Does just immigrating to the USA lead to weight gain?
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And that's a good thing. My face swells around dogs and who knows if it will be my throat next. (Yes I take daily meds, they don't prevent it.)Kimegatron wrote: »My dog was allowed EVERYWHERE, so she always came with me. Even out to bars. We don't do that kind of thing here in MI.
But maybe if you had grown up close to dogs, you wouldn't be that allergic to them now... who knows.
How do you know I didn't? I had lots of family members with dogs. And pretty much no risk factors for developing such a severe allergy as an adult.
This is a very offensive assumption.0 -
And that's a good thing. My face swells around dogs and who knows if it will be my throat next. (Yes I take daily meds, they don't prevent it.)Kimegatron wrote: »My dog was allowed EVERYWHERE, so she always came with me. Even out to bars. We don't do that kind of thing here in MI.
But maybe if you had grown up close to dogs, you wouldn't be that allergic to them now... who knows.
How do you know I didn't? I had lots of family members with dogs. And pretty much no risk factors for developing such a severe allergy as an adult.
This is a very offensive assumption.
Offensive? Not more offensive than your comments about letting people take their dogs everywhere.
Besides, I said 'maybe'.
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How is saying that you are excluding a group of people, or risking their lives if you bring an animal in, or worse, hide an animal and sneak it in offensive?
And that's a good thing. My face swells around dogs and who knows if it will be my throat next. (Yes I take daily meds, they don't prevent it.)Kimegatron wrote: »My dog was allowed EVERYWHERE, so she always came with me. Even out to bars. We don't do that kind of thing here in MI.
But maybe if you had grown up close to dogs, you wouldn't be that allergic to them now... who knows.
How do you know I didn't? I had lots of family members with dogs. And pretty much no risk factors for developing such a severe allergy as an adult.
This is a very offensive assumption.
Offensive? Not more offensive than your comments about letting people take their dogs everywhere.
Besides, I said 'maybe'.
Stating that "maybe you could have done something" to prevent what is a random health issue is offensive.
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On Wednesday I'm going on holiday to Los Angeles (I live in England) so I'll let you know
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Yeah, I would say that eating like a typical North American has a good chance of making you fat.
I don't know about affluence affecting it though. My homesteading and mining great grandparents were not wealthy. They ate a lot of cheap food and fillers, like cabbage and flour, and they gained weight.0 -
How is saying that you are excluding a group of people, or risking their lives if you bring an animal in, or worse, hide an animal and sneak it in offensive?
And that's a good thing. My face swells around dogs and who knows if it will be my throat next. (Yes I take daily meds, they don't prevent it.)Kimegatron wrote: »My dog was allowed EVERYWHERE, so she always came with me. Even out to bars. We don't do that kind of thing here in MI.
But maybe if you had grown up close to dogs, you wouldn't be that allergic to them now... who knows.
How do you know I didn't? I had lots of family members with dogs. And pretty much no risk factors for developing such a severe allergy as an adult.
This is a very offensive assumption.
Offensive? Not more offensive than your comments about letting people take their dogs everywhere.
Besides, I said 'maybe'.
Stating that "maybe you could have done something" to prevent what is a random health issue is offensive.
You're clearly just reading what you want to read, I suggest you go back to my original post and read it again. Or not. I guess it won't help.
And I've never heard of people who die because they were close to a dog. If it's the case, I would guess that they are smart enough to stay away from public places where people might bring their dog... Restaurant or otherwise.
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And that's a good thing. My face swells around dogs and who knows if it will be my throat next. (Yes I take daily meds, they don't prevent it.)Kimegatron wrote: »My dog was allowed EVERYWHERE, so she always came with me. Even out to bars. We don't do that kind of thing here in MI.
But maybe if you had grown up close to dogs, you wouldn't be that allergic to them now... who knows.
How do you know I didn't? I had lots of family members with dogs. And pretty much no risk factors for developing such a severe allergy as an adult.
This is a very offensive assumption.
Wow - you really have to want to be offended if you find this offensive.0 -
And that's a good thing. My face swells around dogs and who knows if it will be my throat next. (Yes I take daily meds, they don't prevent it.)Kimegatron wrote: »My dog was allowed EVERYWHERE, so she always came with me. Even out to bars. We don't do that kind of thing here in MI.
But maybe if you had grown up close to dogs, you wouldn't be that allergic to them now... who knows.
How do you know I didn't? I had lots of family members with dogs. And pretty much no risk factors for developing such a severe allergy as an adult.
This is a very offensive assumption.
Wow - you really have to want to be offended if you find this offensive.
Nope. Just so tired of people offering advice when I didn't ask for it and they don't know the back story. And being told I should stay home bound. Would you say that to a blind person or someone in a wheelchair?
Also, anaphylaxis is possible with any allergy. It's more well known with things like food and bees, but it's a very real thing, especially when your face swells.
According to the ADA I have a right to be served in an allergy free area, but in a lot of stores that allow all dogs it's just not possible.0 -
AND back to the OP...........................................
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And that's a good thing. My face swells around dogs and who knows if it will be my throat next. (Yes I take daily meds, they don't prevent it.)Kimegatron wrote: »My dog was allowed EVERYWHERE, so she always came with me. Even out to bars. We don't do that kind of thing here in MI.
But maybe if you had grown up close to dogs, you wouldn't be that allergic to them now... who knows.
How do you know I didn't? I had lots of family members with dogs. And pretty much no risk factors for developing such a severe allergy as an adult.
This is a very offensive assumption.
Nothing offensive was posted.
And yes, my own experience in Germany was lots of dogs everywhere.
And my own experience in Europe has always been: more walking.0 -
@ninerbuff - I just had a colleague who spend one year on assignment in Wiesbaden, Germany. I hardly recognized him as he lost ~70 lbs in the last year and while never really intending to, the culture promotes a healthier lifestyle. He biked to work most days, ate less even though he said most of the food was incredibly rich. He simply became fuller faster.0
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I'm a dual US/UK citizen, living in the UK for ten years now. I have found that the level of movement I get just from the activities of normal life in the UK are higher than when I'm in the US, because, well, cars. We were in the US for three weeks over Christmas, and even though we tried very hard not to overeat, we both still gained half a stone. My mom actually got offended, she thought we didn't want to eat "her food". One of the friends we stayed with doesn't eat vegetables, AT ALL. Meat, bread and cake all the way there. And cars, so no walking unless we went hiking.0
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It really depends on where you are and who you are around.
Cars tend to be more convenient in the US than in many parts of Europe, even in areas of the US where people walk more. For example, I live in a large city, but still could easily and conveniently drive to the grocery store or many other stores if I wanted to shop, since there are parking lots or a free parking garage associated. And gas is relatively cheap.
But going other places cars are a hassle, street parking can be hard to find or expensive, downtown parking is insanely expensive, having a parking spot can make a place cost more or require renting and it may well be outside (in a bad winter climate), etc. In contrast, most places are walkable or accessible by public transportation and biking most places is getting easier. So there is an incentive to walk a lot, and most people who live around me (in the US) do seem to walk most places (or take public transportation). That said, I bet we still are more likely to drive than people who live in comparable areas in Europe, because like I said above, in some ways it's still reasonably convenient.
I don't think you can really generalize about how much people in the US are likely to eat vegetables. That's going to be more individual or sub-culture-related.
I think you can generalize that US portion sizes are distorted.0 -
Gotta wonder why the mentality is that eating less and exercising is everyday life there and here eating more, getting value portion for your dollar and cruising your car is much more common. People here love their cars so much so that they won't commute nor take public transportation even if it fits their work schedules.@ninerbuff - I just had a colleague who spend one year on assignment in Wiesbaden, Germany. I hardly recognized him as he lost ~70 lbs in the last year and while never really intending to, the culture promotes a healthier lifestyle. He biked to work most days, ate less even though he said most of the food was incredibly rich. He simply became fuller faster.
Just in case any wonders, I drive a mini van. Hardly a man's ideal desired vehicle. Probably why I spend more time out of it than in it.
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OP just to add that in My personal experience is that also it's more acceptable to be fat/overweight/obese here in the U.S than many places, I'm from D.R and we only have in the whole damn country one store were you can get plus size clothes , I'm not kidding , just one ! So you can not afford to balloon like I did (much of my clothes my family used to get for me here in the USA and send it back to me) , other factor is def. social pressure , you hardly ever see overweight women with slim men, that's a hell no back there, you see that a lot more here in the U.S , shizz I remember my first time in the U.S I felt like hell I'm a whale but I belong to a group, I'm finally not the biggest person in the room, I was not the exception, I can shop in many many places, to be quite honest I didn't felt ashamed or to bad just because I am/was fat or any kind of stress to lose weight
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Oh it sucks feeling like an outcast. When I moved over seas for the last 2 years of high school to an island out in the middle of the Pacific, my brother and I weren't received well by the locals. It can do a number on anyone who gets discriminated against for any reason.OP just to add that in My personal experience is that also it's more acceptable to be fat/overweight/obese here in the U.S than many places, I'm from D.R and we only have in the whole damn country one store were you can get plus size clothes , I'm not kidding , just one ! So you can not afford to balloon like I did (much of my clothes my family used to get for me here in the USA and send it back to me) , other factor is def. social pressure , you hardly ever see overweight women with slim men, that's a hell no back there, you see that a lot more here in the U.S , shizz I remember my first time in the U.S I felt like hell I'm a whale but I belong to a group, I'm finally not the biggest person in the room, I was not the exception, I can shop in many many places, to be quite honest I didn't felt ashamed or to bad just because I am/was fat or any kind of stress to lose weight
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I initially found it difficult to control weight after moving to the U.S. but this was almost entirely due to the fact that a lot of the foods that I found highly satisfying and comforting simply didn't taste the same anymore! I am prone to comfort eating and when there is no comfort there is more eating (in my case). It took several months for me to reach a new equilibrium and re-discover new sources of culinary comfort. Given that I only moved from Australia the difference in tastes between the U.S. and where I came from was minimal. I could easily see how someone from a culture that differs considerably more might struggle to settle in for much longer (gaining a lot more weight than I did). Only advice I can give: don't give up the search!0
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Funny, where I work we are highly multicultural. At last count, we have people here who are originally from 20+ different countries (mostly from the European, Asian, and African continents). Lots of grad students, postdocs and PIs from various countries regularly moving in and out. Very few have noticeably gained weight while here.
I wonder if it is because when they move here they are taken under the wing of others from the same or similar culture and they keep similar eating and exercise habits to what they had at home?0 -
bump0
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Yes. Gravity is higher here.
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thorsmom01 wrote: »Any weight gain will come from a caloric surplus.
Albeit , its likely easier to over consume here in the USA . but it still comes down to calories.
Yes, there are bigger portions. But its up to the individual to consume the larger portions or not.
Yes , highly processed foods are readily available here and inexpensive. But again, it comes down to the individual. Its their choice to consume them and their choice to consume high quantities.
It's very unfair to blame a country as a whole ( I saw a comment saying there's something wrong with the food supply here)
Its about taking responsibility for your own actions. American foods do not cause weight gain alone. To gain weight, one must eat at a surplus. The reasons as to why people have chosen to eat at a surplus, will vary .Lol, it's "lifestyle" as to why Americans are in the 65% overweight/obese category. It's not a "blame" it's an observation. Much like when someone who falls into a lot of money, but had no experience or knowledge in financing or saving. They tend to just roll with what they know and if someone hasn't been exposed to food in high quantities and at their beck and call, it's not unusual to indulge and have that become habitual behavior.
The answer to the original question in the title is still no. Just winning the lottery doesn't make you irresponsible with money just like just immigrating to the US doesn't make you irresponsible with your diet. Its up to the person to make the right choices. Is it easier to gain weight? Absolutely, but its avoidable.
Also, when I said "stop blaming..." I wasn't directing that at you, but people in general. Poorly worded.
I agree!! Well stated!!!0 -
Why the hell are portions so big? It's disgusting. Even muffins, why do they need to make them so big- I wish these popular fast foods cared about stuff like that.
Consumer demand and competition.
To be negative about it, much of the US doesn't have much of a food culture, so many places compete on cost, size (all you can eat type stuff too), and convenience.
If they make more money selling more of the bigger stuff, what do you expect?0 -
Makes me think of the documentary Supersize Me. Portions, AGE, depending on where in the USA they live..if North...lots of long cold winters...nothing sounds better than settling into a warm house with a movie, hot chocolate, and cookies..lol0
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Makes me think of the documentary Supersize Me. Portions, AGE, depending on where in the USA they live..if North...lots of long cold winters...nothing sounds better than settling into a warm house with a movie, hot chocolate, and cookies..lol
You know, that's a good point too. Weather. Seriously, where I live, there are maybe 2 nice months a year. The rest of the time, it's either too cold and snowy, or too humid and hot, and I don't know about most people but the last thing I want to do is be out there walking in those conditions. And I'm someone who loves walking, lol.0 -
My opinion on that is YES.
Anectodally, I've have several friends and relatives from the Philippines immigrate to the US and are excited for the opportunities with work. When they arrive (based on pictures I've have with them) they are fairly normal in weight. 5-10 years later many of them have easily gained 30-80lbs in excess weight. When I compare them with other family members (their brothers, sisters, cousins, etc.) at home in the Philippines who are still normal in weight, I'm of the opinion that immigrating to the USA from just about any country, will more than likely result in significant weight gain.
As to why, I believe it's access to abundance of food and affordability where they didn't have it before.
Also the institution of American lifestyle in the workforce (long hours, long commutes, high stress, super competitiveness, etc.) are probable contributors to it too.
Initially I thought it was just more processed foods, but the same foods are available in the Philippines too.
Feel free to chime in on this especially if you have friends or relatives that immigrated here in the last 10 years.
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In 1967 I was an exchange student from Germany at a mid-western university and due to circumstances ( living in the dorm was the main reason, not having any money was the other ) I ate my meals at the dining hall, because I was provided with a free pass.
I not only took the then required PhysEd classes, but also played lawn hockey twice a week and still gained 30 pounds in just under a year. I returned to Germany and without trying, just eating the food I had been used to, I lost those 30 pounds within 4 month and returned to my standard 49-50 kilos/107-110 pounds.
Almost the same thing happened 20 years later when I did a MA in Community Nutrition and Epidemiology in the US. This time I was better prepared and only gained 15 pounds, which at age 40 I was proud of. Again, when returning to my accustomed diet I easily lost the weight.
I am really glad that university students these days have many more options ( including natural foods ) than those who studied almost 50 years ago did.
I suspect that the fact that I grew up in post war Germany, eating unprocessed, mostly locally grown food in sufficient, but not exaggerated portions ( and in my childhood right after the war often went hungry, as we all did ) and then being offered enormous amounts of what at the time I considered " exotic food " ( yes, for me in the 60's a large baked potato with lots of butter, even more cream and bacon bits was exotic and delicious, or pizza that went beyond two slices per person ) really seduced me.....to the tune of 30 pounds.
PS: I should add that the first thing my sponsor family did was give me driving lessons and let me use an old family car. In Germany I had walked everywhere, taken my bike or used public transport ( which still requires some walking to get to and from the bus or street car ).
When I returned twenty years later I was urged to buy a car ( which I did ) to get around Boston, while at " home " ( at the time I lived in Japan ) I went everywhere by bike and actually was down to 47 kilos/103 pounds which for someone 4' 11" is not even in the low range.
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My opinion on that is YES.
Anectodally, I've have several friends and relatives from the Philippines immigrate to the US and are excited for the opportunities with work. When they arrive (based on pictures I've have with them) they are fairly normal in weight. 5-10 years later many of them have easily gained 30-80lbs in excess weight. When I compare them with other family members (their brothers, sisters, cousins, etc.) at home in the Philippines who are still normal in weight, I'm of the opinion that immigrating to the USA from just about any country, will more than likely result in significant weight gain.
As to why, I believe it's access to abundance of food and affordability where they didn't have it before.
Also the institution of American lifestyle in the workforce (long hours, long commutes, high stress, super competitiveness, etc.) are probable contributors to it too.
Initially I thought it was just more processed foods, but the same foods are available in the Philippines too.
Feel free to chime in on this especially if you have friends or relatives that immigrated here in the last 10 years.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
In 1967 I was an exchange student from Germany at a mid-western university and due to circumstances ( living in the dorm was the main reason, not having any money was the other ) I ate my meals at the dining hall, because I was provided with a free pass.
I not only took the then required PhysEd classes, but also played lawn hockey twice a week and still gained 30 pounds in just under a year. I returned to Germany and without trying, just eating the food I had been used to, I lost those 30 pounds within 4 month and returned to my standard 49-50 kilos/107-110 pounds.
Almost the same thing happened 20 years later when I did a MA in Community Nutrition and Epidemiology in the US. This time I was better prepared and only gained 15 pounds, which at age 40 I was proud of. Again, when returning to my accustomed diet I easily lost the weight.
I am really glad that university students these days have many more options ( including natural foods ) than those who studied almost 50 years ago did.
I suspect that the fact that I grew up in post war Germany, eating unprocessed, mostly locally grown food in sufficient, but not exaggerated portions ( and in my childhood right after the war often went hungry, as we all did ) and then being offered enormous amounts of what at the time I considered " exotic food " ( yes, for me in the 60's a large baked potato with lots of butter, even more cream and bacon bits was exotic and delicious, or pizza that went beyond two slices per person ) really seduced me.....to the tune of 30 pounds.
PS: I should add that the first thing my sponsor family did was give me driving lessons and let me use an old family car. In Germany I had walked everywhere, taken my bike or used public transport ( which still requires some walking to get to and from the bus or street car ).
When I returned twenty years later I was urged to buy a car ( which I did ) to get around Boston, while at " home " ( at the time I lived in Japan ) I went everywhere by bike and actually was down to 47 kilos/103 pounds which for someone 4' 11" is not even in the low range.
Sounds about right.
But a car to get around Boston? I can't really wrap my head around that one, lol.0 -
sunandmoons wrote: »thorsmom01 wrote: »Any weight gain will come from a caloric surplus.
Albeit , its likely easier to over consume here in the USA . but it still comes down to calories.
Yes, there are bigger portions. But its up to the individual to consume the larger portions or not.
Yes , highly processed foods are readily available here and inexpensive. But again, it comes down to the individual. Its their choice to consume them and their choice to consume high quantities.
It's very unfair to blame a country as a whole ( I saw a comment saying there's something wrong with the food supply here)
Its about taking responsibility for your own actions. American foods do not cause weight gain alone. To gain weight, one must eat at a surplus. The reasons as to why people have chosen to eat at a surplus, will vary .
I believe that we cannot make the average US person 100% responsible for what they eat and how much.
The US food culture is a culture of over abundance and exaggeration.
If people are told over several generations that as an example a 32 oz soft drink is " pretty normal " than people start to use this as their base of consumption. Or does anyone think that any person outside of MFP would consider a 3oz steak to be " normal " size ?
I once went to a US steakhouse with maybe a group of ten women. Two were from the US and the rest from Latin America.
Both American women ate a normal steak, while the rest of us ate a skinny " lady's " cut which still was ten oz and about three times the normal portion of meat served in most countries of the world.
A person who grows up in such a food culture, where parents already had the same experience and their children most likely will be exposed to the same, will automatically think that they are eating within a " normal " range.
Only when people get sick, overweight, or have another crisis do they usually question their caloric intake and maybe adjust accordingly. Most people won't, because the way they eat, which also includes portion size it literally hard wired into their brain.
I 100% agree with you that weight gain only happens when too many calories are consumed . But I also have to say that unless the average person makes an effort to acquire specific information, a fair knowledge of science and nutrition the US food culture and industry does not help in any way for people to lead a healthier life. People are literally left on their own.0 -
Makes me think of the documentary Supersize Me. Portions, AGE, depending on where in the USA they live..if North...lots of long cold winters...nothing sounds better than settling into a warm house with a movie, hot chocolate, and cookies..lol
You know, that's a good point too. Weather. Seriously, where I live, there are maybe 2 nice months a year. The rest of the time, it's either too cold and snowy, or too humid and hot, and I don't know about most people but the last thing I want to do is be out there walking in those conditions. And I'm someone who loves walking, lol.
Yeah, but I don't think we can claim the weather is worse than in, say, Sweden.0 -
Makes me think of the documentary Supersize Me. Portions, AGE, depending on where in the USA they live..if North...lots of long cold winters...nothing sounds better than settling into a warm house with a movie, hot chocolate, and cookies..lol
You know, that's a good point too. Weather. Seriously, where I live, there are maybe 2 nice months a year. The rest of the time, it's either too cold and snowy, or too humid and hot, and I don't know about most people but the last thing I want to do is be out there walking in those conditions. And I'm someone who loves walking, lol.
But surely no one can think that in other countries they don't have long, cold and snowy winters. Or others with never ending humidity and high temps, where some of the thinnest people on this planet live.
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Bex_hostie wrote: »On Wednesday I'm going on holiday to Los Angeles (I live in England) so I'll let you know
Be careful. The air here is really donut particulate. You'll gain the moment you breathe it. lol.
I didn't read anything but this page. If someone else already came up with donut particulate theory of US weight gain, I apolgozie.0
This discussion has been closed.
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