Hey Kaiser, where'd you get this info? It's pretty scary!
As we all know, Americans don't seem to be using any self control when it comes to diet. I'll be the 1st to admit that I don't always eat right quality-wise. But, I do a decent job of controling my portions.
An interesting thing to see would be a comparison of which people are overweight because of a medical condition or specifically for sports, and which people are overweight due to lack of self control. This is most likely not measureable, but I think the vast majority of obese folks could reverse the weight gaining process if they ate right and walked a mile or 2 every night.
I think the number of people who are overweight for medical reasons is very small. Otherwise there would be lots of fat people everywhere, and not just in countries where there is an abundance of bad-for-you foods.
Originally posted by jruck37: As we all know, Americans don't seem to be using any self control when it comes to diet.
I think this is true by and large, but people aren't helped by our country's super-abundance of fast food restaurants, processed foods and ever-increasing portion sizes.
Even worse is that people might not have any outside sources informing them of what makes a reasonable diet and how important it is to maintain one. Can you think of anyone in business or government who is out there every day making the public aware of what a reasonable diet is?
When I was a kid, I saw little commercials that said things like "eat your veggies," "don't smoke," "have a good breakfast." Maybe those kinds of commercials still play today, but I haven't seen any. (Some Saturday mornings, I watch a little Disney channel with my 2-yr-old.)
My point is just that many people need to be reminded and educated on self-control, when it comes to diet. Our society is not one that naturally leads to healthy diets.
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If warped values are the price of a vicarious thrill, so be it! - Calvin and Hobbes
The more I hear about this situation, the more I feel it is the individual's fault and responsibility. Recently, many fast food restaurants have added healthier menu items. Also, at the same time, they have added even larger sandwiches. According to information I have heard, people are eating the large sandwiches 100 to 1. Companies will sell what people will consume, and if people still continue to make the choice to eat unhealthy meals, obesity will continue to rise.
BU
Originally posted by Bulking Up: Companies will sell what people will consume, and if people still continue to make the choice to eat unhealthy meals, obesity will continue to rise.
I am not saying I disagree with you, but I hate this argument. Companies spend a lot of money to help leverage the choices people make. Most people don't have all of the information, discipline and foresight needed to look beyond the products that are being marketed right up close in their faces 15 times a day.
Until I started reading nutrition labels and educating myself on what my body needs, I had no idea how ignorant and naive I had been. Mea culpa, to be sure, but it doesn't change the fact that I had basically been dealing with a con artist.
Some grifts aren't illegal, but I don't know any that are moral.
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If warped values are the price of a vicarious thrill, so be it! - Calvin and Hobbes
I do agree that companies use unfair marketing strategies to push unhealthy food in our faces. It is hard to ignore that kind of advertising, but there is a fine line between people being bamboozled into eating unhealthy foods and people who just don't give a damn about eating healthy. I am certain that there are many people who don't know how to properly read nutrition labels. However, there are many other people that choose to eat at McDonald's six times a week. There is no way that these people can honestly say that they thought eating at McDonald's this often is not healthy. I do think responsibility is key. People need to be responsible about their food choices, and companies need to market responsibly as well.
I do think that the one area in which food manufacturers are truly dispicable is in their advertising to children. This has got to stop. I am a high school teacher, and the school is overrun with Pepsi machines and snack cakes. This food is available to students all day long. It sickens me to see kids walking down the hall with a 20 oz. Mountain Dew and a Nutty Bar.......at 7:30 in the morning. That is the breakfast consumed by many kids. As a teacher, it is wonderful to see students grow up, but it is very disheartening to see them growing out as well.
BU
I'll add a personal note to this. I have a brother who up until about a year ago was brand manager for Hungry Man. He was hired to help turn the then ailing brand around. The first thing he did was improve the quality of the meat and vegtables and lower the overall sodium levels thinking that'll bring 'em back.
Guess what? The test launch of the "improved" version sparked a rash of customer complaints and sales in the test areas suffered rapidly. As a result he scraped that idea and went and did his homework. He spent many afternoons in Applebees, Chilis and a like just watching what men ate. What he found was as you might predict. Men ate the meat and potatoes, rarely ate the vegtables and basically never ordered dessert.
As a result of his research he introduced the Hungry Man XXL (have you seen it?). It has more meat and potatoes and no vegtables or dessert. Now guess what happened? Sales went through the roof!
So you can blame my brother in part for the fattening of America but who is really responsible?
I am a big proponent of personal responsibility, but in today's feel-good society, people do whatever the hell they feel like doing. Then they either sue, have somebody else (namely the government) take care of them when they get sick, or blame their parents. Frankly it sickens me and really gets me going. Can't wait for my political science class today.
UpNorth- Who could blame your brother? He's runnig a business and that goal is to make money. As long as his personal ethics aren't bothered, more power to him. Actually, I sympathize. Have you ever watched some of these people eat while you're out?! And alot of times they have their children with them. I've seen a family of six just about destroy an Old Country Buffet once.
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“Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, 'Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapeños.'"
it's just businesses giving in to what the masses want, unfortunately. I made the choice to take better care of myself a few years ago, and have really seen the benefits of it. My kids have even followed suit (albeit to a lesser degree, but they're trying). My wife on the other hand constantly struggles withher weight, but has no will power or resistance to the crap most places serve.
Maybe we should make crack legal. "Give the people what they want!" A little government regulation may be needed to head this off. Some examples where this has helped force other industries to be more socially conscience:
* Auto-industry..making manufacturers have certain gas milage and pollution controls.
* Tobacco..Lower tart and nicotine, also age restrictions.
* Alcohol..Limits on advertising and age restrictions.
Now I'm not that big a proponent of government regulation except in cases where industries are not able to self regulate themselves for the good of consumers.
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
I would have to agree with ODB on this one. Obviously, the food industry is going to continue to sell products that make them money. Obviously, Americans are going to eat whatever the hell they want, regardless of the consequences. Maybe it is time that the government steps in to regulate, not just hand out useless recommendations.
BU
I don't really want the government regulating food... I don't need Big Brother deciding what's healthy for me to eat. Most people KNOW that junk food is bad for them, that if they eat an entire Bloomin' Onion or plate of Cheese Fries for an appetizer, have a heavy dinner, and then pound down a massive dessert, they are going to get fat! I also think most people have a fairly good grasp on what's healthy to eat and what's not -- they just don't care that much about their diets and choose the pleasure of food over well-being. The information is out there if you care or want it.
I understand that we are constantly tempted by advertisements, but there would be more advertisements for healthier foods if that's what people wanted and were buying. Instead, people want their quick miracle fixes -- and that's what they buy and that's what gets advertised.
I understand that we are constantly tempted by advertisements, but there would be more advertisements for healthier foods if that's what people wanted and were buying
OK, but advertisements exist mainly to persuade you, to make you want to buy what's being sold.
Perhaps people would want healthier foods and buy them if that's what advertisers concentrated on. Can you imagine THAT world?
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If warped values are the price of a vicarious thrill, so be it! - Calvin and Hobbes
It seems like we are getting into a "What came first, the chicken or the egg" type of discussion. It really is a double-edged sword. Food companies will produce what we eat. We eat what is marketed to us. What is the answer? Is there an answer?
BU
It is chicken and egg to an extent, although I believe that the market provides what consumers want, and the food industry pushes products in advertising that will sell. If consumers demanded healthier convenience foods, they would be produced, advertised, and available. Otherwise, we're assuming that the food industry is compelled to market junk more than healthier alternatives for some reason other than ensuring they can sell their products. Why would they do that?? Junk foods may be cheaper to produce, thereby providing bigger profit margins, but I still think consumer preferences drive this (for the most part).
This has been an interesting discussion. I think it started as a question of who should get the most blame for America's growing waistline:
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(1) A populace that is generally apathetic, ignorant, and undisciplined about healthy eating habits
(2) Corporate food manufacturers, who make, market, advertise, distribute and promote food products that are too big and loaded with surplus calories, fats, chemicals, carbs, cholesterol, and so on</font>
While we all seem to see both camps as deserving blame, some folks point the first finger at people, others point it at the companies.
I actually agree with those who say that customer preferences and buying/eating habits ultimately drive what's offered in the market. On the other hand, corporations often introduce new or upgraded products, which not only respond to existing preferences but exploit them and take them in new directions.
My point all along has been that as an individual, making healthy eating decisions every day is not easy in the American marketplace. It's not easy because the marketplace offers a lot of junk. Plus, with all of the junk companies and products in competition, the general message to consumers is that the processed, manufactured food is all there is in the marketplace.
What bothers me is that there are very few voices in government, media, or corporate America challenging that message. What we get instead are "fixes" to the message's inevitable result: a population of increasing numbers of overweight people who have unhealthy lifestyles.
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If warped values are the price of a vicarious thrill, so be it! - Calvin and Hobbes
I tend to point to big businesses like McDonalds and Burger King for most of the problem. I highly recommend two sources for more information on why:
"Super Size Me" - the movie
"Fast Food Nation" - who's authors name eludes me now.
"Fast Food Nation" is particularly interesting as it delves into the background of the food process. Not just meat but the potatos and flavor additives. It is scary how they manipulate taste to make this stuff almost addictive. The American pulic doesn't stand a chance when this is coupled with the incredible amount of marketing. One of the worst things is how they market to kids to gain brand allegiance for life.
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
ODB, I do agree about the marketing to kids. If there is an area where some regulation of advertising would be reasonable (in my opinion), that's it. Similar to the regulations that have been instituted on the tobacco industry regarding marketing to children. Also, I support initiative s to clean up the foods served in schools, eliminate junk from school vending machines, require more physical education, etc.
I can't agree that Americans are led to believe that junky processed foods are all that's available for them to eat. Even McDonald's and other fast food places offer healthier alternatives these days, and I imagine all but the most ignorant out there would realize that a salad with broiled chicken is healthier than a Big Mac. Also, grocery stores certainly market plenty of bad foods, but there are also plenty of healthy things to eat that are as easy to spot on the aisles as the crap. How hard is it to roll your grocery cart over to the produce aisle, or pick up some frozen veggies instead of frozen pizza and chicken nuggets, or choose leaner meats instead of the fattiest hamburger?? It's all right there in front of them.
Also, I think we have to keep in mind that a lot of people don't mind being fat or obese that much. They prefer to enjoy their unhealthy foods versus being slim and trim. That's their choice - just because we have decided to go down a different path doesn't give us the right to impose our lifestyles and food choices on other adults. In many ways, adopting a healthy lifestyle is a religious experience, but I don't think we should become nutrition and fitness fundie whackos.
My wife and I enjoy cooking and recently started going to the local farmers market for produce. The food tastes better and it's actually cheaper but it's not convenient. Americans want convenience. It is way easier to get a frozen pizza or dinner than to put the proper ingredients together. It amazes me how many people I know who's competience in cooking extends only to mac & cheese or hot dogs. Of course the easiest is to just go out where if you want to save money you go to fast food. Although there are choices like salads and juice drinks we like to think of the trip as a treat and healthy stuff is not a treat, the hamburger, fries and coke are. This is something ingrained in many of us from childhood both by the fast food industry and our parents. One of my fondest memories of my grandmother is that she would take us to Burger King at least once every visit. My Grandfather (on the other side of the family) Always supplied dinner one night when he visited, a bucket of KFC. Now when I walk into one of these places which would I prefer to have some of that great fried chicken I remember, a hamburger and fries that my grandmother gave me or should I get a salad (which by my experience can be real hit or miss as to quality of greens)?
How was that for a ramble?
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
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