Originally Posted by
scr3wgravity
Amazingly prevalent in the world's richest nation, obesity is a cause of disgust. In a country with just as many social divides as any in the West, Americas obesity levels are embarrassing to absolutely everyone, especially those trying to defend commercialism and TV, of which America is definitely king, or even Emperor. The UK is next in-line, although slowly catching up we still have many years to go before we get to American levels of obesity.
"America is experiencing an obesity epidemic. In 1999, sixty-one percent of Americans were overweight and twenty-six percent were obese. The definition of overweight is having a body-mass index (BMI) greater than 25, and the definition of obesity is having a BMI greater than 30. BMI is calculated by multiplying body weight by 705 then dividing by height in inches squared."
2001 January 4
"America's Obesity Epidemic (Family Health Focus)"
Richard Lutes, MD - OAFP Member
America is frequently ridiculed for its inhabitants unwillingness to walk rather than drive. And although the criticism is short sighted, it is at least common with the theme that America is not perceived as a healthy or wise nation by many.
Many people consider it a shocking symptom of Western indulgence and neglect that the richest nation has the highest obesity levels and still has problems with illiteracy, homelessness, etc. Although it isn't possible to get rid of such problems (and don't forget that legal immigration skews the figures), there are countries in the West such as the Netherlands and Canada that have a poverty exit rate of over 40% [Source], and although rich countries, they are not as rich as the US. The assumption that just because you are rich means you have all the factors required to fight poverty is short sighted, I feel, but many people see a fat-or-poor aspect of America.