What do you think of Obesity in America?
341656
You are correct about the BMI. I don't understand why it's become so important. It doesn't differentiate between men and women, for one thing. And it doesn't take into account body fat percentage.  There is talk that the BMI is going to be supplemented with waist information--that if your BMI is a certain number AND your waist is above a certain number, then you're fat.\nI think it's because the BMI is easy to figure out while body fat percentage is difficult.\nHowever, I don't think vast numbers of "overweight" Americans (via BMI numbers) are actually bodybuilders who are skewing the results. Take a walk in the mall and look at all the fat.
1136226
its interesting that our country has the best organized school sports programs in the world, including middle, high school, and college but we're so fat.  I think the key to our being the fattest country in the world is our love for everything convenient.  The reason other countries are so fit isnt that they eat much differently or work out more, its that they have to walk and take stairs and generally move way more on top of any sports they do.  I live in Switzerland now and I have no choice but to walk to anywhere I need to go in town because even with a car, its way too inconvenient to drive and park and sit in traffic.  This is because the town was built in 1200 AD so they hadn't planned for cars, and also, because space is so highly valued, they build up instead of out, thats one thing I'm always sad to see when i visit my family back in the states, that theres always more buildings covering what used to be farms or empty fields, and they're always one story, those stairs have a duel purpose...
381773
2/3 of the population is overweight or obese.  You tell me if that's a problem.
1083601
When ANYBODY thinks of American food, they think of McDonalds.  That's pretty bad.\nBetween all of the American eating dissorders, obesity, and fast food frenzy...I do agree that Americans are overfed and under nourished.
35052
YES.\n\nObesity is an increasing public healt h risk in America. Being overweight leads to hypertension (high blood pressure) and that increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. It also leads to diabetes which in turn can lead to many bad things.  Having a poor diet will also lead to clogged arteries.\n\nEven loosing 10% of your weight can help reduce your chances of heart disease. Eating well and staying active are the two best ways to avoid heart disease.
554729
I think it is strongly related to society and the way they portray what is a good looking person and what is not the way to look. THere are so many make over shows and weight loss shows that you feel fat regardless of how you actually look. I think overweight is not a good idea because of health reasons, but stick thin is not healthy either. When more men pay attention the the "big" girls ( I use this term loosely) then maybe society will change their views. Back in the 1800's it was popular to be heavier, look at their art. Perhaps we as a society will get back to that acceptance again.
1008238
I think in the US it is all about convience. You are tired after working all day, running short of time, etc and you go to a fast food resturant. That is the biggest problem. Also, think about it, everyone watches way to much TV, don't exercise enough, etc. That is why alot of people in the US are overweight, not just women though.
843379
I wouldn't say that all Americans are huge. However, that tends to be the stereotype. I haven't ate at McDonald's in at least a year, don't see the point in it. I can clearly cook my own food and enjoy doing and its cheaper. My husband and I like to eat a lot of rice and we also love potatoes, we eat a lot of salads. We only eat lean meat, mostly chicken and turkey breast, but some beef. we eat TONS of vegetables and fruits, all in all we eat really healthy. I wouldn't say Americans fault is the quality of food we eat, its the amount and the amount of exercise we get. We have a plentiful life and a lazy one at that, hard to stay healthy in that aspect.
1125323
Obesity is a physiological condition as it describes a person who has excessive fat.  How they got the excess fat can be from a number of causes.  Psychological causes may be depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or an eating disorder.  Physiological causes such as hypythyroidism are also possible.  However, my personal opinion is that the majority of americans suffer from obesity due to behavioral causes.  Behavioral causes include:  inadequate excersize from watching so much television, a high fat, low nutrition diet from excessive intake of convenience (fast) foods, and a general laziness due to our technology-based culture.  My favorite example of this is the woman at my son's elementary school who lives 4 houses from the elementary school but drives her daughter to school every day.  She spends more time in the car than she would walking her daughter the 250 feet or so to the school, and yes, she drops her off and then goes back home.  \n\nBehavioral obesity, IMO, is the problem with the USA.
690919
no in this case america takes the cake, literally. appromixately 60% of americans are overweight. i don't even think any other countries even come close to us.
970834
Not too much benefit but the American people will be\nhealthier because then they will have to get off their fat\nas.....s and work harder or as we say, pull your socks \nup and pull your finger out.
1134334
I have been complaining of that for years!! I totally agree. Unfortunately it is cheaper to buy foods that are unhealthy. And yes, a lot of Americans are overweight because of it. I don't understand why the government isn't stepping in to help somehow. But, like Kevin Trudeau states in his book "Things they don't want you to know about", government agencies themselves are getting rich off people being unhealthy. More people are taking diet pills than ever before. More people are going to the doctor than ever before. More people are buying more prescriptions than ever before. So, it is to their advantage that we stay unhealthy.\n\nThe sad thing is if you have a set amount of income you use toward groceries and need to stretch that money out so your family has something to eat for the week, it is cheaper to buy that bag of chips than it is fruit or other healthy products. Really. What do I tell my child when she is hungry that she can't have anything to eat because the healthy stuff I bought is already gone and we are only a few days into the week? Stupid really. \n\nThis is one issue that really has me steamed, and always has. We should all stand up and  protest it....but I don't think that will happen because too many people are afraid to "buck" the system...
831024
The truth is that it isn't what Americans are eating but the portions of it. Leave the US and go to any other fast food outlet be it in Europe or Asia and you won't find the same giant sizes.
357969
Americans are fat because they are sick in their heads.\nThey have to keep eating like pigs coz that's the only time when they can get away from reality.
632977
Supersize Me.  It's a lot about McDonald's but it really shows how obesity affects your quality of living.
31514
Yes it is. I'm currently writing a thesis on Adult Obesity myself. Obesity is a medical condition that affects not only the US but also a large percentage of the world. Furthermore it is an American epidemic. The percentage of childhood obesity increases annually. Its also a major public health problem because obesity is a well-known and proven risk factor to other diseases - such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, gallbladder disease, gout, stroke, sleep apnoea, depression and osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints. \n\nFor general facts on obesity, I would advise you to consult a nutrionist, a professional or a medical encyclopedia. Cheers!
760139
hmm, thats interesting. when i tihnk of americans i begin to think of a few types of people:\n\n- firstly i tihnk of an American business women going around New York.\n- Also of a large person eating an equally big hot dog in a food court.\n- I think of an exercise addict and a clean-freak who has to have everything perfect in their house.\n- Then of a kind of 30-yr-old guy who makes videos and stuff and it generally really nice.\n- Then I think of George Bush and hope that no one else in America is that annoying.\n\nI know my answer sounds really wierd but those are a few "typical" Americans that i picture in my head.\nHope this helps and what do you think a "typical" British person is like?