his TV dinner, and the children eating there freezer-bought chicken nuggets in their rooms while watching the television.

I'm not saying that this is in every American household, but it has been brought to attention by many psychiatrists and children paediatricians. I am neither a paediatrician or a doctor, and what I am saying is only an opinion.

Here is good information on this subject: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110503124702AA4ZHMb.

[GregL]

Another factor is income, usually the poorer the people in western countries, the lousier their diet is and they tend to lean to crappy fast food that is full of trans faty acids and other nasties. Elevated incomes usually mean better education with corresponding better diets that exclude the crappy dangerous stuff.

I think that is it in a nutshell. Our society is so oriented towards fast foods. And most people have forgotten the benefits of and how to keep a backyard garden.