Why do you think Americans suffer from obesity more than other nationalites?

Question

It just seems that more and more americans are struggling to resolve their problem with being obese with extreme surgeries lately.

Answer 1

Lifestyle and culture. I went to Amsterdam and hardly anyone owns a car, but everyone gets around on a bicycle. The portions of food were really small, yet when the meal was done we were full. A cup of coffee was about 8 ounces of coffee not a venti sugar festival. They also took multiple food breaks eating almost every 3 hours. All these things keep you metabolism up, but take a lot of time. America is a corporation trying to squeeze as much work as they can out of us before they are forced to put us on so many prescriptions to prolong our lives.

I have 2 Aunts in Europe (my mother's sisters). They are both in their 80s. My mother past away at 75 with multiple serious health issues that neither of her sisters have (Congestive heart failure, kidney failure, gout, glaucoma, high blood pressure). I went to visit my 80 year old Aunts recently and they walk to town every day to buy their food. They eat whole foods (not this fat free light chemical stuff we force ourselves to eat) but real milk and real bread. Everything is made fresh in a bakery or butchers. They also drink a lot (with every meal there is either beer or wine). Yet they are active and healthy while their American counterpart is dead.

When you buy a hamburger at McDonald's it is mostly fillers and not even real meat. That is why they have a unique taste.

Answer 2

If you're asking this in comparison to other countries there are many reasons. Lack of good public transportation and accesible walking routes= cuts down on walking signifcantly. Many other countries have different work day schedules so home meals are considered highly important. Most european homes don't even have a microwave!!! And we can even go as far as to say that more Amercians in general are on medication that affects weight such as mood stabilizers etc. American custom has made making money a priority, not good health. So then stress results, and stress creates overeating, stress creates the need for medications etc...And it is not just women it is men also! But until our culture regarding health changes, we won't see any major declines in obesity anytime soon.

Answer 3

I think that Americans have been trained too much to go with what the companies tell them. A 100 calorie snack pack may have less calories than it's more calorie counterpart (i.e., the 100 calorie pack Chips Ahoy over the regular Chips Ahoy), but for the same 100 calories, I can have a nutrient packed apple or banana. (With the average price of bananas at $.49 a pound, and I usually get about six a bunch, it's cheaper too.) Kentucky Fried Chicken might be trans fat free, but it's still hormone, anitbiodic, pesticide laden chicken flesh coated in grease. How is that healthy? Aone or two pound bag of potato chips, at $2, might be cheaper than a three or five pound bag of potatoes, on the surface, but volume and nutrient wise, the potatoes are a much better value.

After looking at the fronts of packaging, and actually reading the ingredients (then being disgusted and putting the box back on the shelf), I wonder how many people just look at the front of the box that screams "Heart healthy," or "Low fat", or "Lite" and buy it. The other day, desperate for a snack while traveling, I was at a small grocery and picked up a box of granola bars that claimed to be heart healthy. After finding partially hydrogenated oils and corn syrup (and/or high fructose corn syrup), I put the box back on the shelf. How are those chemicals healthy for my heart?

As for healthy foods being more expensive than processed "food", I disagree that that is always the case. It just comes down to knowing where and how to shop and to read ingredients. I refuse to put as few chemicals in my body. I also refuse to spend any more money than necessary.

I also agree with the lack of walking. Unfortunately, though, some suburbs are poorly designed for one to be able to easily walk to the grocery. Where I live now, it would be impractical for me to walk to the grocery store. Yet, I can walk to two drug stores if I need to. Where I lived prior to this and where my husband and I will be returning next year, I can easily walk to a drug store and a grocery store. The prices at the grocery is a bit higher than other places (but they do accept and double coupons, even if it's only up to $.50), but Im saving money in gas, and getting some exercise in. People are complaining about the gas prices, but if they could, how many of them would be willing to walk more? They seem to be compalining against the very monster they created. I digress.

At six feet, 181, I'm not overweight, especially since I'm 23 weeks pregnant. I gained four pounds last week, but I did eat more, being on vacation, though I did walk a heck of a lot more. However, my baby bulge got bigger and I started to feel my baby all over my tummy, not just in the concentrated area prior. I just think my baby went through a growth spurt. I read labels. I think about what I put into my body and what I should and shouldn't eat. I try and eat foods as close to what God originally created them. I did this before my pregancny and I can't help but wonder if that helped my quick conception. (We were only really trying for about a month.) I'm even more concerned now, knowing that my baby eats whatever I eat. I don't buy the dribble that the food companies try and sell me. I've written companies who advertise "healthy" products and received no answer in response. Go figure.

Anyway, this is just my opinion and my two cents.

Answer 4

I think so. America is the land of excess. We've got excess homes, excess electronics, excess stuff, excess food and excess portions. Most americans have no idea what a proper food portion is thus overeat frequently when they're cooking at home or dining out. Additionally, healthy food is more expensive than junk food and during a struggling economy people end up buying food that is less healthy because it's less expensive.

Answer 5

Americans have become very lazy over the generations. We rely heavily on our cars, computers, TVs, cell phones, etc. Instead of walking 5 minutes to the corner store, we get in our cars and drive there. Instead of taking the kids outside, we sit on the couch and watch TV. It's getting really sad, I think, because it is starting to effect America's youth. Kids are becoming more and more over weight every year.

Answer 6

I am of the opinion that it is all of the hormones put into the food that we eat. For example chickens are pumped full of hormones to fatten them up quick. We eat the chickens and ultimately are eating the hormones. I also think this is why children are developing younger than they used to.

Answer 7

McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Wendy's, Dominos etc, etc, etc.

The above combined with a complete distaste for actually walking anywhere results in one lard *** nation.

Answer 8

Not all, but a lot are lazy. Every one is different, some times it a medical reason, and sometimes they just wont get up off there buts.

Answer 9

We eat to much fast food and would rather drive than walk or bicycle somewhere. we eat just to much food.

Answer 10

because of all the fast food restaraunts, and entertainment stuff that make people sit in their asses allday everyday