Young people in other countries are remarkably thinner than Americans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

People who live in US cities are much fitter than the general population.

Look, you can say "it's a choice" all you want - and sure, there is an element of choice in all this - but that's not a solution. If you actually care about people's health, you can support policies that make it easier for people to be fit like regulating what goes into our food, having walkable neighborhoods, eliminating food deserts, cracking down on employment practices like scheduling shift work with zero notice that make it impossible to cook healthy meals or have a regular exercise schedule.

Or you can do nothing, blame the individuals for their choices, and nothing will change.

You see this in DC, kids in Glover Park are skinnier than those in AU park, who are skinner than those in McLean and who are skinnier than those out in Ashburn (at least at the middle/high school level). I picked these places since they seem similar in terms of all being white and around 1M in home values. It seems to really just line up with how much of their lives they sit in a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I migrated here in US from Southeast Asia 3 decades ago. The first thing obvious thing I immediately notice is the serving portion of foods in restaurants and fast food. I had to split my food all the time with my husband because it was too much for me. I also realized that I’m more sedentary here living in northeastern part of US. I didn’t do as much walking because I drove all the time whereas in Asia we took public transportation a lot and walked a ton. Even though we eat rice a lot being the main staple food, we also are more active spending more time outdoors. In the cold months here, I pretty much get cabin fever, so I resort to exercising indoors but nothing beats outdoor activities for me.

In other words, the sedentary lifestyle and bigger food serving portions here may be playing a big role in obesity which is now in the top 5 health crisis in this country.

I migrated from Southeast Asia too and another observation I can compare is that microwave is not a common household appliance there even for the middle class. We prefer to cook fresh. In fact, it took me a while to get used to eating microwaveable foods. The taste is different. We prefer to eat more veggies in our country.

Also another SEA immigrant. When I stayed with a friend in my home country, there wasn't any concept of saving leftovers. Anything left over after a meal was trashed and resulted in so much food waste. As an aside, I remember I took home (my friend's place) a rotisserie chicken once and it went bad in the fridge within 3 days while a similar chicken can remain pretty good in the fridge for about a week here in my home in the US. Fridges in Asia are more for storing items to be cooked rather than to save leftovers. Frozen/chilled food items are also a luxury item in Asia that they have to be imported so the prices are marked up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

Lol, what? So why are more Americans obese then? It's just a coincidence that people here choose to eat bad things or drive places and people in Finland choose to walk?

Well yes. People in the US choose to drive and eat crap because they can and it is the easiest option. As where many places in Europe, you need to walk out of necessity (harder to have/keep a car for short distances) and the processed food isn’t always the easier option or readily available to grab

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

Lol, what? So why are more Americans obese then? It's just a coincidence that people here choose to eat bad things or drive places and people in Finland choose to walk?

Well yes. People in the US choose to drive and eat crap because they can and it is the easiest option. As where many places in Europe, you need to walk out of necessity (harder to have/keep a car for short distances) and the processed food isn’t always the easier option or readily available to grab

Almost like there are structural differences that encourage healthier choices in Europe and less healthy choices here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

Lol, what? So why are more Americans obese then? It's just a coincidence that people here choose to eat bad things or drive places and people in Finland choose to walk?

Well yes. People in the US choose to drive and eat crap because they can and it is the easiest option. As where many places in Europe, you need to walk out of necessity (harder to have/keep a car for short distances) and the processed food isn’t always the easier option or readily available to grab

Almost like there are structural differences that encourage healthier choices in Europe and less healthy choices here

People have free will. The only way to make Americans less fat would be to make cars and processed food unavailable. When given the choice- they will pick the easiest and least heathy option. People are inherently lazy and will take the easiest route. Still individual choice and that is who to blame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

Lol, what? So why are more Americans obese then? It's just a coincidence that people here choose to eat bad things or drive places and people in Finland choose to walk?

Well yes. People in the US choose to drive and eat crap because they can and it is the easiest option. As where many places in Europe, you need to walk out of necessity (harder to have/keep a car for short distances) and the processed food isn’t always the easier option or readily available to grab

Almost like there are structural differences that encourage healthier choices in Europe and less healthy choices here

People have free will. The only way to make Americans less fat would be to make cars and processed food unavailable. When given the choice- they will pick the easiest and least heathy option. People are inherently lazy and will take the easiest route. Still individual choice and that is who to blame.

You know that Europe has cars and processed food too right? They just have less, bc their policies encourage walkability and the availability of good food. I mean, if all you care about is blaming the right person, then sure, blame individuals. If you care about making people healthier, then support policies that will push them towards better choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

Lol, what? So why are more Americans obese then? It's just a coincidence that people here choose to eat bad things or drive places and people in Finland choose to walk?

Well yes. People in the US choose to drive and eat crap because they can and it is the easiest option. As where many places in Europe, you need to walk out of necessity (harder to have/keep a car for short distances) and the processed food isn’t always the easier option or readily available to grab

Almost like there are structural differences that encourage healthier choices in Europe and less healthy choices here

People have free will. The only way to make Americans less fat would be to make cars and processed food unavailable. When given the choice- they will pick the easiest and least heathy option. People are inherently lazy and will take the easiest route. Still individual choice and that is who to blame.

You know that Europe has cars and processed food too right? They just have less, bc their policies encourage walkability and the availability of good food. I mean, if all you care about is blaming the right person, then sure, blame individuals. If you care about making people healthier, then support policies that will push them towards better choices.

Americans don’t even care about making their own selves healthier. You think the government can change that? Pandora’s box has been opened. People have largely lost the ability and will to prepare their own food. You can’t regulate that away. Short of banning all processed foods and fast food, people will even go out of their way for it if it means they don’t have to actually cook their own food. Especially if it is something rather boring due to time constraints or budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

Lol, what? So why are more Americans obese then? It's just a coincidence that people here choose to eat bad things or drive places and people in Finland choose to walk?

Well yes. People in the US choose to drive and eat crap because they can and it is the easiest option. As where many places in Europe, you need to walk out of necessity (harder to have/keep a car for short distances) and the processed food isn’t always the easier option or readily available to grab

Almost like there are structural differences that encourage healthier choices in Europe and less healthy choices here

People have free will. The only way to make Americans less fat would be to make cars and processed food unavailable. When given the choice- they will pick the easiest and least heathy option. People are inherently lazy and will take the easiest route. Still individual choice and that is who to blame.

You know that Europe has cars and processed food too right? They just have less, bc their policies encourage walkability and the availability of good food. I mean, if all you care about is blaming the right person, then sure, blame individuals. If you care about making people healthier, then support policies that will push them towards better choices.

Americans don’t even care about making their own selves healthier. You think the government can change that? Pandora’s box has been opened. People have largely lost the ability and will to prepare their own food. You can’t regulate that away. Short of banning all processed foods and fast food, people will even go out of their way for it if it means they don’t have to actually cook their own food. Especially if it is something rather boring due to time constraints or budget.

Anyone seen the commercial on Goldfish crackers...for adults? I just about facepalm when I saw that grownups in America would want to eat a nasty kid's food item as a snack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Bingo.

Cities in the US are also walkable.

People all over the world, whether it is the US or China or India or Finland choose what they eat and choose how much they want to walk. There is nothing inherently better or worse about American culture that leads to obesity or diabetes.

Lol, what? So why are more Americans obese then? It's just a coincidence that people here choose to eat bad things or drive places and people in Finland choose to walk?

Well yes. People in the US choose to drive and eat crap because they can and it is the easiest option. As where many places in Europe, you need to walk out of necessity (harder to have/keep a car for short distances) and the processed food isn’t always the easier option or readily available to grab

Almost like there are structural differences that encourage healthier choices in Europe and less healthy choices here

People have free will. The only way to make Americans less fat would be to make cars and processed food unavailable. When given the choice- they will pick the easiest and least heathy option. People are inherently lazy and will take the easiest route. Still individual choice and that is who to blame.

You know that Europe has cars and processed food too right? They just have less, bc their policies encourage walkability and the availability of good food. I mean, if all you care about is blaming the right person, then sure, blame individuals. If you care about making people healthier, then support policies that will push them towards better choices.

Americans don’t even care about making their own selves healthier. You think the government can change that? Pandora’s box has been opened. People have largely lost the ability and will to prepare their own food. You can’t regulate that away. Short of banning all processed foods and fast food, people will even go out of their way for it if it means they don’t have to actually cook their own food. Especially if it is something rather boring due to time constraints or budget.

Anyone seen the commercial on Goldfish crackers...for adults? I just about facepalm when I saw that grownups in America would want to eat a nasty kid's food item as a snack.

Oh, give me a break. I know you hate America and your disdain for Americans is clear, but really? I am an immigrant and I eat quite clean, but I love goldfish crackers!

And have you traveled much outside of the US? I can think of dozens of examples of crazy foods that are popular with adults outside of the US that are even worse than Goldfish crackers.

But, who am so to interrupt this thread of condescension against Americans.

[Anonymous]

*who am I

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

You can walk around your neighbhorhood in the US but you can’t just walk to work or errands. We have superhighways. Things are big and spread apart. Try walking along 66 to get to work I know you want to just pretend all Americans are lazy lard asses but suburbs and highways have decimated walkable towns and cities and healthy food is exorbitantly expensive compared to cheap processed food. Americans have far fewer resources and access to things that enable them to lead the lifestyle that’s easier for Europeans to lead and is conducive to healthy weight and habits

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing is, you are describing many parts of the US as well. I live in DC and I rarely see overweight children or people in their 20s or 30s. I lived in Denver, Northern California, Seattle, and Minneapolis for a time and it was similar. I guess the one thing that is different is that people in all of these places do work out, but if Americans were really pre-destined to be heavier, you would see more obese people.

In my observation, the biggest correlation with obesity in the US is poverty and education. I grew up in a small town and there is lots of obesity there, but especially among the poorest members of the community. This is also true in my dad's Midwestern hometown. There, you also see a lot of obesity among middle class and UMC people, but there are also much lower levels of education generally.

I do think some people have genetic predispositions for obesity. I also know that thinness really does not correlate perfectly with health -- I wonder how many of the countries you've lived in have much higher rates of smoking than in the US. Nicotine can suppress appetite but smoking, of course, is terrible for your health. No doctor would recommend trading off obesity for a smoking habit.

I think we tend to compare our image of certain segments of the US (more rural, less education, lower income) against people living in foreign capitals. That doesn't make sense. New York City, for instance, is full of thin people, just like Paris is. But have you spent much time outside these major cities in foreign countries, in areas where people have less access to education and disposable incomes? I don't know for sure, but I would anticipate that you'd also see higher rates of obesity. I know that obesity rates are rising in Western Europe and would expect them to follow similar patterns to those in the US in terms of geography and demographics.

Colorado yes. Minneapolis and NYC are full of fat people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

You can walk around your neighbhorhood in the US but you can’t just walk to work or errands. We have superhighways. Things are big and spread apart. Try walking along 66 to get to work I know you want to just pretend all Americans are lazy lard asses but suburbs and highways have decimated walkable towns and cities and healthy food is exorbitantly expensive compared to cheap processed food. Americans have far fewer resources and access to things that enable them to lead the lifestyle that’s easier for Europeans to lead and is conducive to healthy weight and habits

If you can't walk to work, you work out before or after. It is not all about exercise - it is in very large parts what you eat. And people eat way too much low quality food - which is a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Europe is more pedestrian friendly, of course there are big cities in the US as NY, where people walk a lot. But on the whole America is bulilt around cars. When I came first to the USA and lived in a smaller city of Wisconsin I had a culture shock because I couldn't just step out of the door and walk to a store, the bank, the doctor, the swimmingpool or a restaurant. There was also no public transport. And I couldn't go for a walk because there was not a single pedestrian in the streets and as a pedestrian you seemed suspect. Kids in the european countries I know walk or bike to school or they take public transport, which means, they at least walk to the station several times a day. In the US you can of course walk just for walking. In Europe the everyday live is more walkable, many everyday activities can be done without a car. You don't have to spend extra time for walking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their cities are walkable, they have paid time off as part of their jobs so they can travel and stuff, and their food isn’t as processed and crammed with additives. This isn’t rocket science.

You can walk in the US too. Or you can exercise in other ways. We also have plentiful foods that are not processed or have additives. But people would rather be lazy and eat crap. This is a choice

Europe is more pedestrian friendly, of course there are big cities in the US as NY, where people walk a lot. But on the whole America is bulilt around cars. When I came first to the USA and lived in a smaller city of Wisconsin I had a culture shock because I couldn't just step out of the door and walk to a store, the bank, the doctor, the swimmingpool or a restaurant. There was also no public transport. And I couldn't go for a walk because there was not a single pedestrian in the streets and as a pedestrian you seemed suspect. Kids in the european countries I know walk or bike to school or they take public transport, which means, they at least walk to the station several times a day. In the US you can of course walk just for walking. In Europe the everyday live is more walkable, many everyday activities can be done without a car. You don't have to spend extra time for walking.

It isn’t the walking. Americans eat a very large quantity of crap food. By choice. That is your answer.