Why are Americans FAT?

by Brooke on July 5, 2011

Post image for Why are Americans FAT?

I asked some of my tweeps this question and got the following answers:

  • Over-sized portions
  • Lack of exercise
  • Too many high calorie beverages
  • Outrageous portions
  • Lack of fruits and vegetables
  • Work overload
  • Stress
  • Eat too much and move too little
  • Don’t eat enough whole foods
  • Eat out too often

I don’t think there is one right answer and all of these could be part of the problem.   However, if I had to give just one answer….my sassy response would be that we are just too lazy to put our health first!  We don’t make one of the most valuable things, our health, a priority! My mother always says, “you make time for what you want to.”  So, why are we not putting in the time and effort to pack our lunches, prepare a healthy dinner, workout, get adequate sleep, etc…

We all have too much on our plate…(pun intended).  Your job is to find out how you can take those barriers and change them into solutions! 

(Photo source)

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Jeni Lowe July 5, 2011 at 6:42 pm

amen! =P except, I’m a victim of all these things unfortunately! but on a good note, I followed your vacation blog entry and got myself a prenatal vitamin 😉 yknow, in case!

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Brooke July 5, 2011 at 11:00 pm

Haha! I am glad the vacation post helped out Jeni :)

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Brett July 5, 2011 at 6:50 pm

I struggle with fat being the central issue of any health movement. I think it’s been improperly used as a barometer for health by lay people, and an easy but ineffective tool used by professionals to get patients to take better care of their health. Too many people can’t let go of the idea that you can eat well, be fit & be fat. The bottom line is that people in general aside from shape or size, don’t move enough, and don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. While it is possible that certain people may be heavier than they should be because they don’t eat well, and don’t move much, focusing on the fat only leads to disordered eating behaviors and deluded & misguided ideas about body image and health.

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Brooke July 5, 2011 at 11:06 pm

Hi Brett, You brought a good point! Yes, you can be overweight and still be healthy and active individual. I used the word fat, because it is a better attention grabber. However, I could have used the word obese instead. Americans that are obese are more at risk for developing chronic diseases like: coronary heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, some cancers, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, etc.

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Eric July 5, 2011 at 10:34 pm

Hey Brooke, omg I love the blog! It’s definitely going on my Google Reader feed.

I’m one of those people who regard the gym as a place where fun goes to die. I wish I did more pureform exercise, but I attribute my unwaivering waist-size in part to the snacks I eat at work. The key to me actually EATING my snacks is to find non-refrigerated foods that are relatively healthy, filling, and fun to eat. I’m usually too busy/lazy to make a fridge run, though I recognize this is more realistic for some than others. Any snack suggestions?

Currently, my favorite work snacks include Trader Joes brand Go Raw Trail Mix, TJ’s yogurt-covered almonds, and my all-time favorite snack bar – the Almond Protein Plus Boomi Bar. Oh, and non-stop drinking of unsweetened black or green tea! The dentist says it stains my teeth, but I continue drinking black tea anyways 😀

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Brooke July 5, 2011 at 10:59 pm

Hi Eric, I am so glad you like it! Snack suggestions: 1) Get in those raw veggies! 2) Small piece of fruit 3) Low sugar granola bar 4) 1 ounce of nuts

I hope this helps! Let me know how it is working :)

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Li July 6, 2011 at 5:48 pm

well said! I am in the process of taking a barrier and changing it into a solution. Thank you for the little push!

Best,
Li
@LaLicenciada
@HerDeepThoughts

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Brooke July 10, 2011 at 10:29 pm

Hi Li, Glad this post got you motivated! Let me know how it goes :)

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Lauren July 8, 2011 at 3:06 pm

well said, as always. People have the time, if they want to. They have time to watch TV and buy things they don’t need. They have time to supermarket shop (just buy the wrong things). They even have time to diet.

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Jordan July 9, 2011 at 9:03 pm

WHOA! Be judicious when talking about the “fit and fat” issue!! The “Health At Every Size” movement attempts to promote the idea that there is NO connection between fat and health and that people can be perfectly healthy at literally ANY SIZE. As a highly political movement, HAES proponents will not admit that any weight is too much. HAES bloggers won’t hesitate to insist that you should quit seeing any doctor who tells you to lose weight or that a medical condition you have is exacerbated by weight or would be relieved by weight loss. Personally, I consider HAES to be dangerously misguided.

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