Why are Americans getting fatter?

Question

The US Center for Disease Control has stated that soon obesity will overcome smoking as the #1 preventable cause of death within the next 10 years. 8 years ago, 50% of the US was overweight or obese. Now it's over 60%. Why are we killing ourselves with overeating, lack of exercise and endless excuses? Why don't we want to be healthy?

Answer 1

We do want to be healthy, but we do not want to do all the hard work involved. MacDonalds advertises on billboards, TV ads, print ads, and everything. There is almost a McDonalds on every corner of every major metropolitan area. When was the last time you saw a giant billboard urging you to eat green veggies?

And why would you get up from hours of watching tv to go exercise for 30 minutes? Heck, you might miss your favorite 30-minute sitcom episode. All those hours of loyal TV watching down the drain.

It is not diet and exercise will-power. It is about commitment. Americans have no precedent in everyday life for commitment. And, the incentive of losing weight is found at the END of the long battle-- not at the beginning. No immediate gratification. We have been conditioned in this country to a mentality of entitlement and over-indulgence. Abundance of everything-- money, food, material goods, leisure-- is the norm, not the exception. Even the poorest among us own multiple television sets.

So, if people want to lose weight, they obviously can. Bally's Vic Tanny, Jenny Craig, and Weight Watchers advertise, too. But, in the end, they have to want to do the hard work just as much as they want to be thinner, and we Americans are not conditioned to commiting to that much hard work.

*By the way, I lost 30 lbs in one summer (never gained it back) by committing to walking for 30 minutes 3 times a week. I didn't diet, but my eating habits changed naturally as I exercised more. It can be done, but you have to make up your mind to do it.

Answer 2

I don't think that we don't want to be healthy. I feel that the saying
(Can't have your cake and eat it to), apply's here. A lot of it is lack
of dicipline, and the work schudules these days, and the easy convenience of going through the drive through, versus taking the time to peel an apple for the kid,and yourself. Then of course, look at us, not to say half of us do work out or don't. We are on the computer right now.
I'm drinking Ice water as we speak, but how many of us right now are downing a coke while answering these questions, and how many of us haven't had our walk today. I have, but six monthes ago, I didn't. I started noticeing after I had this fourth kid,
I have to eat right and excercise so that I have the energy to cook a healthy dish for my family. A lot of people don't realize that. And if you weren't taught growing up. It's hard to take the time to learn to change. It's much easier to do the other, if you don't have the dicipline or the disgust in yourself for allowing you and your family to become unhealthy. Luckily, I was raised to care about those things. I noticed the differance in the way I was feeling after
two mothes of slacking off. I'm back again. My husband told me , he knew I would come back. He knows I don't feel good when I'm not making an effort to stay in shape.

Answer 3

Average lifestyles are not conducive to healthy lifestyles. By the time people realize how unhealthy their choices are it is too late. Someone might say: I "want" to be healthy. The fact remains you go to work early, you rush a quick bite to eat, you have errands during lunch, quick meal and you rush again back to work. You get off work worn out, lay around to recoop ,eat more right before bed and slowly you get fat...you then turn 30 and your bodyies metabolism drops to the ground...but you continue to eat the same way and live the same way..thus fatter people.
Business with employees should create an incentive based system to make it exercise both accessable and rewarding. After all a healthy employee is a great employee to have.

Answer 4

It seems it is just easier to drive thru and get dinner than it is to cook a healthy meal.. many more people work setting down now a days. or are unemployed, so they are vegging in front of the TV.. so there is no exercising going on with either group.. it takes getting a disease like Diabetes to wake people up as to how to eat healthy, and exercise.. and then it may be to late to do to much about getting really healthy.. shame isn't it ????

Answer 5

I think it ties in with the wave that they said in the past several years about how Americans are staying home more. They saw this jump in people wanting to redo their homes to make it better etc...stay home, entertain at home etc.. The boredom sets in and straight to the fridge for comfort food they go. Same holds true for those workaholics who need an energy boost to get through their day. They treat themselves to stash chocolate etc..in their desks and get no real exercise.
We are working more and satisfied less.A sweet treat is all that keeps a lot of people going.I've seen it a lot in office settings.The fast foods that deliver are there daily with all the yummy stuff wafting in the air...it is hard to resist.
We have been programed early on to look to food as a reward.Candy for gifts,cakes for celebrations etc...

Answer 6

Here is what you need to do, if you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off. Eat 6 small meals a day about every 4 hours. Here what that will do for you, your metabolism will increase (i.e. Loose weight) and you will have more engry. If you go on a diet and eat less, your metabolism will slow down and store to fat. That is why diets dont work. Only the size of your fist, carbs (examples:baked potato, pasta, oatmeal, beans, corn, melon, apples, fat free yogurt, whole wheat breads)in one and protien (examples:chicken breast, swordfish, shrimp, turkey breast) in the other. You can also eat vegetables and salads with any meal, they dont have none or little fat). 30min cardo exercise every day. Any of these(examples: walking, jogging, swimming,running, biking, ect), Monday cardo, tues upper body (arms: curls, tricep extensions,pull ups, front press)(abdominals: leg pull crunch, leg raises), (chest: bench press, butterfly, pullover)(shoulders: front press, arm pullover, cross county skier machine)(back:seated row, lat pull downs, back extension)(YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IN ONE DAY, mix it up) wed cardo, thurs lower body (legs: leg pull,leg press, squats, lounges) fri cardo, sat upper. Sunday eat anything you want and dont exercising, you do this on sunday so your body doesnt go into starvation mode. YOU NEED TO TAKE SUNDAY OFF. If you stilck with this you will have a great body. also drink aleast 8oz of water daily! Stay away from Mcdonals, Wendys, ect because there is nothing good for you on the menu's even the salads are bad (beaon bits, cheeze, dressing, ect) Good Luck :)

Answer 7

Personally I believe it is due to the foods we consume, the amounts, and sedentary lifestyles in general. The constant flux of new and easier ways to do just about everything leaves us without much to do. Scientifically speaking human beings were never meant to consume meat/dairy. Our digestion systems (including teeth) are that of herbivores. The only reason these products are recommended by the FDA is the fact that it is a government organization and this accounts for a large source of their political funding.

Answer 8

i think that it is not always choice of eating but what is convenient eating i live in Australia and do not over eat nor am i over weight but i do see so many fast food shops drive through more and more each year i think there used to be alot less around but now everywhere you turn there are greasy super sized meals it's just to hard for some people to hold back i guess there needs to be more convenient healthy choice foods available

Answer 9

Because at the grocery store it is cheaper to buy un healthy junk food then it is to buy the foods that are good for you.If the prices of such food would do a switch people simply would not be able to afford junk food and the result would be a slim nation.

Answer 10

I love all the people complaining about gas prices and complaining that they are fat. If they would get off their butt and walk places instead of driving a couple of blocks to a mcdonald's maybe gas prices wouldn't be so high and their belly so big.
I have to be on the computer a lot everyday but I WALK to buy my groceries and run around the block in the morning. I love food (my name means french fires with cheese and gravy) but I eat in "bad" things in MODERATION. People don't need to drive to a gym to get thin and healthy there are lots of things that you can do but it is just laziness.
LAZY!