Why Americans Keep Getting Fatter

[pedroh 21]

americans don't eat veggies.. even the small portion they can eat from a burger or a sub.. its always no lettuce or tomato, only onions.. lol.. not saying that's gonna make a big difference, but, veggies are not a big part of the US diet, and no, mashed potatoes with gravy is not a veggie ration... neither green beans boiled with fatbacks..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

This might be a contributing factor, but I honestly don't think this is why we're so fat. Regardless of how funded fruits and vegetables are, they're still available to us in abundance. First of all, we're getting less exercise and that's the #1 thing I think we need to fix. But as for food, I think it's all the substitutions for home cooking that make the biggest difference in our culture.

For example, I am not someone who eats fast food (probably once or twice a year), but I buy pre-made salads from the grocery store, pre-made health foods, pre-made x and y. I don't know how to cook very many things.

Then I went to Brazil, a culture where even at its fancier grocery store a majority of the foods are whole foods (not processed or cooked) and there aren't any pre-made healthy options (just junk) so, not knowing how to cook, I ate WAY more junk than I used to. That's how I put on the current, like, 60 pounds that I take off and put on and take off and put on.

Because I always spend a lot of money on food, here in the US I often am willing to spring for healthy pre-fab items, but a lot of Americans aren't. IMO, if we all learned to cook our own food and put a little more effort into it, we'd eat fewer appetite-increasing chemicals and more fruits and vegetables. Hmm.

I don't think the doctor was placing anymore responsibility on the USDA beyond stating that such heavily subsidized crops (corn and soy) are consequently used in just about all processed foods (HFCS and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) now because of their relatively low cost and making the case that there is a connection between our recent obesity epidemic and the introduction of those food additives into our food supply.

One thing worth thinking about - the junk food that we eat today (soda, chips, candy bars) are not the same as they were 20 years ago - so it's really a double whammy. I'd be willing to bet that if HFCS and trans fats were removed from these products, and instead replaced with the original cane sugar and lard, there would be a significant difference in how much excess weight people gain from eating junk food.

Edited June 22, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[pedroh 21]

This might be a contributing factor, but I honestly don't think this is why we're so fat. Regardless of how funded fruits and vegetables are, they're still available to us in abundance. First of all, we're getting less exercise and that's the #1 thing I think we need to fix. But as for food, I think it's all the substitutions for home cooking that make the biggest difference in our culture.

For example, I am not someone who eats fast food (probably once or twice a year), but I buy pre-made salads from the grocery store, pre-made health foods, pre-made x and y. I don't know how to cook very many things.

Then I went to Brazil, a culture where even at its fancier grocery store a majority of the foods are whole foods (not processed or cooked) and there aren't any pre-made healthy options (just junk) so, not knowing how to cook, I ate WAY more junk than I used to. That's how I put on the current, like, 60 pounds that I take off and put on and take off and put on.

Because I always spend a lot of money on food, here in the US I often am willing to spring for healthy pre-fab items, but a lot of Americans aren't. IMO, if we all learned to cook our own food and put a little more effort into it, we'd eat fewer appetite-increasing chemicals and more fruits and vegetables. Hmm.

I don't think the doctor was placing anymore responsibility on the USDA beyond stating that such heavily subsidized crops (corn and soy) are consequently used in just about all processed foods (HFCS and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) now because of their relatively low cost and making the case that there is a connection between our recent obesity epidemic and the introduction of those food additives into our food supply.

One think worth thinking about - the junk food that we eat today (soda, chips, candy bars) are not the same as they were 20 years ago - so it's really a double whammy. I'd be willing to bet that if HFCS and trans fats were removed from these products, and instead replaced with the original cane sugar and lard, there would be a significant difference in how much excess weight people gain from eating junk food.

agree..

[Alex+R 0]

I don't think the doctor was placing anymore responsibility on the USDA beyond stating that such heavily subsidized crops (corn and soy) are consequently used in just about all processed foods (HFCS and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) now because of their relatively low cost and making the case that there is a connection between our recent obesity epidemic and the introduction of those food additives into our food supply.

One thing worth thinking about - the junk food that we eat today (soda, chips, candy bars) are not the same as they were 20 years ago - so it's really a double whammy. I'd be willing to bet that if HFCS and trans fats were removed from these products, and instead replaced with the original cane sugar and lard, there would be a significant difference in how much excess weight people gain from eating junk food.

Well yeah, and if we all cooked more, we wouldn't be using those oils in our own food, would we? I mean, I think having women working has contributed a lot to our obesity epidemic too. It's nobody's "job" anymore to cook. Uh, except chefs.

[natty bumppo 297]

americans don't eat veggies.. even the small portion they can eat from a burger or a sub.. its always no lettuce or tomato, only onions.. lol.. not saying that's gonna make a big difference, but, veggies are not a big part of the US diet, and no, mashed potatoes with gravy is not a veggie ration... neither green beans boiled with fatbacks..

Pedroh ...

I find that moving into a new area is stressful. I admit to gaining a few pounds (kilos) before acclimating and returning back to normal weight.

Now that you are here ... how have your weight transitions been ? Been able to keep your old diet ?

[pedroh 21]

americans don't eat veggies.. even the small portion they can eat from a burger or a sub.. its always no lettuce or tomato, only onions.. lol.. not saying that's gonna make a big difference, but, veggies are not a big part of the US diet, and no, mashed potatoes with gravy is not a veggie ration... neither green beans boiled with fatbacks..

Pedroh ...

I find that moving into a new area is stressful. I admit to gaining a few pounds (kilos) before acclimating and returning back to normal weight.

Now that you are here ... how have your weight transitions been ? Been able to keep your old diet ?

noo. it's a fuckin pain.. I can't drink fresh squeezed orange juice with papaya slices, cuz a papaya costs 3-4 dollars and each orange costs 30 cents!!! dude.. I could buy a 20 pound orange bag in mexico for 2 dollars!! I used to eat tons and tons of fruits.. but here they are really expensive, and specially ugly! have u seen the hawaian pinneaples they sell? the 5 dollar watermelons, the crappy oranges... all I can do, is drink 'low carb' orange juice, organic products or lean cuts.. and well yeah, i eat salad.. but with the 9-5 schedule and my wife working, is really difficult to eat healthy.. in the office, everybody eats #######, and no, salads from fast food places are far from healthy... i eat sandwiches with fullgrain low carbs and lean turkey meat, low sugar yoghurts.. everyhing is just packed with corn syrup.. also the fruits in grocery stores are ugly as hell, i know there are fruit stands in flea markets that specialize in bringing good fruit from latin america, but they are hard to find, specially in a new area..

i've been up and down on my weight.. and last month was kinda stressful for me because of loosing my job and trying to find a new one, but now that everythings almost in control, and i live in a bigger city, i think i will find more healthy stuff, than in a southern small town, where all the veggies are cooked with fatbacks or bacon

Edited June 22, 2007 by pedroh

[Twomoles 8]

Its more about eating traditions, then about food itself. I am trying to buy something from organic section, but sometimes price can scare me away.

Actually you choose, what to eat and how to eat, shouldn't blame anyone about being fat then yourself. - Anything about going out, first thing in plan is dinner. As soon little starve feeling, you could calm with little cereal or apple, here you need real food. And everything here is huge and very big and tremendous big. I don't remember after eating in restaurants in my country I ever took anything home or anyone offering me box. Here I can eat this food 2 days after we ate out. And of course, you become greedy, because you feel you have to get it all in, so you keep extend your stomach and yourself. So I try to control myself, and I am still fine. I eat here mostly same stuff as I ate before, of course, after researches and investigations in different grocery shops. And I try not to keep things around. Its the worse. If there is cookies on table, be sure you will grab some, so better there is apple or nothing. Little starve feeling is not necessary need for big meal, this is I see as mostly problem case here.

[GaryC 7]

I was steadly putting on weight while I was waiting for Luz to get here. You know, eating frozen food and no veggies. But since Luz got here she has been cooking lots of fresh food with lots of veggies. She always makes sure I get some fruit with my lunch at work also. She says I look thinner, I know my pants are no longer tight and I just moved up a notch on my belt. My food budget has doubled but it is well worth it!!

[natty bumppo 297]

Just some thoughts ...

Eat at home … make your lunch and take it to work. I used to live 4 hrs from CLT (much smaller city) so I know the regional diet. By eating at home, I was able to eat much better and enjoy better foods. Watch for seasonal items ... also check out the local “farmers markets” for fruits/ veggies. Don’t forget to talk with co-workers who may have over-producing gardens (you may get lucky). Unfortunately you will need to find alternate foods (fruits) that are not as expensive, as those to which you are accustomed.

Look at the food labels for HFCS. On the ingredient list … the closer to the beginning … the more there is (I know you are aware ... others may not know).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think the doctor was placing anymore responsibility on the USDA beyond stating that such heavily subsidized crops (corn and soy) are consequently used in just about all processed foods (HFCS and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) now because of their relatively low cost and making the case that there is a connection between our recent obesity epidemic and the introduction of those food additives into our food supply.

One thing worth thinking about - the junk food that we eat today (soda, chips, candy bars) are not the same as they were 20 years ago - so it's really a double whammy. I'd be willing to bet that if HFCS and trans fats were removed from these products, and instead replaced with the original cane sugar and lard, there would be a significant difference in how much excess weight people gain from eating junk food.

Well yeah, and if we all cooked more, we wouldn't be using those oils in our own food, would we? I mean, I think having women working has contributed a lot to our obesity epidemic too. It's nobody's "job" anymore to cook. Uh, except chefs.

It depends. For one - not everything we eat needs to be cooked. Take salads for example, I've tried looking for salad dressings at the grocery store that don't contain any trans fats - it's not easy - even in the high end ones. Even all the major brands of ketchup now have HFCS. I've had the most success with Trader Joe's in finding items without either trans fats or HFCS, but they do carry quite a few items that contain one or the other. It's really difficult to avoid it without radically turning away from a lot of foods that have been traditional staples in home prepared meals.

[Caladan 19]

Apropos story from C., working in Texas. It's his first time in Texas.

"There's this restaurant I went to for dinner that Karmon (his co-worker and cousin) are not going to any more."

"Food wasn't good?"

"Food was fine. And really cheap. It was two giant burritos, like the ones that you buy for $6."

"What's the problem?"

"Everyone in there was fat. The smallest man had to be 300lb. The women were all 250lb."

Anyhow. Part of the problem is the HFCS. It's not just that it's a sugar substitute. It's that it's in everything, including foods you wouldn't normally expect. Tomato sauces, breads, whatever, it's not good unless it's sweet. That's got to mess, collectively, with our sense of taste, which will lead to overeating and all that.

But part of it is that we just eat too damn much.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Apropos story from C., working in Texas. It's his first time in Texas.

"There's this restaurant I went to for dinner that Karmon (his co-worker and cousin) are not going to any more."

"Food wasn't good?"

"Food was fine. And really cheap. It was two giant burritos, like the ones that you buy for $6."

"What's the problem?"

"Everyone in there was fat. The smallest man had to be 300lb. The women were all 250lb."

Anyhow. Part of the problem is the HFCS. It's not just that it's a sugar substitute. It's that it's in everything, including foods you wouldn't normally expect. Tomato sauces, breads, whatever, it's not good unless it's sweet. That's got to mess, collectively, with our sense of taste, which will lead to overeating and all that.

But part of it is that we just eat too damn much.

The studies are still ongoing but there is mounting evidence that the huge spike in obesity in this country over the last 20 years coincides with the introduction of HFCS and trans fats into the food supply. TV, video games, junk food, fast food, etc. have all existed before this epidemic happened. Yes, there have always been fat people, but not in the numbers that see today - it's worth looking into causes beyond the traditional ones.

[natty bumppo 297]

But A BIG part of it is that we just eat too damn much.

Edited by me ...

This is so true !

[Twomoles 8]

Yes it was hard to get used that everything is either extremely (for me) salted or sugared, so you don't even get any taste of food itself, just getting thirsty is all.

[natty bumppo 297]

Yes it was hard to get used that everything is either extremely (for me) salted or sugared, so you don't even get any taste of food itself, just getting thirsty is all.

Interesting thought ....

Perspectives on available foods ... the tastes .... nutritional values ... as seen by the non-USC SO will be interesting.

Also ... how did the non-USC SO adjust to the foods here?