Obesity 101

What if it isn't all about money, but about laziness?

Much of the world likes to characterize Americans as being lazy, often with good reason. What if it isn't lack of money for nutritional meals but an acquired laziness to create healthy meals, preferring instead to visit the drive-thru and grab a few yummy burgers and a large chocolate malted?

With the prevalence of junk food in our culture, combined with the cocooning lifestyle, I would think this would be a major cause of obesity.
 

You have a good point Phil. It's just too easy to grab something quick, and it's usually high calorie. Fresh fruit and vegetables are high maintenance---just going to the grocery and keeping stocked up on them regularly is time consuming and too expensive to waste. Frozen vegetables you have to cook. Canned fruit and (some) vegetables are not a bad compromise. I like canned corn. :)
 
imp said:
"Sugar, fat and carbs are just as addictive as nicotine and alcohol"

Do you really mean this?? Look at what you've said: A great part of the human diet consists of those three food groups, right? So, FOOD is in and of itself, Addictive, just like drugs? imp
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Some researched information:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...18/brain-imaging-confirms-food-addiction.aspx
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131217-obesity-sugar-fat-science-diet-carbs/
 

A lot of factors outside the boundaries of individual responsibility have contributed to the national and international problem which is obesity. In the late 1960's the United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs chaired by George McGovern arrived at a very unfortunate conclusion that people were eating much too much fat. These findings were extensively publicized which resulted in nearly fifty years during which fat was demonized and food producers went to great lengths to make everything low fat or no fat. In place of fat food producers substituted carbohydrates. This period coincided with a sharp rise in obesity and offers the best explanation of why the nation's waist line began to expand. Other factors include the fast food industries tactic of increasing their bottom line by super sizing portion size. All told I believe that people who eat the Standard American Diet (SAD) will for the most part be over weight and find it exceedingly difficult to keep the weight they loose by dieting from coming right back.
 
You are right moving from fat to carbohydrates was a factor but the idea that in 1934 senate document said that the soils were mineral deficient and the food will be lacking nutrition. When the body needs nutrition you will eat. When you are nutriment full you will stop. from 1950 to now in 1950 one apple had the same amount of iron as 26 today.
 
Well there are those that are thin and those that are fat and those that are just right. As a Senior I say live and let live. I enjoy everyone I have contact with regardless.
We are on the down side of the hill and I can't worry about how someone looks.
 
SifuPhil said:
Well, a lot of top chefs claim that fat gives a certain "good" flavor to foods; they even advocate adding extra to make it tastier.
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Absolutely. A lot of prepared foods(both in restaurant and factory) are taste-enhanced with (one or more of):
fat, sugar and or salt

Which of course equates to increased sales...and thus increased profits.
 
doat said:
Well there are those that are thin and those that are fat and those that are just right. As a Senior I say live and let live. I enjoy everyone I have contact with regardless.
We are on the down side of the hill and I can't worry about how someone looks.
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It's not about looks, it's about health. Obesity is deadly. It causes type 2 diabetes (of which my beloved aunt died). It complicates heart disease and can contribute to breathing problems and circulation problems, especially in the legs. It's just better to eat less and eat healthier low fat, low carb foods after a cerain age. Looking fit is just a benefit but really fighting obesity should be about longevity and quality of life.
 
tnthomas said:
Absolutely. A lot of prepared foods(both in restaurant and factory) are taste-enhanced with (one or more of):
fat, sugar and or salt

Which of course equates to increased sales...and thus increased profits.
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And therein lies my problem: do I eat for health or for taste? Some say you can do both but rarely do I find a healthy dish that tastes anywhere as sinfully good as my favorite "junk" food ...
 
chic said:
It's not about looks, it's about health. Obesity is deadly. It causes type 2 diabetes (of which my beloved aunt died). It complicates heart disease and can contribute to breathing problems and circulation problems, especially in the legs. It's just better to eat less and eat healthier low fat, low carb foods after a cerain age. Looking fit is just a benefit but really fighting obesity should be about longevity and quality of life.
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Exactly. If I was obese there is no way I'd enjoy the outdoor activities we do - long bike rides, hiking, etc.
 
Just to jump in real quick.. FAT is NOT a bad word in nutrition.. It's necessary. It allows us to absorb vital fat soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. A person totally eliminating fat from their diets will soon suffer malnutrition and vitamin deficiency. I believe the old guidelines were to include healthy fats, such as the polyunsaturated variety as 10% of your calories, but not sure it that has been adjusted.. Carry on... :eek:nthego:
 
FAT can be a very bad word in nutrition if you're eating too much of it or eating the wrong kind of fat. Avocado is good fat. I love Avocado but a half of one small Avocado is enough.

Trans Fat is a bad word. You can take a good fat like Olive oil and heat it to a high temperature and it will turn into a trans fat.
 
chic said:
It's not about looks, it's about health. Obesity is deadly. It causes type 2 diabetes (of which my beloved aunt died). It complicates heart disease and can contribute to breathing problems and circulation problems, especially in the legs. It's just better to eat less and eat healthier low fat, low carb foods after a cerain age. Looking fit is just a benefit but really fighting obesity should be about longevity and quality of life.
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The same thing that caused the diabetes is the same thing that caused the obesity a mineral deficiency. Low carbohydrates has double the life expectancy in animals.
 
Lara said:
FAT can be a very bad word in nutrition if you're eating too much of it or eating the wrong kind of fat. Avocado is good fat. I love Avocado but a half of one small Avocado is enough.

Trans Fat is a bad word. You can take a good fat like Olive oil and heat it to a high temperature and it will turn into a trans fat.
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all very true..... but my point was that fat (good) is essential to proper body function and nutrition. Those seeking to totally eliminate it are running the risk of harming their health.
 
QuickSilver said:
all very true..... but my point was that fat (good) is essential to proper body function and nutrition. Those seeking to totally eliminate it are running the risk of harming their health.
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Yes, fat is very necessary. And some people go overboard on eating very low fat which is bad for your health.
 
chic said:
It's not about looks, it's about health. Obesity is deadly. It causes type 2 diabetes (of which my beloved aunt died). It complicates heart disease and can contribute to breathing problems and circulation problems, especially in the legs. It's just better to eat less and eat healthier low fat, low carb foods after a cerain age. Looking fit is just a benefit but really fighting obesity should be about longevity and quality of life.
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The CDC data estimates that over 35% of this nations health problems and health care costs are Obesity related. Obesity is the single largest reason why health care costs are soaring.
 
Ameriscot said:
Yes, fat is very necessary. And some people go overboard on eating very low fat which is bad for your health.
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Many of the people who are overly concerned about a little fat in their diet, are the same ones who drink large amounts of Diet Soda. An increasing number of studies are showing that the artificial sweeteners contained in these drinks is far more likely to cause weight and health issues than drinking regular soft drinks. ANY drinks or food products that contain these artificial sweeteners....especially Aspartame...should be avoided.
 
Someone posted this on FB.
Not directed at anyone here:
________________

Please don't start
another article on
Obesity in America
until you explain
why Salads are $7
and Burgers are $1
________________

 
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QuickSilver said:
I have not consumed any artificial sweeteners in over a year and have been able to maintain my 35 pound weight loss
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Kudos to you for your achievement! Me, I find everything tastes better when sweet; this being in part due to having lost much of my sense of smell, and therefore, taste. One does not enjoy eating if the act entails little joy of taste. Gosh, I can almost taste, those memories being that strong, the Slavic foods prevalent in Suburban Chicago ( read that, Berwyn). imp
 

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