Americans? (restaurant, food, health)

[EnjoyTheSilence]

Originally Posted by orangeapple

I don't know what states you've been to, but obesity like that is unusual in California also. It gets a lot of stares too. I know the southern states is where it's most predominant, and among poorer people. Not saying it has not become a frighteningly widespread problem, and I'm the first to say Americans are fatties, but personal observation doesn't tell the whole story. The statistics I saw had the UK & Australia not far behind in obesity, not just being overweight. Interestingly, the countries with higher rates of being overweight are not necessarily the highest for obesity.

Anyway, I know that's not what this thread is about.... I could start a new thread about most obese countries, but I think it could become inflammatory....

The reason obesity is such a problem in southern states is because the southern states are the most car-centric, with fast food restaurants on every corner, coupled with a different kind of poverty and a lack of education, when it comes to nutrition and exercise.

Cities in the northeast have parks, mass transit and people aren't so car-centric. Unfortunately, for decades, the US has propagated a culture in which laziness (i.e. driving, not walking) and fast food were considered "cool", while anyone who walks or takes the bus is considered a loser.

Some individuals are to blame for obesity, but I believe that American society and culture is to blame, on a far wider scale (no pun intended), as a result of decades of fast food culture, car-centricism and longer working hours than any other western nation.

[Repubocrat]

Originally Posted by BCreass

The reason obesity is such a problem in southern states is because the southern states are the most car-centric, with fast food restaurants on every corner, coupled with a different kind of poverty and a lack of education, when it comes to nutrition and exercise.

Cities in the northeast have parks, mass transit and people aren't so car-centric. Unfortunately, for decades, the US has propagated a culture in which laziness (i.e. driving, not walking) and fast food were considered "cool", while anyone who walks or takes the bus is considered a loser.

Some individuals are to blame for obesity, but I believe that American society and culture is to blame, on a far wider scale (no pun intended), as a result of decades of fast food culture, car-centricism and longer working hours than any other western nation.

I live in Minnesota(Northern/Mid-Western state), a state with high levels of educational achievement and obesity is a big problem here also. One thing that I find interesting about obesity in the USA is the fact that it affects all races equally(Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, Whites, etc), even some of the 2nd generation Asian Americans whose parents immigrated here from Laos and Vietnam are already obese. My parents immigrated here from Brazil and I have always struggled with my weight. Although I am not overweight, it takes a LOT of effort to stay in shape here in the USA.

For example, my supervisor at work has a drawer full of snacks like Slim Jim's, Little Debbies, M&M's, etc. Also, because life can be very stressful here, a lot of Americans use food as a way to relieve stress, I do this also almost unconsciously and it is a horrible habit!

[EnjoyTheSilence]

Originally Posted by Repubocrat

I live in Minnesota(Northern/Mid-Western state), a state with high levels of educational achievement and obesity is a big problem here also. One thing that I find interesting about obesity in the USA is the fact that it affects all races equally(Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, Whites, etc), even some of the 2nd generation Asian Americans whose parents immigrated here from Laos and Vietnam are already obese. My parents immigrated here from Brazil and I have always struggled with my weight. Although I am not overweight, it takes a LOT of effort to stay in shape here in the USA.

For example, my supervisor at work has a drawer full of snacks like Slim Jim's, Little Debbies, M&M's, etc. Also, because life can be very stressful here, a lot of Americans use food as a way to relieve stress, I do this also almost unconsciously and it is a horrible habit!

There's no sole reason for the obesity problem in the United States -- there are many reasons, but the main "trigger" (in my opinion) was the emergence of the fast food culture (which largely originated in the USA) and the fact that car ownership here because a reality much sooner than in other parts of the world.

Let's face it, most of our major cities are designed with only the car in mind and there are a million and one different fast food restaurants.

Also, in the United States, high fructose corn syrup is used far more than in other countries. There's plenty of evidence that there's a link between HFCS and obesity (testing has even been done on rats).

I also agree with you that staying in shape here is harder and there's plenty of temptation out there to fill your face with garbage food. Personally, I do my best to avoid it.....aside from the odd Big Mac maybe once every 2 months.

[orangeapple]

Originally Posted by BCreass

The reason obesity is such a problem in southern states is because the southern states are the most car-centric, with fast food restaurants on every corner, coupled with a different kind of poverty and a lack of education, when it comes to nutrition and exercise.

Cities in the northeast have parks, mass transit and people aren't so car-centric. Unfortunately, for decades, the US has propagated a culture in which laziness (i.e. driving, not walking) and fast food were considered "cool", while anyone who walks or takes the bus is considered a loser.

Some individuals are to blame for obesity, but I believe that American society and culture is to blame, on a far wider scale (no pun intended), as a result of decades of fast food culture, car-centricism and longer working hours than any other western nation.

I agree it's a cultural problem, but changing the cultural landscape starts with the individual. The car culture influenced the set up of cities and towns, so it's also a hard issue to resolve. Commuting seems to encourage the convenient yet unhealthy food consumption - there's no time to cook your own fresh food. I got a job I could walk to and immediately my diet improved. I went home for lunch, and the time I spent commuting could now be used to cook for myself.

It's not just fast food either, but junk food in grocery stores and even all the hormones & genetic modification going on with food. Anyway, I've spent too much time talking to some "slow food" movement people lately . I can't lie though....I like an In-N-Out burger every so often.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

What features would those be? I've got some 19th century photographs of German relatives of mine...you could mistake some of them for myself and other living relatives...no unique features I can see...the U.S. is too diverse to have specific facial features, unless you're speaking of Native Americans...

I'm not sure what it is, but I can usually spot Americans right away

[hurley89]

I think Europeans view "fat" differently than Americans. What I think an average to skinny person is here (US) Europeans would think that same person was overweight. When i see Euro-tourists I often think to myself "I need to buy them a double quarter pounder with extra cheese!" Europeans are, on average smaller than Americans.

BUT

culturally in America, most guys (not all) prefer woman with meat on their bones and woman prefer men who are muscular and bigger and not so skinny and lanky. Again, this isn't ALL Americans.

AND

the facial features of Americans? What are they because I'm certainly 100% American, but I'm not what most people would think when thinking of American. Genetically (lol) I'm Cuban, Filipino, and Czech (mostly Cuban), but culturally I'm all the way absolutely American. I even have the accent!

Speaking of which, what do you Europeans think about American accents? Keep in mind theres about a dozen or more different accent dialects in the US. I personally dig the Aussie accent. Sounds almost like the US southern accent

[Neuling]

I like American accents way better than British ones. I lived in northern England for some time, terrible

[eskercurve]

Americans are overweight for many reasons. Culturally we've grown car dependent, and have propagated a culture of convenience.

However the food industry is equally to blame. There are many foods in the USA which are genetically modified or are very high in High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) which is a sugar substitute. Basically, HFCS is both a preservative and a sugar, and it is cheaper to cultivate and process than sugar. Many breads have bleached flour AND HFCS, as well as other unhealthy sugar substitutes. Olestra and other fat substitutes are equally bad.

Other more civilized countries have banned such substances because it has been proven that those things are horrible for you. In the USA, however, the corn lobby is so powerful they have effectively curbed any attempt at banning or regulating it. As a result, if you go to the grocery store, I take my time and avoid anything with the following:

- Most red meats (don't trust the hormone treatments) ... and when I do buy red meat, I buy only whole organics
- I only buy wild caught fish - farm raised has 10x the levels of mercury in them
- I avoid anything with HFCS, only pure sugar will do
- I avoid breads with bleached flour.
- I automatically avoid fast food restaurants (once a month, though, I visit Mc D's for just an order of french fries ... hey you have to have some sinful foods)

And MOST importantly, I eat more fruits and vegetables than anything else. This was hard on my wife at first because she is Japanese and rice is a very important cultural staple in Asia. Unfortunately it is also very high in carbohydrates, especially modern strains. Red rice is good for you. Brown rice I also avoid because its only benefit is more magnesium. Yellow rice I avoid since it is genetically modified to have more vitamin A but also more carbohydrates and needs special growing conditions which aren't natural.

It is also hard to get used to exercising, especially if you've never been active in your life. Since most Americans loathe unpleasant things though, they start working out but then start aching and have pains, so they stop. What they don't realize is that lasts maybe a month or so but after a month of working out 3 times a week it goes away, and the body CRAVES working out. I stopped working out recently due to work and school stress, and as a result my body is screaming at me and been sleeping worse. Time to to back!

[ozzie679]

I don't blame American tourists for wearing running shoes when traveling abroad. A person has to wear comfortable shoes when doing all of that walking. But what I find unforgivable are fanny packs, team shirts, and baseball caps.

In regards to Montreal. That city despises Americans and anything American. I will never travel there again. It's absolutely beautiful and the people dress very well. But they are very rude.

Yes, the US has a big struggle with weight. The standard of living is falling and there are more and more uninsured citizens. Maybe access to health care would help. Our diets are terrible and we are addicted to the car.

[orangeapple]

Originally Posted by hurley89

I think Europeans view "fat" differently than Americans. What I think an average to skinny person is here (US) Europeans would think that same person was overweight. When i see Euro-tourists I often think to myself "I need to buy them a double quarter pounder with extra cheese!" Europeans are, on average smaller than Americans.

BUT

culturally in America, most guys (not all) prefer woman with meat on their bones and woman prefer men who are muscular and bigger and not so skinny and lanky. Again, this isn't ALL Americans.

I disagree....your view of what is "normal" has been distorted because you are used to seeing overweight people. The facts don't lie - Americans on the whole have gotten fatter over the decades, and it's NOT healthy. It may be average, but it's NOT normal.

And we, as a culture, don't prefer fatter people visually....look at our celebrities & which are considered most attractive. The men are lean & muscular and the women are slender & shapely, nowhere near the average fat person.