Fat Americans: Victims or Targets?

woai ^

[Bob]

That's one pathetic piece of 'journalism'.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

If one realizes that the so-called Food Pyramid that the gubmnt and health care and Nutrition "experts" pushes on the population is totally upside down and in fact dangerous to one's health, one could accept the theory of a conspiracy.

But who's behind it and what is their aim?

[Belial]

The food pyramid isn't upside down, but it does assume that you engage in more physical activity than a mollusk.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

No, it is upside down. The grains, breads pasta and cereals are what's making everyone fat and giving them high blood pressure and cholesteral and heart disease.

Maybe twenty per cent of the population can eat that stuff in quantity without adverse effects.

[Belial]

The grains, breads pasta and cereals are what's making everyone fat and giving them high blood pressure and cholesteral and heart disease.

I guess you've never been to Italy.

But Americans don't eat like Italians. Most of us eat lots of processed food, fast food and junk food. Combine that with the tendency to drive two blocks instead of walk, and constant TV and Internet use, it's no wonder Americans are turning into a nation of blimps.

Don't blame the government. Do you want reparations or something?

[rejoicing]

I agree with you..........and the conspiracy is that a lawyer for George McGovern, an animal rights, anti-meat individual pushed the pyramid until it became government-backed. There is not one scientific study that backs it up. It is ingestion of carbs and resultant insulin-resistance that causes cholesterol problems. Fat does not make fat.

[Belial]

Fat does not make fat.

Then why is Memphis the fattest city in the US? They deep-fry everything there.

[TXBubba]

So far I am in agreement with the posters here. I've always fought a weight problem. The problem is too much in the mouth and not enough exercise with the body. I have learned to control this. However...

I do blame the food industry to a point. It wasn't too long ago that the fast food places started coming out with Super Sized KIDS meals. Like our kids need anything in the world super-sized. I do hold their feet to the fire on that one.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Reparations, Hmmm.

Well no, I never eat more than a spoonful of rice or pasta, never any sugar.(I hate the taste of sugar in anything.)
The only bread I eat is pita and not much of that.

Plenty of fresh veggies and a good dose of protein and fat
in every meal.

[Jane G]

A great book that expounds on that and in much scientific detail is "The Zone" by Dr. Barry Sears. My spouse just attended a medical convention that went into depth on the subject matter brought out in his book.

[SupplySider]

I guess you've never been to Italy.

Or India. they live mostly on rice or wheat.

[MHGinTN]

Fat Americans: Victims or Targets? Uh, exploited saps, if fat people continue to buy into the trial lawyer strategy for strong-arming the food industry. Didn't R. Limbaugh say this would happen, way back when the tobacco lawsuits started to gain momentum thanks to sinkEmperor's assistance for the class action suit by releasing Justice Dept. files to hatellary's brother's law firm?

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Thanks for the info. See, it IS a conspiracy.

Those vegans are trying to kill us all.

[Wolfie]

Well if they're targets, they're going to be hard to miss!

[rejoicing]

Ayup! The fried meat is coated with FLOUR (carbs), and along with the coated, deep-fried meat, are served french fried POTATOES (carbs)! You just proved my point. Another source: The Scwarzbein Principle. Excellent scholarship!

[Tall_Texan]

I'm really not surprised that a city comprised mainly of short, squatty Mexicans who eat a diet based on corn meal and cheese would be among the most obese. Kind of a "duh" statement IMO.

The deep (fried) South is another candidate, given their staples of fried chicken, fried steak, fried seafood and things cooked in lard.

What's surprising to me is that the northern states aren't the fattest since it's cold up there a good chunk of the time and I know sometimes I overeat in an attempt to stay warm. And that's living where 40-degrees is considered cold. Imagine how I'd feel if I lived somewhere where 40-degrees was considered a heat wave? Maybe they just don't weigh the Yankees because they'd have to peel off too many layers of coats and sweaters to get an accurate weight...

[Belial]

My friend, carbs have been a dietary staple since time immemorial. And yet the fat explosion in America, especially among the young, is a new phenomena. The Atkins theory doesn't account for that.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

This brand of "journalism" disgusts me. Everybody is always looking for another segment of society to victimize aren't they? It's getting old, but its no surprise now. It seems really sinister to me that some years ago, some pro-big governemt/socialist/liberal hack think-tank sought to dumb people down so much, piss on the Constitution, remove common sense from society, and remove ALL essence of personal responsibility from people and transfer it to government...cause thats what liberal government(and socialism) needs the most...VICTIMS who don't know any better. And its great that the news media liberal propaganda machine is there to expose them all.

If your overweight and unhappy...stop whining and do something about it...like eating less! You'll get no sympathy from me, and I'm about 20 lbs overweight myself!

[fogarty]

The bottom line is the food pyramid is IRRELEVANT. It doesn't matter whether it is upside down or not. The primary factor is exercise. A hundred fifty years ago, people were eating far less beef, chicken, and pork then they are now. In fact, they were eating a lot more carbos back then - simply because it was more difficult to store and obtain meat for the average family. Yet back then there was no epidemic of obesity as we see know.

The one overarching factor which can be seen is the lack of physical activity. Occam's razor would seem to indicate that the sedentary lifestyle is what leads to obesity, not necessarily what you eat. Clearly there are isolated medical cases which are out of scope here.