Dinner party in Europe: Americans look older, more tired, are more unhealthy

[Anonymous]

I'm 56 and my big stressor right now is getting two kids through college, plus care of my disabled spouse.

We have some college money saved but not a ton. I was planning on paying for much of college from my paycheck but then my spouse had to leave work so now we are living on my paycheck plus his disability. Even with our reduced income, there's not a lot of financial aid for our kids, though. I'm also still trying to save for retirement, and to keep my job to keep our health insurance.

I don't know what our life would be like with the equivalent circumstances in different EU countries, but I think they may have better support for the disabled, and I think college costs are less of a factor as well.

[Anonymous]

The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

Conclusion: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is what kills you.

[Anonymous]

Cheerios in the states contain chemicals not permitted in Cheerios in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We would all look like that too if we didn’t finance their national defense. We are paying for Big Red 1. They are paying for spas and mistresses.

Oh shut up with this nonsense. The difference between what the US and Europeans spend on defense is less than 1.5 percent of GDP. Meanwhile the US spends 17.8 percent of GDP on healthcare vs. 9 percent in Europe, and they have better outcomes with an older population. Your problems are of your own making, stop blaming everything on foreigners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lose weight effortlessly whenever I visit family there, and I sleep better. When I visit, I eat far more than I do when in the US, I eat later than when in the US, I drink more, and I exercise less. Yet I lose weight.

I am convinced that RoundUp or one of the other pesticides that we allow in the US that aren’t allowed in Europe is killing off our healthy gut bacteria.

Isn’t this also the “vacation effect” (less stress), plus walking more? I’m originally from Europe, live in DC and have been in France on vacation for last three weeks and I’m pretty sure I’ve gained some weight.

I exercise more in the US. I measure steps and calories and while I do walk more in Europe, it’s not by much. I bike commute regularly in the US (with hills) and I don’t do that at all when in Europe. So, I eat more, exercise less, yet lose weight.

As for stress, it’s visiting family, which has its own stress haha.

So you walk more, and bike less, when you go to Europe. This could easily be the difference in calorie burn since one of these exercises is weight bearing. Bike commuting hardly burns any calories, despite your "hills".

I always lose weight when I'm on vacation, go to conferences, etc, regardless of what city I travel to. It's because I am not confined to a desk for much of my day, I'm not stress eating, I sleep better, etc.

Why did you put hills in snarky quotes? Why do you need to assume I’m lying?

I am a regular and extensive biker and I live on the west coast. When I say hills, I mean west coast hill climbing hills. I know the precise elevation. I don’t mean DCs slightly elevated bridges. I arrive from my bike commute drenched in sweat and shower at work.

The fact is, I exercise more and longer in the US. Sorry that bothers you so much. I hate people who are so bound to US exceptionalism that they cannot see or admit how poisoned our food supply is, how cancerous pesticides are allowed that aren’t allowed elsewhere.

Here’s another fact you will try to disbelieve because America rah rah or whatever: pizza in the US makes me solidly ill. Idk whether it’s the cheese, the bread, or what. Even high-end, fancy wood burning stove pizza. But I can visit family in Italy and eat pizza every day and never once feel even a twinge of illness.

I am sure you are going to tell me that is “stress.”

[Anonymous]

It's because Americans work more hours and therefore sit more hours in chairs and cars. Europeans walk, bike and take trains daily. Gas and cars are too expensive. They take 6 weeks of vacation time. People stop working and take a 4 hour siesta every afternoon.

Americans work too hard for oversized houses and expensive stuff. We are slaves to capitalism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: So, after one dinner party, you decided ALL Europeans are healthy and ALL Americans are tired out?

Of course OP never said that.
She was struck by the contrast and posted her observation.

I also think Europeans have a better quality of life.

They have an objectively better health care system.

They feel no need for McMansions and big cars. They value family, good food, etc.

If you think our country is so enviable, you have not been paying attention to what is going on politically or the gun violence we have grown accustomed to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These were friends of friends who live in Europe. They were French, German, Portuguese, and Swedish. Most people were 55+. They were decently well-off but not rich. Many were already retired.

Throughout the whole night, nobody compulsively looked at their phones. The only phone use was to take pictures and play music.
Not a single person was overweight.
Everyone looked 10-20 years younger. And yes one of them smoked, they all drank, they all spent time in the sun.
Everyone was vibrant and happy.
Everyone had so much energy and positivity, much more than 30-40something Americans. Nobody was tired.
Nobody complained of ailments or back problems or excessive medications.

I asked how everyone lived so well and looked so great. They said it was because they had universal healthcare, less stress, great food, and didnt feel beaten down by work throughout their lives.

America is doing it wrong.

That explains why the US is the leader of the free world with the most powerful armed forces and the most dominant economy and the source of the most trusted currency in the world.

Sure, let Europe relax while we fight their wars and protect their freedoms.

Do you hear yourself? We win because we have the most money and guns.

You are surely a man, and capitalism has warped your values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

Conclusion: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is what kills you.

Lol, thanks for the laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lose weight effortlessly whenever I visit family there, and I sleep better. When I visit, I eat far more than I do when in the US, I eat later than when in the US, I drink more, and I exercise less. Yet I lose weight.

I am convinced that RoundUp or one of the other pesticides that we allow in the US that aren’t allowed in Europe is killing off our healthy gut bacteria.

Isn’t this also the “vacation effect” (less stress), plus walking more? I’m originally from Europe, live in DC and have been in France on vacation for last three weeks and I’m pretty sure I’ve gained some weight.

I exercise more in the US. I measure steps and calories and while I do walk more in Europe, it’s not by much. I bike commute regularly in the US (with hills) and I don’t do that at all when in Europe. So, I eat more, exercise less, yet lose weight.

As for stress, it’s visiting family, which has its own stress haha.

So you walk more, and bike less, when you go to Europe. This could easily be the difference in calorie burn since one of these exercises is weight bearing. Bike commuting hardly burns any calories, despite your "hills".

I always lose weight when I'm on vacation, go to conferences, etc, regardless of what city I travel to. It's because I am not confined to a desk for much of my day, I'm not stress eating, I sleep better, etc.

Why did you put hills in snarky quotes? Why do you need to assume I’m lying?

I am a regular and extensive biker and I live on the west coast. When I say hills, I mean west coast hill climbing hills. I know the precise elevation. I don’t mean DCs slightly elevated bridges. I arrive from my bike commute drenched in sweat and shower at work.

The fact is, I exercise more and longer in the US. Sorry that bothers you so much. I hate people who are so bound to US exceptionalism that they cannot see or admit how poisoned our food supply is, how cancerous pesticides are allowed that aren’t allowed elsewhere.

Here’s another fact you will try to disbelieve because America rah rah or whatever: pizza in the US makes me solidly ill. Idk whether it’s the cheese, the bread, or what. Even high-end, fancy wood burning stove pizza. But I can visit family in Italy and eat pizza every day and never once feel even a twinge of illness.

I am sure you are going to tell me that is “stress.”

i agree with you on teh pizza and chicken. I do not know what is in the chicken in the US but it makes me feel ill every single time i eat it. European chicken, a-okay, even chicken from mcdonalds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out the personal debt loads in Scandinavia

Fredrik Eklund realized at a young age that there was no money to be made in Sweden in Real Estate and he would have a better opportunities and quality of life in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: So, after one dinner party, you decided ALL Europeans are healthy and ALL Americans are tired out?

Of course OP never said that.
She was struck by the contrast and posted her observation.

I also think Europeans have a better quality of life.

They have an objectively better health care system.

They feel no need for McMansions and big cars. They value family, good food, etc.

If you think our country is so enviable, you have not been paying attention to what is going on politically or the gun violence we have grown accustomed to.

Yet all of the European doctors that work in the US all own large McMansions and luxury big cars.

[Anonymous]

I truly think it's in our food, among other things. I live in Austria in the late aughts and I remember thinking they were a little wacky protesting GMO food, but now I am not so sure.

But I also think the massive amount of snack food we have available and infrastructure that encourages sedentary lifestyles is part of it as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 56 and my big stressor right now is getting two kids through college, plus care of my disabled spouse.

We have some college money saved but not a ton. I was planning on paying for much of college from my paycheck but then my spouse had to leave work so now we are living on my paycheck plus his disability. Even with our reduced income, there's not a lot of financial aid for our kids, though. I'm also still trying to save for retirement, and to keep my job to keep our health insurance.

I don't know what our life would be like with the equivalent circumstances in different EU countries, but I think they may have better support for the disabled, and I think college costs are less of a factor as well.

Many kids don't go to college in the UK. They get funneled to trade schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These were friends of friends who live in Europe. They were French, German, Portuguese, and Swedish. Most people were 55+. They were decently well-off but not rich. Many were already retired.

Are you listening to what you are saying? These are people with disposable funds and free time. You also met them in a specific setting, not their everyday life, you don't know what they are dealing with, because they are one-time dinner pals, not even acquaintances.