[industrian]

Won't Social Security run out of money by 2033 as well?

[BobsRevenge]

The fault lies in American ignorance, and this is largely allowed and sanctioned by the government. Breads! Whole wheat! Fruits! Cereal! Oatmeal! Pasta! Fast Food! ...proper dietary guidelines that actually improve someone's health are treated as theories. High fat/protein and low carb is viewed as some kind of alternative method instead of just THE WAY WE SHOULD ALL EAT TO BE HEALTHY. It's maddening. The fact that I had to do so much research to properly understand how to nourish my body and improve my health is crazy...and now I'm labeled as some kind of outlier instead of just knowing the truth. Even crazier.

Most of the world gets by on rice and beans for most of their energy and is fine. I think a high fat/protein diet is great for people with money, but rice, beans, and greens works perfectly fine as long as the person gets any kind of moderate exercise (by that I mean just walking a total of a couple miles walking every day).

I mean, America's big problem is it's food culture is based around convenience and marketability. It isn't based on tradition, economy, and health as much as it should be. There are tons of people that can't cook the most simple things. It's disturbing.

[AdventureRacing]

The scary thing for me is how people basically seem to treat diabetes like it's nothing. I really don't think most people realise how serious a condition it is and that it's almost certainly going to reduce the length and quality of your life (possibly by significant amounts).

The fault lies in American ignorance, and this is largely allowed and sanctioned by the government. Breads! Whole wheat! Fruits! Cereal! Oatmeal! Pasta! Fast Food! ...proper dietary guidelines that actually improve someone's health are treated as theories. High fat/protein and low carb is viewed as some kind of alternative method instead of just THE WAY WE SHOULD ALL EAT TO BE HEALTHY. It's maddening. The fact that I had to do so much research to properly understand how to nourish my body and improve my health is crazy...and now I'm labeled as some kind of outlier instead of just knowing the truth. Even crazier.

I went through the same thing and i'm still learning. It's amazing just how hard it can be to find information and actually work out what is correct. That plus it feels as though the way scoiety is set up it's hard to actually find good food (much easier to find rubbish).

I really feel like proper nutrition and exercise is something kids need to be taught in school (and not just some 30 minute throwaway lesson). It's one of the most important things you will ever learn in life. It's also a great investment for the government as it will cut down costs in the future dramatically.

[andycapps]

Most of the world gets by on rice and beans for most of their energy and is fine. I think a high fat/protein diet is great for people with money, but rice, beans, and greens works perfectly fine as long as the person gets any kind of moderate exercise (by that I mean just walking a total of a couple miles every day. I mean, America's big problem is it's food culture is based around convenience and marketability. It isn't based on tradition, economy, and health as much as it should be. There are tons of people that can't cook the most simple things. It's disturbing.

Most of the world that gets by on rice and beans don't drive everywhere in cars, obsess over finding the closest parking place, and avoid being outdoors like it's the plague, either. When you combine a high carb diet with severe inactivity, obesity obviously happens. It's a cultural problem, but perception in the mass public would change if the government got it's head out of it's ass and stopped recommending that 60-70% of our diet should be carbs.

I totally agree on the last part. We're always in a hurry to do everything and it affects everything. We want trendy diets to get us in shape fast, and when we don't see results in 2 days we stop.

[BobsRevenge]

The scary thing for me is how people basically seem to treat diabetes like it's nothing. I really don't think most people realise how serious a condition it is and that it's almost certainly going to reduce the length and quality of your life (possibly by significant amounts).

It's going to be a massive drain on the economy for everyone who isn't in the pharmaceutical business too. That shit is expensive. I might end up moving to Colorado just to get better deals on health insurance. lol

Entire swaths of America are going to be too expensive to insure. If universal healthcare doesn't go anywhere, rural America is going to keep on getting hammered from all angles.

edit:

Most of the world that gets by on rice and beans don't drive everywhere in cars, obsess over finding the closest parking place, and avoid being outdoors like it's the plague, either. When you combine a high carb diet with severe inactivity, obesity obviously happens. It's a cultural problem, but perception in the mass public would change if the government got it's head out of it's ass and stopped recommending that 60-70% of our diet should be carbs. I totally agree on the last part. We're always in a hurry to do everything and it affects everything. We want trendy diets to get us in shape fast, and when we don't see results in 2 days we stop.

I mean, I agree, but I think low-carbers underestimate the efficacy of higher carb diets. They work fine for most people if, like you say, these people aren't inactive. But most people are severely inactive because they are overweight and can't get away from eating shitty foods. Rice and beans don't tell your body to overeat like Goldfish or Lays do. Quinoa doesn't either. It's more of a matter of being active, having the will to make time and give effort to being healthy, and cooking your own damn meals.

[injurai]

Is the pic clear? On my phone.

BLAME THE SOUTH!!! They are killing us with SOUL FOOD!!

[entrement]

Most of the world that gets by on rice and beans don't drive everywhere in cars, obsess over finding the closest parking place, and avoid being outdoors like it's the plague, either. When you combine a high carb diet with severe inactivity, obesity obviously happens. It's a cultural problem, but perception in the mass public would change if the government got it's head out of it's ass and stopped recommending that 60-70% of our diet should be carbs. I totally agree on the last part. We're always in a hurry to do everything and it affects everything. We want trendy diets to get us in shape fast, and when we don't see results in 2 days we stop.

I have to agree with this.

I've noticed the most walkable cities I've visited have a decently fit population; however, whenever I visit areas that are landlocked to cars, the population tends to be more overweight.

[iamaustrian]

Most of the world that gets by on rice and beans don't drive everywhere in cars, obsess over finding the closest parking place, and avoid being outdoors like it's the plague, either. When you combine a high carb diet with severe inactivity, obesity obviously happens. It's a cultural problem, but perception in the mass public would change if the government got it's head out of it's ass and stopped recommending that 60-70% of our diet should be carbs.

this is so true.
I find it highly disturbing that most obese ppl in the usa are so overweight that they can't walk probably anymore and have to use those goddam trollies which make things even worse.

I see at least 5-10 trolley riders everytime I enter a Walmart or Publix while I have never seen one in my homecountry in my entire life (at least not one with obese people...just with super old folks)

[Baconsaurus Rex]

Are airplane seatbelts strong enough for overweight passengers?

It's nice to hear that I'll remain in my seat when shit goes down, but unfortunately half of the people seated behind me will get propelled forwards. Who could've guessed you'd get your neck broken by an airborne obese man.

[Divvy]

I mean, I agree, but I think low-carbers underestimate the efficacy of higher carb diets. They work fine for most people if, like you say, these people aren't severely inactive. But most people are severely inactive because they are overweight and can't get away from eating shitty foods. Rice and beans don't tell your body to overeat like Goldfish or Lays do. Quinoa doesn't either. It's more of a matter of being active, having the will to make time and give effort to being healthy, and cooking your own damn meals.

I think most low-carbers recognize you can live fine with a diet that is high carb as long as most of those carbs are complex. If you're eating mostly simple carbs, you're probably going to be suffering severe health problems down the line.

[jon bones]

That fuck?

i don't really like fat people

[Seth C]

I was going to say I won't be part of the number but by then I'll be 50 so really, all bets are off.

[Lasthope106]

Isn't the current statistic that 2/3 of the American population is overweight? What will it be in 2030? Walking around town you can't help but notice that most adults, and a large percentage of children are overweight. Adolescents and people in their early twenties tend to be somewhat slim, but it all somehow gets out of control once you hit your mid-twenties. A lot of the people that I went to high school are overweight - can't even imagine how they will look once they hit their 30's.

Diet is important, but the real problem is lack of exercise. After new years my local YMCA was packed with new faces. As of last night, I saw only one or two people that stuck with it. Everyone else quit.

[AdventureRacing]

It's going to be a massive drain on the economy for everyone who isn't in the pharmaceutical business too. That shit is expensive. I might end up moving to Colorado just to get better deals on health insurance. lol Entire swaths of America are going to be too expensive to insure. If universal healthcare doesn't go anywhere, rural America is going to keep on getting hammered from all angles.

I live in Australia but things aren't that different. Between the aging population, increasing obesity and diabetes there are going to be some very interesting times for the health care sector.

Isn't the current statistic that 2/3 of the American population is overweight? What will it be in 2030? Walking around town you can't help but notice that most adults, and a large percentage of children are overweight. Adolescents and people in their early twenties tend to be somewhat slim, but it all somehow gets out of control once you hit your mid-twenties. A lot of the people that I went to high school are overweight - can't even imagine how they will look once they hit their 30's. Diet is important, but the real problem is lack of exercise. After new years my local YMCA was packed with new faces. As of last night, I saw only one or two people that stuck with it. Everyone else quit.

I think the problem is both but i probably lean more towards diet as being the main problem. Most people have terrible diets and have no idea how to cook or what to eat. Even simple changes like getting people to give up on soft drinks would probably make a huge change to this problem.

[andycapps]

I mean, I agree, but I think low-carbers underestimate the efficacy of higher carb diets. They work fine for most people if, like you say, these people aren't inactive. But most people are severely inactive because they are overweight and can't get away from eating shitty foods. Rice and beans don't tell your body to overeat like Goldfish or Lays do. Quinoa doesn't either. It's more of a matter of being active, having the will to make time and give effort to being healthy, and cooking your own damn meals.

Higher carb diets are really only effective for people that are walking miles and miles a day, or cyclists or marathon runners. For most people, if they just fixed their diet and sat on their fat ass and watched Dancing with the Stars every night, they'd at least see their weight gain stop. If they were to start walking some every day or riding a bike to work, they'd see a major difference in their health.

You're right that potato chips and other foods encourage us to eat more. They're salty and savory, or sweet.. Those are things that our body becomes addicted to and it's hard to stop once you start eating them.

[BobsRevenge]

I think most low-carbers recognize you can live fine with a diet that is high carb as long as most of those carbs are complex. If you're eating mostly simple carbs, you're probably going to be suffering severe health problems down the line.

But you can't really say that if you look at a place like Japan, which eats plenty of simple carbs. It's more a matter of having sensible portions, not making combinations that lead to overeating (adding sugars, or combining salt with fried carbs), and eating lots of vegetables.

And, of course, moving around and doing things. Hopefully lifting shit that is heavy a few times a week.

edit:

Higher carb diets are really only effective for people that are walking miles and miles a day, or cyclists or marathon runners. For most people, if they just fixed their diet and sat on their fat ass and watched Dancing with the Stars every night, they'd at least see their weight gain stop. If they were to start walking some every day or riding a bike to work, they'd see a major difference in their health.

Yeah, no doubt. It's far and away the best diet if you're inactive. It could be extremely useful for people who are overweight and aren't yet able to exercise strenuously.

edit: Though I think you're overestimating the amount of activity needed to sustain a higher-carb diet. If you eat sensibly you're fine as long as you walk a decent amount and don't spend all your time sitting on shit.

[george_us]

BMI isn't perfect but I think it applies to the vast majority of the population and helps to indicate a trend. If a man is 6'2" and 225 pounds, he is most likely obese. He might be a bodybuilder/athlete, or he might just be the fittest guy alive. But that's very statistically unlikely. I see very few bodybuilders but I do see a LOT of obese adults.

At 6'2"? I HIGHLY doubt that.

[SolidusDave]

If you can only be sure that the BMI applies to you if you're one extreme or another, then it's useless. According to the BMI I would have to be 167lbs to not be overweight. I nearly laughed out loud when I saw that. It's bullshit. It's not science. And from what I remember it was invented almost 200 years ago by someone who wasn't even a scientist. If you want to use a numerical measurement then use bodyfat percentage.

You neglect that we are talking about BMIs over 30.
Each individual has a different built and muscles mass depending on genes/sports etc.
Pretty easy that one person can falsely slide into the "overweight" category etc. No arguing there.

But for being included in the 42% number, you need a BMI over 30.
A 5'11'' guy weighing 250 lbs would be e.g. a 34. I don't see how this guy wouldn't be considered "fat" by any standard unless he happened to be long-time bodybuilder (not even other sports).
Applied to the whole population gives a good-enough estimate considering the false positives are so rare. Of course, body-fat measurements would be better.

[LegendofJoe]

I've had type I diabetes since I was five years old, and the costs of my medication have gone up every year since I began paying for it. I place most of the blame for that on the obesity epidemic and the subsequent rise in type II diabetes. As a result I fucking loathe people who become diabetic as a result of their own laziness. A lot of these people also get government assistance to pay for their glucose strips and pills, meanwhile I am forced to pay an outrageous premium and co-pay everytime I go to the pharmacy. A four month supply of reservoirs and infusion sets for my insulin pump costs $1200 dollars, of which I pay $350 out of pocket. This is on top of the $5000 dollars I pay in annual premiums, and the other $700 or so I spend on glucose strips and insulin.

So in short my message is LOSE SOME DAMN WEIGHT YOU LAZY SACKS OF CRAP.

[andycapps]

Yeah, no doubt. It's far and away the best diet if you're inactive. It could be extremely useful for people who are overweight and aren't yet able to exercise strenuously. edit: Though I think you're overestimating the amount of activity needed to sustain a higher-carb diet. If you eat sensibly you're fine as long as you walk a decent amount and don't spend all your time sitting on shit.

I probably am overestimating the amount of activity needed for that, but that's mostly because I know how lazy most people are. The idea of breaking a sweat doing physical activity is repulsive for most and is something that they avoid. Maybe we need to make sweating cool! Haha

It's also like you said, that the carbs that most people are eating are not complex carbs and aren't good for them.

[KillerMan91]

People should start to eat like asians. After I spent two weeks in Japan last summer I don't wonder anymore why obesity rates are so much lower there. It's so much easier to find great tasting healthy food. Damn I miss Japanese food.

[jon bones]

People should start to eat like asians. After I spent two weeks in Japan last summer I don't wonder anymore why obesity rates are so much lower there. It's so much easier to find great tasting healthy food. Damn I miss Japanese food.

eating a ton of white rice isn't exactly ideal

[MjFrancis]

From Brad Pilon's book Eat Stop Eat:

1) Prolonged caloric restriction is the only proven nutritional method of weight loss and 2) Human beings (nutritionally speaking) can only be in one of the following states: fed or fasted.

The simplicity of losing weight here is brilliant, and no matter what diet or lifestyle you follow it will fall in line with these truths to help you lose weight. Whether you go low-carb, primal, paleo, South Beach, Atkins, low-fat, IF, ADF or whatever-the-fuck-have you, every one of them will inevitably fall in line with getting you to eat less than your body demands.

The tricky part is diet adherence. The best diet is the one that's followed, or more specifically, is easier to follow.

It will involve a lifestyle change, often times a drastic one. If the culture cultivates sloth and gluttony the results will be predictable, and getting trapped into an unhealthy way of life is easy in most modern societies. Rather than get into the numerous sources of this in this post, discussion on where to change the culture and what vehicle to use to drive change could be of great value. If the two tenants in Brad Pilon's book are paid heed you'll understand there's more than one way to skin a cat. Some are better than others.

And before any keyboard warrior flies off the handle and misinterprets my post, I'll preemptively remind you I wrote weight loss is simple, not easy.

[RDreamer]

I really feel like proper nutrition and exercise is something kids need to be taught in school (and not just some 30 minute throwaway lesson). It's one of the most important things you will ever learn in life. It's also a great investment for the government as it will cut down costs in the future dramatically.

Seriously, schools should really teach this sort of stuff. Good nutrition should practically be a whole class, and then it really needs to be mandatory to also learn to cook some of those good nutritious meals. That's the problem is that no one knows how to cook, so fast food and other shitty food gets eaten more.

[Attackthebase]

No! I'll have to look at more fat people now. This brings a lot of sadness to someone who refuses to date fat women. :-(

Well, at least, the more we know, the better the chance we have to prevent this from occurring for future generations.

[CharlieDigital]

Well, I do agree with you, but making food that has HFCS in it more expensive should discourage at least some small percentage of people from eating or using it. Plus, its just stupid policy. Why are we subsidizing something that makes us fat asses? Plus, when we go to a single payer(please lord) that shitty food tax should help pay for the medical costs of those people who eat that crap and get fat

Well it's things like corn subsidies that allow Monsanto to have their hands in almost everything in a typical supermarket. It also allows them to have very strong lobbying power in government.

To a degree, "subsidies" (see Federal Crop Insurance) for food crops are a necessity as it helps stabilize food prices in general, provides a certain level of protection for farmers, and provides a way to protect American consumers from sudden spikes in food prices due to volatility in crop yield (i.e. drought, infection, insect damage, etc.)

It is a necessary evil. Take the bailout of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, any number of other financial firms, Greece, etc. They are a necessary evil because on the other side of those losing bets are people. Retirement funds. College funds. Investment funds. People are on the other side of those bets and if you let the institution fail, you suddenly make poor millions of investors who thought they were buying into investment grade securities.

In my mind, subsidies on certain core crops are crucial to maintaining social stability by ensuring that the price of food is largely stable (obviously still subject to market forces of supply and demand).

Blaming "subsidies" is a ridiculous and all-too-easy cop-out. Take away the subsidies and fat people are still going to be fat until you help empower them change their lifestyle.

[Rei_Toei]

Overweight fighter pilots piloting drones. No there's a sad future.

[claviertekky]

Not surprised.

Food threads (e.g. candy, chips) on GAF tell a lot.

eating a ton of white rice isn't exactly ideal

You're right. The rice diet actually doesn't work well for a 9-5 schedule nor does eating ramen noodles for lunch every day.

If you follow Japan's model though, you're not supposed to eat a lot.

I think the problem is how much people eat. People decades ago did not eat as much as people do today in terms of portions.

[Shambles]

Overweight fighter pilots piloting drones. No there's a sad future.

Well when you don't have to squeeze into a G-suit what's the point of keeping fit anymore?

[scy]

Glad to be working towards not being part of that problem.

It's maddening. The fact that I had to do so much research to properly understand how to nourish my body and improve my health is crazy...and now I'm labeled as some kind of outlier instead of just knowing the truth. Even crazier.

Knowing the truth about anything tends to put you as an outlier :x

[PumpkinPie]

42%, is that a reduction?

BOOM!

[claviertekky]

Anyone notice clothing sizes like shirts and shoes have been becoming larger over the past years despite the same size numbers?

Kind of annoying.

[coldvein]

Hope you like thick women. ;D

i do.

USA USA USA

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Won't Social Security run out of money by 2033 as well?

Really?

[Dax01]

What's so startling to me is that for me is that it's so hard to gain weight. Really. I don't understand how everyone else does it. I have the hardest time doing it (I'm underweight and have been trying to gain ten or so pounds for the past year). I eat three meals a day and plenty of stuff on the side.

I'm only 20, so I guess that factors into it, but...

[BobLoblaw]

Man, my premiums better not be going up because some dumbass refuses to eat healthier or exercise. Insurance companies need to start discriminating or something. Hit them in their wallet and see if that makes a difference.

[LegendofJoe]

Anyone notice clothing sizes like shirts and shoes have been becoming larger over the past years despite the same size numbers? Kind of annoying.

Yep, most medium sized shirts used to fit me just fine. Now I have to actually try t-shirts on before I buy them because sometimes a medium is too big.

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Yep, most medium sized shirts used to fit me just fine. Now I have to actually try t-shirts on before I buy them because sometimes a medium is too big.

At Sports Authority, I've had customers coming in asking for XXXLs. Kinda pathetic and disgusting.

[Zefah]

Yep, most medium sized shirts used to fit me just fine. Now I have to actually try t-shirts on before I buy them because sometimes a medium is too big.

Medium is fucking massive in most locations. Since I dropped 80 pounds over the last year, I now can only buy small or x-small. It's crazy how even some items labeled small are still pretty damn big.

I feel like I need to start shopping in the kids section these days.

[LegendofJoe]

Medium is fucking massive in most locations. Since I dropped 80 pounds over the last year, I now can only buy small or x-small. It's crazy how even some items labeled small are still pretty damn big. I feel like I need to start shopping in the kids section these days.

Haha, I know the feeling. The clothing size nomenclature should be changed to something like this:

Small
Medium
Large
Overwight
Obese
Morbidly Obese

[claviertekky]

I feel like I need to start shopping in the kids section these days.

Join the club.

[MjFrancis]

At Sports Authority, I've had customers coming in asking for XXXLs. Kinda pathetic and disgusting.

While shopping at the Sports Authority isn't the same as going to a gym, I'm betting attendance there is at least a precursor for starting a fitness regimen in an attempt to get in shape. I'd be more than happy to help them find something to fit them, even if they are XXXXXL and are looking for a shirt to soak up the sweat when they start walking.

[Magik]

While I may not be in America, but here in Canada, specifically Toronto, the obesity problem is getting worse and worse as well.

I work at a big grocery retailer and the amount of obese people I see everyday is unreal. A few years ago, you would see a decent amount of obese people, mainly older adults, but nowadays, I"m seeing more and more young children, young adults coming in looking like they are bloated or on the verge of going into labor.

It also doesn't help that grocery retailers are pushing out so much crap food to the populace. When junk food is on sale, good lord it gets crazy with people filling up their carts with it.

In regards to clothing, the sizing is really stupid nowadays. One stores Medium is another stores large or beyond.

Haha, I know the feeling. The clothing size nomenclature should be changed to something like this: Small Medium Large Overwight Obese Morbidly Obese

I'd add "Mini-van" and "Escalade" to that list with the way things are going.

[planar1280]

in other words 42% will die quicker, US lifespan will get lower.

[SeanR1221]

Not eating enough cheese and peanut butter.

I know you're trying to be snarky, but you're actually right.

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Could be. Or they just like to wear Nike/UA/NB etc just because of it feels comfortable.

[bobbytkc]

eating a ton of white rice isn't exactly ideal

The Japanese have the longest average lifespan in the world eating rice every day.

Carbs, simple or not, do not make you fat nor unhealthy. It is how much you eat, plain and simple.

[LegendofJoe]

Could be. Or they just like to wear Nike/UA/NB etc just because of it feels comfortable.

Definitely this, I change into gym shorts and a t-shirt the moment I get home from work. A nice pair of shorts and a snug T are about as comfortable as clothing gets.

[Keikoku]

Fatmerica indeed. Lol at american food.

[Mammoth Jones]

How DARE that Michelle Obama tell kids to get outside and play in order to get physically active and lose weight!??!?!?!?!