The American "Obesity Epidemic?"

[kyleb]

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Secreprankster nailed it on the garbage diets related to schedule/poor time management.

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I do think that poor time management plays a significant role, but I think the majority role is ignorance, like others have pointed out. Never has it been more acceptable to eat McDonald's on a daily basis, and despite the efforts of Subway, that type of food is still looked down upon.

Somehow that reminds me that I should try the new lobster sub at Subway. Or not.

[StaticShock]

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Secreprankster nailed it on the garbage diets related to schedule/poor time management.

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I do think that poor time management plays a significant role, but I think the majority role is ignorance, like others have pointed out. Never has it been more acceptable to eat McDonald's on a daily basis, and despite the efforts of Subway, that type of food is still looked down upon.

Somehow that reminds me that I should try the new lobster sub at Subway. Or not.

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I feel like the people I work with and associate with on a daily basis have a reasonable idea of what they should and shouldn't be eating. What they do with this information is a completely different story though. Usually it comes down to time related excuses and not caring.

I think you're probably right though Kyle about alot of it being plain ignorance (which is amazing in this day and age.)

After that lobster sub at Subway why don't you see if they'll cook you up an oyster poboy. TR please.

[aggie]

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The real problem is that kids and adults are so woefully undereducated when it comes to healthy foods and the effects of eating poorly. Many people are brought up to believe that they are just naturally fat and can do nothing about it.

No one tells them that yes, it is natural for some people to have "better"/faster metabolisms but that does not mean that they have to be overweight. It simply means they have to control their diet in a different way, but they CAN look as good as naturally skinny people.

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I think people in this thread are underestimating both people's intelligence and their lazyness. I'm overweight because I have a slow/medium natural metabolism, eat like crap, and don't work out. It's fairly obvious to me that if i were to eat better and exercise i wouldn't be fat....I'm sure anybody who's not a complete idiot knows this.

[Big Poppa Smurf]

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I do think that poor time management plays a significant role, but I think the majority role is ignorance, like others have pointed out. Never has it been more acceptable to eat McDonald's on a daily basis, and despite the efforts of Subway, that type of food is still looked down upon.

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I'm convinced that the lack of information and education regarding proper diet and exercise is a huge factor in why americans are getting so fat. When people do try to eat healthy, they don't know what they're doing and don't realize that it's a long term commitment, so when they don't get instant results they go back to being fatties, except that they're even more depressed about things.

There's just so much misinformation and "get thin fast" crap out there that no one knows what's going on.

edit: forgot to say that most people go on crash diets to lose some weight before big events, which just further skews their perception of what is healthy and effective and what isn't

[Thremp]

I agree with what almost everyone has written. Furthermore, I propound that until society stops hooking up with fat people there will continue to be fat people. Exchew the fatties from your social lives and they will either 1) Form gross fatty communes that we all can avoid 2) stop exisitng.

[Big Poppa Smurf]

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I agree with what almost everyone has written. Furthermore, I propound that until society stops hooking up with fat people there will continue to be fat people. Exchew the fatties from your social lives and they will either 1) Form gross fatty communes that we all can avoid 2) stop exisitng.

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You can't hate on fatties though because they get all up in arms about how it's a lifestyle choice just like smoking or being an alcoholic. I saw some show or commercial on tv the other day and it was basically women who were all at least 100 lbs overweight saying they didn't care that they were fat and they were beautiful. There's nothing wrong with big or chubby women but these porkers were just gross.

[aggie]

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I'm convinced that the lack of information and education regarding proper diet and exercise is a huge factor in why americans are getting so fat. When people do try to eat healthy, they don't know what they're doing and don't realize that it's a long term commitment, so when they don't get instant results they go back to being fatties, except that they're even more depressed about things.

There's just so much misinformation and "get thin fast" crap out there that no one knows what's going on.

edit: forgot to say that most people go on crash diets to lose some weight before big events, which just further skews their perception of what is healthy and effective and what isn't

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Take me for instance...I totally understand that a lifestyle change is in order if i want to get healthy. I just lack the will power / disipline to do it. Every once in a while i'll go on a crazy diet but it's not because i'm uneducated or don't know better. It's because i want instant gratification. I think many overweight people are like me.

If education/intelligence was a major factor in obesity i'm sure you would find significant correlation between the two. I doubt such a correlation exists

[lozen]

Your right about the effort people take. Just recently I found a butvher that has the best steaks lean 8 oz. Turns out he laso has chicken breasts that are organic from the hutterites. Cost wise not much difference. I have added Organic carrots, apple sauce and chicken. I have switched to whole wheat pasta. The one thing no one has brought up is the added cost on the health care system by the increase in obesity.

[SmileyEH]

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If education/intelligence was a major factor in obesity i'm sure you would find significant correlation between the two. I doubt such a correlation exists

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Income correlates VERY strongly to health/obesity. Id be very surprised if intelligence/level of education didnt as well.

[CrayZee]

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seems like when people think of obesity it relates only to diet...but like most health issues there is exercise as well as diet...people are sedentary, this makes people get fat...

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Yeah, and then there's the exercise component. Forgot to mention that.

People are more sedentary these days. Kids didn't used have Pac-Men and internets, so they're on their butts more. Phys Ed seems to be put on the back burner, and many food and beverage corporations have "invaded" school cafeterias and hallways re-enforcing bad habits. Some schools even subsidize costs by allowing fast food joints and beverage companies in since voters will often say no to any school taxes.

Anyway, while exercise is very good for overall health, caloric intake is much more important. Is is much easier to down a box of Tastykakes w/ a bottle of Coke than it is to use, or work off, those same calories.

Also, people, esp. in more urban environments, are tending to be office workers since our economy has largely been shifting to more specialized knowledge type jobs.