Why are the populations of western countries getting fatter and fatter, is it be

1. 59

   andrewwilliams63posted 12 years ago

   Why are the populations of western countries getting fatter and fatter, is it because we are lazy?

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   homesteadboundposted 12 years ago

   We are leading more sedentary lifestyles, but we are also eating more fast foods which contain many more calories than a well prepared meal.

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   Phil The Gainposted 12 years ago

   Laziness and bad eating habits.  Exercise is very important if you are eating fattening foods.

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4. 61

   mesacleanpoolsposted 12 years ago

   I don't think it's because we are "lazy" rather we live in a developed economies that have a lot more leisure time and luxuries. America has become the fattest because these luxuries mixed with different values.
   
   Europeans haven't really become fat because the value system is different there. They don't value food quite like America's do and the food supplied isn't in as large or portions and seems a little healthier.

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5. 60

   Stephilibooposted 12 years ago

   Not countrie"S"...Country. The difference between America and other countries in Europe and around the world is that they walk..American's choose to drive a car around and many cities do a horrible job of making it easy for Americans to walk. Instead of blaming food for the problem, why not MAKE SURE that the funds for states and cities allow for more urbanization to make it more effective for someone to walk. Paving that same street 6 times in a year is ridiculous when a path to walk on is much more useful.

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   JT Waltersposted 12 years ago

   No, it is because they are involved in world trade and there is a flat regressive tax on all goods which is causing everything to be very expensive especially healthy foods.  Normal activities in which western countries wouold be involved in now cost to much money because of the extrordinarily high cost of oil and food.  So people can no longer afford to belong to sporting clubs or gyms like they use to.  And quitef rrankly they are working so many hours they can barely shove soemthing in their face, sleep for a few hours before they are back at the labor camps.

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   whoisbidposted 12 years ago

   When I visit the United States I always put on weight. The last I went there I decided not to eat most of what people are eating. I also stopped drinking anything except water. I find that there is too much cheese and bread crumbs in American food. On that last visit I did not put on weight.

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   Mercia Collinsposted 12 years ago

   more sedentary lifestyles is true but processed food is much too prevalent in some societies. Lack of sleep is another factor in some societies.

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   Indigitalposted 12 years ago

   There's a lot more food on offer, so obviously the more disposable income + fatter produce = fatter people.

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10. 61

    Dr Rockpileposted 12 years ago

    It's a combination of processed food and lack of exercise do to the information age. People worked much harder 50 years ago and the food they had was not overly processed. Whole grains instead of white flour for example.

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11. 59

    andrewwilliams63posted 12 years ago

    Yep, agree with you about the whole processed food and people working harder 50 years ago.

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    Blond Logicposted 12 years ago

    This is an interesting question and several of the answers I agree with.
    
    Here in rural Brazil, the families with little money walk, work and eat basic foods. They are extremely fit and healthy and they have beautiful white teeth.
    
    The other side of this is, when families get a bit of money, they buy a TV, a motorcycle and coke. This is the decline, their families become fat, inactive, similar to the countries you are referring to.
    
    It isn't only a problem for America, Britain is becoming obese as well.

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13. 59

    nightwork4posted 12 years ago

    that's one of the main reasons. but we also eat things that are full of chemicals, sugars etc. we also want everything to be easier and it is destroying us. try finding a 20 year old that has no problem working a 16 hour day for a week at a time, that's almost impossible now.

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    Nadeeshan301posted 12 years ago

    Not exactly it can be due to various reasons.. In western countries technologies have evolved and the income is pretty high than rest of the world so people tend to have a sedentary lives as their most day today work is done by machines... And in western society take more fat rich food as main meals with little fruits and fiber.. Since the energy density is high in the food they take and the energy consumption is pretty less they tend to gain weight more and more this is apparent not only in western countries as even in Asia if they take more "westernized" food again they tend to become obese.
    Best thing is to have more active lifestyle and have more natural food than artificial refined carbohydrate and fat food. Add more fruits and vegetables which are less energy dense food.

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    Through My Lensposted 12 years ago

    Several factors are involved -- we have gotten away from our agricultural lifestyles, which required a lot of outdoor physical activity. We also have seen the development of "convenience" foods which are higher in calories and fat than more homemade choices. Because we have more money, we are able to buy more food. Our focus is on eating as a form of entertainment, rather than a source of energy.

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