Why is there an obesity epidemic?

That awkward moment when a Mcdonald cheese burger is cheaper than a salad

actually theyre both on the dollar menu....so theyre both the same price ( i know i eat at mcdonalds everyday)

People are fat because junk food is so cheap. And the US seems crazy for huge portions. I don't base this comment on lack of knowledge. When in America, I had some fast food and noticed how huge the portions were compared to what I was used to. I absolutely loved Chipotle though.

And I hasten to add that that is just one side of things because I know Americans are hugely keen on exercise. I've never seen a 24hour gym in the UK and the concept kind of baffles me. Who wants to work out at 4am?

Believe it or not, there's a lot of psychology behind overeating. Stress eating, eating disorders, socialized eating, psychology of advertising, environmental learning, etc. Your brain is wired to derive pleasure in the easiest way possible. The link between having a delicious restaurant meal with friends and having a great time associates itself in your mind. A friend's reaction to eating vegetables can cloud your own judgment about how they taste, even if you liked them before.

Very intelligent and correct reply.

I am too drinkies and too lazy to read this thread. I'll tell you what I told my daughter recently, when explaining to her why we're trying to eat more whole foods...

Once upon a time, people had farms. They grew things and they sent them around the country for people to eat. Growing things and sending things started costing more money, so they started stretching out the food--using fillers and preservatives so it would last longer and be cheaper to produce. People just wanted to fill their bellies, so they were happy with this fake, stretched out food. Companies realized they could make a profit around it, and found new and "improved" ways to make it "taste good" to the consumers. They used less and less Real Food and made more and more Profit. We were already used to this 'compromised' food, so the companies--now actually Corporations--decided we need ways to make "food" even more "convenient" and came up with more and more ways to pump us full of filling, but ultimately unFULLfilling, food-type products. And now we're in a position where we are eating a diet of chemicals that is full of 'energy' (calories) and thinking it 'tastes good,' instead of actual food that is nourishing to our bodies. And because our bodies are not being nourished, we desire more and more of this fake food, with all of its 'energy,' to fulFILL us, and it never can.

You know, or something.

ANOTHER BRILLIANT REPLY ..... READ IT PEOPLE

True. Food is a drug. And I wanted to add something more informed - that people are more affluent now than they were in the early twentieth century and the rising numbers of working professionals means people are after food which is convenient. At the same time there is the emergence of the supermarket with ready prepared food. People used to buy base ingredients and cook from scratch which is happening much less now. In the past, people probably did much more outdoors as well so general fitness might have been better in some cases. But we have so many more ways to make a healthy lifestyle than we used to. Just seems like people don't know how to take advantage of that or don't want to.

people are more affluent now than they were in the early twentieth century and the rising numbers of working professionals means people are after food which is convenient. At the same time there is the emergence of the supermarket with ready prepared food. People used to buy base ingredients and cook from scratch which is happening much less now. In the past, people probably did much more outdoors as well so general fitness might have been better in some cases.

Where is the evidence that it's the young, busy, urban professional that are becoming obese?

What I see around me is that most obese people are unemployed, or are stay at home mums.

The most affluent people in today's western world are NOT obese. The correlation is the exact reverse.

Seems it isn't being busy and professional that makes you fat, it's being on a very small budget.

Ever thought of that?

The REAL reason for the "epidemic" is that the definition changed, and overnight millions who were never classed as obese suddenly were.

:laugh: OH CR@P...
i think i might have caught it!!!! :noway:

can you get shots for it??? anyone......please help.......is anyone still alive........ :huh:

BS. Just all of it BS. Epidemic? 2/3? An epidemic is classified as something that spreads quickly from person to person- I don't know why I caught the fat and my 110lb mother didnt- and epidemic is a fear word- EPIDEMIC has been used to describe hundreds of things- In 2005 it was the SARS epidemic. Thousands of people wore masks and feared the spread of this disease. (not to say it wasnt threatening)

In 2005 can you guess the number of people who were actually infected? 800 world wide. Out of 6 billion. That is less than .000000075% of the worlds population.

So forgive me if Im skeptical of numbers and figures put out when it's unclear what the agenda behind them is. Who would benefit from misrepresentation of facts about obesity statistics? Medical providers- Diet companies- companies that specialize in "light" or healthy options. Organizations that get funding from these things. Lobbyists, Political figures using it to further there social stature, Media, documentary creators, etc.

When I go Any where- I can 100% say that the ratio is not 2 out of 3 for obese people vs people of a standard size. Can you? It's ridiculous to propagate such trash. and that is what that figure means- is that for every 2 obese people there is only 1 standard size person.

When you examine the Height to weight ratio charts and the abuse of BMI- which the person who created the formula stated would be irresponsible to use the ratio alone to determine health and fitness- There are a ton of people who are 'overweight' who clearly are not. Tim Tebow? Is considered very overweight- if you take his height and weight alone. With out factoring in his fitness level. So On the one hand- by US standards- Tim Tebow is very over weight- on the other hand- He was nominated one of the top 5 fittest individuals in the US.

If you think the people who created these "facts" took the responsibility and combed through the numbers they have and removed everyone who was fit to create an accurate census you are very naive.

Fact: A Gastric by pass costs 100k dollars. With follow up treatment and complications it can get into the 500k range very quick.
Fact: Organic and "healthy food" both LOOSE standards due to our corrupt FDA is a 31 billion dollar industry (has grown 25 billion in the last 13 years... I wonder what spiked that?)
Thats a lot of revenue with little to no advertisement dont you think?

* **Yes obesity is real. No I dont think its a public problem. Yes there are companies out there that want your money who dont care if you get fat. get over it. That doesnt make it an epidemic- it makes people irresponsible- and it's an attempt to pass the buck. "I got fat it's not my fault its the food I bought and put in my mouth and then did not keep a proper level of fitness for" ??? And because its convenient?! Thats the next line of BS to follow? " its not my fault- Its mcdonalds! They're the ones who made it convenient to eat a burger?! " is just as insane as a person with the cupboard full of doritos blaming Walmart for stocking them!

Guess what. If your demands change the market changes. McDonalds will not keep selling Big Macs with SECRET SAUCE if everyone stops buying Big Macs with SECRET SAUCE. Look at japan- only 1 of thousands of markets that MCDONALDS adapted to to keep themselves profitable.

People are fat because junk food is so cheap****. And the US seems crazy for huge portions. I don't base this comment on lack of knowledge. When in America, I had some fast food and noticed how huge the portions were compared to what I was used to. I absolutely loved Chipotle though.

And I hasten to add that that is just one side of things because I know Americans are hugely keen on exercise. I've never seen a 24hour gym in the UK and the concept kind of baffles me. Who wants to work out at 4am?

****.... The last time I went into a grocery store an orange was around 10c A dinky bag of chips was 1.25- about an ounce of chips. ... People always say this- but it's ridiculous. And I apologize if the units of measurement for money are not the same- but I think you get the picture.

Blame the Americans?

No.

Blame your own fat lazy butt for your own personal choices.

Accountability. Look it up.

Of which many Americans have...the obesity problem in America is far more expansive and problematic than the obesity problem elsewhere in the world. Our portions are too large, our food is too processed, and our couches are too comfortable.

True, but no one forces me to eat the entire portion. Huge proponent of personal responsibility. I do not blame Ben & Jerry for my fat butt. Or antibiotics. Or processed food. Or anything in the original post other than my own personal choices.

This. and the portion above the excuse maker- THAT to the Nth degree. Thank you.

Where is the evidence that it's the young, busy, urban professional that are becoming obese?

What I see around me is that most obese people are unemployed, or are stay at home mums.

I didn't mean young urban professionals. I meant households with children where both parents work high pressure jobs. They want convenience and don't want to cook a huge meal when they get back home.

I know some stay at home mothers but most of them aren't obese. I hardly ever see a really fat person in my town and it's mixed in terms of wealth.

As for unemployed people, I understand how people can get into poor self-care if they're dealing with a lot of crap in their lives. That's not just overeating, it could be drug taking or excessive alcohol consumption. Most of the fatter people I see in my area are not especially poor. I see it in various wealth brackets. I don't see obesity as a poor person's problem.

And I apologize if the units of measurement for money are not the same- but I think you get the picture.

Yeah I know what you mean. I think some people get used to the taste of junk and don't know how to enjoy healthy food. Parents really have to instill healthy habits in their children so it starts there I think.

Some unhealthy food really is cheaper, if you buy value brand items. And it's cheaper to buy cheap chicken nuggets than a good cut of meat.

Another reason is that there is so much misinformation about healthy eating especially with confusion caused with product labeling which convinces the consumer that they're purchasing something which is healthier than it actually is.

"they" are fattening us up so that we make more filling meals.

I believe this if anyone can answer this question you will be the next nobel peace prize winner. Scientist have been working on this question for the last 30years.

bump

The last time I went into a grocery store an orange was around 10c A dinky bag of chips was 1.25- about an ounce of chips. ... People always say this- but it's ridiculous

No it's NOT ridiculous.

When *I* last went into a supermarket, I saw multipacks of carbage on sale at 2 for the price of one. You can get HEAPS more carbage for your money in the UK than any other foodstuffs.... PLUS as we all know, carbage is ADDICTIVE and comforting and filling in a way that an orange is not.

They love the blend of high sugar and those creamy, wheaty, oaty sort of textures on their tongues. They are driven by their tastebuds, their emotions and their wallets, not by rationality or nutritional knowledge.

People's palates become ALTERED by eating carbage, and an orange just tastes bland and ugh to them.

On top of that, the KIDS won't eat fresh fruit because THEIR palates have also been ruined by carbage. Poor people practically MEDICATE their children with carbage. The last time I was in a queue at my local post office I saw a mother give a jam doughnut to her 2-year-old daughter to stop her whining. I wished I could report her for child abuse, but apparently you cannot.