Obesity In the USA Is Rising

[FrancSevin]

Obesity is an entirely preventable disease. And yes, it is a disease rivaling many chronic and life shortening medical conditions. Over 40 % of Americans are obese and another 10%are morbidly so. And, despite readily available knowledge of the condition, that number is rising.

Obesity Is a Chronic Disease | Rethink Obesity®

View a study that depicts change in average weight over time in adults and learn how people with obesity in the US have higher health care costs.

www.rethinkobesity.com

We effectively reduced smoking deaths with widespread educational programs and a public awareness. Cigarette smoking, at least in public places, has become taboo. Isn't it time to make obesity taboo as well?

Let's perhaps start with public media. Sports Illustrated Magazine had an edition which intentionally featured fat women. WTH?

Our bodies are not designed to carry 100 extra pounds into our eighties and nineties. Despite medical efforts and technologies to maintain and extend life the average lifespan of Americans is dwindling. With all we now know, lifespans should be extending.
The medical industry profits from this. As do those entities that manufacture our foods. How is this progress?
How is it good for the nation?

 

[Don Coyote]

They say "One out of five Children in America is hungry".

......... but the other four are obese.

(And hungry).

 

[FrancSevin]

They say "One out of five Children in America is hungry".

......... but the other four are obese.

(And hungry).

Children are always hungry. That's why they are supposed to be properly parented. So, they grow up responsible and with self-discipline. Today Mom is 230 lbs and Dad, if he is still around, is 250 lbs. Both are sitting in front of the TV watching game shows.
Fine examples for the kid to embody.

 

[pirate_girl]

There is a large part of the population between the ages of 35- 60 who are dangerously/ morbidly obese.
In the last year - we had to find another "home" for 3 of our residents.
The one gentleman was nearly 800lbs.
I kid you not.

 

[Melensdad]

There is a large part of the population between the ages of 35- 60 who are dangerously/ morbidly obese.
In the last year - we had to find another "home" for 3 of our residents.
The one gentleman was nearly 800lbs.
I kid you not.

YUP

There is so much good tasting, high calorie, low nutrition food available at low prices that eating real food is actually a hard choice for many people.

Why bother with good nutrition when you can get additive taste for less money???

And for lower income that is seemingly the option. Good taste vs heathy food. And healthy food costs more.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

Part of the issue is also all these fast food places with drive-through windows shoving as much grease as they can out the window. Another issue is pricing of healthy foods. You can go to a drive-through and order a large fry for $1.99 but a small salad is somewhere around $12? If you are on a fixed income, it's kinda hard to convince yourself to spend the extra money on a salad when the fries are cheaper.

 

[KitKat2023]

I think that after WWII was the beginning of our fat journey in the USA. People were needing to gain weight during the hard times, and sugary foods, packaged foods became the rage. All meant to help us to not lose weight. Fast Forward to today, and we haven't gotten off that train. Is the food pyramid from our youth the same as today? I don't think so.

We've been taught and guided into fatness by the government, by advertisers, by our friends, etc...