Are Americans overweight?

America has a high percentage of overweight citizens, but not everyone is. I'm actually underweight o.o
 
I support the laziness hypothesis that Scarf forwarded. Another thing is probably a lack of self-control: fast food tastes good, so people buy a lot of it.

I myself am actually underweight, but I love fast food, because I get two meals out of it and I don't have to cook. XD
 
It's mostly our problem for being in this state in the first place. Don't forget about genetics and metabalism, but working out and maintaining a healthy diet should do the trick. Most of us are way too lazy, however. We would rather just stay on the internet all day, or watch television till it's past midnight.

What really disappoints me most about America nowadays is that we are lucky to be living in one of the most modern countries out there, with all these technologies and equipments here to help us, and we don't even bother using it much. Heck, one doesn't even need fancy equipments to stay fit and healthy. Even without physical education classes, one can still try out for a sport.

Go bicycling or jog for at least half an hour. Use the other half for aerobic excercise. This would keep one flexible for the next exercise, which would be less tiresome once he or she gets used to this.
 
BHwolfgang said:
What really disappoints me most about America nowadays is that we are lucky to be living in one of the most modern countries out there, with all these technologies and equipments here to help us, and we don't even bother using it much. Heck, one doesn't even need fancy equipments to stay fit and healthy. Even without physical education classes, one can still try out for a sport.
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Actually, it's partly because all these technology exists (especially in health care) that people get too complacent to take care of themselves in the first place in America. Apparently, the least obese state in the US today (either Vermont or Colorado at about 22%) is fatter than the fattest American state in 1994 (none of which had an obesity rate of more than 20%).

In my personal conjecture, it's because people don't really care in the first place about being obese or thin, to exercise or to not exercise, thinking of it more as a personal choice than a health matter. Add that to the bunch of comments above about the accessibility of unhealthy foodstuffs and you have an increasingly unhealthy nation.
 
I think the US is classed as an obese antion...beacuse 60-70% of the nation is above a healthy weight.

Although it's not all fast food. A lot of poorer people can't aford a healthy diet.

TO balance it off you also have a hell of a lot of underweight people.

If i recall the UK is catching up to you though.
 
Well, I live in America, and I weigh 130 lbs. at 6 feet tall. I get 2-3 hours a day of fairly intense exercise, and eat a near perfect diet. (Absolutely nothing fried, no junk food, candy, soda, and with plenty of vegetables etc.)

For me, it's pretty easy, because I'm dedicated to getting stronger. It sounds stupid, but my goal/inspiration is competing on Ninja Warrior when I exchange to Japan in college, which will probably be next year.

Sadly, I'm the only person I know irl that cares nearly this much. Really though, all it takes is a little motivation, and once you've gotten started, it gets easier and easier. (Point is that there are healthy ppl here, but not very many. lol)
 
The thing about studies that check the obesity rates of the nation usually focus on the adults of the country, instead of EVERYONE. (Aside from infant babies of course)

And with my generation, I've noticed more people suffering from the "If I weigh 80 LBS, I'm fat" mentality... (Depending on height and build of course)

One should also consider some of the REASONS behind obesity, ESPECIALLY in the southern states, which tend to be more obese due to lack of income, which leads to an inability to afford healthy foods.

(Take me for example, I WANT to eat healthy, and I exercise too, but I've always remained slightly overweight due to dietary problems, family's a bit on the poor side, It's not often I get to eat healthy outside of my school.)

And I live in Washington State, we're not exactly a fat state, lol.
 
As a Canadian, I have noticed more 'large' or 'obese' people in the United States each time I visit. I do think it's a problem because so often I turn on the Today Show or Good Morning America and they are talking about child obesity...not good! I hate seeing little kids be so unhealthy because of poor choices their parents are making. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of fat Canadians...but the ratio is less. It needs to stop.
 
My generation is really health conscious and does exercise quite often.

Hell, I'm 6'5" and I only weigh 150llbs. :|
 
Virtual Chatot said:
My generation is really health conscious and does exercise quite often.

Hell, I'm 6'5" and I only weigh 150llbs. :|
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You are far underweight. You say you exercise, you should have at least SOME muscle mass, and muscle weighs more than fat by quite a bit. Either you've got no muscle, or a disorder of sorts, consult a physician about you bodies 'healthy' (I don't mean healthy as in fat, I mean your optimal wight to height ratio for your height... which should be a bit higher than 150....)
 
Every country has a decent amount of obese/overweight people, some more than others. I've never been to America, so I can't judge.
 
Wherre I live, there aren't really that many obese people. Big people sure, but not obese.
 
chloe123 said:
Well not really i am an american and i am not overweight.
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Are you every American?

The ratio of fit to overweight Americans is larger than all other countries except one, Australia.

So yes, America is a fat country.
 
I find myself completely unbiased, I have no ties with America and as far as I am aware Britain is on good terms with America, so I'm not saying anything out of spite.
But compared to Britain, I would say that you're diet is a little over-the-top. Pancakes and waffles for breakfast? Seriously? I understand that my comment doesn't apply for every American, but this is a pretty stereotypical judgment, amongst even yourselves.

Of course a completely different view point could blame the sheer scale of your country. Big country + Money + Big Food Franchises = Majority of citizens are fat.

Oh well, every country is stereotyped in one way or another, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to ride my horse back to my country manor and have a quick sip of tea with some buttered crumpets. Then I think I'll admire my yellow rotten teeth, before going to play a spot of croquet.
​
 
0m3GA ARS3NAL said:
You say you exercise, you should have at least SOME muscle mass, and muscle weighs more than fat by quite a bit.
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If I remember correctly, exercising by itself does nothing for muscle. To put on muscle, he has to first put on weight, which is only possible if he eats more than his daily requirement.

SuperiorCat said:
But compared to Britain, I would say that you're diet is a little over-the-top. Pancakes and waffles for breakfast? Seriously?
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Says the man from the country that invented deep fried Mars bars. And you probably have fish and chips and kidney pies at every meal.

I joke.
 
SuperiorCat said:
I find myself completely unbiased, I have no ties with America and as far as I am aware Britain is on good terms with America, so I'm not saying anything out of spite.
But compared to Britain, I would say that you're diet is a little over-the-top. Pancakes and waffles for breakfast? Seriously? I understand that my comment doesn't apply for every American, but this is a pretty stereotypical judgment, amongst even yourselves.

Of course a completely different view point could blame the sheer scale of your country. Big country + Money + Big Food Franchises = Majority of citizens are fat.

Oh well, every country is stereotyped in one way or another, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to ride my horse back to my country manor and have a quick sip of tea with some buttered crumpets. Then I think I'll admire my yellow rotten teeth, before going to play a spot of croquet.
​
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Are you insulting pancakes and waffles? I love pancakes and waffles (even though they're usually a dinner meal for me), it's just when people slather them so they're more syrup than batter that they become unhealthy.
 
Yuoaman said:
Are you insulting pancakes and waffles? I love pancakes and waffles (even though they're usually a dinner meal for me), it's just when people slather them so they're more syrup than batter that they become unhealthy.
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That and most people I know don't have both at the same meal, unless they're fairly physically active and are male teenagers.
 
I think there's a moderate amount of obesity in America. We generally want cheap, easy delicious food--which usually isn't very healthy. And that's actually sort of our fault because much of the healthier food promoted is nasty, expensive, or inconvenient.
 
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bna_li said:
Says the man from the country that invented deep fried Mars bars. And you probably have fish and chips and kidney pies at every meal.

I joke.
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It's true. We're also fat. ;-;

Yuoaman said:
Are you insulting pancakes and waffles? I love pancakes and waffles (even though they're usually a dinner meal for me), it's just when people slather them so they're more syrup than batter that they become unhealthy.
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I have pancakes once a year. And waffles for dinner on a very, very rare occasion.
 
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