Seriously, why are so many Americans overweight/obese?

Question

I don't want this to sound too much like a rant, but something has been bothering me a lot lately: the obesity problem in America. Did you know that the annual healthcare cost of obesity in the U.S. is $147 billion. This equates to 21 percent of healthcare spending in our country. If you've ever wondered where much of your taxpayer dollars are going, look no further. 

But back to the question at hand. Given the vast negative implications associated with obesity, why do countless people continue to ruin their lives by way of overeating and lack of exercise? It's ridiculous the amount of obese people I see on a daily basis. There is no reason why the obese community cannot change their lifestyle - it's a matter of life or death! 

I'm tired of witnessing the constant daily struggle of these people, whether that be some sort of pain, lack of energy, sickness, discrimination, etc. America, you need to wake up and take back your life. I'm sick and tired of watching you fail faster than the economy.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Because people in America live to eat.

If more people would eat a diet consisting of more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains...they would lose weight, feel healthy, and Medical Care wouldn't be the 3rd cause of death in America.

Fitology · Answer

Ironically, it happens because competitive sport is very popular in the USA, and it is getting worse because sport is intensively promoted.

Look at a stadium; how many people are playing the sport, and how many are sitting down to watch them, with fast food and carbonated drinks on their laps ?

This effect is reproduced for every sports event, and compounded by broadcasting. The total ratio of Spectators to Players includes an invisible host of TV fans all over the state, or even the nation.

The idea that promoting sport will have a positive effect on public health IS A MYTH. That can never happen, as long as coaches are selecting good players (at every stage) from the general population.

Unless there are MORE PLAYERS THAN SPECTATORS in a sport (ie, nobody is interested in it, except for those that participate, as might be the case in many places with ORIENTEERING), promoting it will always generate MORE 'sitting-down-with-fast-food' behaviour than behaviour that is 'enegetic-and-good-for-your-physique'.

And promoting an unpopular type of sport only exposes it to people who are unlikely to participate (otherwise they would already be playing), so if you succeed in generating an audience, you will turn the event into the same kind of spectacle that currently makes its fit players rich and its seated audience fat...

Anonymous · Answer

Fast food restaurants, lack of exercise, new technology - ppl spend more time on them than they do goin outside and laziness

Steve B · Answer

cause we eat too much of wrong foods and as a whole we are too lazy to exercise..............simple stuff.......

Seriously, why are so many Americans overweight/obese?

4 Answers