Why does obesity a rarity in Europe?
Oct 17th, 2003, 07:49 AM
#22
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I saw plenty of Rubenesque types in Prague, Budapest and Vienna - and while in Croatia I had the pleasure of seeing plenty of pleasently plump Germans (au natural). Bottero would be delighted.
But you are correct about one thing - Europeans don't have any emotional issues (yea, right)
But you are correct about one thing - Europeans don't have any emotional issues (yea, right)
Oct 17th, 2003, 08:09 AM
#23
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Emotional issues? I don't think that's it. Portion size? Proliferation of junk food? Perhaps, but those are actually more like effects than causes.
No. The real difference is attitudinal. Americans (for better or for worse) simply care less than Euros do about what people think about them. "I don't need no fancy-ass French nancy-boy telling me what I should eat," says the stereotypical American, "I'll eat that foot-long chili dog if I wanna! Hell, make it 2! And if you don't like it, you can kiss my double-wide backside!"
OK, that's an exaggeration. But you see what I'm saying. Likewise, stereotypical Europeans think of themselves as stylish, sophisticated, fashionable connoiseurs of the good life. And they know it's hard to maintain that self-image (and maintain an elitist attitude) with a 40-inch waistline.
No. The real difference is attitudinal. Americans (for better or for worse) simply care less than Euros do about what people think about them. "I don't need no fancy-ass French nancy-boy telling me what I should eat," says the stereotypical American, "I'll eat that foot-long chili dog if I wanna! Hell, make it 2! And if you don't like it, you can kiss my double-wide backside!"
OK, that's an exaggeration. But you see what I'm saying. Likewise, stereotypical Europeans think of themselves as stylish, sophisticated, fashionable connoiseurs of the good life. And they know it's hard to maintain that self-image (and maintain an elitist attitude) with a 40-inch waistline.
Oct 17th, 2003, 08:18 AM
#24
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mr go
Attitude may make a difference but not in the arrogant or elitist sense that you describe. I think that food of all kinds is simply more plentiful in America. I don't think that we flaunt it just to feel superior conversely I don't think that the Europeans choose not to indulge just to feel more sophisticated. Like Sir Hillary - we do it because it is there.
JoeG
Attitude may make a difference but not in the arrogant or elitist sense that you describe. I think that food of all kinds is simply more plentiful in America. I don't think that we flaunt it just to feel superior conversely I don't think that the Europeans choose not to indulge just to feel more sophisticated. Like Sir Hillary - we do it because it is there.
JoeG
Oct 17th, 2003, 08:31 AM
#26
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I have to respectfully disagree with you, Mr Go. If it had to do with an American cultural attitudes, why has obesity become such an epidemic in only the last 20-30 yrs? And in Canada as well? Also, the attitude you describe (ie nobody can tell me what to do) DOES point to emotional issues. Alcoholics and other addicts think the same way. It's emtional immaturity, not attitude.
Oct 17th, 2003, 08:34 AM
#27
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Joe, I agree. When I go home, I go to the mall just so that I can see the vast array of treats on offer. Caramel popcorn in 35 different flavours? Gimme a bucket. Betty Crocker frosting with rainbow chips?? Where's my spoon. Cap'n Crunch? Lucky Charms? 31onderful flavours!! I'm sorry but all of it is hard to resist. Sure we have junk food in London but it just isn't the same. Last week, when I went to the movies, I had an ice cream. Well, they couldn't have given me a smaller scoop if they tried. I know that if I was in the US, it would be 3 or 4 times the size. Of course it's not down to them looking after my waistline so much as them looking after their profits. This is a country where people are slaughtered on the railways for corporate profits. Which is another story altogether.
And another aspect: for the youngsters of Europe, there is another slimming method (that I DO NOT ENDORSE Fodors). Certain drugs make it so that you can dance all night, drinking nothing but water and letting nothing solid pass your lips. It is cheap and plentiful and they reckon that over 2 million tablets are consumed every weekend in Britain alone.
And another aspect: for the youngsters of Europe, there is another slimming method (that I DO NOT ENDORSE Fodors). Certain drugs make it so that you can dance all night, drinking nothing but water and letting nothing solid pass your lips. It is cheap and plentiful and they reckon that over 2 million tablets are consumed every weekend in Britain alone.
Oct 17th, 2003, 08:49 AM
#28
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If it's culture or attitude or something psychological, I guess we'd have to figure out what American, Finnish, Australian, German, and English men and Russian, American, Czech, English, and Finnish women have in common. They seem to be the most obese based on that article.
Oct 17th, 2003, 08:57 AM
#29
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Let's not overlook eating as a substitute for sexual satisfaction.
All those couch potatoes are not only sedentary, they're exposed to unnatural quantities of T&A in TV shows and ads. And the fatter they get, the less they get. This affects Americans the worst becuase (a) they watch the most TV and (b) they have the most prudish attudes about sex.
This theory is consistent with Rufus' query, too.
All those couch potatoes are not only sedentary, they're exposed to unnatural quantities of T&A in TV shows and ads. And the fatter they get, the less they get. This affects Americans the worst becuase (a) they watch the most TV and (b) they have the most prudish attudes about sex.
This theory is consistent with Rufus' query, too.
Oct 17th, 2003, 09:09 AM
#30
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Americans love of fast food adds to the obesity problem of the nation. I recommend reading Eric Schlosser's FAST FOOD NATION. Too many slovenly role models over the years doesn't help- Oprah, Rush Limbaugh (pre-junkie days), Star Jones, Roseanne Barr, Fat Bastard of the Austen Powers movies, Monica Lewinsky.
Oct 17th, 2003, 09:12 AM
#31
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I think Ally and Keenan are onto something with the capitalism angle. I mean, if advertising didn't work, why is it a multi-billion dollar industry in the US?
"The Incredible Edible Egg", "Beef, it's what's for dinner", "You deserve a break today", "The other white meat", "Scrumpdillyitious", "Must see TV", "I'm kookoo for Cocoa Puffs!". We'll who wouldn't be after a non-stop barrage of ads trying to sell everything in the world that will keep you at home, in your car, comfortable and complacent? I can't go in to pay for gas without a rack of Krispy Kremes staring at me. Kreepy, but I swear they do.
I saw an ad the other day where Hyundai plays a soundtrack of horrible airport delay messages while showing you a guy in his brand new car enjoying a drive. The point of course is that you should buy a car and enjoy life instead of wasting your money flying places. Then you can get your fast food dinner conveniently through a drive through window and never lift your backside off that plush interior. Life is good!
Compare the need every corporation has to beat the competition. We must absolutely sell more than we did last quarter or the end of the world is at hand. And who doesn't want to grow that smaller business into a world class corporation? It's the American way. It's not a criticism, it's just how it is. Employees work until all hours just in case someone needs a taco at 2am. But it does keep more people employed.
Compare that though to the European shopkeeper who closes midday, who shutters the shop come evening and goes home. Profits are what you live off of and the percentage of people who believe that success comes from living well, rather than constant growth financially as well as the waistline)
Of course this all armchair navel gazing like every other opinion, but I wasn't doing anything anyway.
Oct 17th, 2003, 09:49 AM
#33
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The last 6 months I've been eating more fast food by far than I ever have in my life before--and I've lost almost 45 pounds over that period of time. The difference is that I've cut out all refined grain products and sugars.
So when I get to my table with the two McD's double cheeseburgers for $2.10, I first throw away the bun and dig in with my plastic knife and fork.
I do miss pasta, but T-bone steaks make up for it. And whole milk sure is more satisfying than that skim crap I had been drinking when I was a whale.
No pizza, no donuts, no breads other than whole wheat, no rice, no Raisin Bran, no potatoes, no Ding Dongs, no cookies--instead butter, eggs, plain yogurt, pork chops, bacon, cheeses, and ham.
And I still eat lots of fish and poultry as I always have. More sashimi, please!
And the bonus is that my chlorestoral has dropped to the point that I no longer have to take Lipitor for it!
So when I get to my table with the two McD's double cheeseburgers for $2.10, I first throw away the bun and dig in with my plastic knife and fork.
I do miss pasta, but T-bone steaks make up for it. And whole milk sure is more satisfying than that skim crap I had been drinking when I was a whale.
No pizza, no donuts, no breads other than whole wheat, no rice, no Raisin Bran, no potatoes, no Ding Dongs, no cookies--instead butter, eggs, plain yogurt, pork chops, bacon, cheeses, and ham.
And I still eat lots of fish and poultry as I always have. More sashimi, please!
And the bonus is that my chlorestoral has dropped to the point that I no longer have to take Lipitor for it!
Oct 17th, 2003, 10:16 AM
#34
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The big culpits are soft drinks, chips, oversize portions, huge hamburgers, enormous amount of french fries,all you can eat buffets.. and the list goes on..
Also physical education in the school is almost nonexistent. I have read an article about obesity and the author said that since 1980 obesity quadrupled in America, and worse of all diabetes is becoming rampant in younger children , because of overweight.
Is a Sad situation that should be corrected...
Also physical education in the school is almost nonexistent. I have read an article about obesity and the author said that since 1980 obesity quadrupled in America, and worse of all diabetes is becoming rampant in younger children , because of overweight.
Is a Sad situation that should be corrected...
Oct 17th, 2003, 10:37 AM
#36
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I'm reminded of a very early Woody Allen movie where he was sitting at a desk which had all kinds of exercise devices built right in, like drawers with heavy springs so one had to really pull hard to open them, and a phone receiver that was like a mini-dumbbell.
Oct 17th, 2003, 11:02 AM
#38
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IMHO as a former grocery checker, I noticed the heaviest customers were in the habit of purchasing ready-made products. There are so many preservatives, chemicals and colors, etc. added to our foods that to me it's no wonder our bodies are not processing these additives. I think if our meals included fresh herbs, fresh veges, fresh free range meats (instead of growth hormone injected, genetically altered feed for cows and hens) we wouldn't be so fat as a nation.
In our 4 weeks in Italy we ate pasta and pizza every day, but didn't gain a pound. We attributed that to the fact that the food was fresh, we walked at least 3 miles daily, and we didn't snack. At one train station, I wanted a candy bar or something chocolate. The selection wasn't there. Nothing appealed to me, so I ate nothing instead.
In our 4 weeks in Italy we ate pasta and pizza every day, but didn't gain a pound. We attributed that to the fact that the food was fresh, we walked at least 3 miles daily, and we didn't snack. At one train station, I wanted a candy bar or something chocolate. The selection wasn't there. Nothing appealed to me, so I ate nothing instead.
Oct 17th, 2003, 11:44 AM
#39
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Can I add a European viewpoint:
1. Obesity isn't rare in Europe. It is rare in, say Italy or Romania. But it's increasingly common everywhere, and especially so in a few countries - as a poster says, Russia and the UK for example.
2. But travelling round Birmingham, UK, shows fewer obese people - and they're less extremely obese - than you see in Cleveland, OH. Obesity is certtainly a bigger problem in the US.
3. Personally, I just don't buy the "Americans are couch potatoes" or the "no physical education" explanation. Travel round US or UK suburbs (even in their obese heartlands), and you see school playing fields everywhere. I've never seen a single such playing field in Italy or France.
4. I'd strongly suggest Dr Atkins (God rest his soul)had a very strong insight into one explanation. When we binge-eat, we consume fat. But there's actually a limit to how much fat you can metabolise, it's tough for food processors to disguise fat, and fat creates a sense of satiety very fast. When you binge - or even self-indulge a bit - you hit the sugar. You add sugar to things we'd never dream of(like ordinary bread. And it was the second item - which, under our law means the second commonest ingedient - in all the boloney-like products I checked in a WalMart lately.) You make a national fetish out of dessert.
But there's almost no limit to the amount of sugar we can eat and still want more. Indeed, Atkins argues that there's a clear process by which eating it makes you crave more.
Now you're not the only country with a sweet tooth. But you use it - or let your manufacturers add it - in places even the Scots (who invented the deep-fried Snickers bar) would find extreme. And of course sugar - or rum, or molasses - has been central to the US economy ever since you accepted Queen Elizabeth 1 as your lawful monarch
Simple answer: say no to sugar. Binge on fatty stuff: pate, rillettes, English pork pies, properly marbled beef.
1. Obesity isn't rare in Europe. It is rare in, say Italy or Romania. But it's increasingly common everywhere, and especially so in a few countries - as a poster says, Russia and the UK for example.
2. But travelling round Birmingham, UK, shows fewer obese people - and they're less extremely obese - than you see in Cleveland, OH. Obesity is certtainly a bigger problem in the US.
3. Personally, I just don't buy the "Americans are couch potatoes" or the "no physical education" explanation. Travel round US or UK suburbs (even in their obese heartlands), and you see school playing fields everywhere. I've never seen a single such playing field in Italy or France.
4. I'd strongly suggest Dr Atkins (God rest his soul)had a very strong insight into one explanation. When we binge-eat, we consume fat. But there's actually a limit to how much fat you can metabolise, it's tough for food processors to disguise fat, and fat creates a sense of satiety very fast. When you binge - or even self-indulge a bit - you hit the sugar. You add sugar to things we'd never dream of(like ordinary bread. And it was the second item - which, under our law means the second commonest ingedient - in all the boloney-like products I checked in a WalMart lately.) You make a national fetish out of dessert.
But there's almost no limit to the amount of sugar we can eat and still want more. Indeed, Atkins argues that there's a clear process by which eating it makes you crave more.
Now you're not the only country with a sweet tooth. But you use it - or let your manufacturers add it - in places even the Scots (who invented the deep-fried Snickers bar) would find extreme. And of course sugar - or rum, or molasses - has been central to the US economy ever since you accepted Queen Elizabeth 1 as your lawful monarch
Simple answer: say no to sugar. Binge on fatty stuff: pate, rillettes, English pork pies, properly marbled beef.
Oct 17th, 2003, 04:33 PM
#40
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Hi, lucky03! Did you start that thread on the US forum about "How did we all get, well, so fat?" and now you are trying the same thing here on the European forum? The US thread had 130-some posts. Maybe this European one can beat that number!
Whatever the causes, the cure is to eat less, eat more of the right foods, and exercise! And stay with it for the rest of your life!
I agree that there is a tremendous push by food manufacturers and fast food places to get people to buy self-damaging food. But let's not forget the car manufacturers! We are now up to the Hummer size of vehicles. Pretty soon we'll have to widen our roads to accommodate the larger cars that accommodate the larger people. It's capitalism!
It's easy not to eat junk food. Once you get into the habit, it's like any other habit, you walk right by all that useless stuff and don't even notice them! I do! It's wonderful to chew on a bag of carrots and have an apple or two during a ball game. I really don't miss all the french fries, cotton candy, soft drinks, beer, fatty pizzas, hot dogs - just writing about all that fat makes me feel slightly queasy.
Jason
Whatever the causes, the cure is to eat less, eat more of the right foods, and exercise! And stay with it for the rest of your life!
I agree that there is a tremendous push by food manufacturers and fast food places to get people to buy self-damaging food. But let's not forget the car manufacturers! We are now up to the Hummer size of vehicles. Pretty soon we'll have to widen our roads to accommodate the larger cars that accommodate the larger people. It's capitalism!
It's easy not to eat junk food. Once you get into the habit, it's like any other habit, you walk right by all that useless stuff and don't even notice them! I do! It's wonderful to chew on a bag of carrots and have an apple or two during a ball game. I really don't miss all the french fries, cotton candy, soft drinks, beer, fatty pizzas, hot dogs - just writing about all that fat makes me feel slightly queasy.
Jason
