I’m originally from Brazil, lived in other parts of south america too, and i can’t explain how weird it felt seeing how everything is big or enlarged in the USA: cars, houses, soda cups and (some) people. It made me question if I’m prejudiced against fat and obese people in general, specially when I surround myself with people into fitness and healthy life styles (i know the definition of healthy changes with culture). Just cruising through a wallmart made me feel kinda sad, seeing so many people needing mobility aid because they were to heavy to move their own bodies. And some.of them were looked really young, 25yo max.
When I was a child, I used to go to my father’s farm, and there was a den for pigs, for getting them really fat for later slaughtering. In my trip to the USA, I felt I was among those animals my father used to feed to fatten them up. I feel horrible comparing people to pigs, I know it’s very distasteful (to put it lightly), but I can’t simply wrap my mind around the idea of people getting sick because of overfeeding. I know this issue runs deep, it touches on the cost of better living conditions, city planning and infrastructure made with cars in mind and not people, availability of free time to exercise, health education, illnesses, mental health etc, but I felt alarmed by the quantity of overweight people.
Is this a me problem? Am I that prejudiced? If so, how can I look these people without feeling sad or pitying them? I wanna be respectful and compassionate, and i don’t think that’s how my mind is acting when I see people getting so heavy.
Edit: Thanks for everyone who took the time to read and reply. I would like to address some comments that keep getting repeated over and over.
1: To anyone calling my fatphobic, I will have to agree that I am. I was just never really bothererd or confronted by it, but now that I’ve decided to voice my thoughts on the internet, some strangers kindly pointed out that I wasn’t being respectful towards fat folks. I apologize. I recognize that I don’t have the right to judge or to pity anyone because of their larger size, and what I wrote was dehumanizing. That was also one of the points of the post, because as i wrote a few lines above, “i wanna be compassionate and respectful”.
2: I didn’t say that all Americans are fat, nor that Americans are the fattest on Earth, or that you guys are all unattractive, unworthy and you country is just shit. I was talking about the people i saw in my trip (and obviouslyi didn’t see every single american), and i was very careful while writing my post to not generalize the whole population as some group of fat lazy people. That may be a stereotype, but it’s not what i said. Some of you read what I wrote and decided to clap back against words that were never there. I will work on my fatphobia, and I invite some of you to work on your text interpretation skills.
3: My post invites comparisons because I’m a foreigner, I’ve mentioned Brazil, and I’m talking about some sort of “cultural shock”. You guys obviously can have your opinions about my country too, but please understand that my post isn’t about “Brazil good, USA bad, prove me wrong”, it’s about my feelings about fat people and that I am uncomfortable feeling this way. From everything I’ve read in the replies, just 2 people actually gave insight about changing my perspective and behavior.
4: You don’t have to tell me that Brazil has fat people too, because the post isn’t about “my first time seeing someone overweight”. It’s about how I began to feel bad because I was looking at people so big that they couldn’t move without aid, more than I’ve ever seen before.
5: If you read this far and you have ADVICE more than critiques towards me or the USA, or the Brazilian plastic surgery industry, please leave a comment.
Comments
No it’s definitely a shock. I’m overweight myself and definitely feel like a pig so your comparison is pretty accurate.
Unfortunately most areas are unwalkable and a lot of people have jobs that aren’t very physically demanding so I think that contributes a LOT to the weight problem here.
Both things can be true at the same time: 1. yes, a prejudice you weren’t previously aware of you’re now aware of. Now that you’re aware, work on it. 2. The US is set up in a way that makes us ill, be it from car oriented cities, sugar in everything, processed convenience foods and a high stress high sedentary society. No, it is not normal or okay. As someone foreign it isn’t normalized for you like it is for us. You’re seeing an unhealthy situation with clear eyes.
The trick is to not let the individualist capitalist machine trick you into blaming people for the circumstances and thinking we must all be lazy, greedy etc.
Pity comes in part from feeling you are superior in some way to those you pity. You don’t live here so you can’t change here. Instead, use this moment to ask yourself what in your own society your culture has normalized that an outsider might judge your country on. Then set about changing it.
I visited the UK and saw no difference between us and them.
What states and cities did you visit?
I think both things are true. The United States is built to create and then take advantage of unhealthy people. Also, you shouldn’t compare people to pigs and that does make you fatphobic.
We’re an obese nation. Obsessed with red meat and our food is mostly "food like substances".
I feel bad for America, the food industry has worked hard to make over eating and the craving of overly processed foods easy. Top that off with crazy advertising and the it’s ok to be unhealthy.
I have talked about this with some of my American friends, they all complain about how hard it is to eat healthy and work out because the system is set up against you. Also if you get into a heavy friend group you will loose friends if you get health. My one coworker confirmed that the best thing he ever did was ditch his heavy friends and find active ones.
I have faced health problems in the past, and also put on some pounds and taken them off. I get how hard it is, I also get genetics and health conditions are a thing. But nothing sucks more in life than the first few weeks of getting in shape again.
No, you’re not prejudiced. The US is a sick country in which corporations literally fatten and sicken people so that they have to pay money to the healthcare corporations to look after their ill health. It’s one massive and very profitable business. The only ones that are thin are the drug addicts, and don’t get me started with that mess.
Processed foods and fast foods are rampant here + normalization rather than promotion of healthy whole foods and daily body movement. It’s pretty crazy
Your right.
I’m fat too, I understand.
You’re not wrong. The system is designed to keep them fat and ignorant. That’s why their Hawaiian Tropics leader exists.
24 percent of brazilians are obese and 65 are over Weight.
In the us its 30 and 75 ….thats not a huge difference.
Yes, the shock of obesity and stenciled eyebrows.
Read Ultra-Processed People by Chris Van Tulleken to understand they WHY—and that Brazil itself isn’t exempt from the same hypercapitalist structures that cause wide-spread malnutrition (because eating an ultraprocessed diet means you are lacking in key nutrients).
I mean, a lot of people here are obese. That being said, you walked into the Temu of markets and are surprised you found the mostly obese there? People who shop at Walmart tend to be from poorer backgrounds with less education. That’s why Walmart is cheaper than most every other market like it, like a Target, Meijer, or Giant, and while its produce can be organic, it doesn’t have a set organic section, let alone healthier sections in general. Basically, you walked into a store where your fat prejudice and biases could be met
You make the mistake of seeing one tiny part of the country and assuming it represents the whole thing. Brazil and the US have nearly identical rates of obesity, people in the major cities look basically the same in both countries. You can’t compare rural LA to São Paulo.
Yeah USA is fat as hell girl lol
You aren’t prejudiced, you are compassionate. The USA has been poisoning its people for a long time. The government would rather have easily compliant people that pay their taxes without complaint than fit, healthy people who see things clearly – like you. The food processing and ingredients they allow are banned in most other parts of the world (for good reason). And then they want the people to pay thousands of dollars PER MONTH to inject themselves with medicines made by big pharmaceutical companies to rid them of the extra weight. Medicines they have to use forever or the weight just comes right back. Heaven forbid if they provide healthy, natural food to everyone and educate them properly on health and wellness.
This post is weird ngl. You should have maybe cut out the pig/slaughter part. Very disrespectful
Have you ever seen the film Wall-E and the flying, reclining chairs that all the humans use…? 😬
The average food you find is such worthless garbage. Food industries regulated themselves and don’t care if they poison us slowly.
Why? The US is #1 in obesity and has been for decades. Profit, sugar, addiction and corporations are king. Well being comes a distant second. This is why Michelle Obama was promoting healthy eating habits for children and families and was met with mind boggling retrograde responses from the right wing party that’s now in power ready to keep on destroying Americans.
Nah you’re right there are a lot of overweight people in this country. It’s a combination of things: sedentary life style, the quantity of over processed/addictive foods, the culture around food, the fact that healthy food is more expensive than unhealthy food, etc. Obesity is less common in some parts of the country, particularly large dense cities where people don’t have to drive everywhere and can afford veggies and such.
I grew up in the Midwest US & moved to California in the mid-90s, and have lived in both LA and the Bay Area.
Each time I went home, I was more and more shocked by how many people were overweight, like landing in the airport it was jarring.
I know it’s a growing issue in California, too – but it still shocks me to see how many people from my hometown who are living with obesity.
USA has healthcare infrastructure problems, with an overcomsuption of ultra processed foods being the default meals of many Americans. Being overweight is common in many cities in the country and the default physique in many communities and families. Also, many pernicious ideas regarding weight are very popular, and as a consequence, many lose their mobility because of their weight
Most schools dropped physical education
There are a lot of additives in our food that are illegal in other countries.
I’ve read stories of Americans eating the same food in other countries and losing weight, while vice versa they gain weight.
Mobility aids are used for health reasons. You didnt think that maybe JUST MAYBE their weight is a product of their health issues? Having access to doctors, trainers, heathy food, etc. costs money and you went to Wamart where people most likely are of lower income and dont have access to those things. Certain illnesses and medications contribute to weight gain/loss. Would you feel the same way if someone was underweight?
Comparing people to animals in general is literally dehumanizing. All cultures have their own issues but clearly yours has a problem with superiority complexes. Would you feel this way if you saw an overweight person in your home country? No, you would probably justify that. I think part of the issue here is that they are American, you went to the Southern region of the US which is notoriously undereducated, and of lower-income and you went to a place specifically targeted for this demographic.
Does it surprise you that millions of children in the US have food insecurity? They dont know when they will have their next meal. It’s a huge issue in the country and even the world but it’s like blaming someone for being poor. Yeah, some people dont want help but many many more do need assistance and you are being prejudiced against something just because you dont understand it. I would reflect as to why you have such a superiority complex and how far it really goes, maybe its something taught to you by your family since you were a young child.
And yet our life expectancy is considerably longer in the US than in Brazil. 🤷🏻♀️Brazil has many of its own problems that could be judged just as harshly.
Comparing our country to a finishing pen for actual pigs is a truly awful thing to even think, let alone say. I’m really sick of the anti American rhetoric lately. If we disgust you so much, please don’t come back.
Sadly that’s just how things are designed in the USA. I’m overweight myself. I love my soda and junk food. But I also love my water, I’m trying to cut back just for my own health. Trying to eat healthy is difficult, groceries are already so expensive. Not to mention the time I have available. Most folk have to work long hours or two jobs, so fitting in exercise probably seems near impossible. Even for me, I work 8 to 4 with a near hour-long commute. By the time I get home, I’m tired and whipping up something quick. Even the weekends are just periods of unwinding and catching up on chores.
Everyone talks about obesity in America and I do see it in adults. But growing up in the public school system I felt like I was the only fat one in my school. Everyone else in my graduating class was skinny and athletic and it felt like that was consistent from elementary – high school (2006-2018)
the blessing is fast food restaurants are going to be priced out of low income ranges
i wont be sad when fast food as a model we have now go away to something more productive
It’s an obesogenic environment. That means it’s easy to be big as there are so many high calorie foods readily available. The fast foods are more enriched with addictive flavours and more caloric than overseas options of fast foods too. The bread has far more sugar than the UK. Towns rely on cars for transport. Working hours and commuting hours are long. Some have to work more than one job and can’t afford gyms. Kids don’t walk everywhere or cycle as much as people are too afraid to let them. Education doesn’t always teach health skills. Some can’t get the healthcare they need to be well enough to exercise and processed food is much cheaper than fruit and vegetables. People get few holidays and some don’t get breaks at work so they’re ravenous and turn to quick snacks. People snack a lot or eat in the car or on the run. Time to eat a decent meal is limited. An hour for lunch is rarer than other countries. In my country some jobs you get 30 minutes or an hour. People go to the gym or walk in that time. We have good holidays and in some places, public transport. For many people food is the only joy they can afford. On top of this there is of course other contributing factors. But if your brain is set up to make you more hungry than other people the environment in the states makes it very difficult to eat healthy and exercise.
Well, let’s see what can be said for Brazil and what I saw in your country on my travels.
Oh yeah, I got to see some many surgery centers.Heard women and men talking about plastic surgery the way Americans speak of the weather.
Brazil has a high rate of plastic surgery, with over 3 million cosmetic procedures performed in 2023,
Over 3.4 million surgical and non-surgical procedures in 2023.
In 2022, it held the second-largest number of cosmetic procedures in the world after the United States.
The number of surgical interventions carried out in Brazil surpassed three million in 2022.
So you saying all Americans are fat is is equal to me thinking almost people in Brazil and other countries are nothing but plastic toys cheap and fake.
Coming from Switzerland where I only had one "fat" friend (who would considered chubby in the US) it was a shock. But then you see what they eat and their nutritional education, or lack of thereof, and you understand why. The cards are stacked against them too.
On the plus side, does it not heal your own body dysmorphia a little to be among the few fit-looking people when you are at the store? I always feel comforted, personally.
Yep… it sucks here in more ways than one.
You can feel how you feel, but other people’s health really isn’t your concern. It’s between them and their doctors. I promise overweight people know they’re unhealthy without you having to tell them or feel bad for them
There was a study done recently that the fake sugar (that’s in damn near everything in this country) increases appetite. So it’s not necessary entirely out of choice, but it’s our own country and its corporations doing this to us.
our food in the USA is total shit and yes people need to excercise more. But the food is processed so much and everything loaded to the gills with sugar. Combine the fake shite food, the lack of excercise, sedentary lifestyles, easy living, its why we are nation of fatasses.
You’re not wrong. I went to Europe, and when I was in the other countries, I noticed a few things.
1) I was Chonky, and I was the heaviest person in the village. In America, I’d be considered normal. Going there was a huge factor in making changes to my life. I’m significantly lighter now.
2) no cell phones out. People were living in the moment.
3) we walked EVERYWHERE. I was averaging 15-20k steps on average without even trying. I struggle to do 5k here.
4) the food was significantly better. Quality, portions, flavors. Night and day.
People need to travel as much as possible.
I’m American from one of the biggest cities and I cant argue with you. I’ll admit to being overweight but the gross obesity of younger people is obsurd.
I look at my 80’s hs yearbook and its actually hard to find fat people out of 2000 students.
I think the car-focused lifestyle Americans have contributes a LOT. People are commuting long hours to sit at desk jobs and aren’t as active.
Also, weight is more common with poor people here because of food deserts and how the least expensive, bad for you, highly processed and quick cheap food is not only easier to get and make, it costs way less, and in some areas of the country it’s basically all the groceries you have access to. Look up what a food desert is and it’ll start to make more sense.
But yeah our poorest state, MS, is also the most overweight on average the last I checked, and it’s due to a lot of these types of issues…
It is definitely POSSIBLE to be healthy at a bigger size, I know I am because I get regular bloodwork done for an unrelated health issue. I also go to the gym and have an active job rather than a desk job. I am fat lol but I also dont/can’t/shouldn’t eat to lose weight for other unrelated health reasons, I just gotta be fat and put more effort into my physical fitness in other ways haha
My daughter visited a prep school last week where almost all of the kids are athletes. We saw one girl who was maybe a little chubby; the rest of the 200 students were slim and fit. It hit me yesterday when I was thinking about the visit and thinking about her classmates. "Maybe" there is something about this exercise thing after all. When I was a kid, it was normal to walk a mile to school (so glad when I taught myself to ride a bike and could do that instead), have two recess periods where we were active, and an hour-long PE each day. I was also in either gymnastics, track, or cross country running after school.
Anyway, lack of activity, ultra processed foods, glued to our screens, unwalkable cities, long commutes, not good public transportation, working multiple jobs, they all add up.
No, Americans are really fat. Back in the 90s, a classroom would have maybe one or two fat kids. Now it’s like almost half.
I always feel bad seeing the families where both parents are just swollen with fat and their kids are equally swollen with fat. I’ve struggled with weight my whole life and it’s sad seeing a whole family struggling.
Yeah, we have obese people here. Sometimes it’s from a system that doesn’t help, sometimes it’s just people addicted to sugar. We have all the reasons. We’re also a huge country with a lot of people so you just see it more. We’re at around 42% of people are obese. There are 12 countries with higher numbers than that.
It definitely has to do with the US lifestyle of jobs being sedentary, food being highly processed or with high sugar that contributes to our obese problem. I went to Guatemala for vacation with my wife a few weeks ago and I could tell that I lost some weight from that trip. It has to do with walking around more and the meat being fresh. They dont put crap in the food down there unlike the US
We have a lot of food and also food thrown away.
Cheap food is full of HFCS. It is expensive to eat healthy, low-carb, not-processed food when you are poor in the USA.
I don’t think it’s prejudiced to notice and feel shocked, it IS shocking. Unfortunately, access to healthy and nutritious food in this country can be incredibly limited, especially in rural and underserved areas. Our food is also filled with additives designed to ensure overeating, and many people are introduced to a poor diet at a very young age. Willpower and moderation are often difficult in a society that encourages overconsumption in every facet of life, and poor food quality has a very negative impact on health even with moderation.
Yep, even trying to buy clothing items, the plus sizes racks are plentiful, but the smaller sizes have only a few racks to select from, especially at Walmart.
Most cities in the US are completely un-walkable and I think that’s an even bigger contributor to obesity than the foods. It’s possible to go all month without walking major steps unless you go to the mall or something
I worked in America one summer years ago, every time I went to the supermarket to buy fresh food to make a meal I was shocked at the price and could always eat more for less but it was fast food/ takeaway. I don’t think the same can be said for Ireland, where I can buy groceries and eat well all week , but a takeaway / fast food can amount to being a good chunk of a grocery budget for one meal
I went to Ireland and started losing weight immediately. American food is full of sugar and poisons.
In my early 20s (this was back in the 90s), I was getting quite heavy despite working a hard physical labor job. I had a chance to study overseas for a summer and it was like the pounds melted off. The only thing I wasn’t eating was red meat. And I was walking a lot more but again, I worked a job that required me to be moving all day, 5 days/week.
I came back to the States and was careful about what I ate, walked as much as I could, and it was like the pounds FLEW back on. I ended up living in that other country and again, the pounds stayed off even when I indulged. I could also drink without gaining weight.
There is something in American food that makes us gain weight. I’ll attribute some of the issue to not being able to walk anywhere but it has to be food additives.
You’re not wrong, our food is trash, public transportation is severely underfunded & only super condensed cities have easy walking places so we kinda need cars, etc.
Having said that, I wanted to talk about the mobility aid thing. I have to use mobility aids and am obese myself, but I’m obese because my body gave out on me after working hard manual labor since childhood. I’ve always been a little chubby, but underneath of it used to be incredibly strong muscle. My back went kaput followed by genetic issues that compounded it then made me permanently disabled, and now I’ve lost all my muscle definition & can’t stand for longer than 1-5 minute before I’m in agony.
Our healthcare system here is also trash, so trying to get help for my issues is near impossible.
In all honesty, our food and drug industry have poured millions, if not billions, into making Americans addicted to food and unhealthy
Food addiction is real and very, very sad 💔
Where did you visit? Because some places are extremely overweight and some are not. Other countries don’t understand except for a few major cities, most of the US is not walkable and does not have access to public transportation.
But we also don’t have the luxury of long lunches, going home for lunch from school or the office, and a good work/life balance. Most adults gain weight because we’re working 50+ hrs a week and get 15-30 min breaks at work for lunch.
I feel sorry for Americans because they have no idea about work-life balance. They think working is everything. I got a job offer from the USA once and laughed when they offered me 2 weeks vacation. I get 6 plus 2 weeks extra where I am now. Therefore their meals are fast and on the go. There’s no leisurely approach to anything. And none of their cities are walkable.
Brazil and America are two totally different sides of the spectrum.
Went to the World Cup back then and couldn’t believe the differences of peoples size.
I wish it was better here. You need to be so knowledgeable of what you’re putting in your body here it’s crazy. It’s a minefield.
I went to Brazil and was shocked with how physically fake people were. It’s like everyone was made out of plastic and kept bragging about it. Like you felt sad for us, I felt sad that the Brazilian people felt so shitty about themselves that this was the norm. Being natural was ugly. Physically, neither are healthy. Yah, you’re beautiful, but at what cost?
Also, the obesity epidemic in America is drastically declining due to GLP1s.
True. I’m from Vietnam and we’re shock by how people here like having fast food as daily meals meanwhile it’s an occasional meal in my country. I always thought that Vietnamese foods are salty until I came here.
Though I don’t think lack of exercise is really a problem since average step per day in Vietnam is less than the US. Hence, we are not in the fitness shape, most of us are skinny fat. I’m having tiny arms and legs with a fat in my stomach myself. And here’s the point, it’s the food that matters, even if you don’t work out at all, you’re supposed to more likely to be skinny fat than to be overweight or obese. I blame processed food, junk food and especially big portions for that
We get 30-minute lunches. Imagine what you’d eat if you only had 30 minutes to get your food, eat your food, and be back at your workstation. I don’t think people from other countries truly understand how poorly the options are for work-life balance in America. A good portion of the jobs here don’t afford movement throughout the day. So you’re stuck with limited activity, short lunches, and long work hours. You’ll find that most of our obese population is lower income. Lower income usually means working A LOT to make ends meet, not affording healthy food options, no access to gyms, and no time to eat anything other than cheap fast food most of the time. Quick, cheap, and easy almost always equates to insanely high calories.
I appreciate your observation. I think it’s intentional so people will have to rely on the medical industry. Some are too sensitive to admit that they have a problem. Maybe your post will motivate them
Our food is filled with a lot of ingredients that are banned in other countries because it is bad for your health. Our pre-portioned impulse purchase junk food/candy no longer comes in single serving sizes. It’s usually 2.5 servings with a reminder about "thoughtful portions" or you have to buy a bulk box that contains 6-12 actual single servings that are meant to be used in packed lunches. The system is rigged against us. The only way to "win" is to not ever buy any pre-packaged junk food.
We are in a health crisis from obesity but many refuse to accept or admit it. It’s not healthy to be overweight, nor is it attractive at all.
So to be fair you’re not exactly coming from a place of healthy body image either. Brazil literally has federally funded plastic surgery grants for people. You’re coming from Plastic Surgery Central to a country that has different values and norms.
I doubt you’re comparing what you’re seeing to anything actually real – which warrants some reflection.
A not insignificant part of the problem is added sugar. Soooooo much has added sugar.
A slice of bread from the bread in my pantry is 8% of my daily value. Per slice. So one sandwich is 16%.
Why? That’s ridiculous
I’m American and the lack of healthy lifestyles in this country are gross. FFS eat a banana put down the candy bar. In the richest country on earth this shouldn’t be an issue.
It sounds like you actually have a very mature, nuanced, well-rounded view of a complex situation.
You’re not the only one. I’m from Australia and visited the US about 10 years ago.
I don’t notice the people as much as the portion sizes. Our drinks at McDonalds don’t go up to the crazy sizes they have there, and at a restaurant I couldn’t finish a single dish – even if it was an appetiser!
Tell me about it. I live here and sometimes I feel like all I see are overweight people.
This is by design. Capitalism comes first over citizens well being. Our oligarchs like to keep us unhealthy, stupid and poor so we don’t stomp their asses out of existences, all while making bank off of us. As George Carlin put it, it’s a big club and you ain’t in it.
The USA ia a country that seem to hate its citizens. Every single aspect of life in that country has been designed to keep the people dumb, uneducated, obese, sick and exhausted. Higher education is ridiculously expensive; healthy food are also expensive, not even talking about "food deserts" here; health care will more often than not ruin you financially; the car industry reign supreme, walking or biking seem to be discouraged due to to lack of pedestrian and bicycle friendly infrastructures; no rights for workers, the list goes on and on.
Yeah, the US hate its citizens.
Where in the US did you go?
Our food is poison, food deserts exist and in mostly impoverished areas, and it’s socially acceptable to be fat. Any one who trys to say that being obese isn’t normal/healthy is scolded and called fatphobic. Also “thick” is the beauty standard here. America wants its citizens fat so we don’t have the energy to turn on our government lol
I think ypu sound judgemental AF and it’s hilarious. You come from a country who has more plastic surgery clinics than churches, pharmacies, or grocery markets. But ok
My unofficial ‘conspiracy theory’ is it happened in the 80’s-ish when the US, for whatever reasons switched from pure cane sugar to corn syrup as the main sweetener in foods… and they started adding it to a lot of foods that didn’t contain it before – to make it more palatable? Addicting?
First time I went to Vegas I was astounded by the number of obese people I saw
I wish I could
Do a study of the vast amount of food commercials on americas most watched networks- including ads for kids. Our government has subsidized cheap ingredients like corn so that our nation can be fed, but not well and now we’re seeing the effects of that in our culture. There’s a really interesting story of how a woman had to lobby to have a grocery store put in her community because grocery store chains won’t build within x miles of a dollar tree / dollar general bc grocery stores make their money off of dry processed goods and take an L on produce/ perishable items and that’s all those discount chains sell.
No you are absolutely correct
The US is run like a business, not a country. The people are a comodity, not people. Money fuels the lack of regulations in unhealthy foods. It’s at an all-time high.
You can go down several rabbit holes about our healthcare and food industries. Our cities were made for going to work, not walking. Our individualism creates a lack of caring for the wellbeing of those around us.
A big one too that I don’t think people understand is how expensive healthy food is here. I spend $500 per month on food for just me because I buy healthy food and make my meals rather than eating out.
Nobody cares
Ironically, I didn’t read your entire post because it was….too large.
I honestly don’t blame you. I moved about 17 years ago from PR to Texas, and it was a culture shock. One of the things that I did notice was exactly this. I also learned really quickly that pretty much anything that was healthy was very expensive so technically speaking is kinda by design. Not only that most of the United States cities are not walkable. Most of the jobs are 9 to 5, are also in an office. Mental health is definitely an issue that gets overlooked and can absolutely be a factor apart from diet and other health issues.
And I’m not saying my home country is any better however I think it’s highlighted in the United States a tiny bit more. Being healthy, eating healthy, is almost a luxury in the United States. The other thing that I noticed is it also depends on the state because when I moved from Texas to Colorado the amount of available fast food definitely decreased (especially once you are out of the south of Colorado or more “poorer areas”) compared to Texas. The lifestyle is also very different depending on the state so those are things that definitely do influence that.
However, I hate to bring this up, but Brazil is also very sexualized, which puts more pressure to look more attractive, regardless, if it’s natural or not as compared to United States, where the movement of embracing thick and bigger bodies, regardless if they’re healthy or not is still a thing. I’m not saying you’re wrong because technically you’re not, but I can definitely see how it could be a culture shock when you’re not surrounded by bigger people all the time.
It’s a product of capitalism. People are working 3 jobs to make ends meet, and fast food/processed junk is less expensive. Yes, when you break it down “per serving” and when compared to the health issues that arise from eating that way, it doesn’t, but when it’s 2 in the morning you’re not trying to make a salad. “Food prep on the weekends!” Again, people don’t have free time for that, or lack the education on how to do it. Plus, these foods are made to be addictive- High sugar, high salt, your body starts to crave it and you get hungrier faster because you didn’t receive the proper nutrients the first time around. I didn’t grow up eating fast food and was disgusted by it, and as a poor kid in college I started here and there and suddenly all I ever wanted was Taco Bell. It’s made to be addictive.
I am incredibly privileged now but I wasn’t always. I can now eat healthy, I have time to grocery shop and cook, I live somewhere with access to fresh whole ingredients and am fortunate to not live in a food desert. I have an income that allows me to buy the necessities for a quality, healthy meal, and I have had the privilege of being taught how to cook, how to stretch food, how to add in better for you items. Nutrition isn’t taught everywhere, our education system is a mess. Many, many people don’t know how to cook- this is also not typically taught in schools though some schools do, and some offer them as electives.
Additionally, I’m privileged to have decent healthcare, which the world is very aware is a rarity in America. Our healthcare is a joke, our food is not as well regulated as it should be, and people are developing health issues that can have weight gain as a secondary effect, and no access to healthcare to correct that.
Urban sprawl is another contributing factor. We are a hugely care reliant country, whereas many others are walkable or biking is normalized. There are walkable cities, but they tend to be very expensive because of that, so people have to live where they can afford, which isn’t going to have the infrastructure to support people being more mobile. People drive hours to work sometimes, they can’t walk that. Most people in my town drive more than an hour to work because that’s where the jobs are, but the affordable living places are outside of town.
I am privileged, but there are so many factors that contribute that aren’t just “laziness”. Yes, that can be a reason for some….but even then, there are many mental health professionals that don’t believe “laziness” is an actual behavioral trait and is a side effect of other issues- depression, unaddressed trauma creating a freeze response, etc.
And hey, reading your updates and responses, it’s cool you’re willing to learn and listen and address your own prejudices. There are many many reasons people are fat, but most of it boils down to a country that does not care about its people, only the work they can do. It’s sad, and I try to be grateful everyday. I worked hard to get where I am but I still recognize a lot of it is luck and timing; I could be making $7 an hour and still trying to make a big mag last over three meals too. It’s hard here for people to climb out of generational poverty.
Good luck and I hope this thread helps you gain some insight.
this is not news to north america… people pay for gym memberships and never actually go lol
Have you tried the all u can eat Chinese food places?
I think a big part of it you hit on without realizing it. We are very disconnected from our own food production. There is a certain amount of physical labor involved but also thought that goes into how much and what you’re eating when you are a part of harvesting your own food. That holds true whether it’s hunting, gardening, or raising live stock. For most Americans the baby boomers was the last generation where the vast majority held any responsibility for their own food resources. Now we rely on others to grow and raise our food and give little thought into what it takes, we go buy it, complain about the cost, and go about our busy lives.
Having traveled the world one of my small observations the world over, people who grow or raise some part of their own food tend to be a much healthier weight. Anecdotal at best I know just my observations and opinion.
What part of the country did you visit?
Did you ever read before going to the USA? Idk how you were surprised
I have strong childhood memories of encountering loud, rude Brazilians on vacation in popular travel locations. Maybe Americans can be less fat and Brazilians can learn some manners, everyone wins!
Most people think it’s individual choices but in reality it’s more corporate motives. The entire food distribution system is designed to get people to buy more food and consume it more and more. From the food itself being as tasty and addictive as possible to how it is sold.
Shit. I started wegovy recently and I recently found out there is a company trying to produce food that counteracts the effects of wegovy.
Even eating out at restaurants we are given such massive proportions. My partner and I have started splitting meals at restaurants just so we are not consuming past our calorie limit. Plus it helps with cost too.
What a terrible wall of text
I’m curious where you travelled in the US. Obesity is definitely at epidemic level proportions here, but in my travels I’ve noticed that the rates of obesity definitely vary regionally.
Walmart certainly attracts a higher rate of obese customers because it’s the lower and lower-middle class that’s most affected by obesity. Obesity rates have a lot to do with how food is priced and marketed in the US, as well as how our cities are designed. So there’s no one factor that accounts for the whole of the issue, but factory processed foods are a huge part of the problem.
The South and Midwest have the highest rates of overweight people according to the CDC
Education levels and social class are serious contributing factors as well. Wealthy and well-educated people have the lowest rates.
Yes it’s true. I’m a dual citizen, I spent covid times in Canada with my parents instead of going back and forth frequently like I usually do. When the cruise ships first started returning to our ports, many ppl wondered where all the obese people are coming from. We forgot that it’s more normalized. It’s ok to feel sorry for ppl with any life threatening condition. Doesn’t mean you hate them or anything. It also makes me feel uncomfortable, the same way I’d feel uncomfortable in a cancer unit. It’s not a judgment, as humans we are all still animals. All animals feel a natural reaction being surrounded by their fellow species where many are very unhealthy. Doesn’t make you a bad person. Just don’t be mean to them or conflate it with them being a bad person.
A family member drove from California to Tennessee and he was surprised at how far away from the table booths got as he went more east.
Hey, we’re not just fat…
… we’re also quite stupid as well.
Just to add some context, cars, houses and cups were all big well before the obesity epidemic happening here. We aren’t making everything bigger to accommodate our more recent overeating, we’ve always made everything big for some reason.
I live here and im often shocked by it.Any time you bring up adding more train options or walkable cities the replies are full of" i can’t get groceries on the train" and similar nonsense so I’m assuming most of my countrymen are stocking the fuck up on a bunch of processed garbage and refusing to walk more than 20 yards. Not much money left over for healthy food after fueling up their obnoxiously huge,unnecessary vehicles either.
The people in mobility scooters are disabled. With some disabilities comes the inability to exercise. Without the ability to exercise, people get fat. Fat doesn’t cause disability, disability causes fat. Understand?
And due to the lack of proper healthcare in the US, many people are disabled. I’m not saying we don’t have a food or gluttony problem, but don’t use disabled people to prove your point about fat people not living a healthy lifestyle.
We are all gonna die. Fat or skinny.
This is the first post I have ever read where the OP did just one paragraph and I read the whole post. If you could edit to multiple paragraphs by putting two returns occasionally that would be helpful. The reason I read it anyway is I so agree with you. I’m in Tennessee and it is stunning how overweight most everyone is and how normal everyone thinks it is.
IT IS NO ACCIDENT. THE AMERICAN MEDICAL COMPANIES MAKE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY FROM UNHEALTHY PEOPLE.
It’s crazy to me because I have such complete control over my weight. And because of this it’s obvious most people here lack any discipline and/or care. It’s really easy to not buy shit that’s bad for you.
im curious which part of the US you went to? because usually is big metropolitan areas the people are slimmer due to walkable cities and accessible things vs Midwest or smaller towns in America people are pretty commonly overweight, for example youre gonna find more overweight people Amarillo Texas vs Austin TX and TX is one of the more overweight states
I love travelling. I have been travelling all over the world for more than 25 years now, and I have never seen so many:
just on the US streets – it was terrifying.
I’m Brazilian-American. Whenever I go to Brazil, even if for a couple of weeks, I end up losing weight. The food there has less additives and ingredients are fresh(er). Lots of vegetables, green leaves, fresh fruits, healthy grains, and lean meats/fish. Last time I lost 21lbs in 5 weeks. It’s the same way when I go to Europe (where I have family and friends). The last time I was there was 2023, going to England to visit friends and cousins from my mom’s side (British family) and to France to visit old family friends. I didn’t portion control or calorie intake control anything and still managed to lose about 16lbs. This is very eye opening about the food industry in the US, and I keep my diet healthy here where I live. I actually am fortunate to live in a state (WA) where I think people live a healthier life style and eat more organically, at least here in Western Washington (I’m in Seattle). But when I lived in TN (Memphis) for only 4.5 years, I put on a whopping 35lbs! 😳
It’s the shitty food here. Carbs cooked in oil are cheap, vegetables aren’t. Parents start toddlers off on Mac n cheese, spaghetti, chicken nuggets and fries, and nary a vegetable to be had. Look at the videos on what the schools feed our kids. They could do like other places and make real food, but you gotta pay people to do that as well as have a real kitchen, not reheating cabinets and warming tables.
Agree. And I’m a lady of extremely generous proportions myself. Part of the problem is the huge amounts of processed food and corn syrup in so many foods. Corn syrup isn’t easily metabolised and converts straight to fat.
Another problem is portion size. When we visited the US a few years ago, I was shocked at how big the portions were. A simple single person Cobb salad took up an entire large platter. The starter sizes at The Cheesecake Factory (what we call entrees) were absolutely enormous! Bigger than a full main course here in Australia (and believe me we have our own obesity problem). Full buckets of popcorn and Coke at the cinema and sports games. Seriously, no-one needs to eat that much. But it’s just become a supersized way of eating (and, unfortunately, dying).
It isn’t just the amount of food consumed in the US, it’s also the ingredients used. US candy is often loaded with fat and sugar, while other countries’ has much less, even from the same manufacturer. Processed food in the US is cheaper, so poorer people buy it, but there are ingredients in it that fosters addiction, and it’s full of empty calories. Also, since tobacco products are no longer heavily advertised, junk food and beer are both heavily featured in every form of media. But, yes, many of us overeat.
I noticed some things about people in Brazil that shocked me but I’m smart enough to realize it wasn’t everyone there