Today's Infographic: USA eating itself into extinction

[baronWastelan]

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2012/03/US%20Obesity.jpg

From zerohedge.com:

A week ago we had the displeasure of reminding America that in 8 years three quarters of the population will be obese. We said that "many forget that a much more serious long term issue for the US (assuming anyone cares what happens in the long run) is a far more ominous secular shift in US population - namely the fact that everyone is getting fatter fast, aka America's "obesity epidemic." And according to a just released analysis by BNY ConvergEx' Nicholas Colas, things are about to get much worse, because as the OECD predicts, by 2020 75% of US the population will be obese. What this implies for the tens of trillions in underfunded healthcare "benefits" in the future is all too clear." Subsequently, The Atlantic decided to do a follow up on what it titled "The True Cost Of Unwalkable Streets" in which author Kain Benfield says: "Perhaps the single most alarming public health trend in the United States today is the dramatic rise in the number of people who are overweight and obese, bringing serious risks of heart disease, diabetes and other consequences leading to life impairment and premature death. This is bad enough as it is, but I contend that it is particularly unfortunate that we do not sufficiently recognize the extent to which these trends are caused by environmental factors, particularly the shape of our built environment."

Alas, resorting to the traditional American pastime of assigning meaningless blame when faced with a probem of epic proportions, instead of attempting to proactively resolve it, is about as expected as that of the four people around you, three will be, quite soon, morbidly fat. Because no matter who, why, when or where the obesity epidemic started, it won't end until the US welfare state is, pardon the pun, sucked dry (see "Welfare - the Great Delusion"). And if ordinary American citizens are shocked by how little Wall Streeters and politicians have changed their behvaiour, they would be speechless if only they looked in the mirror.

So while we don't have quite the suitable reflective device, here is a chart that should do the trick, coming from the same Atlantic piece. If this doesn't get one to rush out and scarf down the local (within 10 kcal or under walking distance) $0.99 McSomthing meal, nothing will.

Lastly, while the partisan bickering over whether Jeff Sessions is right or not in his estimate of a $17 trillion addition of Obamacare to future unfunded liabilities, goes on we wonder... Seriously? Because supposedly while $82 trillion in future unfunded liabilities is perfectly ok, $99 trillion is obviously a partisan hack to derail the great American plot to eat itself to death? Or something.

Instead of encouraging and enabling Americans to believe that any and every health-related issue they develop (of which the bulk originate from simply eating far too much, such as scarfing down on sugar, sugar and more sugar - which just happens to be the topic of tonight's 60 minutes), will be dealt with on someone else's dime, we have another suggestion: offer every American $100 for every pound they lose until they get to just below their ideal weight, and offer them a further $1000 each year to stay below that weight. Total cost: a tiny fraction of whatever Obamacare would cost, and the future benefits to one's credit card, to social healthcare outflows, and to society in general, would be unmeasurable.

[brando]

Fascinating. The "un-walkable streets" connection is cogently put - and the paying for every pound lost solution really does have merit. The hidden costs just in in medical handling: like larger hospital beds; strengthened trolleys; enlarged ambulances; more nurses and so on must surely outweigh (unintended pun) the simplicity of the dieting solution.
I too hope this can get past the party political stage and into mainstream thought.

[SlipBall]

It boils down to what people are eating, and government flawed recommendations of same. I weigh the same as I did in high school, but I have always eaten properly, lots of whole grain foods, vegetables, nuts etc...read this
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/242516-Heart-Surgeon-Speaks-Out-On-What-Really-Causes-Heart-Disease

[Bewolf]

I am not really sure if you can solve a cultural problem with money, really. You would have to ask, first of all, why the problem came into being, especially compared to other developed countries (which by now are playing catch up with the US in this regard, France, the UK, Germany all show a similiar trend, though still lagging a couple years behind the US).

I think this has more to do with our general system, which in many cases forces people to go for the cheapest or the least time consuming products, which usually are fat and sugar rich.

Trying to cure symptoms instead of going for the root problem usually only delays the problem, or cuases different ones alltogether.

[chantaje]

while on a vast portion of the planet the mayority of people are starving , in other places people eat to death.
we live in a really sick world
ot off

[CWMV]

Don't forget the sedentary lifestyle.
If people would excercise just a little bit they would be in much better shape.

[Igo kyu]

If people would excercise just a little bit they would be in much better shape.
Healthier yes, but thinner? that might actually not be true (I am not a doctor, nor a nutritionist).

There is something going on with diets not working out.

It might be thyroid, it might be a lot of things, and medicine doesn't yet seem to know what.

Some people are blaming carbs, and some blame fats, but it does seem we just don't know what's happening with obesity.

It's all very well saying that all fat people who try to lose weight lie about how much they eat, but if they don't lie, then there is something pretty strange going on.

http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/why-weight-loss-stops-on-long-term-low.html

That's by a diabetic for diabetics, but it describes the sort of diet wall that I have experienced myself (I wasn't diabetic the last time anybody checked, which was within a couple of years).

[baronWastelan]

it does seem we just don't know what's happening with obesity.

I can say what it is not: environment. I've seen thousands of Chinese and Vietnamese in N. America and haven't spotted an obese one yet. Also junk food was just as abundant in the 70's and 80's as it is now, so the main variable here seems to be level of physical activity.

[CWMV]

Well Ive seen plenty of them, so scratch that.
In my job I get to see the whole spectrum of economic classes and the one thing that is striking is how many more people in the lower classes are fatter than those that are better off.
Definitely seems to be a tie to economics here, probably because cheap food=crap.

[MadBlaster]

its about personal responsibility. if you choose to eat crap and sit on your azz all day, fine. don't expect me to pay for it. just as I don't want you to pay for mine. as far as cheap food = crap. i call b.s. on that. you can eat cheap and stay healthy if you choose to do it. actually, it is cheaper to eat healthy. for example, beans/legumes, make your own bread, block cheese, non-fat dry milk, occasional red meat, pasta, canned tomatoes, potatoes...etc. I call it the pioneer diet and you can do it for about $100 a month. today I ran a few miles. tomorrow i'll lift some weights. this is how i roll. it's disgusting what has happened to modern society. we are so weak and pathetic. everyone looking for a handout or an excuse. i've had many injuries and i'm not young by any means, but the human body can take a sheetload if you treat it right and manage your risks. healthwise, sitting on your butt is probably the most harmful things you could do to yourself. even just a brisk 10-15 minute walk each day can make a huge difference and it's free.

[JG26_EZ]

Stupidity is the strongest culprit in my opinion, and people/companies take advantage of that stupidity, and those that are "the stupid", suffer. Not to mention the rest that have to suffer because of rising health costs, etc,.

For the record.. I live in Canada.. Have you seen the size of products these days? (in Canada) Or the size of a breakfast at "Demmy's" (in the US) for example? (changed the name slightly to avoid any snipers)

When I was young, my mom or dad would (every once in a while) buy a 750ml bottle of pop and stick it in the fridge for a treat. Come dinner time, we'd all pour a glass to have with our dinner (for example). Now? I see kids walking around with 710ml bottles of pop in their hands! To finish in "one sitting". I'd see a guy at work, buy one of those for first break, lunch break, and then afternoon break! And he's sitting in the lunch-room, eating his ham on white bread with their side of (a bag of) chips, trying to figure out with the group, why his belly is so big and his teeth are all turning grey/blue.

The line, "Too much of a good thing, can be a bad thing" comes to mind... (my mind at least, when I see the products getting bigger as years go by)

Oh look!! 33% more for the same price?!?!
Let's be stupid and eat it all up because... Hey, it's still just "one" unit :)

Just my two cents.

[CWMV]

The only part about that that is unrealistic is the food prep time.
In an earlier time yes, when one person could support a middle class family and the wife could stay home sure, but now you've got two people working all day-no time to make bread...
Or if your a bachelor. Christ I could do whatever I wanted then!

So you've been swinging hammers all day and pick up your kids from daycare/family on your way home. You have to feed them, its late, and you have very little money/time. Wife has just left for her 8 hour night shift. Makes McD's seem like a good alternative.

Course I agree that its no one responsibility but your own, but next time you go to the grocery store try finding a loaf of bread that doesn't have enriched flower or corn products in it. We've only found one brand in our area that has none of this garbage and its about $5 a loaf. Compare that to $.98 for Wonderbread.

Then look at the food that can be bought with food stamps/Wic. Its loaded with fat, sugar, and all the other crap that you should be watching. But if its that or don't eat...

But I'm with you on the exercise thing. I'm very lucky in that I get a good deal of it at work (Walk 10 or more miles a day) and lift in my spare time.
You know whats really scary is that we have a generation that has NEVER been in shape now raising their own children. They don't even know that they are disgusting fat bodies, its just the norm to them. And now they pass that on to their children.

Here's a question though, perhaps we have some medical professionals here?
Do our weight standards reflect reality?
As an example Ill use myself. Currently I am 5'9 (10 on a good day) and weigh 230lbs. This puts me squarely in the Obese range I believe.
BUT-I only have about ~12 percent body fat (been a while since last measurement so may have changed), I work out regularly and get plenty of cardio.
But every time I go to the Doc they give me the standard fat guy lecture.
So should we really go by this standard, or is a revision in order?

[MadBlaster]

Muscle weighs more that fat. If your walking 10 miles a day, your probably fine. Everything the government says or does you should question the agenda imo. There's always an agenda.

A bread machine might be a good solution. You can do a quick cycle and have bread in 30 minutes. It is very simple to do. One of my favorite easy and cheap meals is make split pea soup and fresh bread with a slap of margarine or butter. A 16 oz bag of split peas is 88 cents here and the bread is super cheap to make. 3 cups flour, a little salt, oil, yeast, sugar. You need the sugar because the yeast eats the sugar to get it to rise. That's about 5-6 meals for about $2 and it's pretty healthy, stores well in plastic containers. if you want to go hardcore, you can use wheat flour.

I can't remember the last time I bought store bread. it's probably been 10 years since I did that. The only processed food I buy is dry pasta?. But I also drink coffee and put sugar in that. So, not a complete angel. I don't eat fast food at all. the exception is the holidays with family. then all bets are off and I eat everything in sight.:)

teach your kids to cook!;)

[CWMV]

Oh I know I'm fine, I laugh every time the Doc gives me the fat guy talk, and so do they usually.
And as I said before, prepping your own food is great, but not an option for many.

[Flanker35M]

S!

There are 2 extremes, the obese and the superskinny. For example at work the physical test tables favor you if your weight is low. Let's take an example. 2 persons 180cm tall(roughly 6ft), one weighs 90kg and other 75kg. They both get same results in the physical tests but which one gets better score? ;) Is the heavier guy in worse condition even he with 15kg more did the same?

But as EZ pointed out, the size of products have gone up over the last years. When I was a kid we were happy to get a small 100g candybag to share with my sisters. Now one kid eats these Mega bags of 400g! There are burger and pizza joints everywhere and their advertising strikes the young most and they also target small kids with their happy meals and whatever. I VERY rarely take my son to a burger joint, he eats normal home made food. And it is not that time consuming to make something, just plan a bit ahead ;)

I had a period where I noted my weight went up, no excuses. Now I have been working hard to get it back down and more than happy with this decision. Feeling much better and I can do more. Key word self discipline :) I do not want to be a walking heap of fat..

[BGs_Ricky]

I know several people that are not sporty at all and who have no weight problem.
I do little sport myself (I go to the fitness 2 times a week, but I walk a lot) and I probably lean a bit towards the skinny side, but last time I did a check-up all my body parameters were right where they should be, even if I could probably weight some kg more and stil be fine.

I think that having a balanced nutrition is the key, one should avoid excesses. I eat meat, fish, quite a lot of vegetables. I don't eat too much sweet stuff nor I drink to much sodas. I only eat "plain" food, no low-fat/carb/anything food. Plain milk, plain sugar and so on.

At home we mostly cook all our dishes ourselves, we go sometimes at McDo or other with the kids, and I see no problem in that if it's not too often and if they eat well the rest of the time.

Of course people are different and some have to be more careful about what they eat.

[baronWastelan]

The only part about that that is unrealistic is the food prep time.
In an earlier time yes, when one person could support a middle class family and the wife could stay home sure, but now you've got two people working all day-no time to make bread...
Or if your a bachelor. Christ I could do whatever I wanted then!

So you've been swinging hammers all day and pick up your kids from daycare/family on your way home. You have to feed them, its late, and you have very little money/time. Wife has just left for her 8 hour night shift. Makes McD's seem like a good alternative.

Course I agree that its no one responsibility but your own, but next time you go to the grocery store try finding a loaf of bread that doesn't have enriched flower or corn products in it. We've only found one brand in our area that has none of this garbage and its about $5 a loaf. Compare that to $.98 for Wonderbread.

Then look at the food that can be bought with food stamps/Wic. Its loaded with fat, sugar, and all the other crap that you should be watching. But if its that or don't eat...

But I'm with you on the exercise thing. I'm very lucky in that I get a good deal of it at work (Walk 10 or more miles a day) and lift in my spare time.
You know whats really scary is that we have a generation that has NEVER been in shape now raising their own children. They don't even know that they are disgusting fat bodies, its just the norm to them. And now they pass that on to their children.

Here's a question though, perhaps we have some medical professionals here?
Do our weight standards reflect reality?
As an example Ill use myself. Currently I am 5'9 (10 on a good day) and weigh 230lbs. This puts me squarely in the Obese range I believe.
BUT-I only have about ~12 percent body fat (been a while since last measurement so may have changed), I work out regularly and get plenty of cardio.
But every time I go to the Doc they give me the standard fat guy lecture.
So should we really go by this standard, or is a revision in order?

It's simple:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12481427
we should assess risk based on waist-to-height ratio (WHtR); saying that "Your waist circumference should not be more than half your height (WHtR 0.5)".

This is the point at which some action to decrease your waistline should be considered.

My colleagues and I recently published a review of 78 studies in 14 different countries, including Caucasian, Asian and Central American subjects, which has confirmed that WHtR is a better predictor of cardiometabolic risk than BMI and that WHtR 0.5 is a suitable boundary value.

How to measure your waist.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/calculating-your-waist-circumference__
A high-risk waist circumference is:

A man with waist measurement over 40 inches (102 cm).
A woman with waist measurement over 35 inches (88 cm).

To measure your waist circumference, use a tape measure. Start at the top of the hip bone, then bring it all the way around -- level with your navel. Make sure it's not too tight and that it is parallel with the floor. Don't hold your breath while measuring it!