Why are so many Americans obese??

Question

As visitors to USA, we were horrified to see so many grossly obese Americans. Even going over the border into Canada we noticed that people were more normal sized. Actually, there seems to be increasing extremes - those who are obese and those fitness enthusiasts into jogging and workouts. As individuals, Americans are wonderful, friendly people. But please - think about what the rest of the world thinks when they see gross obesity on a globe where starvation is still a terrible problem. If you are obese for other than glandular or similar problems - develop an action programme for you and your family to attack and defeat the problem. I'm 57 and love cycling, mountain biking, walking, jogging, swimming and kayaking. Its terrific!!

Answer 1

Even Americans are mortified to see themselves and their neighbors be so huge. Check out WalMart sometime. Criminy.

I think that people tend to do what they have seen done before them. Look at the impossibility of the 4 minute mile. Once the barrier was broken, there were many more that came right after.

When one sees truly huge people, it is easy to think of ones self as "not too fat." I'm not as big as "that" person, so I am not so bad.

Americans don't all do things as a group. We live in an enormous country. We tend to do things that our families and neighbors do. There is very little true necessary activity in this nation anymore. Farming is done with machines, clothes are washed in machines, dishes are washed similarly, no ironing is truly necessary, food is microwavable and served up instantly in fast food restaurants.

Our lifestyle, in general, seems to be one of needing more hours in the day. Most people are working couples, kids get second place to the parents' jobs. There isn't much time for family life, and for personal recreation, much let alone kayaking, cycling, mountain hiking, and volksmarching.

The hectic lives many Americans lead does not lend itself to healthful living.

Another thing to consider is that most Americans are not rich. Most Americans work very hard to try to "keep up with the Joneses." There are images of monied perfection that we try to attain, and it takes 2 jobs and not much time for anything else. The people who you see as jetsetters, ski bunnies, and driving great cars and living in fantastic homes are the top of the economic pile. Most of us are not as well heeled, and can't afford the gym, or even find time for a nice walk.

You talk about how the rest of the world views Americans. Sorry that the fat slobs here are ruining our world image. Sometimes it might be impossible, but a nice dream, to think that others might check in their own backyards before judging the rest of the world.

I know that Americans are not the favorites of the world. But again, the great majority of us are decent, caring, well-balanced individuals, with open minds and hearts. Even the very fattest of us all might surprise the rest of the svelte world population with intelligence, dignity, inner grace, and kindness.

Sorry America doesn't present the best picture for you or the "rest of the world." Sorry about the starving folks in other countries. Truly I am. But to be angry with us because of a weight issue is to be small-minded and ignorant of the real factors facing transglobal relations.

We're fat because we have access to unhealthy foods, live an unhealthy lifestyle, and are caught in a rut of modern living. Habits are hard to break, and no one is eating extra calories to cause international hardship. Perhaps the next time I consider putting that second serving of Cheerios into my cereal bowl, I'll remember how it'll look to the rest of the world, and be ashamed.

Answer 2

Well, its very easy to be obese in a country where health benefits are tethered to jobs, there is a fast food chain restaurant on every corner that, in many instances will delivery food to you, in a nation where you are not considered a productive citizen unless you work every waking hour you possibly can without actually keeling over from exhaustion. In America, we are expected to work 60 hrs a week and take a 1 week vacation maybe every other year. Days off are spent either sleeping, trying to get more education so as not to be as easily replaced by a computer or robot or have our job outsourced to India or China where they are smarter and will work for $2 American a day and a sack of rice. When we (Americans) get home, after working 12 hour days 5 and 6 days a week, the last thing on our mind is "oh chim chimeree, I think I'll go ride me mountain bike for the few hours I have off"...no, we think "hello, Dominoes?" Also, while working 5 and 6 12 hour days, usually in office settings (face it, we all know America has little industry that requires huge physical labor due to 2 sad facts; outsourcing and computer run robots), we get ONE hour lunches (if that) in which case some sad little grilled chicken salad and a water with a lemon wedge just doesnt cut it for the last 8 hour leg of your work day. As I understand it, Europeans, as I assume you are as you referred to Canadians as if you weren't one, 1) have decent health care that isn't necesarily tied to their job, 2) Get a damned sight more than a 1 week paid vacation per year (much more depending on your specific little country), and 3) Frankly, no other nation is measuring stick whipping boy. By that I mean that while every nation, will compare itself to the USA economically and point out everything else that is wrong with it other than what is right (and I am no fan of my country, believe me, I know how America presents itself to the world and the way it really is and I do not agree with it). And by the way, I've been all over Europe and a bit of South America....you ain't so thin yourself. Wasn't America once criticized by the world for putting thinness as a model for our women? Now, we're all too fat. Too thin, too fat. What do you want?

Answer 3

We are obese because we like to eat and we have the ability to. We eat socially and emotionally. And a lot of it is because it is cheaper to buy junk food than healthy food. Also obesity in America has nothing to do with starving people in other countries. We feed them too when we can. This is a great country but we just can't afford to feed the entire world. Not everyone is grossly obese, we don't all have to go around looking like toothpicks for people to love us.

Answer 4

Well lets see.... ummmm you need to get a life.... America is so much better than where ever your from! we can Eat what we want and we can exercise as much or little as we want! and we as Americans don't care what we look like starvation isn't our promblem come to America We will feed you for a price! you nd your cycling,mountain biking, walking, jogging, swimming, and kayaking self get a life... not every one likes that crap!

Answer 5

americans are less concerned about what the rest of the world thinks of them than in other countries. this is probably because the US does not bear the guilt of colonialism like europe (and does not have the identity crises of canada or australia).

i suspect that you already know the answer why some americans are obese, and are rather trying to find a soapbox with which to communicate your patronizing message. it's annoying.

Answer 6

Because food is so easy to access. Also, food portions in America are way larger than in, say, Europe. A large there is like a small here. But, you shouldn't be "horrified." People are beautiful no matter what their size...and there is no normal size, only a size that is deemed normal by vanity and the media. As long as people are happy with themselves and love themselves then you know what? Let them be overweight, as long as it doesn't endanger their health and they are happy then let them be. Who are we to judge???

Answer 7

i think they put something in the food here. the fatter we are the more food we eat. they use our obesity to keep our economy up. but also we have bad tastes of food here. I'm a cook. i see people order some nasty stuff. also everyone eats breakfast RIGHT before they sleep causing it to all turn to fat. we complain because we're fat but we don't sit and think about how sick of a diet we have. i also have just one word "chicken fried steak". think about it. it is cheap fatty stake that is breaded and fried. that is a heart attack waiting to happen. you'll never see "chicken fried stake" anywhere else in the world. that's another thing. WE FRY EVERYTHING!!!!!! but hey the fat people that have extremely bad diets keeps me with a job.

Answer 8

Too much easy access to fast food, and processed food that is cheaper to make and therefore cheaper for the general public to buy. Advertising and marketing are a largely to blame also. But I will say it depends on the individual and their own behaviour towards food.

Answer 9

well u are absolutely right ... its because of many disorders also ... some people even though they are obese are oblivious of that fact and continue to eat away countless burgers and stuff which ooze fat ... its like they dont care about themselves... americans as u say are wonderful , friendly people ... but they are emotional too ... sometimes these emotions which are bad lead to over eating and stuff like that ... some people realize this and go for fitness programmes or cut down food ... but some people dont care about this stuff because they enjoy eating ... but i also enjoy eating ... but i do exercises and cut down the fat i gained from eating ... well this is what everyone needs to do ...>>>>>> but in this fast paced world of corporate offices and stuff like that ... people collapse and get stressed out for not making deadlines and like that ... they resort to something which gives pleasure ... for some people its eating >>>>>> and bottomline THEY GET FAT AND OBESE

Answer 10

You are what you eat!
And Americans love or have to have fast food anymore
everyone is in a hurry to get no where!

it's sooooooo much easier to stop at a fast food place after work then to go home after working all day, to cook.

i truly think it's all the fatty fast food!