People In europe eat way less veggies, drink way less water, go to the gym less, and smoke way more…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re happier and less stressed. They have universal health care.

This. They have a much more robust social safety net plus universal health care, paid maternity leave, and usually a fiarly good vacation. So much less stress than in the US.
Plus more walking and more public transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am American but I almost never eat veggies ("you don't make friends with salad"), never drink water, rarely work out, and while I don't smoke, I do drink a lot of soda. However I am thin. Here's what I have in common with many Europeans:

- I avoid heavily processed foods. Most of the food I eat is homemade, including all the bread and pasta and meat and other non-salad items I consume. There really are not many preservatives in my diet.
- I walk a ton. Miles a day.
- I tend to eat smaller meals (which is easy because I eat heavy things that are satisfying, like pastries, pastas, rich sauces, etc.) and I don't snack much

It's not purely genetic that I am thin because my parents and two of my siblings are obese. But they eat a lot of processed foods, including "diet" foods. And they never walk anywhere, they live in a part of the country where doing so would be very hard anyway. They do "exercise" but it's like once or twice a week they go to a class or the gym. But in between they are extremely sedentary.

I think idealized American suburban life as conceived of in the 1950s is largely to blame. Families with two cars who drive everywhere they go, meals made from processed ingredients or take out or fast food, exercise limited to what you might do in your own yard or a weekly class (that you drive to). We think a lot of this stuff is a sign of success as a person (the American Dream) but I think it's literally killing people.

You walk miles a day and have homemade pasta and bread? Are you retired?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in NYC where life is pretty intense and stressful. I was surprised to find out recently how long the life expectancy for Manhattan residents is. I think it’s because 1) walking everywhere 2) access to excellent medical professionals and 3) people are highly educated and make better food and life choices. I very rarely see overweight people on the streets in NYC; when I do, they are usually tourists from elsewhere in the country.
So OP, when you say Europeans eat less vegetables than “us”, you likely mean than the affluent, highly educated households in urban America.

NYC isn’t highly educated. Your immediate circle might be but not the whole of NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in NYC where life is pretty intense and stressful. I was surprised to find out recently how long the life expectancy for Manhattan residents is. I think it’s because 1) walking everywhere 2) access to excellent medical professionals and 3) people are highly educated and make better food and life choices. I very rarely see overweight people on the streets in NYC; when I do, they are usually tourists from elsewhere in the country.
So OP, when you say Europeans eat less vegetables than “us”, you likely mean than the affluent, highly educated households in urban America.

NYC isn’t highly educated. Your immediate circle might be but not the whole of NYC.

+100000. New Yorkers are so provincial. NYC has a large amount of poverty. Drive through the Bronx.

[Anonymous]

Affluent educated adults in Europe tend to look the same to me as affluent educated adults in the US. Go to any upscale affluent suburb and the women are thin and in shape.

The biggest difference to me is with the middle class. Go eat at a chili’s in middle America and you’ll be shocked how overweight everyone is. But then look at what they are eating and it’s not remotely surprising. The parking lot is full of giant SUVs. No one walks anywhere and the portions are huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:…and are all way healthier than my mc/umc peers in the us.

What gives?

Is it literally just working less and walking more — diet, working out, hydration don’t matter?

They eat waaaaaaaaaaaaay less.

It’s not that. I eat way more when visiting family in Europe. But I lose weight.

Must be the air then right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am American but I almost never eat veggies ("you don't make friends with salad"), never drink water, rarely work out, and while I don't smoke, I do drink a lot of soda. However I am thin. Here's what I have in common with many Europeans:

- I avoid heavily processed foods. Most of the food I eat is homemade, including all the bread and pasta and meat and other non-salad items I consume. There really are not many preservatives in my diet.
- I walk a ton. Miles a day.
- I tend to eat smaller meals (which is easy because I eat heavy things that are satisfying, like pastries, pastas, rich sauces, etc.) and I don't snack much

It's not purely genetic that I am thin because my parents and two of my siblings are obese. But they eat a lot of processed foods, including "diet" foods. And they never walk anywhere, they live in a part of the country where doing so would be very hard anyway. They do "exercise" but it's like once or twice a week they go to a class or the gym. But in between they are extremely sedentary.

I think idealized American suburban life as conceived of in the 1950s is largely to blame. Families with two cars who drive everywhere they go, meals made from processed ingredients or take out or fast food, exercise limited to what you might do in your own yard or a weekly class (that you drive to). We think a lot of this stuff is a sign of success as a person (the American Dream) but I think it's literally killing people.

You walk miles a day and have homemade pasta and bread? Are you retired?

No but I have a flexible WFH job that makes it easy to cook during the day. I take my kids to school and run all my errands on foot. I structured my life this way on purpose.

[Anonymous]

It's simple: Europeans eat less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am American but I almost never eat veggies ("you don't make friends with salad"), never drink water, rarely work out, and while I don't smoke, I do drink a lot of soda. However I am thin. Here's what I have in common with many Europeans:

- I avoid heavily processed foods. Most of the food I eat is homemade, including all the bread and pasta and meat and other non-salad items I consume. There really are not many preservatives in my diet.
- I walk a ton. Miles a day.
- I tend to eat smaller meals (which is easy because I eat heavy things that are satisfying, like pastries, pastas, rich sauces, etc.) and I don't snack much

It's not purely genetic that I am thin because my parents and two of my siblings are obese. But they eat a lot of processed foods, including "diet" foods. And they never walk anywhere, they live in a part of the country where doing so would be very hard anyway. They do "exercise" but it's like once or twice a week they go to a class or the gym. But in between they are extremely sedentary.

I think idealized American suburban life as conceived of in the 1950s is largely to blame. Families with two cars who drive everywhere they go, meals made from processed ingredients or take out or fast food, exercise limited to what you might do in your own yard or a weekly class (that you drive to). We think a lot of this stuff is a sign of success as a person (the American Dream) but I think it's literally killing people.

You walk miles a day and have homemade pasta and bread? Are you retired?

No but I have a flexible WFH job that makes it easy to cook during the day. I take my kids to school and run all my errands on foot. I structured my life this way on purpose.

I’ve done something similar and I’m also very thin. I had a lot of weight to lose post baby too. I bike to the grocery store. I walk 5-6 miles a day. I cook a nice dinner every night that’s mostly from scratch. I do not snack.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s mostly that portions are smaller in most European countries. Lol they eat less sugary foods—the Dutch literally think that a piece of bread covered in butter and sprinkles is an appropriate adult breakfast. But a medium soda here is a large soda there, there aren’t massive portions like you see at chain restaurants, etc. Also cities are less car dependent that promotes more walking (also more pedestrian corridors) and people live in smaller spaces which promotes going out more. The poor and middle class have better access to healthcare and everyone has more leisure time.

[Anonymous]

pp also a lot of eating disorders among women, I’ve noticed at least for French and Italian women (not Europe, but this is huge in Japan, China, and Korea as well). There is more social pressure to be thin and less of a body positivity movement, so people really hardcore diet. I’ve noticed less of this for Germans and Scandinavians, but very much so for French women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am American but I almost never eat veggies ("you don't make friends with salad"), never drink water, rarely work out, and while I don't smoke, I do drink a lot of soda. However I am thin. Here's what I have in common with many Europeans:

- I avoid heavily processed foods. Most of the food I eat is homemade, including all the bread and pasta and meat and other non-salad items I consume. There really are not many preservatives in my diet.
- I walk a ton. Miles a day.
- I tend to eat smaller meals (which is easy because I eat heavy things that are satisfying, like pastries, pastas, rich sauces, etc.) and I don't snack much

It's not purely genetic that I am thin because my parents and two of my siblings are obese. But they eat a lot of processed foods, including "diet" foods. And they never walk anywhere, they live in a part of the country where doing so would be very hard anyway. They do "exercise" but it's like once or twice a week they go to a class or the gym. But in between they are extremely sedentary.

I think idealized American suburban life as conceived of in the 1950s is largely to blame. Families with two cars who drive everywhere they go, meals made from processed ingredients or take out or fast food, exercise limited to what you might do in your own yard or a weekly class (that you drive to). We think a lot of this stuff is a sign of success as a person (the American Dream) but I think it's literally killing people.

People had a car suburban car lifestyle starting in the 50s and the obesity epidemic started in the 80s. My friends and I never walk to places and are all thin. When I lived in Europe, I knew plenty of overweight (not obese) people who walked most places.

Walking in and of itself isn’t a magical recipe for thinness.

[Anonymous]

Europeans don’t have the thyroid issues that are so prevalent for everyone on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Italian. Italians eat a lot more veggies than we do… they eat legumes as well, less butter and less died/processed food.
My brother feeds his 3 year old daughter zucchini and tomatoes purée everyday and it’s cooked with onion and oil… and delicious.

In Italy (like in the rest of the world) it has to do with social class too. While older people all are healthy, younger lower middle class people are often fat and unhealthy.

But sayin that European on average eat less vegetables it’s not true. Also, southern European drink far less alcohol than Americans and Northern European.

Op here - I’m living in Italy. In between Torino and Bergamo.

Italians or Atleast the ones I’m observing in their 20s - 30s are not eating more veggies than the health conscious California/dc umc types in my circle.

Not even close.

I go the frutaria and esselunga very often and the variety of veggies is minuscule compared to the combo Whole Foods + Asian grocers I use in the us.

I am sure the health conscious Californians are very healthy. As per variety, I agree… there is a lot more variety here in the States, but the size of the fruit and vegetable section is much smaller in the US usually. Also, Italians shop several time a week and buy a lot of their fruits and vegatables from street vendors of smaller specialty stores.

Italians eat and cook a lot more vegetables than American la for sure… in their 20s maybe they don’t cook as much anything (but that’s true in the US too).

Also, portion control is huge. Italian icecreams and pizzas are not unhealthy (for the most part), but their American version definitely are…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re happier and less stressed. They have universal health care.

This. They have a much more robust social safety net plus universal health care, paid maternity leave, and usually a fiarly good vacation. So much less stress than in the US.
Plus more walking and more public transportation.

Paid for with ruinous taxes, including tax policies that discourage home ownership over rental and vehicle ownership (and the concomitant freedom that brings) over mass transit that frequently is unfriendly to the disabled and regularly shut down by strikes. Significantly lower socio-economic mobility, with students put on lifetime occupational tracks comparatively early. Typically a significant emphasis on social conformity. And there’s a reason for the smaller portions. Food is more expensive. Some of that expense results in overall higher quality but not all of it.