Does America really have an obesity epidemic and if so, why?

1. 71

   CR Rookwoodposted 11 years ago

   Does America really have an obesity epidemic and if so, why?
   
   Is it all too much food? Too much bad food? Bad stuff in our food? No exercise? Changing insurance standards? What is the problem (assuming there is one) and what is the answer?
   
   

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2. 72

   backporchstoriesposted 11 years ago

   YES, YES AND YES!!!!!!  We have relied on fast food, resturants, easy snacks and energy cola and drinks to take care of our nutritional needs.  MISTAKE, MISTAKE AND ANOTHER MISTAKE!  We seriously need to become physical and pay close attention to what we feed our bodies!  We no longer are working farms all day and don't need the amount of food our Grandmothers and Grandfathers have portioned out to us in the past!

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   1. 71

      CR Rookwoodposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, and food seems to be used more for comfort and fun than when I was a kid (50 years ago!) We always ate at the table, with the family. I mean, food was family time, not like watching a movie. Plus we walked EVERYWHERE. Now that isn't even safe.

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3. 60

   MickSposted 11 years ago

   I don't know about, Canada, and Mexico in North America, but the USA seems to have one.

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   1. 60

      MickSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Forgot to put in why.  Too much junk food, lack of exercise.

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4. 70

   Alastar Packerposted 11 years ago

   People are so busy parents and their children are eating too much processed and fast food. Even some schools are not offering healthy choices. Sometimes sweets are given as rewards. Children and adults don't exercise enough. One excuse used is processed and fast food is cheaper than organic and healthy food.  One answer for the busy family is to plan meals, prepare and freeze them so as to have them when pressed for time. Leave the junk food out of the kitchen and choose healthier snacks for the family- plus consistent, enjoyable calorie burning activity of some kind.

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5. 60

   BrianMI6posted 11 years ago

   Obesity is at epidemic levels.  I just read a new report that says that it's estimated that 50% of the population will be obese by the year 2030.
   
   What's the cause?  Carbs.  The government continues to encourage people to eat large amount so-called "healthy whole grains" when they know that such foods are insulin boosters.  Insulin is the major factor which stuffs fatty acids into fat cells and causes them to swell and then prevents them from being released into the blood stream so that they can be used for fuel.  As long as people continue to get a large portion of their calories from bread, pasta, sugar, and corn (which is a grain not a vegetable) they will continue to get fat.
   
   On a side note - we know that obese people have an excessively high number of health problems when compared to healthy people.  How in the world can we expect to be able to float a national healthcare plan where people get fat and very, very sick and then expect everyone else to pick up the tab?  It's crazy and that's why Obamacare won't work.

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6. 61

   nightwork4posted 11 years ago

   yes they do and it's getting to be worse every year. it's a combination of food, laziness and just plain stupidity.

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7. 90

   Georgie Loweryposted 11 years ago

   Yes! Because we eat crappy convenience foods and sit in front of the tv all the time. Speaking for myself, of course.

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8. 61

   Lisa HWposted 11 years ago

   There's no question (statistics-wise) that there is an obesity epidemic, and I think there are two main causes for it:
   
   1.  Stress.  People who are stressed can have overwhelming food cravings because the stress response involves the body's needing fat and/or sugar in order to calm down and get out of the stress response mode.   It's a physical thing, not an emotional thing (like "thinking food equals love").  There's plenty of information out there in reliable sources that explains how food cravings happen as a result of stress.  As far as children go, they live under more stress these days too, for any number of reasons (being expected to deal with grown-up stuff too soon, divorce, issues with the school environment, etc. etc.).
   
   I think, related to the cravings matter, that one thing some people may do (besides just giving into the cravings in order to be able to function well) is try not to give into the cravings; so they'll stay away from the "bad" foods.  As a result, they keep having the cravings and keep eating more and more "not-so-bad" foods in order to feel better.
   
   2.  Too little exercise.  There's no doubt about it that a lot of people don't get very much physical activity these days.

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