Why Is The U.S. Fat?

The United States has been getting a lot of press for being an overweight country. A recent study said that 1/3 of Americans were clinically obese, with 30 percent of 18 to 44-year-olds being obese. There are many factors contributing to this trend, including the growing prevalence of fast-food restaurants and super sized portions. Some factors may not be so obvious and you might be surprised at some of the things that sets the stage for the U.S. to be an overweight country; especially when we highly promote low fat, non fat or fat free foods.

Decades ago, being overweight was considered a sign of wealth, because it suggested you had enough money to eat rich foods, dine at the finest restaurants and enjoy lots of leisure time without doing manual labor. The U.S. was considered a country of conspicuous consumption and a land where citizens enjoyed excesses that were not available to much of the world who needed food just to survive. Technology has changed the work force in the U.S. Now there are more sedentary jobs; hard, manual labor is not the norm, resulting in a work force that gets less physical exercise than workers in other countries. Americans crave convenience and eat diets heavy in processed, refined, ready-to-eat foods that contribute to the consumption of a lot of empty calories. This packs on the pounds.

In the U.S., much of what we do for entertainment is centered around food and we eat for pleasure, comfort and to socialize with friends. Ultimately, you could say Americans may be fat because of the food choices they make, but through education and a concentration on wellness, we can make good choices that are healthy and satisfying.