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The Global Obesity Epidemic
- Thread starter Skeptical Greg
- Start date
Skeptical Greg
Agave Wine Connoisseur
I think we should have higher taxes on sugar drinks and Ultra Processed Food ( The obesity tax ) go directly into a Wegovy and Zepbound subsidy.
That should make them free.
That should make them free.
Another study shows low income linked to unhealthier food choices.
theconversation.com
I think part of this is just that fruit and vegetables are low in calories and don't satiate hunger. Highly processed foods also last longer compared to fruit and vegetables so they're better "value" for your dollar.
A bowl of spaghetti with pasta sauce is just as satiating as a bowl of spaghetti with pasta sauce and a $5 bag of spinach added (that they can't afford), so they do without the spinach.
‘Food deserts’ found even in areas with supermarkets nearby – new study
An analysis of 420 million supermarket transactions shows that understanding what people buy – not just where they live – is key to creating healthier communities.
theconversation.com
I think part of this is just that fruit and vegetables are low in calories and don't satiate hunger. Highly processed foods also last longer compared to fruit and vegetables so they're better "value" for your dollar.
A bowl of spaghetti with pasta sauce is just as satiating as a bowl of spaghetti with pasta sauce and a $5 bag of spinach added (that they can't afford), so they do without the spinach.
I don't think that's true. On the contrary, actually: The point is that you can get satiety earlier from some kinds of food that are low in calories, so you stop eating sooner than if you eat other food higher in calories that makes you feel full later, so you continue eating those beyond the point when you have consumed enough calories.Another study shows low income linked to unhealthier food choices.
I think part of this is just that fruit and vegetables are low in calories and don't satiate hunger.‘Food deserts’ found even in areas with supermarkets nearby – new study
An analysis of 420 million supermarket transactions shows that understanding what people buy – not just where they live – is key to creating healthier communities.
Refrigeration can make most (not all) fruits and vegetables last longer. In fact, replacing candy with fruit is a way of lowering your intake of calories: Sweet like candy, but high in fiber and lower in calories.
However, if you're living paycheck to paycheck, you may think of the last time you had to throw out bananas, apples or other fresh produce that was no longer edible. If you're rich, that won't bother you much.
The same thing rarely happens with candy bars.
Skeptical Greg
Agave Wine Connoisseur
A lot is education.
You have to teach children early on ( as soon as they are weaned ) to eat grapes/apples/whatever instead of candy bars.
You don't bring sugar drinks into the house. They shouldn't be a choice.
Parents use sugar based food and drinks as pacifiers. " Here's a glass of Kool Aid and a Snickers . Leave me alone."
You have to teach children early on ( as soon as they are weaned ) to eat grapes/apples/whatever instead of candy bars.
You don't bring sugar drinks into the house. They shouldn't be a choice.
Parents use sugar based food and drinks as pacifiers. " Here's a glass of Kool Aid and a Snickers . Leave me alone."
When I grew up, sugar drinks and candy were something we would have on Saturdays. I enjoyed it, and I wouldn't want to see it gone, like: "You don't bring sugar drinks into the house."
I don't see the problem with that. It only becomes a problem when it's an everyday occurrence, which it often becomes when you are poor and uneducated. Especially poor because sugar drinks are much cheaper than milk and fruit juice nowadays.
I would also hate to see chocolate and ice cream gone,the former in particular, but it should be enjoyed in moderation and be a quality product.
I don't see the problem with that. It only becomes a problem when it's an everyday occurrence, which it often becomes when you are poor and uneducated. Especially poor because sugar drinks are much cheaper than milk and fruit juice nowadays.
I would also hate to see chocolate and ice cream gone,the former in particular, but it should be enjoyed in moderation and be a quality product.
EHocking
Penultimate Amazing
Gary Delaney,
“My Doctor told me not to eat anything fatty. ... I asked “Like bacon or cheeseburgers?”
He replied, “No fatty, don't eat anything.”.”
“My Doctor told me not to eat anything fatty. ... I asked “Like bacon or cheeseburgers?”
He replied, “No fatty, don't eat anything.”.”
How food was designed to NOT make us full: A historian dissects the history of hunger
For centuries, the military and nations have used hunger to win battles and get power. Now, the food industry uses it for profit, according to historian behind a new book.
Skeptical Greg
Agave Wine Connoisseur
ABC News Reporting on Ultra Processed Foods
Target the production! It's no different than a war on drugs. UPFs Are killing people of all ages. They cause millions if not billions in health care costs, while BIG Food fills their pockets.
Target the production! It's no different than a war on drugs. UPFs Are killing people of all ages. They cause millions if not billions in health care costs, while BIG Food fills their pockets.
And lack of exercise is killing people of all ages, too:
There is more than one reason why Americans are more unhealthy than Europeans, obviously, but this is one of them.
Europe doesn't exactly get it right. 54% of short-distance trips being by private car isn't enough. Europe just gets it a little better than the USA and Canada. Walking just slightly more than 1 km and bicycling 0.5 km per day also isn't nearly enough to stay somewhat fit.
And, as I haven mentioned several times, if infrastructure doesn't encourage walking and bicycling, few people will do it. The difference between Europe and the USA is also mentioned in the video.
There is more than one reason why Americans are more unhealthy than Europeans, obviously, but this is one of them.
Europe doesn't exactly get it right. 54% of short-distance trips being by private car isn't enough. Europe just gets it a little better than the USA and Canada. Walking just slightly more than 1 km and bicycling 0.5 km per day also isn't nearly enough to stay somewhat fit.
And, as I haven mentioned several times, if infrastructure doesn't encourage walking and bicycling, few people will do it. The difference between Europe and the USA is also mentioned in the video.
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Health is one of the issues I recently read in the book Life After Cars. How walkable cities are much more healthy places to live in for much of the above reasons. NotJustBikes has also done a vid on this, but he's covered about everything on walkable cities.
Skeptical Greg
Agave Wine Connoisseur
Translation: Get up off your ass and move.
Yes, that's the point!
However, 'blame the lazy gluttonous individuals for any and all societal problems' will never run out of steam.
It's up there with 'the rich are healthy, fit and ... well ... rich because they work hard and don't succumb to unhealthy overconsumption and indolence like poor people do´.
However, 'blame the lazy gluttonous individuals for any and all societal problems' will never run out of steam.
It's up there with 'the rich are healthy, fit and ... well ... rich because they work hard and don't succumb to unhealthy overconsumption and indolence like poor people do´.
Dr. Oz explains obesity in the USA: It's too easy to be sick in America.
Easy to be sick in America! Much too easy!
'I live on the street now': how Americans fall into medical bankruptcy (The Guardian, Nov 14, 2019)
Easy to be sick in America! Much too easy!
'I live on the street now': how Americans fall into medical bankruptcy (The Guardian, Nov 14, 2019)
An interesting series of articles comparing Brits and Danes:
Ny serie: Hvad kan briterne og danskerne lære hinanden om sundhed? (Sep 1, 2026, Videnskab.dk)
New series: What can Brits and Danes learn from each other about health?
The comparison is interesting since the two countries are very much alike, the health-care systems are pretty similar, and so are the genetics of Brits and Danes, so what may account for the differences in health and obesity?
It's in Danish, but ...
Articles in English so far:
Ny serie: Hvad kan briterne og danskerne lære hinanden om sundhed? (Sep 1, 2026, Videnskab.dk)
New series: What can Brits and Danes learn from each other about health?
The comparison is interesting since the two countries are very much alike, the health-care systems are pretty similar, and so are the genetics of Brits and Danes, so what may account for the differences in health and obesity?
It's in Danish, but ...
Articles in English so far:
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Obesity is at the top of the list in high-income countries!
I saw it here first:
I saw it here first:
Ny liste: Her er de største trusler mod menneskeheden i dette århundrede (Videnskab.dk, Oct 13, 2026)
