NationStates Jolt Archive

Why have we Americans let ourselves get so fat. I'm an American and I keep myself not fat. I mean even France can keep the fat average down and we can't our obesity in adults is like 63% or close to that. And something that I saw the other day that made me sick. I went into a gas station and there was this woman with 2 small children( either one of them not more than 6 or 7) and they went in and she bought both of them a 42 ounce cup of mountain dew, do people not care how bad that is for most adults and its much worse for children.

I'm 5lbs underweight. :(

I am 5/11 and 145 lbs. Trust me, I'm not fat. Of course, if all Americans would play sports like me, work out on a regular basis, and stop eating so much friggin Mickey D's it might help. A lot.

I don't play sports or work out or anything. I eat a lot of Taco Bell and other assorted fast foods... I'm 6'2", 130lbs.

I try to stay thin, or at least non-fat. But seriously, I can't live without Mountain Dew. I drink tons. But then again I don't eat anything like candy bars, cake, or really anything like that. Very rare I eat some, very rare. I go to a gym and I walk about 2 miles a day. But I do agree, Americans are too fat. I saw a guy so fat he was riding around in a little scooter thing.

I don't play sports or work out or anything. I eat a lot of Taco Bell and other assorted fast foods... I'm 6'2", 130lbs.

I do like Taco Bell, I admit.

I feel sorry for americans.....o wait.....no I don't, if you can't keep yourself slim its your own fault.

I feel sorry for americans.....o wait.....no I don't, if you can't keep yourself slim its your own fault.
You silly person. Don't turn this into a flame fest. Yes, it is our fault. I could point out a lot of faults about a lot of things, but I don't.

I'm not saying all Americans are but I live in a small town and 6 out of every 10 people I see are majorly fat. And really how many old people have you seen in mobile scooters I've seen like one but all the rest have been really fat people.

You silly person. Don't turn this into a flame fest. Yes, it is our fault. I could point out a lot of faults about a lot of things, but I don't.



Not trying to flame sorry.

Not trying to flame sorry.
It's okay. :p

I be skinny.


Damn fat people, fucking up our country. And yes i know i insulted a lot of people here, since the majority of people here are old fat people.

People don't bother to make their own food now adays. Blah my moms cooking is better than all that fast food crap. Plus people are sometimes just too lazy to workout, or atleast watch what they eat.

It's due to poor food distribution. People in Africa need food, but because of markets, it is more profitable to sell food to the US, which is very rich, than to poor African countries. Meanwhile, the Africans suffer under capitalism or sometimes state "socialism" and most of the money ends up in the hands of the few, making the majority too poor to be worth marketing food to.

Why have we Americans let ourselves get so fat.

Speak for yourself ... I'm in great shape.

People don't bother to make their own food now adays. Blah my moms cooking is better than all that fast food crap. Plus people are sometimes just too lazy to workout, or atleast watch what they eat.

Damn straight. I'm a hardcore southerner, I love cornbread and momma's sweet tea. Far as I'm concerned, Taco Bell can take its dog meat and feed it to someone who can't get a free meal of fried chicken whenever he wants. Kinda. At least whenever good ol mom decides to make it.

I don't play sports or work out or anything. I eat a lot of Taco Bell and other assorted fast foods... I'm 6'2", 130lbs.

This brings to light another problem in America. That of anorexia. People who are disturbingly skinny are as bad as fat people. It just isn't healthy.

Speak for yourself ... I'm in great shape.

So am I.

Me too. Cross country team bitch. :D

It's due to poor food distribution. People in Africa need food, but because of markets, it is more profitable to sell food to the US, which is very rich, than to poor African countries. Meanwhile, the Africans suffer under capitalism or sometimes state "socialism" and most of the money ends up in the hands of the few, making the majority too poor to be worth marketing food to.

I don't care about Africa because they caused AIDS they shouldn't get no food for punishment.

This brings to light another problem in America. That of anorexia. People who are disturbingly skinny are as bad as fat people. It just isn't healthy.
I'm not anorexic or bulemic or anything. I don't have an eating disorder. I just have a fast metabolism and I don't sleep much (therefore use more energy then someone who would sleep a lot).

it's not just what they eat it's how much of it. i remeber when i came to america, the first time we went into a restaurant i couldn't eat a lunch meal, burger fires and a coke. couldn't fit it all in, people eat a lot and don't even know it.

it's not just what they eat it's how much of it. i remeber when i came to america, the first time we went into a restaurant i couldn't eat a lunch meal, burger fires and a coke. couldn't fit it all in, people eat a lot and don't even know it.

It's because the food industrys give us like triple the cheap slop they do in other countrys they use less with better ingredients. And I will not eat fries much to fattening and I do not drink regular pop, I will only drink diet.

I'm slightly overweight. This summer, I've lost 9lbs. I'm currently 6ft, and 200lbs. I don't cut back on much, save for soda and deserts. Instead, I exercise a helluvalot more. It might actually make me gain weight, muscle mass, that is :D.
But I agree Americans are too fat. It's because of our lifestyle. Most Americans can't expect much exercise from doing daily activities anymore. For example, forklifts have taken the place of manually lifting heavy boxes. We need to learn to alot at least 30 mins. a day to exercise. Most Americans don't realize that, however.

Speak for yourself ... I'm in great shape.

Yes really, do speak for yourself.

And the reason why is:

a) There is an excess of food

b) Urban life requires little to no manual labor

c.) Entertainment via TV or CPU keeps the user immobile and hardly burns calories.

I am 5/11 and 145 lbs. Trust me, I'm not fat. Of course, if all Americans would play sports like me, work out on a regular basis, and stop eating so much friggin Mickey D's it might help. A lot.

Exactly - I just stoped eating McD's like 2 years ago cause there are tons of healthier places to eat now. Plus like you, I excercize a lot and play sports (tennis, skiing, taking up martial arts and track soon)

Hell ya. Rock it out. I am the only friggin jock who can spell his name, and knows the names of the President and Vice-President. If my friends only knew...

To those with the insane metabolism, I officially hate you :p

Yeah, I'm maybe 50 over, I bust my arse just to keep my weight. I know all the home cooked greeseball hole in the walls and I eat at those instead of the fast food places, but when all is said and done, its a lot better than fat free this, diet that, from all the crap they put in that junk

*shudders*

I live on a farm so I get lots of exercise. BUT I have the slowest metobolism so I have to admit I have a little gut.

I don't think what you're saying is making America look bad; I just don't think Americans want to overcome their overindulgence.

I think it's even worse how popular the Atkins diet is. Our country is too lazy to work its fat off, they want to cheat it off instead. Makes me sad, it really does.

Speak for yourself ... I'm in great shape.

Indeed...lifting weights and running does wonders for you. I don't even watch what I eat and I look and feel like a millions bucks....although if I did cut out the shit I'd probably be more ripped.

The amount of obese people is disgusting. Though remember that 63% of adults are overweight, not obese, there is a difference. Society needs to take steps to reduce critical obesity. I don't think we should all be skinny and anorexic, but being obese shortens one's life and makes it harder to live.

I personally try to keep a healthy amount of meat on me and my muscles in decent condition. I eat what I feel like eating and do regular daily exercise, it goes a long way. Anorexics are freaks who are scared of their own body, which is the worst sin one can commit (note that my view of sin is inverted from what most people would call a sin).

I think that technically speaking (going purely by weight/height) I'm overweight... but I'm not sure. I KNOW that I don't look like my weight... I've been told I look around 140-150 lbs.... I look pretty average

I'm 175 lbs and 5'10...

Anyways, I think the reason people are so overweight is the fact that fast food goes unchecked, and people don't seem to care too much about their diet. I would, in part, blame the media in saying that they always show attractive, thin people eating meals with HUGE amounts of fats. The other part is the uncaring attitude of many in this country... and the fact we make special allowances for fat people (well... we're headed there, the airplane seat thing anyone?).

I do one of the things that everyone says is really bad for keeping your weight down... I eat because I'm bored and I eat when I'm like really sad or something... However I bike at least a few miles everyday, sometimes over 10-20 miles (uphill and downhill) during the summer, and during school I walk everywhere... and occasionally play sports with my friends, so that probably keeps me from being grossly overweight.

Though remember that 63% of adults are overweight, not obese, there is a difference. IIRC the Statistic is that 63% are 20 pounds or more over weight, so we're not just talking 5-10 lbs.

I don't play sports or work out or anything. I eat a lot of Taco Bell and other assorted fast foods... I'm 6'2", 130lbs.


I feel your pain, brother...I'm 5'8''...I weigh 120 lbs...121 on a good day. No matter how much I eat, I alway's weigh the same.

I have a friend, she's a girl and is the exact same as me. All our friend's pick on each other for being so skinny...and we pick on each other...it's all good.

Also, I am far from athletic, and eat plenty of what's not good for me! Oh well...it's not like I wanted to live to be 100!

I'm 5lbs underweight. :(
I am 20lbs underweight.

Anyway, the problem is not with people who are fat. The problem is with people who are fat, and also think they are hot, and think they have a right to wear a slim tank top, that completely sinks in their insulation layer. And they get pissed off when you tell them that fatness is unattractive at best.

You Americans are not alone with your problem. The Europeans are with you on this one.

What bugs me is that here in Europe its the taxpayer who picks up the bill for treating fat-related diseases. People who cause themselves to fall ill, or at least put themselves at a greatly increased risk, are treated with tax money. Its the same thing with smokers.

I must admit, I just paid for an operation in a private clinic because the waiting lines for public health care were so long, which makes me a bit more angry.

I am 20lbs underweight.

Cripes .... here, have a sandwich.