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Why Are Modern Americans So Fat?

latimes.com — Why are we so much fatter today than we were 30 years ago? Even as researchers try to refine the eat-too-much-move-too-little theory, some are entertaining other ideas (obesity virus, anyone?). Read on for some of their theories, as well as a weigh-in from our panel of obesity researchers.

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  • Haoie, on 07/17/2008, -8/+102Not just Americans, but people all over the developed world.

    Of course, the usual suspects are fatty/unhealthy foods and eating habits, seditary lifestyles and lack of exercise, and occasionally genetics.

    Common sense, really.
    • Shogi, on 07/17/2008, -3/+46Thank you for saying it. It's not just Americans. We just get the most press.
      • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -1/+3You mean we're the biggest targets?
      • CryRightardCry, on 07/18/2008, -2/+1Yeah, let's correct that.
        "Why do people who eat an American diet get so fat"?
        It's not about where you are, but what you eat.
        The ***** "western" diet of America is sweeping the world, and with it comes out high calorie/low nutrition crap that fills our stores and bellies, making us a nation of obese weaklings.
        You can look at populations around the world and their obesity is directly related to how much over processed western "food" they eat.
    • 2clone, on 07/18/2008, -17/+5Dont' try to point the finger at other people.

      Up here in Canada I don't see any fatties.
      • use2bacanadian, on 07/18/2008, -3/+18http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/life-vie/obes ...

        Although smoking remains the greatest threat to public health in Canada, poor eating habits, physical inactivity and their contribution to obesity are also critical public health challenges. Statistics Canada reports that two out of every three adults in Canada are overweight or obese.

        The proportion of obese children has nearly tripled in the last 25 years. The increases were seen for both boys and girls and across all age groups except pre-schoolers. As well, more than half of Canadian children and youth are not active enough for optimal growth and development.

        http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10170.php
        Almost 50 per cent of the Canadian population or roughly 17.5 million people in this country are either overweight or obese and statistics indicate that obesity is clearly on the rise*. Many overweight Canadians are at increased risk of disability, disease and premature death because of their condition. And, obesity puts tremendous pressure on the country's already teetering healthcare system.


        http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/prbpubs/ ...
        In 2004, approximately 6.8 million Canadian adults ages 20 to 64 were overweight, and an additional 4.5 million were obese.(1) Roughly speaking, an adult male is considered overweight when his body weight exceeds the maximum desirable weight for his height, and obese when his body weight is 20% or more over this desirable weight. A similar guideline holds true for women, but at a threshold of 25% rather than 20%. Dramatic increases in overweight and obesity among Canadians over the past 30 years have been deemed to constitute an “epidemic.”

        Similar trends occur worldwide: the World Health Organization (WHO), which refers to the escalating global epidemic of obesity as “globesity,” estimates that there are more than 1 billion overweight adults globally, of whom at least 300 million are obese. Recognizing that overweight and obesity can have tremendous negative health implications, a group of health and nutrition experts assembled by the WHO in 1997 concluded that:

        Without societal changes, a substantial and steadily rising proportion of adults will succumb to the medical complications of obesity; indeed, the medical burden of obesity already threatens to overwhelm health services. The spectrum of problems seen in both developing and developed countries is having so negative an impact that obesity should be regarded as today’s principal neglected public health problem.(2)
        This paper provides information on the phenomenon of overweight and obesity in Canada in terms of measurement, prevalence, causes, health implications and economic burden.

      • wejmahtin, on 07/18/2008, -4/+8Owned by use2beacanadian
      • colincattral, on 07/18/2008, -0/+8I'm not sure where you live, but every place I've been in Canada has had a fair number of fatties, especially the Maritimes.
      • travis1982, on 07/18/2008, -12/+3Owned by nobody you ***** idiot, use2beacanadian is a douchebag. Look up who's healthier, less obese etc in both countries...it sure as hell isn't going to be Canada for christs sake. This article isn't even about Canada and the guy has been constantly trolling Canada hate *****.
      • bbqsalad, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4I was just in Canada and seen plenty of porkers. You guys eat a lot of cheese and gravy fries.
      • travis1982, on 07/18/2008, -6/+3Houston, TX alone has more obese people than all of ***** Canada. So ***** you all, Haters.
      • stagmire, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2Houston does have an insane number of fatasses.
    • sleze, on 07/18/2008, -2/+14Refine the "eat-too-much-move-too-little" theory?

      That's exactly what the problem is. It will always be the problem. More calories absorbed than calories burned always equals fat gained. It's simple math.

      If you're fat, that's why.
      • ninetimes, on 07/18/2008, -1/+8Really, it's not quite as simple as how many calories you eat vs. how many calories you burn through exercise. Our bodies are capable of using calories in different ways, or even dumping off extra calories. Part of it seems to involve eating patterns (do you snack throughout the day or have one huge meal each day?), the types of food you eat, as well as state of mind, stress level, genetics, and things like that. In any case, regular exercise will certainly help.
      • subliminalurge, on 07/18/2008, -0/+12"Our bodies are capable of using calories in different ways"

        Yeah, yeah, yeah.....

        The fact is that if you consume fewer calories per day than you use, over a period of time (say 2 or 3 months), you WILL lose a significant amount of weight.

        There is simply no other possible outcome.
    • PullingTeeth, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2Very telling that such a long article would be written instead of a simple sentence such as yours. We just live in a fat world where its only accepted to be thin.
      • H0tKarl, on 07/18/2008, -0/+8Actually being fat is pretty much accepted. That's the problem.
      • comocomo, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1***** any fat person who could be skinny. we all know who the genetic fatties are and who the fat-fatties are.
    • ptFoe, on 07/18/2008, -11/+11***** off not In mainland Europe.
    • astutissimo, on 07/18/2008, -3/+20Americans are actually significantly fatter than any other developed nation. We are really much fatter than any of the European countries. It's pretty ridiculous, in fact.

      http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/2007/02/07/worlds ...
    • LeeSoong, on 07/18/2008, -1/+4Too many

      Extra Big-azz Fries !

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0yQunhOaU0
    • Shiftgood, on 07/18/2008, -12/+5G E N E T I C S..

      over 30% in third-world countries are obese. Look it up chum.
    • jo21, on 07/18/2008, -6/+7not here in latin america.
    • brbubba, on 07/18/2008, -2/+8Just taking a walk around many major US cities you can quickly see how badly Americans need to lose weight. Take a walk into middle America and it gets even worse. Do the same in most foreign countries and you see a very very different picture. By observation alone anyone can make this distinction and the statistics seem to support the contention that the US is leading the world in obesity. Also don't forget that you can still be overweight and not considered obese.
    • 1longtime, on 07/18/2008, -1/+2Yes, definitely not just in the US.

      From the World Health Organization: "The obesity epidemic is not restricted to industrialized societies; this increase is often faster in developing countries than in the developed world."
    • billyf1, on 07/18/2008, -9/+7T. Rex:
      Height – 18 feet
      Weight – 7 tons
      Length – 40 feet
      Top running speed – about 20 mph
      Diet
      Organic, vegetarian with the odd snack
      Calorie intake 26,000 kCal/day

      Elvis:
      Height – 6 feet
      Weight – 270 lbs
      Top running speed – about 7 mph
      Diet
      Organic, vegetarian with the odd snack (1lb po’ boys & subs)
      Calorie intake 29,000 kCal/day

      Seconds, anyone?
      • bloggerjul, on 07/18/2008, -2/+5this doesn't make sense... or even funny at all!
    • tony23, on 07/18/2008, -2/+9You know, obesity and diabetes both increase upon the introduction of refined carbohydrates into a population's diet (refined - like "fortified" white bread). Refined products like this are more calorie-dense, and cause fluctuations in the insulin level.

      We've all been fed the lie that fat is the problem. So nobody bothers to look anywhere else. And anyone who suggests otherwise is dismissed as a crackpot.

      As I'm quite sure will happen to me.
      • Charlesbian, on 07/18/2008, -2/+5You aren't breaking any ground there buddy. bleached flour and processed grains have been known to be weight culprits for some time now. why do you think people eat whole grain, for the taste?

        High fructose corn syrup and sodium have been widely reported on. Goddamn, i didn't think it was possible to turn basic nutritional science into a conspiracy theory, hat's off to you sir.
    • topgigmedia, on 07/18/2008, -1/+5Cure anyone? Wait! I Know! Eat less, move more. Period.
      • Elranzer, on 07/20/2008, -1/+1Wow. I hope you're getting paid 6 figures as a nutritionist.
    • Tyrghast, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3Two words: Free Refills.
    • Ramenhood, on 07/18/2008, -3/+3Isn't Australia the new leader in fatness?
      • iddybiddy, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2I believe Australia was handed the baton last month.. sigh
    • Olivaise, on 07/18/2008, -0/+6As I grew up in Europe, 98% or so of the "fat" people I saw were elderly (50+). I rarely saw a teenager/young individual who was overweight, even to this day.
    • godofpumpkins, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4as much as I'd like to say this is true, it simply isn't. look up statistics on obesity, and you'll see that most of western/mediterranean europe isn't close to the US (lowest state percentage is 16% in colorado, with highest at 31% in mississippi, and it's around 6 or 7% in italy)

      I grew up in italy, and was amazed when I moved here how many more fat people I saw everywhere. It's scary, and nothing's being done to rectify the situation. What's considered a small mcdonald's soda here is what the large used to be in mcdonald's in italy (they've since upped it to the medium.)

      What is true is that obesity rates are going up all over the western world, but only the UK comes close to the US :-/ blame it on corn syrup and the fact that it's so infeasible for so many people to get any exercise in when they need to spend 4 hours a day sitting in a car commuting to work, then sitting at work for another 8 hours? I dunno :-/
    • Moogle, on 07/18/2008, -0/+7I am in Japan.

      This country is more developed than yours.

      Morbidly obese people do not exist. Probably 0.0001% of the population.

      Overweight people are 1-2%.

      I kid you not.

      • dinot, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2I think that has as much to do with genetics as well as diet. Asians are less prone to weight gain for some reason. In Thailand, people eat like four meals a day (some starting with BBQ chicken and sticky rice), and they just don't get fat.

        Mind you, they do eat smaller portions. Maybe there's something to the "eat less but eat often" mentality.
    • Niubai, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1There are fat people all over the world, but probably the population / obesity rate in the US is higher than any country.
    • unitedatheism, on 07/18/2008, -1/+2I wonder how can you don't know it yet?
      Let's review the american way of life, where Homer Simpson's based upon.
      - Have a big car, so it can handle your butt. V8 whenever possible.
      - One starbucks each block.
      - Have the biggest meals (mc donalds in Brazil have the same *****, just half of the size).
      - Eat as much as you can, since you're wealthy, you're just spending your (h?)wealth on food.
      - Don't ever exercise, we've build the scalators just for your ease.

      And then they say it's the biofuel that's making the world hungry, yeah, right!
    • Elranzer, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1Developed nations such as the United States are fat because the majority of this country are at or below poverty level (even "middle class" these days means poverty). The food corporations aggreessively price the refined sugars, high-fructose corn syrups and trans fats cheaper than natural and organic foods which are the only foods that this country can afford.

      Honestly, I believe our caloric intake is no different now than it was in the 40s and 50s when people were less obese. It's the types of foods going in our bodies, and the corporations are basically selling us poison (and we're buying it) because it's cheaper.
  • MikeFromAmerica, on 07/17/2008, -25/+39How do we know that obesity isn't just the next step in human evolution?
    • daltonls, on 07/17/2008, -13/+64Have you ever seen an obese individual in action? They don't usually operate at puma-speed. Natural selection would take them out pretty quickly under differing circumstances. Just sayin.
      • Jorge1103, on 07/17/2008, -13/+9I bet a fat man buried your comment... unburied now, because it's totally true.
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+42Yes but fat people are harder to kidnap, that's evolution if you ask me!
      • HakonD, on 07/18/2008, -0/+9That's not how evolution works... In our society, the ones with the largest ass might be the best surviver!
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+25Hakon's right... when we drift into another ice age, who's gonna last longest? Fat people. They'll be out there playing football in the backyard in shorts and surviving on the rib meat of the thin.
      • icexe, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3..Unless you're a 300lb. Defensive end in the NFL. They might not move far, but they sure move pretty damn fast.
      • ell0bo, on 07/18/2008, -1/+2Harder to kidnap...? Your just throw a Twinkies in the back of the van and open the door. How is that more difficult?
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2This is why every fat person carries five assorted Hostess snack cakes on them at all times, so they're not lured away. Geez, don't you know anything?!
    • tschau, on 07/18/2008, -2/+7Survival of the Fattest!

      (an excellent compilation cd, by the way)
    • Titan615, on 07/18/2008, -1/+11If the next step in evolution is obesity, than I am content to stay a primitive!
    • wilywondr, on 07/18/2008, -0/+8The life expectancy of fat people is less than that of average/skinny weight people.
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+5Not if fat people eat them.
      • natastna2, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2ahh but the expectancy that they'll breed is higher. Evolution.
      • bowe, on 07/18/2008, -1/+2Doesn't matter if they already have reproduced. That's why diseases of old-age are so prevalent. Evolution has no design to make healthy old people.
    • mediaspree, on 07/18/2008, -3/+3who are the rich? the athletes.
    • 4Christ, on 07/18/2008, -16/+1Anybody who believes in the "Theory" of evolution is beyond me. I'll tell you what though? When you see a monkey give live birth to a human baby? Or perhaps a fish? Or whatever else Darin theorized HUMAN kind descended from? Please, be the first to let me know! WHY do you suppose it's called a THEORY? The word Theory ought to give you a real clue.God is the Creator of all life. I pray that you will find this Truth out before your demise. It is only then when it will be too late.
      • Lewie, on 07/18/2008, -0/+5Really??? It's quite obvious that you know VERY little about science, let alone evolution, to say anything about it.

        http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolution-fact.htm ...

        We can't fully (in real-time) observe macro-evolution, but micro-evolution is an observed fact. The fossil record shows some pretty convincing evidence for macro-evolution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_the_hors ...

        http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/comdesc/

        Now, once you've skimmed through that, show me the FACTS/proof of your god. And then explain how it ranks higher than the gods of other religions. And then show me how your proof is better than Evolutionists'.
      • Chakz, on 07/18/2008, -0/+7I was told not to feed trolls but I thought I'd point out that gravity is a theory as well, so please feel free to jump off a tall building and let your god save you.
      • JigoroKano, on 07/18/2008, -0/+6Evolution cannot explain why you are so stupid.
      • JackBundaberg, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4I struggle to understand how some people can still think like that
      • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2What I don't get is why you pray that other people "discover" this truth with a capital "T". Can you cite your source that god is the creator of all life?

        It's really weird that people still believe in this stuff. I mean, sure I can understand tribes cut off from society who have no access to education... but spewing off stuff like this just makes you look like an idiot and makes it harder for people who are sane AND believe in God (depends on whether you can consider that sane...) to not sound like total crackpots.
    • shagmin, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2It IS a step in evolution. Being able to store unused energy as body fat for times of famine has been beneficial at times I'm sure. But fortunately we (in developed nations) don't have too many famines to worry about, and yet are stuck with the negative side effects of the trait.
    • monoa, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Oh, I dunno. Maybe things like reduced fertility, reduced life expectancy - those characteristics rarely get favored by natural selection, strangely enough.

      And, no, the control that humanity has over nature does not negate that argument.
  • sungoddess808, on 07/17/2008, -4/+37Processed and packaged foods, fast food (no time to cook), Starbucks blended coffees, and too much time on Digg!
    • UltX, on 07/18/2008, -1/+10And lets not forget the big one: Lazyness

      You can do all that, and still remain in decent shape if you get off your arse once in awhile.
      • bowe, on 07/18/2008, -1/+2Yep.
        1) Laziness and lack of exercise caused by
        1a)The television
        1b)The World Wide Web
        1c)The auto!
    • Matt88, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2I'm with you sungoddess - it's laziness. It takes no time to peel a few potatoes and carrots and chuck them in a pot. Same with pumpkin, even frozen vegies are good - beans, peas. Use the microwave for brocolli or cauliflower - it's so quick and easy. Can't forget the meat though - just cook anything
    • monoa, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1No time to cook? Nonsense. You can chop and stir fry some vegetables in literally 10 minutes.
    • beauley, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1In order to sell food to millions of consumers, the food industry must make it appealing to as many as possible, from the young child to the elderly. In order to accomplish this, individual food suppliers use additives to make their foods taste better.
      http://www.gomestic.com/Consumer-Information/Are-T ...
      Are There Hidden Additives in Our Foods?
  • Masternajee, on 07/17/2008, -4/+27I was in a meeting today with 7 people and 5 would be considered excessively fat.
    • 9bpm9, on 07/18/2008, -0/+13Were you one of them?
    • Trammel, on 07/18/2008, -1/+17Cool story, Hansel.
    • WhoDoneIt, on 07/18/2008, -0/+13Neglected to mention he works at Weight Watchers.
    • charlietuna, on 07/18/2008, -1/+2I just bought 8 boneless chicken nuggets from Popeyes. Am I a good guy for skipping the soda?
    • coyote1284, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1and at least one of those would have been considered "slightly overweight" 15 years ago
    • GogglesPaisan, on 07/19/2008, -0/+0Excessively fat, or morbidly obese? hey, charlietuna - Popeye's? You lucky SOB! Loves the Popeye's but none where I live. I should move.
  • swordedge, on 07/17/2008, -6/+81All of the has been drips under pressure miss one of the obvious...
    They said it could be caused by
    a virus
    right temperature
    too much stress
    all that corn syrup
    low fat foods cause is to eat more
    too many drugs
    genetics
    too much pollution
    lack of sleep
    quit smoking causes people to eat more

    How about, things are easier to do these days. Decades ago, you walked up stairs to get to the second floor, not rode an elevator. You had no power brake and no power steering so standing on the brakes was LITERAL (I once had a 4000 lb car with no power brakes and drums all the way around. panic stops required standing on the brakes while holding on to the steering wheel). To change channels, you got up off your ass and walked over to the TV. Kids walked a lot farther to go to school then we do today. The list goes on and on. On average, it took more physical effort to do things decades ago then it does today. These things add up to at least 40 or 50 pounds of extra weight over a life time. Basically, modern life makes us fat.
    • pbone, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3you forgot corn chips.
    • viet10, on 07/18/2008, -3/+4i think that easier access to horrible food (fast food, refined sugars, junk food) has more of an effect than the subtle changes (standing on brakes? come on now.) in activity that you mention. also, i think lack of exercise is a bigger factor than changes in activity too.
    • 4Christ, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3You sure hit that nail on the head big time. I remember when my Dad wouldn't even BUY a remote Television when they first came out. I thought he was crazy then? Now as I see the added inches as my life's clock has somewhat slowed it's metabolism? I see the sense in it. Yet, that being said? Don't let me give out of batteries for my remotes! I'd have a cow!
      I think the lazies have hit us all in this way.
    • Tyrghast, on 07/18/2008, -1/+8To be honest, this anti-drug culture that has sprung up has done more to harm the US and than help it. Alcoholism, smoking, and a cocaine addiction are a great way to keep your weight down.
    • DrunkenDigger, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1right on man.
    • MasterThief117, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1"To change channels, you got up off your ass and walked over to the TV."
      I thought remotes have been around since the 50's or something.
      • coyote1284, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1And yet we had a turn-knob set well into the late 80s.
      • Frost9999, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2I remember in the early 80's friends of ours had a VHS player with a cable remote.

        My grandparents TV had a turn-knob for changing channels and that was fine.

        Then in about '86 my parents bought a TV and VHS with infra-red remotes and I discovered I could confuse people by sitting in another room and bouncing the signal off the windows to change channels while they weren't looking.

        The next step was changing the neighbours channel through their window - that was hours of fun.
      • swordedge, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1also, the remote was NOT free. It cost a hundred dollars or more. In todays money, several hundred. Many people decided they could not afford to spend this kind of money.
  • daltonls, on 07/17/2008, -11/+5I blame McDonalds. And reality television.

    Not that I favour either one, but they certainly don't help.
  • Harboggles, on 07/17/2008, -6/+51George Carlin said it best, "The only thing kids don't need a helmet for is jerkin' off!"

    Our stupid parents make outside activites boring by insisting to structure them and consequently our entire generation finds an activity that doesn't need so much safety....
  • CLAWC, on 07/17/2008, -16/+3Fatter AND dumber
  • transform100, on 07/18/2008, -12/+3Fix: don't become fat...
  • bicycleman, on 07/18/2008, -5/+39Because of Corn. Watch "King of Corn" the documentary to find out. You are 30% corn.
    • DuffyDirect, on 07/18/2008, -1/+6hey have some respect corn won the civil war, boy!
    • Xihix, on 07/18/2008, -0/+14Damn you HFCS!
    • GliTCH82, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2Hey I'm not paying you to sit around and post to your jerk-off friends. I'm paying you to eat corn chowder! I suggest you get back to doing your job.
    • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1"King Corn" not King OF Corn
    • GogglesPaisan, on 07/19/2008, -0/+0Do you have a Corn Newsletter we can subscribe to?
  • straylight51, on 07/18/2008, -1/+25Over processed food, not enough exercise, come on people use your common sense
  • Torx, on 07/18/2008, -1/+72Our future is going to be a mix of "Wall-E" and "Idiocracy"
    • kalphegor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3and "Batman".
      • baconz, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4Yea, except that Wall-E will be made in China, the Idiocracy is already here, and Batman won't be able to fit into his rubber bat suit!
  • moonboots, on 07/18/2008, -3/+15Because they are eating too much food
    • rossiprojects, on 07/18/2008, -1/+11Because they are eating too much JUNK food.
    • yukevster, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1It's not what you eat it's how much and wether you are using the calories.

      Americas prize quantity over quality - here in Japan no-one complains if they don't get enough..only if the taste is no good.
  • tykwondingo, on 07/18/2008, -6/+12Simple -

    People + TV + Fast Food = Nation of fat people.

    • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -3/+6The TV does not make a person fat. That's such a stupid thing to say - a television doesn't force someone to eat, it doesn't force someone to not exercise, it's just there. People choosing to be lazy makes them fat.
      • twiztidsinz, on 07/18/2008, -3/+2But the ad's do...
        How many times have you been watchin TV, seen a commercial for some kind of food - a burger for example, all tender juicy beef resting on a fluffy bun with crisp lettuce, bright red tomatoes, and firm onions with a squirt of ketchup and suddenly you find your mouth watering and stomach growling wanting food?
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -2/+4That's like people saying Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man and the Budweiser Frogs made people smoke and drink.

        Here's the thing with advertisements, you see a commercial for that juicy burger - eat it... it's not going to kill you. The problem is people eat that ***** on a daily basis, that's not the advertiser's fault, that's your fault for being too simple to resist temptation from a freaking picture. You could eat Krispy Kreme donuts topped with bacon, butter and a gallon of Pepsi and it won't kill you - everything in moderation and you'll be just fine.
      • tykwondingo, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2You're on a tangent, guy. Come back down from whatever high horse you rode in on and chill.
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -2/+3What high horse am I on? These are facts... the TV doesn't make people fat, eating too much and being lazy makes people fat. What about people who work out everyday, eat right and then come home and watch TV? TV's not making them fat.

        And advertisements don't make people fat, people choosing to eat those foods in unhealthy moderation get fat. I see ads for Captain Morgan's rum all the time - doesn't make me an alcoholic.

        This isn't ranting, this is just saying if you don't want to be fat, don't eat so much.
    • tykwondingo, on 07/18/2008, -2/+3@ sugarazor - "such a stupid thing to say" ?

      I never specifically said "TV makes people fat", where'd you get that? On second thought, don't answer, it'd be a waste of time.

      sorry there gayzor, I guess I wasn't SPECIFIC enough for you - TV itself doesn't make people fat but it is an enabler because of the ads and the fact that... oh, I dunno, most people SIT when they watch it and the vast majority stare at it with a vacant look in their eyes for 12+ hours a week = part of the problem. Understand?

      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -5/+2Oh man, and there I went trying to be nice above and just explain my reasoning and then you go and throw out a gay joke? I didn't realize I was dealing with a child... sorry little buddy, run along - adults are talking.
      • tykwondingo, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4Okay guy, since we're so serious...

        You should never have to TRY to be nice, be honest, it's the internet.

        I never specifically said "TV makes people fat", so, your whole tangent was off base to begin with.

        and as far as the gay joke's concerned, saying something as asinine as "such a stupid thing to say" was asking for something in return... I mean come on, I'm workin' here, whaddya expect?

        In closing.. eat a fat one, serious business guy.
      • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1Gayzor? You came back with "Gayzor"???
      • tykwondingo, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1yeah, and it worked? :]
    • Schmich, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1and "S" portions not existing anymore in some countries. It's M, L and XL if not worse :/
  • 2clone, on 07/18/2008, -4/+15http://www.fatchicksinpartyhats.com -- FTW!!
  • ASSASSYN360, on 07/18/2008, -10/+6Obese people have a gene turned on inside them that says keep eating because you have no idea when that next meal will be. I learned that on discovery channel.
  • coolred, on 07/18/2008, -2/+18Lack of peer group pressure.
    When most of your friends are fat then it's no big deal.
  • Mjv21, on 07/18/2008, -2/+15I blame that burger who's bun is a crispy creme donut.

    We have 2 people in my office under 35 that have had heart attacks, and both sweat profusely when walking up the 15 stairs every morning. Talking about that burger was the most excited and energetic I had ever seen them.
    • malex, on 07/18/2008, -0/+12I agree with what you're saying, but I still intend to eat one of those things before I die.

      (Shortly before, probably...)
    • GovernmentsGun, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2I've never heard of it. Where can I get one??!
    • yfph, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4Here's the story about that Krispy Creme burger

      http://digg.com/food_drink/The_World_s_Unhealthies ...
      • Frostek, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Bluergh! Sorry, but that's just disgusting. And what? It's 1000 calories?!
      • thatevilcupcake, on 07/18/2008, -0/+0Hell, even a Qdoba Burrito has a thousand calories. Thousand calorie meals are not uncommon in America, that's part of the problem. That being said, the donut burger does sound rather revolting. The reason it's so unhealthy is mostly because of what's in it in terms of fat and sugar, and not so much the sheer number of calories.

        Then again, I'm American, enjoy the occasional Qdoba burrito, and am not overweight. But I also do a fair amount of physical activity. It all depends on lifestyle really. Calories themselves are not bad, it just depends on if/how you use them.
    • coyote1284, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Mmm... The Luthor... gives me the 'itis just thinking about it.
  • 9bpm9, on 07/18/2008, -9/+1The U.S. Government doesn't subsidize anything but meat. This country would be eating a lot more fruits and vegetables if they weren't so god damn expensive.
    • razorsedge555, on 07/18/2008, -0/+7mmmm not so, corn production is one of the biggest subsidized agricultural crops in the U.S. Ostensibly this is to boost ethanol production, but our agricultural subsidies are largely for the benefit of corporate farming concerns and wealthy landowners.
    • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Eh... it's really not anyone else's fault that people choose price points for food over their own health. "Meat is cheaper than veggies? Guess I'm eating meat! Whoa! ***** is cheaper than meat? ..."
  • biogears, on 07/18/2008, -3/+26Corn syrup and sitting, in that order.
  • highps3, on 07/18/2008, -0/+12I blame it on turducken.
  • GeorgeTirebiter, on 07/18/2008, -1/+5eating too much? exercising too little? Hmmmmm. I never made the connection. I suppose the problem would improve if amphetamines were legal, though.
    • razorsedge555, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4meth FTW
      • SugarCoatedSalt, on 07/18/2008, -5/+1ur liek so kooool dude, I bet you don't even know what weed smells like.
  • moonguidex, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2Those experts seem way too skeptical of everything, they didn't like a single theory.

    And they forgot the media. Advertisements for food are everywhere, of course they'll make you hungry...
    • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -3/+4If you're fat because of an advertisement, you deserve to have your heart explode. It's like people saying they got cancer because of Joe Camel, if you can't resist the temptation from a cartoon camel that looks like a dick and balls, then yeah, you should probably just die.

      People are fat because they eat too much and don't exercise.
      • moonguidex, on 07/18/2008, -1/+2I agree with you, but you gotta work on the delivery. Anger management?
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4My anger management is a double bacon cheeseburger.
      • CAisBacK, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2he didn't say ads make you fat, he said ads make you hungry
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1Okay, so the ads make you hungry... eat a banana. Or learn some self-control... it's pretty sad if you see an ad and turn into Homer Simpson, "mmmmm burger." The ads aren't hypnotizing you, you have every ability to not give into the temptation of clever marketing.

        But hell, I'm a reasonable guy, one hamburger ain't gonna kill ya - go eat the Baconator if you want it, just don't do it everyday.
  • JasonCox, on 07/18/2008, -3/+5I blame my computer.

    And so help me god if you try to take it away from me I'm going to shove this hard drive up your ass.
    • wejmahtin, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2*taking your computer, bending over, and squealing*
  • Scopitone, on 07/18/2008, -0/+501) Zero exercise
    2) High fructose corn syrup
    3) Bleached/enriched flour products
  • bovox, on 07/18/2008, -3/+57High Fructose Corn Syrup. It's everywhere. It's cheap. It's subsidized by the US Farm Bill (i.e., taxpayers) -- that's why it is so cheap. If the US government stopped subsidizing corn, it wouldn't be so cheap and it wouldn't end up in every single processed food. People would have to *GASP* stop eating junk food if a candy bar cost more than an apple.
    • zydeco, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2Ironically, the government appears to be subsidizing ethanol MORE now, meaning corn is scarce to make HFCS. So much so that the food processors are thinking of switching back to the (relatively) cheaper sugar again.
      • diadem2, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4That would make my year.
      • myhandleondigg, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1I hope this is true.
      • digg1520, on 07/18/2008, -3/+1Right, because sugar is so much better than corn syrup... NOT. It's exactly the same.
      • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2digg1520: before delving into doling out Boratesque "NOT"s, do a little research
  • Evilblobs, on 07/18/2008, -6/+15Rumor: Only in America are people obese. In the rest of the world [Europe] all people are lean, bike-riding, hybrid-driving, intellectual atheistic, socialist, utopians.


    Fact: NOT!
    • razorsedge555, on 07/18/2008, -1/+5don't forget they all smoke dope too lol
    • Ellipsys, on 07/18/2008, -0/+5I think you just described Denmark...Or maybe Sweden, if you overlook that little US-like wiretapping faux pah they passed a little while ago.
    • Iwantawii, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1I would love to hear Dwight Schrute say your punch line to someone claiming something:

      "Um, Fact: Not."
    • baconz, on 07/18/2008, -1/+4Typical american pee wee herman comment. Yea we are but what are you? Just accept the truth and find out what you can do about it instead of denying reality and deflecting the issue. (Grow up)
    • Niubai, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Off course not, there are fat people all over the world, but probably the population / obesity rate in the US is higher than any country.
  • tikited, on 07/18/2008, -5/+3They want to be fat pigs.
  • wejmahtin, on 07/18/2008, -1/+52Pisses me off I had to put down my cheeseburger to type in this comment.
  • wiirdo, on 07/18/2008, -1/+8I'm not sure why Americans are so fat...but I'll eat to that.
  • D3ADBOLT, on 07/18/2008, -4/+4Why are you?
  • Dimethyl, on 07/18/2008, -2/+6Simple: too many carbohydrates.
    • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4No... too much food, period. Too much food with not enough activity to burn it off.
      • Dimethyl, on 07/18/2008, -1/+4Not really. To some extent you can exercise more and/or eat less to lose weight, but the amount lost isn't as much as would be expected by looking at the number of calories burned/not eaten. The problem is, your body can compensate for not having enough calories by decreasing energy expenditure (i.e making you tired/lethargic).

        The real way to lose weight is to consume fewer carbohydrates, which keeps your insulin levels lower, therefore allowing fat from fat cells to be utilized as energy. If too much insulin is floating around, this fat can't be accessed, therefore your body thinks it's running out of energy and increases your hunger in response.

        There's an excellent book on this subject called Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes.
      • Xihix, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2When gaining fat, calories are calories. If you have an excess amount of energy, it turns into fat. It can all be from dietary fat, carbs, or protein. It's why the idea of low carb diets saying you can eat however much you want without restricting your calories is just so stupid.
      • Dimethyl, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Unfortunately the reality isn't that simple. Take a look at this study with mice divided into 4 groups, 3 of which eating the exact same amount of calories but with different macronutrient compositions):

        http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/ketones-and-ket ...
      • tony23, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3And the ignorance about low carb diets comes out.

        The fact is that you end up eating LESS calories on a low-carb diet to feel satisfied than you do on other diets.

        But we've been told over and over that FAT is the problem, so now everyone believes it. Problem is - people are still getting fatter.
      • RazielX, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2A website referencing self help books like they were scientific journals...

        Wasn't there a study that showed that low carb diets actually had the same results as calorie restriction - based diets?
      • Dimethyl, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1You're talking about Good Calories, Bad Calories? While I agree the name is terrible (I think that was up to the publisher), it's not a "self help" book. Gary Taubes is a science writer who originally focused on physics but turned to nutrition. Good Calories, Bad Calories is not a diet book and gives no dietary advice. It's an in-depth review of the last 100 years or so of nutritional research and everything is well cited (the bibliography is ~100 pages).
      • thatevilcupcake, on 07/18/2008, -0/+0Sure, low carb diets will make you lose weight relatively quickly, but they're still really unhealthy. Weight loss does not necessarily equal becoming healthier. Bullhemia and smoking crack will make you lose weight, doesn't mean those things are good for you. The human body needs carbs to produce energy, and if you do any kind of physical activity then a lack of carbs will wear you down really fast. It's a quick-fix solution for people who can't or are just really averse to exercising, but a truly healthy weight loss plan requires diet and exercise, and low-carb will ultimately work against that. Besides, didn't the guy who started the whole anti-carb thing end up dying of a heart attack?

        That being said, there are carbs that are better for you than others. Whole grains and things are better than processed carbs. I won't argue that overprocessed carbohydrates are a cause of obesity, but cutting out carbs altogether is not the answer.
  • digitallysick, on 07/18/2008, -2/+5Because i have no time to work out, when i get home im sleepy from working all day! bad mix
    • onux16, on 07/18/2008, -4/+1I hate those excuses. I work upwards of 10 to 16 hour work days depending on the work load and still make time for... well, I could PT. But I spend that exercise time on Digg.
      (then again, I'm at the young age of 19 and in the military)

      epiphany: DIGG makes me fat! (kidding!)
    • Iwantawii, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1Once you start though you'll have more energy and won't feel so drained at end of the day. 2 weeks with 30-60min exercise bike @ 6 times a week and you will feel like a new man. Or woman. Throw some tv shows you like on your ipod or whatever you have.

      I've helped a small number of people lose some weight, and they're always surprised at how low intensity will suffice for weight loss. Peep this:

      http://www.bodybycraig.com/files/Heart_Rate_Zone.g ...

      A lot of cardio equipment in gyms now have heart rate monitors that read your pulse from your palms. With your heart beating at a just the right rate to enter the "weight loss" zone, you would still be able to carry on a conversation fairly easily. You'd be sweating but you wouldn't be dying.

      Give it a try, 2 weeks
  • kru1e, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3I Know! I Know! We eat too much 8D
  • TheSwashbuckler, on 07/18/2008, -4/+3Digg ;-)
  • mightyslick, on 07/18/2008, -1/+3fat=slow= easier target
  • Crana, on 07/18/2008, -0/+14I'm currently in Mississippi and find it very obvious as to why... all restaurants offer free refills on drinks along with cheap food, large portions and everything is just so far away! Without a car it would take you hours to do daily tasks whereas back in England I could easily walk to the local corner shop within minutes. Side walks are pretty rare here too so it's not very convenient to walk either. MS is probably quite different to elsewhere in America considering it's the fattest state but things can't be too different elsewhere.
    • quakken, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4It's all about the population density. Sure, you can walk places if you live in a city, but a whole lot of americans are outside of walking distance to the places they need to go. Suburbs don't help.
    • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+19Dude... England to Mississippi? Serious downgrade.
    • MiniCooper2007, on 07/18/2008, -2/+1I need to come to Mississippi, I need to gain weight. srsly.
    • thatevilcupcake, on 07/18/2008, -0/+0I agree it's a huge problem. I live in one of the healthier areas of the country so it's not so bad for me, but whenever I do some traveling to the South or Midwest I feel like such a blob afterwards. Huge portions, everything's fried, and not many healthy menu items. The option to gorge yourself and be a fat blob is available everywhere in the US, but at least where I live there are alternatives. In some parts of the country, having a healthy diet is actually difficult, not in a "I can't resist the temptation for cookies but I know I must" kind of way, but in the "There is nothing here that isn't deep fried and covered in butter" way.
  • ptFoe, on 07/18/2008, -5/+7They are only FAT because they see it as another way to accumulating "STUFF". That pizza went will IKEA lamp post. Pity one had to be eaten.
    • TheNakedChef, on 07/18/2008, -0/+2I think I'm the only one who found this funny, consumerism at it's best!
    • baconz, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4There is a lot of truth to your statement. In america, people eat based on "value for money", not because of taste or quality of the food. It's all about, how much food can I get for my ever more worthless dollar?
  • fireballfreddy, on 07/18/2008, -2/+4Om nom nom?
  • quakken, on 07/18/2008, -1/+9Actually, http://www.blankestblank.com/funniest/picture/?id= ...

    this.
    • tom957, on 07/18/2008, -0/+5that makes me want to kill myself.
    • CAisBacK, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3and that is why we fat....
      • ivantalboys, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1I thought it was going to be the man walking his dog from his SUV
  • albinorhino101, on 07/18/2008, -0/+6I think it's a combination of people working to much and being lazy. I used to workout all the time during the summers and some semesters at school, but now that I'm working a full time job and seeing some of the hours people in my office put in I can understand how they would not want to spend the little extra time they have during the day to exercise. By the time I get home from work, hit the gym and eat dinner it's almost time for bed so I can imagine what people with families and other obligations must feel. But still there is a huge laziness factor, most Americans would just rather sit around and watch TV or play video games while eating processed and fast foods instead of getting outside and doing stuff. I think a lot of Americans just don't care or are not educated on health/fitness.
    • KayIslandDrunk, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Working too much? From my personal experience most people work an eight hour work day here in the US. You're saying only spending 1/3 of your day working is too much?

      I'd say if we worked more (and actually worked, not just acted like we were working) we'd be more active and spend less time eating.
      • Hotrox, on 07/18/2008, -1/+0Consider that the average recommendation of sleep time is approximately eight hours. Now that 8 hour day is effectively 1/2 your day. Myself and the people I work with have 9 hour days, and overtime isn't unheard of. Now consider that you probably spend an hour a day on personal hygiene, dress and appearance, and commute time. That's somewhere between 8-10 hours that an average person puts into their job. This leaves most people with around 5-6 hours of personal time.

        With that much free time it's a sure bet that you can afford to go running or hit the gym, but I'll tell you right now that after spending that much time at work I'd much rather go home and relax for a bit. Despite that, there's always going to be some sort of housework or other personal items that need attention. My point is simply that our workday is definitely a factor in most people getting the required amount of exercise.

        I'm not excusing fatties because, as I said, there's plenty of time to get in exercise, but you have to admit that given the choice, spending the few hours you have for yourself by willfully inducing pain isn't always that appealing.
      • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1Wow... a 40 hour workweek as average sounds like a wet dream
  • windandstorm, on 07/18/2008, -3/+7dugg because i not fat
    • g00dbye, on 07/18/2008, -0/+17Congratulations. Now you should work on your grammar.
  • WarMachineWCLH, on 07/18/2008, -2/+2Cuz they hungry?
  • kookbutt, on 07/18/2008, -0/+4Beefcaaaaaake!
  • gllopc, on 07/18/2008, -0/+181. Large portions
    2. Acceptance of obesity
    3. Lack of exercise, in exchange for television/web surfing
    4. Convenient high calorie, inexpensive food options (fast food, vending machines)
    5. Aggressive, prevalent advertising
    6. Parents pacifying/rewarding their children with food
    7. Capitalism > Social Responsibility
    • CAisBacK, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3god damn it you're a genius....
    • GrantN05, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1I'd like to contest point 3 by pointing out the amount of calories I have burned while browsing the internet. Wink. ;)
  • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -6/+14Here's something that amuses me, I see a lot of Digg articles about obesity... why do you care? I thought Digg was all about personal responsibility, liberty and all that Ron Paul/Libertarian jazz. If you really think that way, isn't it a person's right to be as fat as they want and stuff themselves with mountains of high fructose corn syrup? If someone wants to watch TV and eat Wendy's every night, who are you to judge? I could give a ***** less about an "obesity epidemic," hell, I'm overweight, but it's my own personal responsibility to lose weight. What is with this sudden obsession in the media about it? Everyone knows being fat could eventually kill you, just like smokers know they can get cancer - leave both of these groups of people alone to do what they want.
    • Pensuke, on 07/18/2008, -0/+3Exactly
    • mustanggt1989, on 07/18/2008, -3/+6I totally agree with you. Now the next time I see one you fattys can I tell you to go somewhere else like we do smokers? In the libertarian, I can do whatever I want spirit, I can. I'd totally like to openly berate you bastards like we do smokers. "Can you eat that somewhere else please? I don't my children to be exposed to your unhealthy lifestyle choices" They should have walled of feed troughs for you in airports and restaurants so you can practice your right to be an addict. I'd also like it if people working in the medical industry had the right to not help you. Why should somebody else go out of their way to take care of you if you refuse to help yourself? A friend of mine is studying to be a nurse and she recently told me of this wonderful story. An obese woman ***** in her hospital bed that should couldn't get out of and it took a two person team of nurses to complete the job. One to hold this fat lady's ass cheek open while the other wiped. Why in the hell do we educate nurses to do jobs like this? There are people who are really sick who need that bed and those nurses. People who didn't put themselves in that bed by stuffing their faces. Damn Addicts. Thats all you are. You no different than a cocaine or heroine addict. I should know. I weighed 250 when I graduated highschool in 1999. Now I weigh 185-190 on a 6'2" frame. I changed my life and been active ever since. I made it a priority till on one fine day I don't have to push myself to workout. I have a desire, a drive to. Its a part of my lifestyle. I wakeboard, practice yoga, race mountain bikes, road bike, and run. I also don't have to sacrifice my other interest to do it. I'm just nerdy as the rest of the bunch on digg.

      So here's the deal. From a from a former fatass addict to a current one. You are weak. You do not have the strength of character to affect change in your life. You are a failure to yourself. You'd rather feel the rush that comes from flooding your system with the bile a corporation markets to pliable mind than get out and actually experience the natural rush that comes from using your body like its designed to be.

      I say good day to you sir!
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Hmmm... let me do my internet math here:

        6'2", 190... used to be 250... carry the 3, multiply it by the anonymity and I peg you currently at about 5'8", 275. Have a nice day, internet toughguy/*****.
      • mustanggt1989, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1http://www.tmbra.org/results/spring_08/html/sm19.h ...

        That's me coming in 14th overall after my first season ever to race and only competing in 4 of the 8 races on an All mountain frame on XC course. Fatty's don't exist on the MTBiking racing circuit.

        Thats called results.

        I could also show you 10k results where I averaged a 7:05/mile.

        But thats just being mean.
      • sugarazor, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/Heat ...

        That's me in my latest film role.
      • thatevilcupcake, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1A bit harsh, but beautifully executed. Poetic, even. You, sir, are officially my hero. A lot of people are harsh to the fatties get on my nerves because they've never had to deal with it themselves. You at least have experience to back up what you're talking about. Of course, I suppose I shouldn't be posting this, given that I'm not overweight and have never been (though I was a bit chunky my junior year of college ... cough). But I find people who do manage to get in shape and improve themselves in such a way to be extremely inspirational.

        I also think it's sad that so few people realize what a rush you can get from working out. Sure, it sucks hard at first, but once you get into it it's really quite amazing. Personally, I blame elementary school gym. When I was growing up it was like an hour long torture during which I was mocked, ridiculed, and picked last for the team by those with more athletic prowess than I (I was a pretty scrawny kid. Not a fattie, but not good at sports by a long shot). After that, I was pretty much averse to any kind of physical activity until I discovered rock climbing at the age of 22. Now I rock climb, mountain bike, and go to the regular boring gym, among other things. It's all about changing perspective, I think.

        And you're still my hero, seriously.
    • JustinDevine, on 07/18/2008, -0/+5Normally, I might agree, as I consider myself one of those libertarian jazz people. It stops being a person's right to be as fat and lazy as they like when everyone else has to pay for it.

      Check this out:
      http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/economic_c ...

      This is the same logic that is involved in banning smoking in public places. So that being said, I'd like obese people to stop increasing my tax burden and smokers to stop ***** up my air.

      Also let me cut off your counterargument about how you pay your own medical bills and/or insurance right now. Insurance rates are based on actuary data which is computed using the median health of a representative individual. Therefore, even if you are insured through your job all the medical problems you face along the way to being "eventually killed" by your fatness raises the costs of premiums for both group and individual health insurance plans. So thanks for raising my premium and causing more employers to drop health coverage for employees.

      Your liberty ends where it f's up my liberty. This is the same logic that Ron Paul and that "jazz" use to support environmentalism; private property rights.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_o ...

      So no sir, I will not "leave both of these groups of people alone to do what they want" just like I won't leave criminals, pedophiles, corporate polluters, and and many other groups "alone" to do what they want. When your actions produce public costs, those costs must be accounted for.
    • comocomo, on 07/18/2008, -3/+0Because fatass, you're not smart enough to help yourself. and while you're a huge dickface for not just losing the weight on your own, we don't want you to die on us. i'm sure underneath all that cellulite you're a decent person.

      also only girls think that skinny chicks are hot. guys aren't into them, i don't know why i always read that, skinny bitches are gross. i've never met a dude that's like "HEY I WANNA ***** A STICK"
  • WestonP, on 07/18/2008, -0/+7I often wonder that... as I lay here, on the couch in front of my HDTV, telecommuting into work. I'd play my Nintendo Wii, but all that movement is too much work.

    Seriously, it's not hard to figure out... we're lazy and we eat cheap junk food. I walked to a nearby store last night and the only other people I saw walking were either too young to drive, or couldn't afford a car. This is in Boulder County, Colorado... the CDC says we're the least obese state in the nation, but I say there's a pretty big problem. And when it's time for a snack, I notice that most snack foods have just as many calories and fat content as a whole meal, even though they're much less filling.
    • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1You have intimate knowledge of the economic situation of people around you in nearby stores? Creepy.
  • MattH, on 07/18/2008, -2/+16Corn Syrup that is in nearly every processed American Food including White Bread .
    High Fructose Corn Syrup is a Trisaccharide that the body converts into a Triglyceride (FAT).

    Most other counties use sucrose (cane sugar) as their primary sweetener and many organic products from major food processors like Heinz Ketchup use cane sugar instead of corn syrup becyse they cant use geneticly modified ingredients like ,most US farmed corn .
    • digg1520, on 07/18/2008, -1/+3Newsflash: sugar gets converted to fat. Duh.
      • marx2k, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1"Large quantities of fructose stimulate the liver to produce triglycerides, promotes glycation of proteins and induces insulin resistance. According to one study, the average American consumes nearly 70 pounds of HFCS per annum, marking HFCS as a major contributor to the rising rates of obesity in the last generation."

        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup
      • digg1520, on 07/19/2008, -1/+1"Studies which have compared HFCS to sucrose (as opposed to pure fructose) find that they have essentially identical physiological effects."

        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup
    • Coventrian, on 07/18/2008, -1/+1http://www.newswithviews.com/NWVexclusive/exclusiv ...
      Nuff said, Avoid aspartame and HFCS like the plague.
  • stonebear, on 07/18/2008, -1/+6I’ll put my money on cortisol: If you graph the increase in anxiety disorders (especially, depression) and obesity since 1970, they mirror each other almost exactly. So the question is not so much as where the obesity is coming from, but where the anxiety is coming from. History shows that people become extremely neurotic toward the end of their civilization, and that neurosis invariably embodies its central values; a grim spectacle and parody of what made it great before. For Rome and her client states, it was highly organized violence. For the US and her client states, it is highly commercialized hedonism, of which obesity is the most obvious byproduct.
    • simonn, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1What about obesity driving depression?

      I was never obese according to BMI, but I got to within a cat's whisker of it just over a year ago. So I started going to the gym and commuting to work by bicycle (50km/32mi daily). I am now within a point of the normal range for my height.

      I also eat more junk food, pizza, curry etc now than I did when I was lardy. Exercise takes care of the extra calories.

      I rarely get depressed or moody as well. Endorphins are great!
    • ericblue76, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Cortisol sounds plausible, but think about it for a minute. Are modern humans *really* that much more stressed than our ancestors? Sure, advanced civilizations may be more neurotic, but that's an awful lot of cortisol. Between 1962 and 2000, obesity grew from 13% to a whopping 31% of the population. And, childhood obesity has tripled in the last 20 years. Have we become that neurotic in the past 50 years? Are kids really that stressed out?

      Cortisol may be a partial factor. But, I'm betting the real problem is due to how easy it is to sit around and become mesmerized by the TV hours at a time, and with a Quarter Pounder n' Fries in hand to boot.

      Also, who do you think would be stressed more? Ancient man being stalked by a gnarly sabertooth tiger, or Joe Blow down the street who's worried because he can't afford the new iPhone and his girlfriend just dumped him ;)
      • fugazied, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Ancient man would have his fight or flight mechanism switched on when confronted by the tiger, but when danger wasn't present, would be fine. Modern man is in a constant state of fight or flight (aka stress) because we are wrapped in a high stimulus environment (TV, movies, city living) and most citizens have status anxiety (must make money to buy the bling or happiness will not be achieved, thanks to indoctrination by advertising).
      • Lavarock, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1Back then you basically had the task of flexing your muscles very hard and walking for a long time to find food. Hard, but simple. Now our brains are bent and contorted in everyday life, and there's a larger array of problems and concerns and outside inputs which are so confusing, if less significant than survival, that they contribute to a greater amount of stress. Think: What's more stressful, trying to balance an egg on a broomstick while giving a formal speech in front of a TV audience naked, or pushing a concrete slab across another concrete slab?
  • solboldi, on 07/18/2008, -0/+5let's see. because they eat too much?
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