Why are so many women in their early to mid 20s already so heavy? Is this mainly a USA phenomenon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why Was It Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s?

A new study finds that people today who eat and exercise the same amount as people 20 years ago are still fatter...

Something is definitely up with our food supply.

I watch my diet pretty stringently here in the States -- no grain, no starch, no sugar -- because otherwise I'd be thirty pounds heavier.

And then I go to Europe on holiday and eat ALLL the grains, starch, and sugar -- sometimes while on road trips, so no walking or real exercise -- and I come back a couple of pounds lighter.

I don't know what, exactly, but there's something very, very bad in our food supply.

Hmm. Food is certainly the issue. But quantity is very much part of the issue too. The problem with the Atlantic article is if the culprit is the food supply then how do you explain the millions of still thin and trim American women? They are exposed to the same foodstuffs. So what do they eat, or don't eat, that might explain the difference?

I am wondering if the flaw of the article is that focusing on the average misses the larger changes among demographics in the United States. It could be that heavier eating among some demographics is being offset by lower eating and greater exercises among others?

If food is the problem, then it's likely from stuffing themselves with the wrong kinds of food, processed and junk food, so it's clearly still the fault of the individual rather than the food itself. There's gotta be a reason why the Whole Foods clientele looks healthier and trimmer than Walmart's clientele.....

[Anonymous]

Animals are bigger, too. Domestic animals including cats, dogs, captive animals including lab chimpanzees, and wild animals including feral rats. Maybe there is something in the water?

https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2015/08/21/is-everything-getting-fatter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why Was It Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s?

A new study finds that people today who eat and exercise the same amount as people 20 years ago are still fatter...

Something is definitely up with our food supply.

I watch my diet pretty stringently here in the States -- no grain, no starch, no sugar -- because otherwise I'd be thirty pounds heavier.

And then I go to Europe on holiday and eat ALLL the grains, starch, and sugar -- sometimes while on road trips, so no walking or real exercise -- and I come back a couple of pounds lighter.

I don't know what, exactly, but there's something very, very bad in our food supply.

Unless they used some sort of tracking device to monitor activity, I’m skeptical of their measurements. It’s impossible to accurately report your activity level based on a guess. And now people are much more sedentary due to our devices and the internet. In 1980, you watched what was on TV, and if there wasn’t anything on, your turned off the TV and did something with yourself. Now we sit like zombies in front of screens for the vast majority of each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP -- people may exercise in the burbs but as a previous poster before you said, they don't even make a 10 minute walk to the park for God's sake!

What are you talking about? I live in the suburbs. I ride my peloton daily. My husband runs three marathons a year. Our neighborhood is literally swarming with runners every morning and evening.

You exercise on purpose. Do you not understand the difference? If you live in a city you get exercise through daily living and don’t have to buy a stationary bike for your house. Instead you ride your real bike places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why Was It Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s?

A new study finds that people today who eat and exercise the same amount as people 20 years ago are still fatter...

Something is definitely up with our food supply.

I watch my diet pretty stringently here in the States -- no grain, no starch, no sugar -- because otherwise I'd be thirty pounds heavier.

And then I go to Europe on holiday and eat ALLL the grains, starch, and sugar -- sometimes while on road trips, so no walking or real exercise -- and I come back a couple of pounds lighter.

I don't know what, exactly, but there's something very, very bad in our food supply.

Hmm. Food is certainly the issue. But quantity is very much part of the issue too. The problem with the Atlantic article is if the culprit is the food supply then how do you explain the millions of still thin and trim American women? They are exposed to the same foodstuffs. So what do they eat, or don't eat, that might explain the difference?

I am wondering if the flaw of the article is that focusing on the average misses the larger changes among demographics in the United States. It could be that heavier eating among some demographics is being offset by lower eating and greater exercises among others?

If food is the problem, then it's likely from stuffing themselves with the wrong kinds of food, processed and junk food, so it's clearly still the fault of the individual rather than the food itself. There's gotta be a reason why the Whole Foods clientele looks healthier and trimmer than Walmart's clientele.....

This!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I am in my mid 20s, single, and while not a stick, am not overweight and think I maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle (vegetarian, work out 3-4 times a week, run half marathons and other races). I did gain quite a bit of weight my last couple years of college, luckily was able to lose about 30 pounds post graduation. Here are the main factors I see:
1) Alcohol! This is what I attribute my college weight gain to - many of my peers drink almost every day, it's so socially acceptable and those calories add up.
2) No one packs lunch anymore. It amazes me how so many of my coworkers eat out literally every day. Aside from the cost, even 'healthy' meals out can have close to 1000 calories.
3) Food EVERYWHERE at work. My office has an insane amount of leftover food sitting out every day. Bagels, large platters of French toast, trays of cookies, etc. So tempting to take it if it's there and free.
3) Finally - I am single and lucky to have time to workout, etc. I can see this being significantly more difficult with a partner and kids, much moreso kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering just the opposite OP. I live in Georgetown, and I see so many fit young women going to Soul Cycle, yoga, etc. that I don't think girls/young ladies every looked this great. Maybe it's an urban vs. suburban thing.

I had the same experience at my neighborhood pool in NE DC this weekend. Most all of the younger people were slim/fit and attractive and every time I turned around more were coming! I'm usually with my kids and don't pay attention to what's happening on the adult side of the pool.

Give them a few years and see what happens.

Insert a tracking device on them and look them up 2-3 years from now.

This was my experience living in DC. We were in Logan Circle and everyone around us was very slender/fit. Moved to MoCo burbs a few years when we had kids and I'm BY FAR the thinnest person here. And I'm 5'3" and 115, not a stick. People aren't obese or anything, but most carry 15-20 extra lbs.

I think the weight gain happens in large part because people drive everywhere as opposed to walking. There's a nice playground within a 10 minute walk of our house. Everyone around us drives there instead of walking. I'm also out walking daily, pushing a stroller all over the neighborhood (two small kids) - rarely do I run into other moms doing the same. I am a runner and rarely see others out running in my neighborhood. In Logan Circle I never failed to see other runners even very early in the morning, in any weather.

My relative was one of those slender/fit women that you saw running around DC.

Then guess what happened?

She got married, left DC, moved to the suburbs and had 3 kids.

She is now quite heavy.

Her parents are wealthy and her husband is too.

The thing is, I totally get it. In DC I really didn't have to make a huge effort to be fit. We were an almost 20 minute walk from the Red Line (my work commute), and in general I walked everywhere - grocery store, meeting friends, etc. And I had plenty of time for the gym or a leisurely 3-5 mile run apart from that. Now I'm in the suburbs, I have kids and a commute. I have to wake up at 5:30 AM in order to get a short run in a few times a week. After work I rush to get the kids fed and then, unless it's freezing or pouring, we head outside for a walk. I'm slender but I'm always tired. (What I'm not is wealthy...)

Logan Circle resident and runner here. I swear its a mafia. If you go running anytime around lunchtime or on the weekends, the rush hour traffic on the sidewalks is insane.

That's why I love it. Being surrounded by a community of people who exercise normalizes it.

Stop generalizing.

People exercise in the suburbs too.

Of course. But they typically aren’t exercising simply by daily living. That’s the point. I also believe that by having to run errands on foot you have to stay fit. Being overweight in a city is harder than in the suburbs. You can’t just drive from point A to point B and hide in your car.

But suburbanites have more time and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors once they are home. more.cooking at home and fresher air. Their kids are outside playing and so are they.

Also, mental health in the burbs is much better than in urban areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering just the opposite OP. I live in Georgetown, and I see so many fit young women going to Soul Cycle, yoga, etc. that I don't think girls/young ladies every looked this great. Maybe it's an urban vs. suburban thing.

I had the same experience at my neighborhood pool in NE DC this weekend. Most all of the younger people were slim/fit and attractive and every time I turned around more were coming! I'm usually with my kids and don't pay attention to what's happening on the adult side of the pool.

Give them a few years and see what happens.

Insert a tracking device on them and look them up 2-3 years from now.

This was my experience living in DC. We were in Logan Circle and everyone around us was very slender/fit. Moved to MoCo burbs a few years when we had kids and I'm BY FAR the thinnest person here. And I'm 5'3" and 115, not a stick. People aren't obese or anything, but most carry 15-20 extra lbs.

I think the weight gain happens in large part because people drive everywhere as opposed to walking. There's a nice playground within a 10 minute walk of our house. Everyone around us drives there instead of walking. I'm also out walking daily, pushing a stroller all over the neighborhood (two small kids) - rarely do I run into other moms doing the same. I am a runner and rarely see others out running in my neighborhood. In Logan Circle I never failed to see other runners even very early in the morning, in any weather.

My relative was one of those slender/fit women that you saw running around DC.

Then guess what happened?

She got married, left DC, moved to the suburbs and had 3 kids.

She is now quite heavy.

Her parents are wealthy and her husband is too.

The thing is, I totally get it. In DC I really didn't have to make a huge effort to be fit. We were an almost 20 minute walk from the Red Line (my work commute), and in general I walked everywhere - grocery store, meeting friends, etc. And I had plenty of time for the gym or a leisurely 3-5 mile run apart from that. Now I'm in the suburbs, I have kids and a commute. I have to wake up at 5:30 AM in order to get a short run in a few times a week. After work I rush to get the kids fed and then, unless it's freezing or pouring, we head outside for a walk. I'm slender but I'm always tired. (What I'm not is wealthy...)

Logan Circle resident and runner here. I swear its a mafia. If you go running anytime around lunchtime or on the weekends, the rush hour traffic on the sidewalks is insane.

That's why I love it. Being surrounded by a community of people who exercise normalizes it.

Stop generalizing.

People exercise in the suburbs too.

Of course. But they typically aren’t exercising simply by daily living. That’s the point. I also believe that by having to run errands on foot you have to stay fit. Being overweight in a city is harder than in the suburbs. You can’t just drive from point A to point B and hide in your car.

But suburbanites have more time and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors once they are home. more.cooking at home and fresher air. Their kids are outside playing and so are they.

Also, mental health in the burbs is much better than in urban areas.

LOL that's actually the opposite of what happens. Most suburbanites are commuting 45 minutes - 1.5 hours in this area to get home. That's 2-3 hours of your day you don't get back and you certainly can't use to workout, walk, go outdoors etc.

Most people are desperate to move closer in BECAUSE they get that time back. I know walking to work in under 10 minutes makes me the envy of my co-workers who take a train in from Springfield, VA every morning (especially post-DST when they have to get up before dawn to trek in).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering just the opposite OP. I live in Georgetown, and I see so many fit young women going to Soul Cycle, yoga, etc. that I don't think girls/young ladies every looked this great. Maybe it's an urban vs. suburban thing.

I had the same experience at my neighborhood pool in NE DC this weekend. Most all of the younger people were slim/fit and attractive and every time I turned around more were coming! I'm usually with my kids and don't pay attention to what's happening on the adult side of the pool.

Give them a few years and see what happens.

Insert a tracking device on them and look them up 2-3 years from now.

This was my experience living in DC. We were in Logan Circle and everyone around us was very slender/fit. Moved to MoCo burbs a few years when we had kids and I'm BY FAR the thinnest person here. And I'm 5'3" and 115, not a stick. People aren't obese or anything, but most carry 15-20 extra lbs.

I think the weight gain happens in large part because people drive everywhere as opposed to walking. There's a nice playground within a 10 minute walk of our house. Everyone around us drives there instead of walking. I'm also out walking daily, pushing a stroller all over the neighborhood (two small kids) - rarely do I run into other moms doing the same. I am a runner and rarely see others out running in my neighborhood. In Logan Circle I never failed to see other runners even very early in the morning, in any weather.

My relative was one of those slender/fit women that you saw running around DC.

Then guess what happened?

She got married, left DC, moved to the suburbs and had 3 kids.

She is now quite heavy.

Her parents are wealthy and her husband is too.

The thing is, I totally get it. In DC I really didn't have to make a huge effort to be fit. We were an almost 20 minute walk from the Red Line (my work commute), and in general I walked everywhere - grocery store, meeting friends, etc. And I had plenty of time for the gym or a leisurely 3-5 mile run apart from that. Now I'm in the suburbs, I have kids and a commute. I have to wake up at 5:30 AM in order to get a short run in a few times a week. After work I rush to get the kids fed and then, unless it's freezing or pouring, we head outside for a walk. I'm slender but I'm always tired. (What I'm not is wealthy...)

Logan Circle resident and runner here. I swear its a mafia. If you go running anytime around lunchtime or on the weekends, the rush hour traffic on the sidewalks is insane.

That's why I love it. Being surrounded by a community of people who exercise normalizes it.

Stop generalizing.

People exercise in the suburbs too.

Of course. But they typically aren’t exercising simply by daily living. That’s the point. I also believe that by having to run errands on foot you have to stay fit. Being overweight in a city is harder than in the suburbs. You can’t just drive from point A to point B and hide in your car.

But suburbanites have more time and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors once they are home. more.cooking at home and fresher air. Their kids are outside playing and so are they.

Also, mental health in the burbs is much better than in urban areas.

LOL that's actually the opposite of what happens. Most suburbanites are commuting 45 minutes - 1.5 hours in this area to get home. That's 2-3 hours of your day you don't get back and you certainly can't use to workout, walk, go outdoors etc.

Most people are desperate to move closer in BECAUSE they get that time back. I know walking to work in under 10 minutes makes me the envy of my co-workers who take a train in from Springfield, VA every morning (especially post-DST when they have to get up before dawn to trek in).

+1. Living in the burbs typically means less time to spend. You’re commuting for a bigger house and/or schools. The commute is usually in a car which is terrible for your healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering just the opposite OP. I live in Georgetown, and I see so many fit young women going to Soul Cycle, yoga, etc. that I don't think girls/young ladies every looked this great. Maybe it's an urban vs. suburban thing.

I had the same experience at my neighborhood pool in NE DC this weekend. Most all of the younger people were slim/fit and attractive and every time I turned around more were coming! I'm usually with my kids and don't pay attention to what's happening on the adult side of the pool.

Give them a few years and see what happens.

Insert a tracking device on them and look them up 2-3 years from now.

This was my experience living in DC. We were in Logan Circle and everyone around us was very slender/fit. Moved to MoCo burbs a few years when we had kids and I'm BY FAR the thinnest person here. And I'm 5'3" and 115, not a stick. People aren't obese or anything, but most carry 15-20 extra lbs.

I think the weight gain happens in large part because people drive everywhere as opposed to walking. There's a nice playground within a 10 minute walk of our house. Everyone around us drives there instead of walking. I'm also out walking daily, pushing a stroller all over the neighborhood (two small kids) - rarely do I run into other moms doing the same. I am a runner and rarely see others out running in my neighborhood. In Logan Circle I never failed to see other runners even very early in the morning, in any weather.

My relative was one of those slender/fit women that you saw running around DC.

Then guess what happened?

She got married, left DC, moved to the suburbs and had 3 kids.

She is now quite heavy.

Her parents are wealthy and her husband is too.

The thing is, I totally get it. In DC I really didn't have to make a huge effort to be fit. We were an almost 20 minute walk from the Red Line (my work commute), and in general I walked everywhere - grocery store, meeting friends, etc. And I had plenty of time for the gym or a leisurely 3-5 mile run apart from that. Now I'm in the suburbs, I have kids and a commute. I have to wake up at 5:30 AM in order to get a short run in a few times a week. After work I rush to get the kids fed and then, unless it's freezing or pouring, we head outside for a walk. I'm slender but I'm always tired. (What I'm not is wealthy...)

Logan Circle resident and runner here. I swear its a mafia. If you go running anytime around lunchtime or on the weekends, the rush hour traffic on the sidewalks is insane.

That's why I love it. Being surrounded by a community of people who exercise normalizes it.

Stop generalizing.

People exercise in the suburbs too.

Of course. But they typically aren’t exercising simply by daily living. That’s the point. I also believe that by having to run errands on foot you have to stay fit. Being overweight in a city is harder than in the suburbs. You can’t just drive from point A to point B and hide in your car.

But suburbanites have more time and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors once they are home. more.cooking at home and fresher air. Their kids are outside playing and so are they.

Also, mental health in the burbs is much better than in urban areas.

This is hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP -- people may exercise in the burbs but as a previous poster before you said, they don't even make a 10 minute walk to the park for God's sake!

What are you talking about? I live in the suburbs. I ride my peloton daily. My husband runs three marathons a year. Our neighborhood is literally swarming with runners every morning and evening.

No muggers in the suburbs is definite plus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering just the opposite OP. I live in Georgetown, and I see so many fit young women going to Soul Cycle, yoga, etc. that I don't think girls/young ladies every looked this great. Maybe it's an urban vs. suburban thing.

I had the same experience at my neighborhood pool in NE DC this weekend. Most all of the younger people were slim/fit and attractive and every time I turned around more were coming! I'm usually with my kids and don't pay attention to what's happening on the adult side of the pool.

Give them a few years and see what happens.

Insert a tracking device on them and look them up 2-3 years from now.

This was my experience living in DC. We were in Logan Circle and everyone around us was very slender/fit. Moved to MoCo burbs a few years when we had kids and I'm BY FAR the thinnest person here. And I'm 5'3" and 115, not a stick. People aren't obese or anything, but most carry 15-20 extra lbs.

I think the weight gain happens in large part because people drive everywhere as opposed to walking. There's a nice playground within a 10 minute walk of our house. Everyone around us drives there instead of walking. I'm also out walking daily, pushing a stroller all over the neighborhood (two small kids) - rarely do I run into other moms doing the same. I am a runner and rarely see others out running in my neighborhood. In Logan Circle I never failed to see other runners even very early in the morning, in any weather.

My relative was one of those slender/fit women that you saw running around DC.

Then guess what happened?

She got married, left DC, moved to the suburbs and had 3 kids.

She is now quite heavy.

Her parents are wealthy and her husband is too.

The thing is, I totally get it. In DC I really didn't have to make a huge effort to be fit. We were an almost 20 minute walk from the Red Line (my work commute), and in general I walked everywhere - grocery store, meeting friends, etc. And I had plenty of time for the gym or a leisurely 3-5 mile run apart from that. Now I'm in the suburbs, I have kids and a commute. I have to wake up at 5:30 AM in order to get a short run in a few times a week. After work I rush to get the kids fed and then, unless it's freezing or pouring, we head outside for a walk. I'm slender but I'm always tired. (What I'm not is wealthy...)

Logan Circle resident and runner here. I swear its a mafia. If you go running anytime around lunchtime or on the weekends, the rush hour traffic on the sidewalks is insane.

That's why I love it. Being surrounded by a community of people who exercise normalizes it.

Stop generalizing.

People exercise in the suburbs too.

Of course. But they typically aren’t exercising simply by daily living. That’s the point. I also believe that by having to run errands on foot you have to stay fit. Being overweight in a city is harder than in the suburbs. You can’t just drive from point A to point B and hide in your car.

But suburbanites have more time and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors once they are home. more.cooking at home and fresher air. Their kids are outside playing and so are they.

Also, mental health in the burbs is much better than in urban areas.

LOL that's actually the opposite of what happens. Most suburbanites are commuting 45 minutes - 1.5 hours in this area to get home. That's 2-3 hours of your day you don't get back and you certainly can't use to workout, walk, go outdoors etc.

Most people are desperate to move closer in BECAUSE they get that time back. I know walking to work in under 10 minutes makes me the envy of my co-workers who take a train in from Springfield, VA every morning (especially post-DST when they have to get up before dawn to trek in).

Oh stop it already. Nobody is envying you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering just the opposite OP. I live in Georgetown, and I see so many fit young women going to Soul Cycle, yoga, etc. that I don't think girls/young ladies every looked this great. Maybe it's an urban vs. suburban thing.

I had the same experience at my neighborhood pool in NE DC this weekend. Most all of the younger people were slim/fit and attractive and every time I turned around more were coming! I'm usually with my kids and don't pay attention to what's happening on the adult side of the pool.

Give them a few years and see what happens.

Insert a tracking device on them and look them up 2-3 years from now.

This was my experience living in DC. We were in Logan Circle and everyone around us was very slender/fit. Moved to MoCo burbs a few years when we had kids and I'm BY FAR the thinnest person here. And I'm 5'3" and 115, not a stick. People aren't obese or anything, but most carry 15-20 extra lbs.

I think the weight gain happens in large part because people drive everywhere as opposed to walking. There's a nice playground within a 10 minute walk of our house. Everyone around us drives there instead of walking. I'm also out walking daily, pushing a stroller all over the neighborhood (two small kids) - rarely do I run into other moms doing the same. I am a runner and rarely see others out running in my neighborhood. In Logan Circle I never failed to see other runners even very early in the morning, in any weather.

My relative was one of those slender/fit women that you saw running around DC.

Then guess what happened?

She got married, left DC, moved to the suburbs and had 3 kids.

She is now quite heavy.

Her parents are wealthy and her husband is too.

The thing is, I totally get it. In DC I really didn't have to make a huge effort to be fit. We were an almost 20 minute walk from the Red Line (my work commute), and in general I walked everywhere - grocery store, meeting friends, etc. And I had plenty of time for the gym or a leisurely 3-5 mile run apart from that. Now I'm in the suburbs, I have kids and a commute. I have to wake up at 5:30 AM in order to get a short run in a few times a week. After work I rush to get the kids fed and then, unless it's freezing or pouring, we head outside for a walk. I'm slender but I'm always tired. (What I'm not is wealthy...)

Logan Circle resident and runner here. I swear its a mafia. If you go running anytime around lunchtime or on the weekends, the rush hour traffic on the sidewalks is insane.

That's why I love it. Being surrounded by a community of people who exercise normalizes it.

Stop generalizing.

People exercise in the suburbs too.

Of course. But they typically aren’t exercising simply by daily living. That’s the point. I also believe that by having to run errands on foot you have to stay fit. Being overweight in a city is harder than in the suburbs. You can’t just drive from point A to point B and hide in your car.

But suburbanites have more time and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors once they are home. more.cooking at home and fresher air. Their kids are outside playing and so are they.

Also, mental health in the burbs is much better than in urban areas.

LOL that's actually the opposite of what happens. Most suburbanites are commuting 45 minutes - 1.5 hours in this area to get home. That's 2-3 hours of your day you don't get back and you certainly can't use to workout, walk, go outdoors etc.

Most people are desperate to move closer in BECAUSE they get that time back. I know walking to work in under 10 minutes makes me the envy of my co-workers who take a train in from Springfield, VA every morning (especially post-DST when they have to get up before dawn to trek in).

Oh stop it already. Nobody is envying you.

You have no idea how many of my colleagues get up more than an hour earlier to commute in by train and run along the Mall. But then my workplace is a pretty competitive and physically fit place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why Was It Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s?

A new study finds that people today who eat and exercise the same amount as people 20 years ago are still fatter...

Something is definitely up with our food supply.

I watch my diet pretty stringently here in the States -- no grain, no starch, no sugar -- because otherwise I'd be thirty pounds heavier.

And then I go to Europe on holiday and eat ALLL the grains, starch, and sugar -- sometimes while on road trips, so no walking or real exercise -- and I come back a couple of pounds lighter.

I don't know what, exactly, but there's something very, very bad in our food supply.

Unless they used some sort of tracking device to monitor activity, I’m skeptical of their measurements. It’s impossible to accurately report your activity level based on a guess. And now people are much more sedentary due to our devices and the internet. In 1980, you watched what was on TV, and if there wasn’t anything on, your turned off the TV and did something with yourself. Now we sit like zombies in front of screens for the vast majority of each day.

Agreed. It's really not that complex; more food, less exercise = fatter people. People want to be told that it's not their fault though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many young women take antidepressants, ADHD meds, birth control pills, etc. and often the combo of meds leads to weight gain and difficulty losing weight. For some, it also stimulates their appetite and that combined with social drinking makes it even harder to remain slim. Others spent most of their youth playing high level sports or doing competitive dance. If they don’t continue when they get to college, their bodies have a hard time adjusting to the reduced activity level.

antidepressants, ADHD meds, birth control pills, etc...

Those things did not exist in previous decades?

Uh, no, they either didn't exist or were nowhere as common as they are today compared to previous generations.

+1

I don't know a single person who took ADHD or anti-depressants when I was in HS or college.

I know kids who dropped out of my high school and certainly never made it to college who probably could have used ADHD meds or anti-depressants

I'm the PP you quoted. I agree with you! I don't remember people taking meds, but plenty of them should have been.