Obesity Discussion Forums

[CR4Moose]

How's that for a headline? This morning, a co-worker of mine wrote a story by that very name for CR4: The Engineer's Place for News and Discussion. In the past, I've posted obesity-related topics from CR4 to this forum, and have gotten some great responses. If you'd like to read her story - and learn why the human body has such a hard time with high fructose corn syrup - here's the link.

CR4 - Blog Entry: Why Are Americans So Fat?

CR4Moose

[Obesity Discussion]

The average american consumed 147lbs of high fructose corn syrup a year? That seems VERY high.

[Irving]

very good article CR4 thank you for sharing again!

[dugan51]

We're fat because it's very easy to obtain unlimited quantities of tasty but fattening food. It's fun and satisfying to gorge yourself on whatever you have a craving for.
Every person has to decide for themselves what's more important to them - giving in to their temptations or exercising the willpower it takes to turn down that second bowl of ice cream or better yet, to bypass it totally.

[sass63]

Originally Posted by dugan51

We're fat because it's very easy to obtain unlimited quantities of tasty but fattening food. It's fun and satisfying to gorge yourself on whatever you have a craving for.
Every person has to decide for themselves what's more important to them - giving in to their temptations or exercising the willpower it takes to turn down that second bowl of ice cream or better yet, to bypass it totally.

To start with Welcome to the boards!

Secondly that is a very true statement but it goes beyond that. A lot of it is the dynamics behind what makes it impossible for some of us to not have the second bowl or to have any at all. That is just the surface. To get there we have to dig and find out what make us give in to start with and figure how to stop it.

[Mark_C]

You know, some native Americans (Indians) are genetically used to eat very little, and they can become obese very easily...

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Mark_C

You know, some native Americans (Indians) are genetically used to eat very little, and they can become obese very easily...

I don't know about your area, but where I live they tend to have big problems with alcohol and drugs as well. This can't help.

[sass63]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

I don't know about your area, but where I live they tend to have big problems with alcohol and drugs as well. This can't help.

It seems to me anyone with a problem with Alcohol and or drugs is either over or underweight never a good weight no matter what race they are.

[justme]

Originally Posted by CR4Moose

How's that for a headline? This morning, a co-worker of mine wrote a story by that very name for CR4: The Engineer's Place for News and Discussion. In the past, I've posted obesity-related topics from CR4 to this forum, and have gotten some great responses. If you'd like to read her story - and learn why the human body has such a hard time with high fructose corn syrup - here's the link.

CR4 - Blog Entry: Why Are Americans So Fat?

CR4Moose

Just about everything food is SUPER SIZED
I recently saw an article that was showing the difference between food portions 5o years ago and today. A bagel is almost twice as big today and a muffin is bigger than twice as big these days

We tend to drive EVERYWHERE
Many places we need to go it is not exactly made for riding a bike or walking, it is just too dangerous

Exercise is a BAD word and very misunderstood
“I’m going to get in shape and workout” I have heard that from countless numbers of people and shortly after that they say “That was to hard” or “I just don’t have time” or “ I tried it for a week and nothing happened so I stopped” I am also guilty of the “I don’t have time” excuse

And most food we buy is FULL of fat and sugar.
Just read the labels in the supermarket and you too will understand

Other than that I don’t know

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by YTWCKF

Just about everything food is SUPER SIZED
I recently saw an article that was showing the difference between food portions 5o years ago and today. A bagel is almost twice as big today and a muffin is bigger than twice as big these days

We tend to drive EVERYWHERE
Many places we need to go it is not exactly made for riding a bike or walking, it is just too dangerous

Exercise is a BAD word and very misunderstood
“I’m going to get in shape and workout” I have heard that from countless numbers of people and shortly after that they say “That was to hard” or “I just don’t have time” or “ I tried it for a week and nothing happened so I stopped” I am also guilty of the “I don’t have time” excuse

And most food we buy is FULL of fat and sugar.
Just read the labels in the supermarket and you too will understand

Other than that I don’t know

I agree with that. People don't walk anywhere anymore, and in general are exercising less. And as far as eating, people are eating more, partially because portion sizes are bigger, and partially because it has become more acceptible to be overweight.

[justme]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

I agree with that. People don't walk anywhere anymore, and in general are exercising less. And as far as eating, people are eating more, partially because portion sizes are bigger, and partially because it has become more acceptible to be overweight.

Found it, and it was only 20 years ago.

Portion Distortion
NHLBI-Portion Distortion Quiz

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by YTWCKF

Found it, and it was only 20 years ago.

Portion Distortion
NHLBI-Portion Distortion Quiz

Just seeing them together is nuts! I wonder if those pictures are just resized from original versions or if the actual sizes were taken next to one another.

[justme]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

Just seeing them together is nuts! I wonder if those pictures are just resized from original versions or if the actual sizes were taken next to one another.

I am not sure if they are resized or not, but I was looking at an old coffee cup that was from a diner from about 30 years ago and comparing it to the cups I have in my house and the size I can now get just about anywhere and based on that I would guess that the coffee cup size is not resized and I was looking at an old Muffin tin and it is also incredibly small by comparison to what we buy today but that muffin tin is about 50 years old.

And if you think about fast food places (currently I have a hard time doing that without feeling ill) think about what the size of a small fries was as compared to what it is now. From what I saw the small is what the large use to be and the large is just outrageous. And of course there is always the "Big Gulp" :eek4: that thing is a trough

And go to just about any restaurant and order just about anything and it is generally enough food for at least 2 people.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by YTWCKF

I am not sure if they are resized or not, but I was looking at an old coffee cup that was from a diner from about 30 years ago and comparing it to the cups I have in my house and the size I can now get just about anywhere and based on that I would guess that the coffee cup size is not resized and I was looking at an old Muffin tin and it is also incredibly small by comparison to what we buy today but that muffin tin is about 50 years old.

And if you think about fast food places (currently I have a hard time doing that without feeling ill) think about what the size of a small fries was as compared to what it is now. From what I saw the small is what the large use to be and the large is just outrageous. And of course there is always the "Big Gulp" :eek4: that thing is a trough

And go to just about any restaurant and order just about anything and it is generally enough food for at least 2 people.

I remember when the biggest soft drink offering was a large which was about 24oz at the time. Now that's about a medium and you can get the good ol' extra larges at 44oz at all the fast food joints. The convenience stores of course one up that with 64oz offerings.

I realized how big our coffee cups were here after living in Europe for a while and seeing cups half the size of those in the United States.

[justme]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

I remember when the biggest soft drink offering was a large which was about 24oz at the time. Now that's about a medium and you can get the good ol' extra larges at 44oz at all the fast food joints. The convenience stores of course one up that with 64oz offerings.

I realized how big our coffee cups were here after living in Europe for a while and seeing cups half the size of those in the United States.

I ran into the same thing in Japan.

[Mark_C]

The problem is that you can't get a "small size", it begins with Large :S

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Mark_C

The problem is that you can't get a "small size", it begins with Large :S

I remember there used to be small sizes at McDonalds, now I think you can only get a medium.

[justme]

If you go waaaaaaaaaaay back to when I was a kid I do believe by comparison at places that are fond of Clowns that have the initials RM yesterdays large is today’s small and today’s large is yesterday’s MOGOMBO GIGANTIC size

[Mark_C]

By making only large sized meals, we are dictated to eat that large amount of food - That is why I prefer to eat at home

[athenamor]

Another theroy on why we are so obese today might be the way we dress along with not walking/biking anywhere. If you look at older pictures from the 60's and before, most people wore more clothing, and they walked more. Longer skirts, jackets over blouses, stockings. Men wore undershirts, shirt, jacket, tie, etc.. I know it's hotter now days then back then, but wearing all that in June at 80+ degrees will still make you sweat. Plus when did the glorious A/C come out to homes?

Also going out to eat was a treat, not a normal part of the week or day. It was done at most once a week if that, more then likely once a month or just for special occasions.

Just a thought