Are we all 'skinny challenged' compared to the world?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We know that there are many reasons for using an ECV but to the casual observer it seems like most are overweight. Many mobility issues are due to weight. This country would have a much healthier population if we all had a good BMI.

What's a good BMI when the info behind it is bad?

My husband's family has high blood pressure, my husband consistently measures borderline on blood tests and normally runs too high on the bad cholesterol but according to BMI he's too skinny/right on the border because of his height. Conversely I always have great blood pressure and good cholesterol according to my blood work. For the most part we eat the same stuff.

Your overall health of your body is not measured by your looks or some made up number from close to 200 years ago.

 

[EllieJedi]

We know that there are many reasons for using an ECV but to the casual observer it seems like most are overweight. Many mobility issues are due to weight. This country would have a much healthier population if we all had a good BMI.

My good BMI, excellent blood pressure and healthy eating habits are not going to fix my mobility issues, or those of many others left disabled in serious accidents.

 

[DCLMP]

We know that there are many reasons for using an ECV but to the casual observer it seems like most are overweight. Many mobility issues are due to weight. This country would have a much healthier population if we all had a good BMI.

I agree with all of the above. I've also spent a lot of time in Europe and I can't recall ever seeing a mobility scooter. I'm not sure how people with serious disabilities get around. Things aren't as handicapped-accessible as they are here. In some cities, you are lucky if there's a sidewalk.

 

[kdonnel]

In addition to everything else mentioned, is cigarette smoking a way to lose/keep off weight? Back in the 70s, there were a lot more smokers than now. And aren't there more smokers in Europe (don't know about Asia) than the US?

Nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Tobacco as a delivery mechanism comes with some drawbacks.

Perhaps it should be added to tap water? Wait that won’t work, no one drinks tap water anymore. It will need to be added to a sports drink or flavored bottled water.

 

[sam_gordon]

Nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Tobacco as a delivery mechanism comes with some drawbacks.

Perhaps it should be added to tap water? Wait that won’t work, no one drinks tap water anymore. It will need to be added to a sports drink or flavored bottled water.

Never said smoking is good for you. Just pointing out another difference from the past and other countries.

 

[GreatLakes]

It is easy to walk here in the US, just not necessarily for all your errands. We walk our neighborhood, walk to nearby parks, drive into the shopping area and then walk around to various places, go do walks in the woods even if we have to drive to the trailhead, and so on. It just takes making it a priority. I live about 8 miles from the office and I will run to or from work some days.

 

[greeneyedchick]

I actually do believe a lot of obesity in the US v/s Europe is from food additives, agricultural practices like GMOs and a difference in general food standards.

I agree. I was just reading an article on how much healthier butter is than margarine (something I already knew), but it reiterated how we started eating so many more processed foods with vegetable oil. The article also highlighted that the trend for low-fat foods requires a large amount of processing. We've gotten fatter since we started the low-fat craze. It comes down to eating these processed foods. Whole foods (even high-calorie, fat ones) are more filling which can ultimately reduce calorie intake.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I agree that part of the problem is chemicals in food. Also hormones and antibiotics in some meats. I'm not even sure what effects GMOs have, so I try to avoid them.

Another factor in recent years is the tendency to spend so much time on smartphones and computers instead of moving around in the real world. Even now -- here we all are on computers or phones discussing this, instead of doing physical tasks, exercise, or activities. Back in the 1970s, people would likely have been doing more active things than discussing stuff like this on message boards.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I enjoy watching cooking videos on Instagram and have gotten a lot of good ideas to try.

But man, some of the things people are making have way too much salt and fat! And if people mention it in the comments, look out!

 

[Karin1984]

I feel kind of bad for your friends. Imagine going to a different country, to DISNEY WORLD, and all that can be taken away from that is that people are fat?

In addition to everything else mentioned, is cigarette smoking a way to lose/keep off weight? Back in the 70s, there were a lot more smokers than now. And aren't there more smokers in Europe (don't know about Asia) than the US?

One of the most common thing for Americans to notice when they visit Disneyland Paris is smoking. Often mentioned as the #1 downside of the park.

And I wouldn't be surprised if that correlates with the French being skinnier

Although, when i used to work for a French Dutch company, we had a French colleague coming over to NL to give us a training. We graze, in NL it is common to have snacks on your desks or at the office and eat all day. So we did during training. The French colleague was almost appalled and had to mention it to us in class. Later I noticed, my French colleagues seemed to stick to 3 bigger meals during the day, without snacking.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

One of the most common thing for Americans to notice when they visit Disneyland Paris is smoking. Often mentioned as the #1 downside of the park.

And one’s just as bad as the other - obesity and smoking.

 

[Chili327]

Honestly, I was just coming to point out that the Western Pacific has insanely high levels of obesity - much more than the US. In some countries, amputation due to diabetes are one of the most common surgeries (when you tie obesity with high barriers to accessing care, you end up with a lot of complications from diabetes). It's having a major impact on health services planning and financing (which is what I do and I am now working in the region).

What do they eat?
I saw a documentary a few years ago called “The Magic Pill” and it was saying how Pacific Islanders are eating garbage food that we send them instead of what they used to eat local harvested food?

I agree. I was just reading an article on how much healthier butter is than margarine (something I already knew), but it reiterated how we started eating so many more processed foods with vegetable oil. The article also highlighted that the trend for low-fat foods requires a large amount of processing. We've gotten fatter since we started the low-fat craze. It comes down to eating these processed foods. Whole foods (even high-calorie, fat ones) are more filling which can ultimately reduce calorie intake.

Definitely agree, margarine and all the “low fat” food (processed , and vegetable oils) is where we have taken a turn for the worst.

I enjoy watching cooking videos on Instagram and have gotten a lot of good ideas to try.

But man, some of the things people are making have way too much salt and fat! And if people mention it in the comments, look out!

I am one of them.
Salt and Fat are fine if you don’t mix them with the processed garbage. Fat is more essential than fiber. I eat “fat bombs” and put salt on lots of things, but I don’t eat breads, chips, pasta, etc.
Look up “Carnivore diet” wherever your research of choice is… unless it’s a vegan source. lol
You’ll be amazed at how healthy people are that eat what we’ve been told all our lives is bad.

 

[NYCgrrl]

One thing in Europe are there are less considerations towards those with disabilities. Yes I've seen where they may get a discount here and there but as far as mobility that is not the same. In the U.S. we have ADA which helps on many building built after a time to consider people in that area. And no that's not about size of the person.

One other thing I noticed is when we were in Venice my husband and I would walk to the next bridge to get to a place so long as it made sense (as in there was a bridge) but I noticed what appeared to be locals who would hop on the boats to go one stop but across the water. Kinda seemed easy to just walk but they didn't, many appeared to use the boats to go just one maybe two stops. But something that hones in on my first point there wasn't a single elderly or disabled person on a boat and even someone with very mild mobility issues would have a problem since they don't stop but a few seconds. Of course Venice is Venice but it left with the idea what do the elderly do there? Just stay put? Because their way of life would be vastly different here in the U.S. for entirely different reasons.

I’m not sure I would use Venice as typical of a European city on this level as there are hardly any Venetians left who can afford to live in the city. It has become a victim of its own popularity and those horrid mega cruise ships that dwarf the port and erode the shoreline. Makes me angry thinking of all that came before.

I do agree that Euros have a different approach to disability and you will see less grading of landscape, street furniture that accommodates different disabilities , etc. Of course generally the disabled receive more money to live than their American counterparts but that is true of most. From my current perspective a combination of both approaches would serve better.

 

[PollyannaMom]

In addition to everything else mentioned, is cigarette smoking a way to lose/keep off weight? Back in the 70s, there were a lot more smokers than now. And aren't there more smokers in Europe (don't know about Asia) than the US?

Nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Tobacco as a delivery mechanism comes with some drawbacks.

Good way to put it, @kdonnel!

I think smoking also cuts down on "boredom eating" - munching just to have something to do with your hands/mouth. But I agree, it's trading one evil for another.

It is easy to walk here in the US, just not necessarily for all your errands. We walk our neighborhood, walk to nearby parks, drive into the shopping area and then walk around to various places, go do walks in the woods even if we have to drive to the trailhead, and so on. It just takes making it a priority. I live about 8 miles from the office and I will run to or from work some days.

But that's the thing. Walking here is an event - one more thing to schedule and make time for. I think the point is that it used to be (and still is in some places) more integrated into daily life.

Walking home from school took me 20-30 minutes for the equivalent amount of exercise. Left plenty of time for homework, creative play, etc.

Nowadays, we're potentially spending 3x the amount of time to get the same amount of exercise - example:
Kid takes bus home (30-40 min)
Drive to hiking trail (15 min)
Enjoy lovely walk (30 min)
Drive home (15 min)
Total time: 90+ minutes, but still only 30 minutes of exercise, and little time for other things

 

[Jennasis]

Oh we fat. No question.

 

[Genie+]

I enjoy watching cooking videos on Instagram and have gotten a lot of good ideas to try.

But man, some of the things people are making have way too much salt and fat! And if people mention it in the comments, look out!

I think I’m finally getting through to my kids about this. They’re college age and try to make or request me to make stuff found online. Often I’d say “Anything will taste good if you put 2 sticks of butter and cup of heavy cream in it.”

They’ve made ‘easy’ ice cream recipes that were all heavy cream and pasta sauce that’s near a stick of butter per serving. Don’t get me wrong I love butter, dairy, pork fat, etc lol. The trick is putting those ingredients where they really count and balancing with less rich dense nutrition ingredients that still equal a banging meal you can happily put on your weekly rotation.

 

[MamaMermaid]

1. Culture of more eating out/processed food
2. Less walking

 

[Genie+]

Oh we fat. No question.

I’ve invested alot into this belly and am very proud

 

[DCLMP]

I think Soda is the biggest culprit . You won’t find unlimited soda refills in other countries.

 

[gmi3804]

Our standards of what “looks unhealthy” have dropped over the years. When I look at photos of the so-called “fat kids“ from when we were in grammar school (70s) they don’t seem all that fat by today’s standard average kid.

Remember when a large (single serving!) Coke at McDonald’s was 16oz, and looked HUGE?