S/o why are we so fat?

[Anonymous]

The Bloomberg thread got me thinking about the American lifestyle and why the hell we are so fat as a nation. Yes, portion size has gotten out of control. 30 years ago, the average size for a drink was 7 oz. today, it is 42 oz. the govt subsidizes meat, corn and dairy to the point that it is cheaper to buy processed, fattening foods than fresh produce. All of this is very bad for us. But I truly believe that another huge factor (and yes, I'm ducking from the flame throwers as I type this) is that we no longer have a parent at home, cooking fresh food. We are such a capitalistic society that in order to fulfill our extravagant lifestyle, we need to have double incomes. So both parents work. Which means for most people, meals consist of restaurants, frozen food, fast food or other wise unhealthy easy meals.

I'm all for women's lib and independence so I'm not saying the mom has to be the one to stay home. But maybe if one paint worked part time or not at all, we would eat better and be less fat. Maybe if we curbed our desire for 6 flat screen TVs, 2 iPads, iPhones, wireless, Netflix, cable, granite on every flat surface, luxe cars then we wouldn't need both parents slaving at jobs to make ends meet.

[Anonymous]

^ one parent, not one paint

[Anonymous]

The thing is, people weren't overweight in such huge numbers before convenience foods were manufactured and introduced. Had the convenience foods we have available today (like chicken nuggets, frozen pizza, chips, huge choice of fast foods,etc.) been widely available back in the days of yore when a parent did often stay home, they'd have been relied on just as much then, too. Didn't you ever see a 1950s cookbook? Holy shit. So many canned vegetables and condensed soups and gelatins- because those things were new and convenient. Guaranteed, if they'd been around in the 1920s, people would have had the same health issues then. Our problem as a species is just that we like gratification through the path of least resistance. We've always been like that. Whether someone is at home during the day to cook or not, humans WILL choose, at least some of the time, the convenience foods.

[Anonymous]

Duh, didn't you hear, it's all the c-sections. See it is your moms/your fault! Cheers.

[Anonymous]

Due to religious dietary restrictions, I almost never eat out. I have never had fast food and I do not snack on processed food at all. I cook 90% of our food at home. I make no fried foods and use only whole grains. I exercise 5 days a week.

I am still overweight, approx 20 lbs currently, and have been battling my weight since I was young.

[Anonymous]

I doubt that an *average* sized drink these days in 42 ounces. I don't know anyone who drinks 42 ounces in one sitting.

[Anonymous]

Another factor is that a LOT of adults who used to smoke don't anymore, and smoking, while having its own host of heinous health effects, does curb the appetite for many.

[Anonymous]

I cook almost all of my kid's meals from scratch. I exercise regularly and work full time. It's called planning. Granted, my kid doesn't get a huge variety sometimes, because I'll cook for the week on Sunday and it's like two different things for the week. But it's homemade.

[Anonymous]

I actually think the opposite is true for my family.

My husband many moons ago had to made a decision about getting a job as a stock broker or something he was really interested in. He chose the later knowing the later would probably not support a family. I was on board to work and also knew I would take a flexible job - not a high paying one so I could raise a family.

I am home and able to cook for my family almost every night (the nights I can't are because of sports). My husband does not work crazy heart attack inducing hours and has time to work out and spend time with the kids. He volunteers for their sports teams and goes on field trips.

We instill good eating habits, exercise and not being totally stressed out all the time. I would rather my son get a B and be able to be engaged in sports, friends and family than study hours every night for an A.

We take life slow and easy and I think we are healthier for it.

People are "fat" - I really don't like the use of the words "fat", "obese", etc because I don't think that is actually our biggest problem.

The United States has to provide "safe" affordable food for a large population. In order to do that much food is processed. I hope our country can work towards getting everybody in the United States safe affordabel food that is all natural. We have a long way to go but I am glad that we are aware now.

Also I think the "healthy" life is something we preach about in the United States but then we don't actually show our kids what that means. Kids sit in a classroom for 6 hours a day, are served processed food for lunch, don't brush their teeth after meals at school, have recess taken away when they are misbehaving, tell them recess is cancelled because it is raining or snowing, give them so much homework they can't even exercise in the evening, expect 4.0 to be accepted to the local state school, tell them they are lazy if they don't want to do extra math and science - remind them we are behind in education than everybody else and then wonder why children are "obese" and depressed.

We do this to them for 23 years and this crazy, hectic, unhealthy lifestyle is ingrained for the rest of their lives.

[Anonymous]

Office jobs that have you sit 80 hours a week, if not more. Most people don't walk places. Processed foods. Soda and Starbucks consumption. More people eat out and restaurants have super human portions (calories).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually think the opposite is true for my family.

My husband many moons ago had to made a decision about getting a job as a stock broker or something he was really interested in. He chose the later knowing the later would probably not support a family. I was on board to work and also knew I would take a flexible job - not a high paying one so I could raise a family.

I am home and able to cook for my family almost every night (the nights I can't are because of sports). My husband does not work crazy heart attack inducing hours and has time to work out and spend time with the kids. He volunteers for their sports teams and goes on field trips.

We instill good eating habits, exercise and not being totally stressed out all the time. I would rather my son get a B and be able to be engaged in sports, friends and family than study hours every night for an A.

We take life slow and easy and I think we are healthier for it.

People are "fat" - I really don't like the use of the words "fat", "obese", etc because I don't think that is actually our biggest problem.

The United States has to provide "safe" affordable food for a large population. In order to do that much food is processed. I hope our country can work towards getting everybody in the United States safe affordabel food that is all natural. We have a long way to go but I am glad that we are aware now.

Also I think the "healthy" life is something we preach about in the United States but then we don't actually show our kids what that means. Kids sit in a classroom for 6 hours a day, are served processed food for lunch, don't brush their teeth after meals at school, have recess taken away when they are misbehaving, tell them recess is cancelled because it is raining or snowing, give them so much homework they can't even exercise in the evening, expect 4.0 to be accepted to the local state school, tell them they are lazy if they don't want to do extra math and science - remind them we are behind in education than everybody else and then wonder why children are "obese" and depressed.

We do this to them for 23 years and this crazy, hectic, unhealthy lifestyle is ingrained for the rest of their lives.

So schools are supposed to prevent children from being fat, as well as educate them in academic subjects? Isn't anything the parents' job nowadays? You'd like the schools to serve as fat camps as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another factor is that a LOT of adults who used to smoke don't anymore, and smoking, while having its own host of heinous health effects, does curb the appetite for many.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

OP, I do not believe dual income parents are the root cause. I believe it is largely attributable to our sedentary lifestyles. My DH and I both work and we eat out about twice a month.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we live in larger suburban areas and drive everywhere, instead of walking around a small town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually think the opposite is true for my family.

My husband many moons ago had to made a decision about getting a job as a stock broker or something he was really interested in. He chose the later knowing the later would probably not support a family. I was on board to work and also knew I would take a flexible job - not a high paying one so I could raise a family.

I am home and able to cook for my family almost every night (the nights I can't are because of sports). My husband does not work crazy heart attack inducing hours and has time to work out and spend time with the kids. He volunteers for their sports teams and goes on field trips.

We instill good eating habits, exercise and not being totally stressed out all the time. I would rather my son get a B and be able to be engaged in sports, friends and family than study hours every night for an A.

We take life slow and easy and I think we are healthier for it.

People are "fat" - I really don't like the use of the words "fat", "obese", etc because I don't think that is actually our biggest problem.

The United States has to provide "safe" affordable food for a large population. In order to do that much food is processed. I hope our country can work towards getting everybody in the United States safe affordabel food that is all natural. We have a long way to go but I am glad that we are aware now.

Also I think the "healthy" life is something we preach about in the United States but then we don't actually show our kids what that means. Kids sit in a classroom for 6 hours a day, are served processed food for lunch, don't brush their teeth after meals at school, have recess taken away when they are misbehaving, tell them recess is cancelled because it is raining or snowing, give them so much homework they can't even exercise in the evening, expect 4.0 to be accepted to the local state school, tell them they are lazy if they don't want to do extra math and science - remind them we are behind in education than everybody else and then wonder why children are "obese" and depressed.

We do this to them for 23 years and this crazy, hectic, unhealthy lifestyle is ingrained for the rest of their lives.

It's more than 23 years. Because then most of them are expected to go on and get a desk job - and have a baby (if they're female) and go back to the desk job within three months. No time for exercise. No time to just hang out outdoors. Outsource the gardening and the housecleaning and the cooking and the food shopping. No working outdoors or with our hands. No walking anywhere. Instead, just jump in the car for everything.

The only time people work out is when they squeeze in a few miles at the gym, but it can't compensate for all the time sitting on their butts. No wonder this city is filled with bone-thin wealthy SAHMs who have the luxury of working out every day - and flabby lawyers who have to work 50-hour weeks.