[primroselane]

If people keep gaining weight at the current rate, fat will be the norm by 2015, with 75 percent of U.S. adults overweight and 41 percent obese.

A team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore examined 20 studies published in journals and looked at national surveys of weight and behavior for their analysis, published in the journal Epidemiologic Reviews.

“Obesity is a public health crisis. If the rate of obesity and overweight continues at this pace, by 2015, 75 percent of adults and nearly 24 percent of U.S. children and adolescents will be overweight or obese,” Dr. Youfa Wang, who led the study.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19845784/

"Oh Lord, if You can't me me skinny..."

 

[Ravenlost]

This started back in the early '80's when High Fructose Corn Syrup was added to practically everything in the grocery store.

 

[dare2b]

Yep, it's a giant (no pun intended) health care crisis, now and moreso in the future: heart attacks, diabetes, strokes. I agree that high fructose corn syrup is a major factor, not to mention super sizing everything at the fast food places. Gawd, I keep seeing triple patty double cheese bacon burgers advertised on tv, as if THAT will help... and they tie it to self image, too, as in Are You Man Enough, etc. Ack.

 

[A'sta at Hofstead]

Remember Mickey Dees when you were younger? The meal was really small.... now, HUGE! We are becoming a nation of fatties.

 

[bob clark]

I love big greesy food. Macdonalds dollar menu is the best :1pig:

 

[michiganfarmer]

It sure is a mess. Im 80lbs of the american obesity problem.

See?

 

[RandB]

Has anyone seen that TV show where Shaq O'Neill is working with 6 school kids to get them to lose weight? It is eye opening. First, the lack of ambition in the kids themselves, they are provided a personal trainer and a nutrition counselor for them and their families, but some of them are very resistant to the exercise, and food changes. Then Shaq and co. are also trying to get the school to allot more time for Phys. Ed., and make changes in the cafeteria toward healthy food. The school officials have a million reasons why these things can't be done. The goal is to have the kids able to pass a physical fitness test from the President's council on fitness, or some such gov't. thing. After 4 months, the kids were not even close to being able to pass, and it doesn't seem like an extreme test which only great athletes can pass. Very sad for the generation growing up now.

 

[Selena]

Yet corporations whine and complain when it is suggested we wire farmers markets etc. so people can use their link (food stamp/WIC) cards to buy GOOD food. And the money allocated to help those in need goes farther buying imported fake mac-n-cheese than a pound of hamburger to make sloppy joes. Look at the bright side, our country will have plenty of company. China and India are getting fat too. Too easy to buy your kids electronics so you don't have to parent them and to pick up/go to fa(s)t food to shut the kids up. Some adults aren't much better, I can hardly stand to go near a buffet and it is getting to the point I can hardly handle being in a restaraunt. Watching overweight/obese people shovel in too much food, healthly or not, kills my appetite. Hmmm, might be a new diet idea.

 

[Tricky Grama]

Yep, it's a giant (no pun intended) health care crisis, now and moreso in the future: heart attacks, diabetes, strokes. I agree that high fructose corn syrup is a major factor, not to mention super sizing everything at the fast food places. Gawd, I keep seeing triple patty double cheese bacon burgers advertised on tv, as if THAT will help... and they tie it to self image, too, as in Are You Man Enough, etc. Ack.

Yep, there's mostly the problem.

Do we go all the way back to no Mom at home to cook for kids/family? No one to supervise outdoor play?

Adults that only eat fast food?

I'm struggling to take off 15 lbs. Its hard when you see HUGE people every day & you think, "wow-I'm no where near that fat!"

Patty

 

[sidepasser]

Do you ever see fat people advertising McDonald's? In their ads I mean? Most of the people on their ads are not even "normal" sized if you consider they say the camera puts ten lbs. on a person..

so wonder what would happen if Mr. and Mrs. 75-100 lbs. overweight were shown "biggie sizing" their fries...

uhm yeah,,I'd want to eat there too...

 

[Oggie]

No one has realized what effect this problem will have on the Earth.

Americans are gaining weight at an increasingly rapid rate. At the same time there are areas of Africa and Asia where people are under-nourished or starving.

The unprecedented shift in weigh on the planet may very well be causing Earth to tilt on its axis.

Forget greenhouse gasses, volcanoes or the shortening of women's skirts; global warming is being caused by Big Macs, beer and cheese fries. Ass the polar cap shifts toward the sun, it will melt and flood coastal areas. The only hope is that the rising water will cool the beach sand that seems to be so hot on bare feet (Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!). Perhaps that will be enough to offset the planet's doom.

If not, we're toast.


Hey! Can I get some more butter for my toast over here?

 

[Burbsteader]

Another factor that most don't consider is that most of our food and beverages are Fluoridated as are many medications.
See, over 75% of the US is fluoridated and most of the food manufacturing plants are fluoridated cities. Fluoride is not required to be listed on any product unless the manufacturing plant adds it (like 'Nursery Water').

Fluoride was used for years in thyroid medication because it supresses the thyroid. The average American consumes more Fluoride daily than was actually prescribed to supress the thyroid. Because the thyroid function is altered, there are other symptoms such as lethargy, apathy and complacency. (basically lazy, fatter people who can't be bothered to care)

Combine that with lack of family, lack of exercise and lack of a balance diet and it is no wonder the US is supersizing.

 

[dare2b]

I myself have been struggling for about a year to lose 25lb. And I gotta say I have to fight the urge to have a bacon cheeseburger. With fries. And a Dr. Pepper. With m&ms for dessert. Yum. Why do they make us eat that stuff anyway????

 

[Burbsteader]

LOL dare2b.
I'm a little supersized myself. Grew up with bad habits and it is a struggle to overcome those cravings. I was almost 200 lbs. (I'm about 5'4") got down to about 140 and have had up and down weight since then. Right now I'm about 155 or so.

Ever watch Supersize me? Or read Fast Food Nation? I have and yet I still find myself craving fast food like mad.

 

[ldc]

RandB, In the 60's and 70's, in public schools on the East coast we all had to pass the President's Fitness Program, or we couldn't go on to the next grade. We did sit-ups, pull-ups on a chinning bar, ran around the BIG schoolyard a few times, etc. As far as I know, Everyone PASSES...it just took a few tries. We did not look forward to it, but we all complied. We also all rode bikes to school, or walked. There was very limited bussing for sending districts. Very few parents drove kids to school. Of course, we did have sidewalks! Where I live now, there aren't any! ldc

 

[FUNKY PIONEER]

LOL dare2b.
I'm a little supersized myself. Grew up with bad habits and it is a struggle to overcome those cravings. I was almost 200 lbs. (I'm about 5'4") got down to about 140 and have had up and down weight since then. Right now I'm about 155 or so.

Ever watch Supersize me? Or read Fast Food Nation? I have and yet I still find myself craving fast food like mad.

those lovely cravings are due to MSG which is addictive and added to almost EVERY pre-packed food now days.

 

[primroselane]

I agree with everyone who says it is someone else's fault that I am overweight. It is not fair to hold me accountable for my weight.

 

[Wildwood Flower]

I agree with everyone who says it is someone else's fault that I am overweight. It is not fair to hold me accountable for my weight.

I agree. It's not my fault. It's something in the water, or they're adding something to the food.

This is not a good subject for me right now. I'm on my 4th day of going off of sugar. That's a real eye opener. Sweats. Fever. Cranky.

 

[stickinthemud]

Fatty food is only half the problem. The other half is lack of exercise.
Driving everywhere. Hours in front of TV & computer.
Automobiles and Television are two of the best, and worst inventions ever.

 

[stonykill]

Guess I'm blessed. 40, 6 feet tall, 170 lbs. Wait, not blessed, just work hard and take care of myself. Hard work will burn the calories. At one point I was 185 lbs, gave up beer, and right back down to 170