Why are there so many overweight women in America, and why do we downplay the problem?

Question

First of all, I don't want to sound sexist or hateful, as that is not the purpose of this question. I also admit that there is a large share of overweight American men. However, women are usually more concerned about their appearance than men, and that's one of the reasons I am focusing this question on women.

In the United States, there seems to be a much higher threshold for defining one who is overweight or obese. I'd venture to say that most American women who describe themselves as "average" would be easily said to be "overweight" or "obese" in European or Asian standards.

Although many people are predisposed to weight problems, the truth of the matter is that a healthy weight can be maintained by anyone with the proper combination of food intake and activity, with a few medical exceptions of course.

Why are so many women fussing over their makeup, hair and clothes, yet they ignore their weight?

Who came up with that term "Big and Beautiful", and why???

Answer 1

Do you think their weight problems started out as an adult?....Our government is cheap...this problem started when these people were children...being given cheap filler foods at public schools, that are starch laden with little to no nutritional value...Have you heard the term beggars can't be choosy...and that is how it is for many...one income homes, poor homes, parents that would like to do better for their kids, but having little resources they have to accept what is being given...because it is free...This overweight trend starts when the children are young....have you looked around and seen the obese kids in America today?....It is getting to be a national disaster...There are so many factors involved....kids today are not raised on the farm and really have very little in their lives that require physical exertion....many are from broken, single parent homes....the tv and junk food after school (after being fed junk at lunch), only compounds the problem...these problems don't magically disappear when reaching adulthood....and why get fatter as an adult?....because fat kids are teased, harassed....and it is painful...by the time they then become adults, they have learned to pacify their pain with food...insulating themselves even more....It is a vicious circle....

Answer 2

It is the hormones they put in the food so they can mass produce the food in America, These same preservatives and hormones are making young girls develop and start their periods as young as 6 and 7 years of age. and there are some people that just eat nothing but this garbage and too much of it! And now a lot of women have to work they don't get to stay home and buying fast food for dinner has become the norm. this is bringing on a generation of overweight kids so of course they will be over weight adults and it isn't just the women in America there are a lot of fat guys to. even our cats and dogs are over weight. The person that came up with Big is Beautiful was a fat person!

Answer 3

Maybe those women are happy the way they are, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, some men like skinny women ,some like them large, it is just a matter of opinion. I don't know who came up with the term but, I have seen many big,beautiful women, Queen Latifah, and Emme the model just to name a couple. Yes many of these women would be overweight by Asian standards, but that doesn't matter because they aren't in Asia or Europe, women are different all over the world, In Italy women are considered more beautiful if they are larger, I hear they really aren't into skinny girls over there, so you see it all depends on what you are looking for in a women, so don't judge-its not attractive.

Answer 4

I too would say that I am average. I used to be pretty thin, but almost a year ago I took a full time desk job. My only excercise is walking to go to the bathroom, or go get water. I gained about 15 lbs in that time period. Recently I started adding in a bit of stretching and light excercise while the phones aren't ringing. Since I'm usually in the office with other people, I don't do it. I get embarrassed if someone sees me working out. Like they'll think I need it you know? So I only do it when I'm alone. I don't even like to do it around family. Weird. I don't know why someone made the term big and beautiful, because I thik its disgusting to look at rolls. Its just not appealing. And I never met a man who like it for real. I would like to try to loose it...or work it off, but my schedule is tough. I don't get home until dinner time, and then its time to spend time with my boyfriend. We live in a small apartment and with the cold weather and bad neighborhood, its hard to want to go outside. I'm queen of excuses. We can't really afford a GYM and I'd be embarrassed anyways, so what next? Nothing, really. Just changing the way we eat. If you just cut out the major food problems like soda, chips, and fast food, you usually see rapid results. But as it goes, anything good is worth waiting for.

Answer 5

According to the latest statistics from the American Heart Association, more than six out of every 10 African-American women are overweight, and almost 4 out of every 10 are extremely overweight or obese. Seeing as it's largely an African-American problem, I'm afraid that we downplay the problem so we're not accused of 'racism' I say we take away their food stamps and that would solve the problem.

Answer 6

Ok, I know it's probably an excuse, but here's my thought as a "fatty".

I work on average 80 hours a week, on a whole, America is 3rd in the world for how many hours a week we work, and unfortunately our choices for a "healthy" quick bite to eat are few and far between. Bad food choices are quicker and easier to make, and when you're working that many hours, just eating is the goal.

Most American's that I know skip breakfast because we don't have time, we eat at our desks from the deli downstairs which usually serves fatty deep fried foods, then we get home at 8pm at night, and grab something quick and easy to make/pick up which is usually pizza, hamburgers or the like. It's too easy in America to grab fast food on the run, which most of us are, and fast food = fat food.

Then exercise??? I park as far away from the door as I can, and generally that's the only exercise I get.

I leave my house at 6:30am, I usually take a 30 minute lunch during the day, I get home between 7pm & 8pm, we eat, then we go to bed..... you tell me, how much time is left for working out, we work most weekends too, and if we're not working we're so worn out from working all the time that we drop from exhaustion.

It's not that we intentionally make bad food choices on purpose, it's the the bad food options are generally easier and quicker to get.

Answer 7

I think the number one reason is that more women have been working than 50 years ago and they have little time for cooking and regular exercise. With all the fast food available and the invention of the microwave, it's way too easy to eat more food than you really need. Lastly, food is the way a lot of people comfort themselves, and between jobs, kids, mates, housework, errands, etc, they need a lot of comfort. Having a nice appearance is also a comfort to women who are embarrassed by their weight.

Answer 8

It's not just a matter of overindulgence in food and drink and a lack of exercise. For one thing, women have babies, and it's often hard to shed the baby weight. Also, there are some out there who are either genetically predisposed to be big or else have thyroid problems. And I'm glad that you also mentioned overweight men. I just wish that more men took care of their appearance!

Answer 9

You know, historically, larger women were more desirable. And women wanted to be fat. Some cultures still like that (see black culture -- what is a black woman without her booty?). It is our obsession with stick-thin models, processed foods, and convenience that has gotten America to where it is.

Some women are beautiful, no matter what their size. Some women are never going to be your apparently ideal stick figure sized. For example, my skeleton would not fit in anything smaller than a size 8... does that make me "fat" by your definition? People come in all different sizes and shapes which would not fit into your ideal... its a good thing we all find different things attractive, huh?

Answer 10

They are huh ?, Dude, you gotta get to southern California, the most beautiful women in the world live there, HANDS DOWN ! I'll put them up against the best European chicks anytime, American women have the most beautiful legs out of ANY other place on the planet, they are CLEAN too, no hairly legs or arm pits !