Young people in other countries are remarkably thinner than Americans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you hate America so much, why don’t you just move back to your little European country?

You sound very well educated.

Weak.

On point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

[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: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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

Maybe you don't know many people? Almost everyone is on some sort of diet, of one kind or another. Almost everyone cares what goes into their bodies. But for so many people, life gets in the way of weight loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is hard to accept, but thinner Europeans eat less, and less than you think that “eating less” really means. Americans are especially accustomed to the idea of always eating until they are full. The reality is you are not supposed to feel full all the time, you are supposed to leave room for digestion. Being full is actually really bad. When you eat, you are supposed to feel energized and at best, satisfied, like you could have a little more but realize you don’t need to. You are not supposed to feel sluggish and heavy and tired after eating.

Europeans typically only have one heavy meal (that includes meat and carbs) and two very light meals, one of which would be coffee or tea and the other, a salad.

American snacks are heavier to European light meals and that’s in addition to three heavy meals that make you feel full. This and the lack of exercise means not only being overweight, but normalizing being overweight, since three filling meals every day is “normal.”

I think this is pretty accurate. Do you guys remember that book from years back, “French women don’t get fat”? American culture is definitely very indulgent and snacky.

I remember that book and I follow it. I am not sure if you meant to reinforce the poster above you who suggested Europeans eat only one “heavy” meal and then a salad or coffee for the other meals, but that is NOT what I got from the book. Muriel advises to eat 3 meals, to eat seasonally, and to incorporate foods you love in reasonable quantities. One of her tips is having a salad or vegetable soup with meals- but not as a meal replacement! I’m 41, I have had 2 kids, and I’m 5’6” and 126 pounds after implementing her advice. I no longer skip meals, I incorporate a lot of fresh seasonal food into my meals, and I don’t diet anymore. Never been happier. It’s a great book. I don’t think the author would ever suggest that a coffee or tea alone could be a meal.

[Anonymous]

I'm American and thin but have to really restrain myself to eat only when and how much I need. Portion size everywhere is crazy big. Yesterday I got a food bowl at Naya (middle-eastern) at Moynihan Train Hall, and it was so much food. Way more than anybody needs for a normal meal. Same with an order of Pad Thai the day before. Each of them made 2 to 3 meals if I could hold back from eating more than a sufficient amount just because it tastes good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm American and thin but have to really restrain myself to eat only when and how much I need. Portion size everywhere is crazy big. Yesterday I got a food bowl at Naya (middle-eastern) at Moynihan Train Hall, and it was so much food. Way more than anybody needs for a normal meal. Same with an order of Pad Thai the day before. Each of them made 2 to 3 meals if I could hold back from eating more than a sufficient amount just because it tastes good.

I try to cook most of my own food, but i split takeout or restaurant portions into 2-3 meals, too. And I just try to reframe it as getting a deal because I get 3 yummy meals for the price of 1! And I repurpose it- leftover fried chicken from dinner can go in a wrap for lunch, that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is hard to accept, but thinner Europeans eat less, and less than you think that “eating less” really means. Americans are especially accustomed to the idea of always eating until they are full. The reality is you are not supposed to feel full all the time, you are supposed to leave room for digestion. Being full is actually really bad. When you eat, you are supposed to feel energized and at best, satisfied, like you could have a little more but realize you don’t need to. You are not supposed to feel sluggish and heavy and tired after eating.

Europeans typically only have one heavy meal (that includes meat and carbs) and two very light meals, one of which would be coffee or tea and the other, a salad.

American snacks are heavier to European light meals and that’s in addition to three heavy meals that make you feel full. This and the lack of exercise means not only being overweight, but normalizing being overweight, since three filling meals every day is “normal.”

I think this is pretty accurate. Do you guys remember that book from years back, “French women don’t get fat”? American culture is definitely very indulgent and snacky.

I remember that book and I follow it. I am not sure if you meant to reinforce the poster above you who suggested Europeans eat only one “heavy” meal and then a salad or coffee for the other meals, but that is NOT what I got from the book. Muriel advises to eat 3 meals, to eat seasonally, and to incorporate foods you love in reasonable quantities. One of her tips is having a salad or vegetable soup with meals- but not as a meal replacement! I’m 41, I have had 2 kids, and I’m 5’6” and 126 pounds after implementing her advice. I no longer skip meals, I incorporate a lot of fresh seasonal food into my meals, and I don’t diet anymore. Never been happier. It’s a great book. I don’t think the author would ever suggest that a coffee or tea alone could be a meal.

^^^ actually, let me correct my comment for the record. If you overdo it a lot and gain weight, she advises doing a leek soup diet for the weekend. I don’t do that and I think it’s crazypants. If I overdo it, it’s for one meal and I don’t let it bleed into the next day. But nor do I try and account for it by skipping a meal or something like that. I just move on. I think it’s about making consistent choices over time. But I had to correct myself on her leek soup advice- I wouldn’t last a few hours let alone a whole weekend on leek soup!!

[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:

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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

Maybe you don't know many people? Almost everyone is on some sort of diet, of one kind or another. Almost everyone cares what goes into their bodies. But for so many people, life gets in the way of weight loss.

Everyone is on some sort of a diet bc they are fat and spent all of their 20s, 30s + eating terribly. Then they realize they are aging and overweight and try to eat heathy- but too little too late

[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:

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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

Maybe you don't know many people? Almost everyone is on some sort of diet, of one kind or another. Almost everyone cares what goes into their bodies. But for so many people, life gets in the way of weight loss.

Everyone is on some sort of a diet bc they are fat and spent all of their 20s, 30s + eating terribly. Then they realize they are aging and overweight and try to eat heathy- but too little too late

Every 20-25 year old I know is on a diet. Americans are obsessed with dieting.

[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:

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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

Maybe you don't know many people? Almost everyone is on some sort of diet, of one kind or another. Almost everyone cares what goes into their bodies. But for so many people, life gets in the way of weight loss.

Everyone is on some sort of a diet bc they are fat and spent all of their 20s, 30s + eating terribly. Then they realize they are aging and overweight and try to eat heathy- but too little too late

The people I know on DH's side of the family aren't trying to eat healthy. If we visit them at home, it's pizzas, Chinese takeout, fast-food chains/drive-thrus...it's like they don't know how to eat real food. I was surprised to see that they had an unused $300 Vitamix blender and the person who bought it said it was meant to be a weight-loss solution after so-and-so lost X pounds on it. I wanted to tell this person that weight loss is more about a lifestyle change but bit my tongue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm American and thin but have to really restrain myself to eat only when and how much I need. Portion size everywhere is crazy big. Yesterday I got a food bowl at Naya (middle-eastern) at Moynihan Train Hall, and it was so much food. Way more than anybody needs for a normal meal. Same with an order of Pad Thai the day before. Each of them made 2 to 3 meals if I could hold back from eating more than a sufficient amount just because it tastes good.

I try to cook most of my own food, but i split takeout or restaurant portions into 2-3 meals, too. And I just try to reframe it as getting a deal because I get 3 yummy meals for the price of 1! And I repurpose it- leftover fried chicken from dinner can go in a wrap for lunch, that sort of thing.

This reminds me of a lunch outing to a Thai eatery with my girlfriends. I told DH I would bring him back an order of pad thai. I ordered one for myself and didn't bother ordering another one for DH because I was full within 5 bites. The server got me a to-go box, into which my pad thai leftovers went and DH was happy he had such a thoughtful wife while I managed to save myself $20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you hate America so much, why don’t you just move back to your little European country?

You sound very well educated.

Weak.

On point.

Prove it.

[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:

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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

Maybe you don't know many people? Almost everyone is on some sort of diet, of one kind or another. Almost everyone cares what goes into their bodies. But for so many people, life gets in the way of weight loss.

Everyone is on some sort of a diet bc they are fat and spent all of their 20s, 30s + eating terribly. Then they realize they are aging and overweight and try to eat heathy- but too little too late

Honey, everyone is aging. Your macrobiotic diet won’t keep you from the reaper.

[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:

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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

Maybe you don't know many people? Almost everyone is on some sort of diet, of one kind or another. Almost everyone cares what goes into their bodies. But for so many people, life gets in the way of weight loss.

Everyone is on some sort of a diet bc they are fat and spent all of their 20s, 30s + eating terribly. Then they realize they are aging and overweight and try to eat heathy- but too little too late

The people I know on DH's side of the family aren't trying to eat healthy. If we visit them at home, it's pizzas, Chinese takeout, fast-food chains/drive-thrus...it's like they don't know how to eat real food. I was surprised to see that they had an unused $300 Vitamix blender and the person who bought it said it was meant to be a weight-loss solution after so-and-so lost X pounds on it. I wanted to tell this person that weight loss is more about a lifestyle change but bit my tongue.

Yeah, a lot of people still don’t care. But of the overweight people that do care and are trying to eat healthy, most spent a lot of years having bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. Once you become significantly overweight in the first place it is really hard to undo for good.

[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:

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.

First of all, I don't hate this country. I am from a very expensive country where a tub of Fage yogurt could go for US$8. So even with the crazy inflation, my COL in the US is still low and my quality of life is high. I work out with my husband with a personal trainer for less than $200 a month. No way I could get that in my home country. There are health-conscious Americans I know, but most people here don't care what goes into their bodies. Goldfish crackers included.

Maybe you don't know many people? Almost everyone is on some sort of diet, of one kind or another. Almost everyone cares what goes into their bodies. But for so many people, life gets in the way of weight loss.

Everyone is on some sort of a diet bc they are fat and spent all of their 20s, 30s + eating terribly. Then they realize they are aging and overweight and try to eat heathy- but too little too late

Honey, everyone is aging. Your macrobiotic diet won’t keep you from the reaper.

Of course, but being overweight in your 20s-30s doesn’t take the same toll on your body. Once people reach mid life and are still overweight or even more overweight, the health issues start being exacerbated by the extra weight and then they try to make changes to lose it- usually unsuccessfully. Or they just don’t care and continue on as they have been