Why are so many people eating out and weighing more?

Question

I've noticed that more and more people have been eating out more these days and wighing more. Would anyone know why people are eating more outside of the house when they could be eating a healthy home made meal instead? These people could be saving a lot of money if they ate at home (but that is my opinion).

Answer 1

You know it's interesting....everyone is giving you the same response- because they don't have time. But honestly, if time is such an issue have they taken it into account the fact that they are actually giving themselves less time to live by eating unhealthy foods?

Our society lives in a world of denial and excuses. Denial- if they can't see the fat content and it 'sounds' healthy, it must be! I can't tell you how many times I've heard that someone eats salads but is still not losing weight- perhaps it's the 14grams of fat per serving of dressing on the salad not to mention the cheese, fatty meats, nuts, etc. on it. Or eating out at resturants- you aren't able to see the fat content and since it's chicken (doused in cream, butter and oil) it must be healthy? Right?? The excuses are "I don't have time..." "I can't cook" and the list goes on. But really, as I said before- if time is such an issue, why not give yourself a longer life rather than a heart attack from the value menu at McDonalds?! And the "I can't cook" or "don't know how" excuse is lame. You know, grocery stores have low fat meals pre-packaged....and fruits and vegis?! What happened to those as a quick meal or snack?

It's going to be a never ending problem for those who 'can't seem to figure it out.' There will always be an excuse and always be some way to deny what is really making 'society' fat.

Truth is, you're fat because you eat fattening things! That's not an insult either. If that's one's choice, so be it. But i'm with you. I eat healthy and choose to live a long life! Let the rest of society die young.

Answer 2

There are about a dozen things going on here. First of all, I'm sure you're already aware, but at 5 foot 6, 119 lbs. is actually underweight. Or, if you have a small frame, it is at the very lowest end of what would be considered "healthy weight." This doesnt answer your question, but should be stated so anyone later reading responses doesnt misunderstand and think someone at your height and weight should be trying to lose weight. As far as why the weight loss occured this week and not last, there are lots of possibilities. If you have been losing weight for an extended length of time for instance, bodies naturally plateau. This means they sometimes hit a period of time where nothing you do seems to lose more weight. Then, once your body has hit that barrier for a while it disappears and the loss begins again. Also, you changed activities. Again, this is a way to break out of a weight plateau. A new way of working out uses new muscles and helps you burn calories in a different way. Later you may find you stop losing weight with dancing and switch back to cycling. Another possibility is that you did lose weight in fat but gained weight in muscle. Building muscle helps burn calories in the long run but muscle is more dense than fat and therefore weighs more. (actually, I doubt you built much muscle, you arent taking in enough calories for your body to try and do that) Also, when your body takes in too few calories it feeds mainly on the lean muscle tissues. This is called commonly "starvation mode." You should note that this type of "dieting" has the most severe unwanted backlash. You would be slowing your body's metabolism if you keep it up for an extended period of time. This, in conjunction with the fact that it fails to teach you anything about proper nutrition (i.e.- chosing a filling and nutritious fruit cup for breakfast instead of a handful of ritz bitz) can lead to subsequent weight gain. ESPECIALLY AT 14, your body is still in a developmental period. It is of particular importance that you let your body get the nutrition and calories it needs. You really cant keep your body at that sort of run forever. It breaks in one direction or the other and you have to figure out something better for you. Trust me.

Answer 3

The reasons for this trend are numerous..
The food is cheap (relatively), tastes good, and is convenient. Our society is obsessed with money and the pursuit of it, and being caught up in the rat race is why this happens. Do you think constantly rising inflation and prices are an accident? Think again.. you're being manipulated on a daily basis.
Another reason is sheer laziness.. it's simply easier to grab a bag meal and toss the trash out instead of spending hours cooking and cleaning up afterwards. I eat out a lot myself, but usually keep the portions to a normal size. I think if people could self-titrate their food intake, this type of problem would be minimal.

Answer 4

I can only answer for myself. I work at least 40hours a week, have to come home, do laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking.....etc. By the time I get home from work, I don't feel like cooking. I'm tired. It's just easier to either go out and be taken care of, or pick up something. I know it's not the best for me, but what else is there. Not only that, but my husband does not like the same food I do. Often, I have to make 2 meals, not just 1.

Answer 5

With the way our lives are now days, nobody really has any time to eat at home. They are busy running around their kids and then when they get home its too late to cook and eat. We are that way sometimes to because between all the kids we dont have a free night and we get home about 8-9 and we are hungry before that and just eat on the go. I know its not really good but that's what the activities are for! : )

Answer 6

People have loaded their lives up to the max with things they think they have to do. Run here, run there, do this, do that, and so on. At some point something has to give and unfortunately it often is the time we spend at home together as a family. Eating on the run usually results in poor food choices but that's what t lot have done to themselves. The long reaching downside of this is what we are teaching our children. If you think this generation lacks family values wait for what is coming up next.

Answer 7

Alot of people just don't have the time. Like me....I'm not fat but I get up at 4:00 AM...by the time I'm off work and done running around on errands.....I'm back home by an average of 6 or maybe 7:00 in the evening.....and this is Mon-Fri......no time or energy when I get in the house.

Answer 8

For me, I work in a job that keeps me in the car all day long. I am very busy with lots of deadlines. It's easier to eat out, and yes I have put on weight. I try diets, but my job always gets in the way. I can try and eat the salads at Wendy's for a while, but that's not going to cut it for a long time. I can't eat Subway sandwiches every day either.

Answer 9

It's the busy schedule--soccer practice, boy scouts, piano, ect...
Also, young adults these days do not know how to cook. They are not taught and not just boys. People could choose healthier options at these restaurants --grilled, light,nonfat, no sour cream,ect.. People that are eating out constantly are probably not making healthy dinners at home often enough either. It is definately cheaper to eat at home!No doubt about it.

Answer 10

there is a simple answer, in our society we are often faced with a lack of time. We therefore start to rely on the convince of fast food even though we know it is unhealthy. Also, it is sometimes hard to resist eating it sometimes. But i do agree with you i do prefer home cooking over fast food.