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Fast food and obesity
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Therealobi1 wrote: »
Especially if the same meal is high in both carbs and fats since that combo better promotes fat storage and inflammation which can in turn promote heart disease, strokes, cancer, Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes etc per some MD's.
eatingacademy.com/nutrition/how-do-some-cultures-stay-lean-while-still-consuming-high-amounts-of-carbohydrates0 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »
Why am I NOT surprised that Japan is the least obese? Oh, yea, because they have a healthy diet of fish, rice, and vegetables, mostly. There's a reason why the good ol' saying is, "You are what you eat."
There's also the massive social stigma in Japan with being overweight / obese along with generally homogeneous culture.
Fat shaming seems to work there to help keep waistlines in check.
Fat shaming is so acceptable in Japan that a BMI in the upper 20's could get your belly poked and jokes made about you. In fact, it's government mandated that citizens over 40 get their waists measured every year and if they go over the limit (33.5 inches for men, 35.4 for women) they'll be given "dietary guidance" and if that doesn't work after six months, they may be given "further re-education."
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2009/11/how-japan-defines-fat/29830/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?_r=0
Why doesn't the US do this?0 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »Therealobi1 wrote: »
Especially if the same meal is high in both carbs and fats since that combo better promotes fat storage and inflammation which can in turn promote heart disease, strokes, cancer, Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes etc per some MD's.
eatingacademy.com/nutrition/how-do-some-cultures-stay-lean-while-still-consuming-high-amounts-of-carbohydrates
I'm not sure what this reference has to do with the statement about fast food and obesity in the thread OP, or in the posts you quoted indicating that overconsumption of total calories is a concern, not the consumption specifically of fast food.
Additionally, the link you posted loses a significant amount of credibility when it references Lustig for more information, and that the doctor who wrote the "article" has a practice that specializes in longevity and healthspan. What does that even mean?3 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »Therealobi1 wrote: »
Especially if the same meal is high in both carbs and fats since that combo better promotes fat storage and inflammation which can in turn promote heart disease, strokes, cancer, Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes etc per some MD's.
eatingacademy.com/nutrition/how-do-some-cultures-stay-lean-while-still-consuming-high-amounts-of-carbohydrates
So the French, Italians, and Japanese don't eat fat with carbs? Oh, right, they do (although granted the Japanese eat a pretty low fat diet overall, so maybe that doesn't count).
The funny thing about Attia's effort to explain away the fact that many cultures with higher carb diets that we have (including many blue zones) have better results for health and preventing obesity is that the real answer is apparent within his explanation -- they eat fewer calories. We eat too many calories. Attia can go on about how we supposedly eat Prego and fries and those are full of sugar (whatever, seems to me that fries are high cal because they are full of fat, and I'm a food snob so make my own pasta sauce even though I'm not Italian, something Attia seems to think is unheard of), but the essence of it comes down to Americans eat too much.
Of course we do. Too much fat, too many carbs, possibly even too much protein depending on who you ask. Too many calories.
If you personally ate lots of high fat and high carb "junk food" and reduced calories by going low carb and cutting out added sugar and grains (even if it required going nuts with the sat fat to do it), then that might well have been an improvement for you.
Doesn't mean carbs are the problem. As the Japanese diet demonstrates (as well as many others), one can eat lots of carbs in the context of a healthful, calorie-appropriate diet.
Not sure what this has to do with fast food, except, I suppose, that many people who go get fast food also tend to eat too many calories in their meals, especially those not logging or otherwise paying attention to calories.5 -
jennifer_417 wrote: »Food companies do everything they can to get people to eat their food...and I don't doubt that some of it is unethical...however, it all comes down to personal choice. No one held a gun to your head and made you eat 3 Big Macs and 2 orders of fries. Unless they did. Then you can legitimately blame someone else. Otherwise, we're all personally responsible for what we put into our bodies.
I second that one! well said0 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »Don't make this about America please because obesity is a worldwide problem.
Just thought I'd go and do a little fact-checking on this, and stumbled across the attached from the UK Government. Honestly, I'm pretty staggered by what I'm seeing:
Why am I NOT surprised that Japan is the least obese? Oh, yea, because they have a healthy diet of fish, rice, and vegetables, mostly. There's a reason why the good ol' saying is, "You are what you eat."
Yeah, Germany is defineteley getting worse and worse, lots of Young People & children are not in good shape1 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »
Why am I NOT surprised that Japan is the least obese? Oh, yea, because they have a healthy diet of fish, rice, and vegetables, mostly. There's a reason why the good ol' saying is, "You are what you eat."
There's also the massive social stigma in Japan with being overweight / obese along with generally homogeneous culture.
Fat shaming seems to work there to help keep waistlines in check.
Fat shaming is so acceptable in Japan that a BMI in the upper 20's could get your belly poked and jokes made about you. In fact, it's government mandated that citizens over 40 get their waists measured every year and if they go over the limit (33.5 inches for men, 35.4 for women) they'll be given "dietary guidance" and if that doesn't work after six months, they may be given "further re-education."
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2009/11/how-japan-defines-fat/29830/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?_r=0
Why doesn't the US do this?
LOL, read the post about junk food being taxed. People are ballistic about adding $0.25 or so to a bottle of pop. What do you think would happen if everyone had to parade in and get their waist measured and get guidance and education if over a certain number.2 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »
Why am I NOT surprised that Japan is the least obese? Oh, yea, because they have a healthy diet of fish, rice, and vegetables, mostly. There's a reason why the good ol' saying is, "You are what you eat."
There's also the massive social stigma in Japan with being overweight / obese along with generally homogeneous culture.
Fat shaming seems to work there to help keep waistlines in check.
Fat shaming is so acceptable in Japan that a BMI in the upper 20's could get your belly poked and jokes made about you. In fact, it's government mandated that citizens over 40 get their waists measured every year and if they go over the limit (33.5 inches for men, 35.4 for women) they'll be given "dietary guidance" and if that doesn't work after six months, they may be given "further re-education."
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2009/11/how-japan-defines-fat/29830/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?_r=0
From the Times article it looks like they will only have the education program if over the waist size and have weight related health issues:
"Those exceeding government limits — 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women, which are identical to thresholds established in 2005 for Japan by the International Diabetes Federation as an easy guideline for identifying health risks — and having a weight-related ailment will be given dieting guidance if after three months they do not lose weight. If necessary, those people will be steered toward further re-education after six more months."0 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »Don't make this about America please because obesity is a worldwide problem.
Just thought I'd go and do a little fact-checking on this, and stumbled across the attached from the UK Government. Honestly, I'm pretty staggered by what I'm seeing:
Why am I NOT surprised that Japan is the least obese? Oh, yea, because they have a healthy diet of fish, rice, and vegetables, mostly. There's a reason why the good ol' saying is, "You are what you eat."
I have lived in both Japan and the US for extended periods of time. Its all about the portions and lifestyle.
In Japan, I was lean. Portions are about 1/4 the size of those in the US. That's just the amount that is served and accustomed to eating. Also, the environment is urban and transportation is expensive. I did not own a car in Tokyo, I walked to the subway. When temps and humidities soared into the 90s, I still walked and took the subway. Rain too. It's just how things are. Cabbies are plentiful, but its expensive. Bus required the same walk to the station.
In the US, I eat the same fish, rice and vegetables, but I have to work harder to stay lean. Portions served here are much larger. Even at home! Our household plates are 2x as large as the ones we used in Japan. Food servings in a restaurant follow the plate size, so the US is a "take some home" kind of place. Japan not so much. Food is much cheaper here, and packaged in larger units/sizes. I drive my car daily as we live outside of reach of trains or subway. Exercise is something that I must seek out, schedule and make time for - it's not part of my daily commute.
tl;dr At the end of the day, its all about the calories available and opportunities to use them.6 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »People love to blame everyone but themselves for their obesity. *shrug*
I agree... too many calories in, not enough calories used. I have average size friends, who eat fast food a lot, and if I ate like they did, I would certainly put on weight. I just prefer home cooking.
I gain weight when I eat too much of anything, and don't expend enough calories... whatever I'm doing, not necessarily exercising. I like to sit and knit, which doesn't burn many calories unfortunately.1 -
Eating chemical laden food such as fast food is a recipe for disaster if done on a regular basis. That many calories with negligible nutritional value is not good regardless of calories.1
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Eating chemical laden food such as fast food is a recipe for disaster if done on a regular basis. That many calories with negligible nutritional value is not good regardless of calories.
What should we eat, then, if not for food made of chemicals? All food is made of chemicals. Air is made of chemicals. We can't even breathe without ingesting chemicals.
And negligible nutritional value? I had dinner at McDonald's last night, which helped me get enough protein and fat yesterday. It was also within my calorie allowance for the day. Not something I do every day, but if you can fit it into your goals, there is no harm in consuming fast food as part of an overall healthy diet.5 -
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Eating chemical laden food such as fast food is a recipe for disaster if done on a regular basis. That many calories with negligible nutritional value is not good regardless of calories.
I bought lunch yesterday from a local quick serve place. The sandwich (which, like everything, was composed of chemicals), was made up of the following: madrange ham, gruyère, avocado, jalapeños, and housemade mango chutney on organic bretzel baguette. (The place is really into the organic thing, but I like their food so let it slide.)
This sandwich has kind of a lot of calories, so I save it for days when breakfast or dinner will be light and I want more calories in the middle of the day (which isn't uncommon for me, especially if I workout in the morning). Specifically, it has 560 calories, made up of 18 g fat (9 sat), 69 g carb (10 g sugar), 29 g protein. To add to the calorie punch, it comes with housemade chips or almonds. I normally get the almonds (the higher cal option), which are 85 calories. So a total of 655 calories. I am able to have this and be under my calories.
To compare with McD's (which I don't get because I prefer other options): Quarter Pounder with Cheese has 540 calories, made up of 27 g fat (13 sat), 42 g carbs, and 31 g protein. That's pretty comparable; indeed, for the carb haters among us, that may even look like better macros.
Now, if one added small fries (and I think the burger would be perfectly filling without them, or you could have almonds instead, as I had almonds instead of the chips), that would add 230 calories (29 g carbs, 11 g fat, 3 g protein), so the total goes up to 770 -- 115 more than my meal -- but of course if one really wants the fries one can plan according.
I anticipate that the response is that the burger has "bad chemicals" or some such, so I looked at the ingredients and much as McD's is not my cuppa (I think a homemade burger is tastier with fewer calories and made just to my liking, so why would I want to go there? but this is personal preference), the ingredients are hardly anything unexpected: burger = beef (4.25 oz raw); condiments are made up of a variety of ingredients, but just about what you'd expect to find in any store-bought bun, hamburger pickle, ketchup, and mustard, and of course American cheese product. Sure, at home you could more easily skip the cheese product (but you can there too, right?) or use nicer cheese, but I hardly think the lack of cachet of American cheese product is really why McD's food is claimed to be so terrible.8 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »Therealobi1 wrote: »
Especially if the same meal is high in both carbs and fats since that combo better promotes fat storage and inflammation which can in turn promote heart disease, strokes, cancer, Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes etc per some MD's.
eatingacademy.com/nutrition/how-do-some-cultures-stay-lean-while-still-consuming-high-amounts-of-carbohydrates
So the French, Italians, and Japanese don't eat fat with carbs? Oh, right, they do (although granted the Japanese eat a pretty low fat diet overall, so maybe that doesn't count).
The funny thing about Attia's effort to explain away the fact that many cultures with higher carb diets that we have (including many blue zones) have better results for health and preventing obesity is that the real answer is apparent within his explanation -- they eat fewer calories. We eat too many calories. Attia can go on about how we supposedly eat Prego and fries and those are full of sugar (whatever, seems to me that fries are high cal because they are full of fat, and I'm a food snob so make my own pasta sauce even though I'm not Italian, something Attia seems to think is unheard of), but the essence of it comes down to Americans eat too much.
Of course we do. Too much fat, too many carbs, possibly even too much protein depending on who you ask. Too many calories.
If you personally ate lots of high fat and high carb "junk food" and reduced calories by going low carb and cutting out added sugar and grains (even if it required going nuts with the sat fat to do it), then that might well have been an improvement for you.
Doesn't mean carbs are the problem. As the Japanese diet demonstrates (as well as many others), one can eat lots of carbs in the context of a healthful, calorie-appropriate diet.
Not sure what this has to do with fast food, except, I suppose, that many people who go get fast food also tend to eat too many calories in their meals, especially those not logging or otherwise paying attention to calories.
Carbs, protein and fats do not cause disease is my take away so fast food is not a direct cause of disease. Dr. Attia point seems to be when one eat in any many that increases the level of inflammation in one's body that is what that can lead to a premature death.0 -
McDonald's is no worse than most of the crap on grocery store shelves honestly.
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aalixandruh wrote: »McDonald's is no worse than most of the crap on grocery store shelves honestly.
I love the crap on grocery shelves. Have you tried the Sriracha mayo on hard boiled eggs. Yum Or Classico Spicy Tomato Sauce on Barilla spaghetti with Italian meatballs in the frozen section. Can't be beat. And Ranch dressing on romaine with grape tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives and jarred artichokes in oil. You are seriously missing out on the good stuff.5 -
queenliz99 wrote: »aalixandruh wrote: »McDonald's is no worse than most of the crap on grocery store shelves honestly.
I love the crap on grocery shelves. Have you tried the Sriracha mayo on hard boiled eggs. Yum Or Classico Spicy Tomato Sauce on Barilla spaghetti with Italian meatballs in the frozen section. Can't be beat. And Ranch dressing on romaine with grape tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives and jarred artichokes in oil. You are seriously missing out on the good stuff.
Plus....McGriddles!2 -
queenliz99 wrote: »aalixandruh wrote: »McDonald's is no worse than most of the crap on grocery store shelves honestly.
I love the crap on grocery shelves. Have you tried the Sriracha mayo on hard boiled eggs. Yum Or Classico Spicy Tomato Sauce on Barilla spaghetti with Italian meatballs in the frozen section. Can't be beat. And Ranch dressing on romaine with grape tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives and jarred artichokes in oil. You are seriously missing out on the good stuff.
Plus....McGriddles!
I love fricken' McGriddles!0 -
queenliz99 wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »aalixandruh wrote: »McDonald's is no worse than most of the crap on grocery store shelves honestly.
I love the crap on grocery shelves. Have you tried the Sriracha mayo on hard boiled eggs. Yum Or Classico Spicy Tomato Sauce on Barilla spaghetti with Italian meatballs in the frozen section. Can't be beat. And Ranch dressing on romaine with grape tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives and jarred artichokes in oil. You are seriously missing out on the good stuff.
Plus....McGriddles!
I love fricken' McGriddles!
I've never felt so sad reading one of your posts as I do with this one. While I am capable of wolfing down some McDs, this is just sick and wrong. :sick:4
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