Why are so many Americans fat?
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Why is it that so many Americans are overweight and some are even diagnosed as being seriously obese?
I have always been wondering about this. Being from a little village in Switzerland, I was not quite sure what causes this, since people in Switzerland seem to live a pretty healthy lifestyle and on average, seem to maintain an acceptable weight. But after having lived in the US for about 3 years now, I have come to see some of the reasons why people are fat here. It is not just one main reason behind people getting so fat here I believe, but indeed various aspects that are responsible for this.
Going to Mc Donald`s on a regular basis? Eating crispy deep-fried French fries along with a quarter pound burger? And, yes of course the extra large coke that has to go with it (otherwise it would not be the same)?
Eating the wrong foods is certainly a big reason that results in gaining those extra pounds of body weight. Combined with not having enough physical activities (Yes, you and I know that many Americans are pretty lazy folks), it is not surprising that the calorie intakes (through food) are often excessively greater than the burning of calories. It is simple - very simple in fact! If the intake is greater than the output, you start gaining weight! Why are people not aware of this? Does this not sound logical?
I agree, food is tempting, yes! The other day I went to Mc Donald`s, ordered a Big Mac, a cheeseburger, a medium size of French fries, and on top of that I also got a large coke! I certainly consumed way too many calories, and my body would not have needed those 3000 calories all at once! I was not aware of it at this moment!
Along with eating the wrong foods (foods that bear none or not enough nutritional values and are high in sugar and fat) is eating too much food. If you are sitting daily for many hours (at work) and there is not much physical activity involved, you certainly don`t need to eat like a marathon runner that burns many thousands of calories a day. Don`t get me wrong, you do need to eat and get in enough calories in order to have your brain and body functioning, but realizing how much you need as an individual is the key.
There is of course the issue also of unhealthy foods often being so much cheaper and more convenient than the healthy selection of foods. Shopping at a place like the Whole Foods market is sure to burn a bigger hole in the wallet than a trip to KFC, and the preparation time and effort involved in preparing a meal full of variety is often less appealing to the busy, working person. Certainly, Americans are being raised in a culture where not only is it harder and more expensive to eat well, but a society that is too busy and driven by capitalism to have enough time to exercise and justify the higher than necessary calorie intake plaguing so many overweight Americans.
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