This gallery explains why millions of Americans are obese…

We're obese because we eat too much and sit on our butts all day.

Personal responsibility for our health? Whaaaaat?!

Everyone quit your office jobs and go get a job on a farm. Sunshine, exercise, fresh air, personal responsibility. I bet the farmers won't care if we eat the occasional fresh fruit or veggie straight out of the ground, either.

So what's the answer then?

Overhaul our society and system. Cut work hours to 30, then 20 gradually, since both parents are working outside the home now. People will then have more time to cook and exercise.

Start subsidizing expensive healthy foods.

You really think people are going to use their extra time to cook and exercise? People are lazy.

In order to get a cheeseburger, small fries, and a drink, you need to order a Happy Meal. I remember when that was the only size of burgers and fries at McDonalds. Here in Seattle, all fast food restaurants must post calories next to the menu item. If you want to eat 1,500 calories in one meal, then it is your choice.

Even sit down restaurant meals are enough for two or three. We have a lot of 'small plate' restaurants here where people can get a normal sized meal. When I go out to a regular restaurant, I order from the appetizer menu or get a side salad. Regular salads are way too big.

I also live in the Seattle area. :drinker:

McDonald's sells cheeseburgers, small fries, and small drinks on their dollar ($1.29) menu. The choices *are* there if one reads the entire menu instead of just looking at the picture menu for the value meals. Same with Wendy's and Burger King.

Thank you and I will read these. However, one issue remains: are people being forced to consume fat food? I'm pretty sure "eat 3 times a week at McDonalds" has not joined death and taxes as they things we can't avoid. People are fat because they CHOOSE to eat too many calories.

Those with the income and time to cook do choose it, and many are overweight. But those without the income and time to cook (especially those living in areas with no real grocery stores nearby) aren't choosing. It's what they're forced to do.

OMG! I was totally unaware that McDonalds and other fast food outlets are FORCING poor people to buy Big Mac's and to supersize the fries and the drink. I guess they have some sort of means test to determine who can buy salads.

McDonald's isn't, income and time allotment is.

The kneejerk reaction to anyone pointing out systemic, societal reasons for obesity is ridiculous on this forum.

Yeah, but really income and time aren't the real reason, either. There are fast food options out there that you can choose and maintain a healthy weight. Lots of them are on the dollar menu so they aren't expensive. I use those options for lunch whenever I don't have leftovers from last night's dinner, which is more often than I would like.

I also eat a good amount of prepackaged frozen meals because I just am not in the mood to cook. There are plenty available that are not more expensive than cooking from fresh (not as tasty, of course). And one serving for a lot of them is actually fewer calories than I can have per meal and still lose weight (<= 500 cals per serving). It's still down to knowing what the issue is and making smart choices. You have to find out how much you should be eating per day, and choose to eat the appropriate amount. That is what is lacking - the knowledge and/or the choice.

Oh, and caring. You have to want to maintain or lose in order to even bother with any of it.

We're obese because we eat too much and sit on our butts all day.

Personal responsibility for our health? Whaaaaat?!

Everyone quit your office jobs and go get a job on a farm. Sunshine, exercise, fresh air, personal responsibility. I bet the farmers won't care if we eat the occasional fresh fruit or veggie straight out of the ground, either.

So what's the answer then?

Overhaul our society and system. Cut work hours to 30, then 20 gradually, since both parents are working outside the home now. People will then have more time to cook and exercise.

Start subsidizing expensive healthy foods.

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Yeah, I know. Never happen in a society where we're all getting worked to death for corporate profit.

I don't know if you know this but...

most farmers already receive subsidies to keep the price of commodities (read fruits, vegetables, milk) down.

Portion sizes matter.

We're obese because we eat too much and sit on our butts all day.

Personal responsibility for our health? Whaaaaat?!

Everyone quit your office jobs and go get a job on a farm. Sunshine, exercise, fresh air, personal responsibility. I bet the farmers won't care if we eat the occasional fresh fruit or veggie straight out of the ground, either.

So what's the answer then?

Overhaul our society and system. Cut work hours to 30, then 20 gradually, since both parents are working outside the home now. People will then have more time to cook and exercise.

Start subsidizing expensive healthy foods.

Oh. so then there's no point in trying. You can't do it. Might as well give up, give in and eat whatever you want.

hmm...I'm going to return to: personal responsibility.

Portion sizes matter.

shhhhh ixnay on the ortionpay izesay its the secret I don't want to get out there

My coconut oil is chemical free.

Now that is some incredibly special coconut oil! I'm guessing it doesn't weigh very much...

Touche. You guys are going to keep me on my toes. There is supposedly no chemical in it that didn't start off as a coconut.

My coconut oil is chemical free.

Now that is some incredibly special coconut oil! I'm guessing it doesn't weigh very much...

I squeeze mine myself. There's no lime in my coconut.

http://www.eufic.org/article/en/expid/review-food-choice/

Title: The Determinants of Food Choice


A much more nuanced and of course researched rundown on the mix of determinants in food selection.