Marty

I'm of average weight, and I, too, lose weight when I am in Europe, because I walk for hours on end, day and night. Unfortunately, in the U.S., in most places, that is just not a possibility. Number one, when we are at home, we are working. I go in about 7 each day(I work out for an hour from 5 to 6) and leave for home about 5. That doesn't leave much time for hours of walking. Even though I live in a small town, at 5 in afternoon, walking is not an option for going to the grocery story, then over to the dry cleaner, and by the library, etc. Maybe, it would be more likely if I lived in large city like Paris or London or Rome. Number two, I don't walk as much here, because it is not safe to do so after dark or early in the morning. I cannot even walk to work, although it is only 1/2 mile, because early in the morning I would not be safe. In European cities, that is not such a problem--there just are not as many threatening people. Tonight I have a meeting across town; I would love to walk, but coming back at 9:30 tonight would not be to my liking. We don't have to eat so much junk (and I do), and I have little sympathy for people who are grossly overweight, because of the life styles they choose, but Europeans have the edge on us as far as walking everywhere!

Mary Ann

I would agree that most Europeans walk/exercise more. There are some additional observations I would like to add. In our Michelin Europe atlas it notes in most European countries the driving age is 18 (Hungary was 21 and Norway 18 or 20 depending on the vehicle) Even when people can drive, a gallon of gas costs about 4 times as much in Europe which is a disincentive. Bikes are alot cheaper to operate and Park. Many countries do have lunch as their main meal, which then gives you more time to walk it off than eating and going to bed a few hours later. I would also agree that due to cost of fast food I think they eat in more and do have better eating habits. One of the reasons may be a more relaxed pace of life. Could you see a European going to the grocery store and dropping a $100 or more. They shop more often, usually walking and use fresh foods not frozen. Between the walking, the eating, the sights and eating outdoors more, no wonder we visit when ever we can!!!

lolly

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette.

Al

One reason for the difference in weight may be the number of hours Americans spend watching television. This can lead to snacking on salty, high-calorie junk. If you doubt, watch the commercials on TV -- pizza, colas, potato chips, etc. And I love 'em all.

Chris Coe

Wow - what a loaded topic! Fatties (like me) will feel compelled to defend, rationalize and explain away with superficailly plausible theories and excuses. Those more to the anorexic end of the continuum will savor an opportunity to gloat, judge and moralize. <BR>The reality is that body weight is a simple function of arithmetic - what you take in above what you use becomes excess weight. Period, in most cases. There do appear to be genetic predispositions to different body shapes, and there are inborn errors of metabolism or acquired conditions (e.g., hypothyroidism) which affect body mass, but these are the exception rather than the norm. <BR>So where does that leave us? Several posts have made good points. Keeping in mind the above equation: Europeans walk more because cars and fuel are expensive, and their cities tend to be amenable to a walking lifestyle; quality rather than quantity is emphasized in eating, as well as fresh over processed. Americans walk less and drive more because cars and fuel are much more obtainable, and most places have been developed based on the cult of the automobile; quantity rather then quality is the selling point (big is good, bigger is better, huge is fabulous), and processed foods (aerosol "cheese product", for god's sake!) abound. <BR>One may succumb to paralytic analysis on the topic, but it is quite simple, n'est-ce pas? Now, pass me the Fritos...

Chris Coe

Wow - what a loaded topic! Fatties (like me) will feel compelled to defend, rationalize and explain away with superficailly plausible theories and excuses. Those more to the anorexic end of the continuum will savor an opportunity to gloat, judge and moralize. <BR>The reality is that body weight is a simple function of arithmetic - what you take in above what you use becomes excess weight. Period, in most cases. There do appear to be genetic predispositions to different body shapes, and there are inborn errors of metabolism or acquired conditions (e.g., hypothyroidism) which affect body mass, but these are the exception rather than the norm. <BR>So where does that leave us? Several posts have made good points. Keeping in mind the above equation: Europeans walk more because cars and fuel are expensive, and their cities tend to be amenable to a walking lifestyle; quality rather than quantity is emphasized in eating, as well as fresh over processed. Americans walk less and drive more because cars and fuel are much more obtainable, and most places have been developed based on the cult of the automobile; quantity rather then quality is the selling point (big is good, bigger is better, huge is fabulous), and processed foods (aerosol "cheese product", for god's sake!) abound. <BR>One may succumb to paralytic analysis on the topic, but it is quite simple, n'est-ce pas? Now, pass me the Fritos...

i got

I would like to chalk up a difference of opinion toward the American "big boned" theory. The only big bones I have noticed are round, soft, and are located in the overweight persons belly and/or butt! Most of the overweight persons I have seen in the US appear to be of European ancestry, which means their genes are identical to the skinny people in Europe!

Bonnie

People of all bone structures (small, medium, large) can be fat! Just because a person has large bones doesn't mean that he will look fat! He will only look fat if he IS fat! There is nothing magical about why Europeans are slimmer than us Americans! They exercise a lot more and eat a lot less for a variety of reasons. We have way too much temptation (fast food & snack food) in this country, and at least half of us can't handle it! And it is just too easy to sit on our behinds, and many of us are afraid to go walking when it's convenient for us because of the crime rate in so many areas. We all need more willpower and more "get up & go!" The American mentality these days seems to want to do everything the easiest way exerting the least amount of energy! We are paying dearly for it!

wendy

I lived in Spain for four months and ate everything that my stick-thin Spanish roommates ate and participated in the same activites that they did and yet I GAINED a good 10-15 pounds. Go figure. <BR>I can tell you, though, that these Spanish girls had a really unhealthy concern about their weight - one was teeny tiny and came home crying because a girl in her uni class told her she was fat. And they all smoked, too. <BR> <BR>CP is right, in SF people are thin, but go to Oakland, yikes! Fat city. <BR> <BR>Something else about Europeans, they don't seem to consume as much milk as Americans do - no cereal in the morning or as a snack, and I never once saw anyone drink a glass of milk.

Brian in Atlanta

Anyone think self-respect has anything to do with it?

Bonnie

You know, Brian, I think you're real close to hitting the nail right on the head! The big question is why would Europeans feel so much better about themselves than a lot of us Americans?

nickie

I think the Germans tend to eat their main meal at lunchtime rather than later, and this has a significant effect on weight. Started doing this here, and lost a considerable amount of weight. It really didn't seem to matter what was eaten within limits, just the timing.Naturally all the walking helps too - a family day over there often consists of a walk to or through an attraction. When I lived there for fourteen years, every Sunday my family and I would be walking hills and visiting castles, just like all the other families.

jayne

Well, I still say a lot of Americans get daily excercise equivalent to Europeans. We may not be able to walk as much to shopping or social/recreation activities for various reasons, but surely health club workouts and hiking, biking,x-country skiing,rock climbing, swimming and the dozens of other intense leisure activities that are so popular these days must make up for that. I know we depend on our cars a lot, but I don't think we're such total slugs --at least that's not what I see around here. Also, what's this about Euros not eating cereal and milk? Our French visitor (17) asked for cereal for breakfast--chocolate no less. Of course, she's extremely polite and tactful and she just may not like our bread.

Bonnie

Jayne, You'd be surprised at the tiny percentage of Americans who "hike, bike, cross-country ski, swim, work-out." I think we talk about exercise a whole lot more than we do it. Really, really think about how many people you associate with, then think about how many of them really exercise 2-3 times a week. When I look around my neighborhood, I know one biker! Now maybe you run with an exceptionally athletic crowd - what do other posters think about their immediate circles?

Brian in Atlanta

Let's run with this, Bonnie. I would be willing to say that Europeans are more fashionable than Americans, meaning they are more conscientious about the way they look. Thus they are probably also more conscientious as to how their body shape looks. <BR> <BR>Also, since many Europeans are svelte, someone who is overweight will stand out more than they would in the US. I'm don't know if I notice overweight people when I walk past them on a U.S. sidewalk. Obesity seems to be well accepted here.

Maira

I disagree with the opinion that Europeans are skinnier because of higher self-esteem than their American counterparts. I think is a lifestyle issue more than anything. If they have such a high self-esteem, I wondered why they are always copying everything American... <BR> <BR>What I believe is been perceived as high self-esteem is actually a more comfortable/less obsessive attitude towards their bodies.

Sheila

If an overweight european may venture an opinion...it's the junk food! Yours, not ours. <BR> <BR>The reason I finally posted in this topic, however, is becasue on our main evening radio news tonight there was a piece about some Ameican having invented "happy crisps" (that's chips in american). <BR>They are apparently impregnated with things like St John's Wort, and make you feel good. And they went and interviewed some people woking out in a gym about them! Are you people weird, or what?

Bonnie

Sheila, I swear that we are not eating impregnated chips here in the southern United States! I don't know about the rest of the country - I have heard rumors about funny brownies but not chips! We are slightly weird, I guess, but not THAT weird, right, gang?

Brian in Atlanta

I'm afraid it's true Bonnie. There are St. John Wort tortilla chips produced here in the good-old USA. St. John's Wort is considered a herbal substitute for Prozac. <BR> <BR>So now people who are depressed about being fat can each more chips to feel better about it.

Tony Hughes

My opinion .... <BR> <BR>I am overweight but not what I would call fat. I go to the gym 3 times a week and play football once a week. I'm slightly too heavy, that's all. <BR> <BR>Americans are, in general, fatter then Europeans. I think that is a fact. But it is still a generalisation and I have to agree with Maira. Many Europeans would LOVE to be Americans. <BR> <BR>I am of the opinion that consumer items and, in particular, food is considerably cheaper compared to Europe so more is purchased and thus more is consumed. I dont think it is that you lot dont care and we do. <BR> <BR>I am sure if I was to live in America (someone please give me a job and/or green card) I would be quite fat. My willpower is lacking. the temptation is too much for me.