Why are Americans overweight?
479060
It's a very complex issue if you look at it in detail, but when it comes down to it, it's simply large food portions, too many calories, wrong foods/poor nutrition and lack of physical activity/exercise which are the biggest contributors.
226737
I have always heard its because when they eat 3 meals a day the biggest meal is lunch, so their body burns off more fat throughout the day. whereas Americans usually eat bigger dinners and then go to sleep shortly after.  It actually makes sense.\nOh, yeah and you should be able to go to Oprahs web site and get the link for that book. just type in some key words, Im sure you'll find her.
464478
Because Most Americans have lost respect for their own country and their own bodies.  They don't respect themselves or anyone else.  They are lazy SOBs who sap money from the gov't because they are too lazy to work and then taxes go up so I get less for what I work for.  I worked in places where people use their food stamps for chips and dip and their cash allowances for beer and cigarettes.  IT'S SICK!  Forget their kids...forget why they even were allowed that money in the first place.  DISRESPECT, LAZINESS, AND SELFISHNESS are all the reasons why America is less fit than probably any other country in the world.  \n\n***Sorry...this is a touchy topic for me, if you can't tell...I've got stories and stories about this too...
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.
150784
Despite what you have witnessed in other countries you may be comparing a small sample size relative to the entire population of the country you are visiting.  Americans clearly and statistically have the worst diet, are the most overweight and have the highest percentage of obese people in the world.  Ever been to Texas?\n\nThe progression is clear from decades past especially in young people which are a good representation of future health.\nhttp://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overwght99.htm\n\nSorry my friend, but facts are facts and you can't refute them.
489623
I hear you.  We Americans need to stop consuming so much (food, energy, products) and thinking only about ourselves and start thinking of others.  You're probably right when you say that so many around the world could be fed if we would just stop eating so much and learn to share what we have.\n\nOn the other hand, obesity is not just about eating.  It's about people using food to heal their emotional and psycological pain.  The problem with that is it's so temporary.  Whereas learning why we have the problems we have and how to solve them would be a tremendous turnaround in our society.\n\nIn spite of all the self-help books and talk shows out there, we are getting worse and worse.  We keep trying to heal ourselves, when what we really need to do is connect with the One who can heal us.
1046640
To u. s. a thats why they're all so fat
650744
yes americans are fat and lazy and should have a greater respect for foreigners and their contribution to your society
374642
it causes over weight problem.instant energy that is too much than what is required.so avoid junk food as much as possible
191473
I feel Americans should be upset about any and all discrimination.  Obesity is a proven disease.  Sometimes it is best to look the other way when offended.  Obese people should feel free to enjoy life just as much as anyone.  No, I am not obese and I think it would be a very sad for anyone suffering this disease.
1064294
Technology is the reason.  Before all of these computers, vehicles, and machines, everything was harder to do and as time went by, people had to do less and less physical labor because some machine was always being used to replace it and now that is why more people are overweight because there is less physical labor to do and there are more reasons to sit around and do nothing.
415734
americans should be ashamed for many many more reasons than being fat
1166074
America keeps getting fatter every year. It's all about our surroundings and how easy it is to access everyting with little effort. Genetics of course play a big role. Everyone keeps getting bigger so women see it and I guess think since everyone else is it's ok. When a woman says she's happy with being fat, 99% of the time she is lying straight through her teeth. Some people think they are healthy when they are fat, but that's because they don't get out and try and do "normal" things. Go try and jog a mile slowly, if you get winded within two steps your not healthy.
197846
The diet craze doesn't help anyone because everyone wants to lose weight with the minimum amount of work.  The only way to slim down America is for Americans to get off of thier lazy asses and do some work.
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.
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.
677935
There isn't just one reason.  Overeating, lack of excercise, poor self confidence, eating foods that are fattening, using food as a crutch, genetics or a medical concition (such as a thyroid problem or congestive heart failure).  Also, a lot of medications can cause drastic weight gain.