Is obesity a big problem in your country? How do you think it can be prevented?

[Babygirl_S]

[ODC2112]

It is not a big problem in Italy, but it is a growing problem. Childhood obesity is a big problem in Italy.

Obesity on whole population

Italy, with Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Spain, ranks among the countries with the highest rates of childhood obesity. The prevalence in Italy is 18%, since it reaches 19% in adolescents.

Obesity in minors 6-17

Obesity in children and young people is at the origin of psychological and relational problems, often also related to psycho-social problems such as low self-esteem, bullying at school, poor academic performance, eating disorders and depression. Furthermore, overweight obesity in childhood are associated with a greater risk of the onset of numerous chronic diseases in adulthood.

Obesity leads to psychological mechanisms whereby the fatter you are the more psychological and physical you need to eat.

If we look at the areas in Italiy with the greatest obesity, they are the poorest areas. This applies to both adult and children's obesity. The diet has little focus on the areas with the greatest propensity to obesity are the areas of the Mediterranean diet.

[ADFSDF1996]

It definitely is here in the US. Good luck finding a healthy fast food restaurant.

At the restaurant I currently work at, many of the customers are heavy set. Especially the regulars since most of our food is rich in calories and carbs.

The only way this can be fixed is by opening more healthy foods restaurants or simply expanding the menus of already existing restaurants with more healthy foods. Of course that doesn’t mean the people are going to eat those foods more often, since junk food tastes too good.

[Squaresquirrel]

No, in my home country it is quite shameful to be obese. I live in Scotland where a lot of women are overweight.
It would be prevented by education in school, cooking and nutrition classes.
Reducing sugar in everything. (not going to happen)
Also, cheap fast food should not be that cheap.

[purplepoppy]

It's a big problem in the UK. The problem is is too many have a bad "you can't tell me what to do" attitude and actively resist the healthyeating messages. If you show young kids various vegetables many won't recognise them and worse still their parents won't know how to cook them either.

[DWornock]

Certainly, obesity is a major problem in the USA. Typically, people have a set point that regulates their weight to within a few pounds of their set point so that when under their set point, they hungry enough to eat a lot and when over their set point, they are just not hungry and don't each much. However, by age 40 more or less, their set point changes; perhaps due to their diet such as too many carbohydrates.

I really don't know what the problem is. When you look at group photos from the 1950s and before, such as classroom photos, there was far less obesity. Of course back then, there were no school buses so up until high school, students walked to school or road their or rode their bicycles provided the distance wasn't much more than a mile and there were no restrictions on children being outside to play without adult supervision so perhaps they were a lot more active. Therefore, that may be the reason.

However, the food people eat may be another or perhaps the primary reason. At the time, farm animals were not fed growth hormones, nor was their any genetically modified food. I have wondered if growth hormones few to farm animals get transferred to humans that eat meet and drink milk. I also think genetically modified food may be a factor.

In any event, greater obesity since the 1950s may be any of or a combination of less physical activity, growth hormones fed to farm animals, and genetically modified food.

[whiskeyontherocks]

Yes
Start with not using BMI to determine obesity it’s not a accurate factor in health. Use body fat % this is a more accurate depiction.
Stop normalizing it while working on the individuals mental health and personal fortitude, this is almost always a factor and why most obese people relapse. Now we can get to the fitness part it’s ok to be the under dog mindset just get out there.
Preventative measures could be a standardized fitness test in school if you don’t pass than you don’t graduate.
And a standardized fitness test for employees based on certain factors for companies taxe benefits.

I think that any unhealthy habit should just become Unexceptable not restricted.

[DryGermanGuy]

I don't think so. One of the first statements of non-pc American YouTubers in Germany is, "Where are the fat people?" :-D
Food quality lawmakers and councils always have several initiatives going - currently some breakfast products are getting the amount of sugar reduced by 10% (again) and many manufacturers put a food quality system (ABCDE) on their products. Of course, there could always be done more.

[HighValue]

Discounts on healthcare coverage for people that stay fit. (Skinny is not fit.) Have them do a physical fitness test. They could also have their healthcare plans cover fitness equipment or gym memberships for preventative healthcare. Preventative is often more effective than aftercare.

[TickleMe4ForFun]

Make a "Fat Person Tax".

Any person who is 4 times their height in weight would be charged a $100 tax for every pound they are overweight.

So, a person who is 6 foot 2 inches tall is 74 inches tall. So, if they weigh 74 x 4= 296 lbs or more would be taxed. A person 5 ft 5 inches is 65 inches tall... so over 260lbs would be taxed.

[Omario2049]

I believe the answer lies in this statement. Chinese food in America is nothing like in China. Same goes for most other cuisines because in order for them to compete in the American market, they MUST add the secret ingredient. The secret ingredient to make anything taste delicious to an American is to "just add sugar". Reduce the sugar and what the people slim down.

[MTC29]

Although the Euros like to claim that the USA is the world's largest third world nation where homeless people die in the streets, obesity is a big problem here.

Better education about eating habits could solve the problem.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, obesity is a huge problem in America. How to fix the problem is just to stop allowing SNAP benefits ( Food Stamps) to cover: Candy, Cakes, Potatoe Chips, Pop, etc. make it mandatory to cover healthy foods

[exitseven]

I work in higher ed and see all the young people that are overweight. Both male and female. They are over weight and out of shape. They need to get off the screens and get some exercise.

[poneglyphs]

Like me XD

[RSav4013]

Yeah it's a big problem, and yes it can be prevented but I don't think it should fall onto anyone except the individuals to take it upon themselves to get healthy.

[Brittanyroseee]

Yes and im classified as class 1 obese HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[DARKCLOUD1945X]

While sitting at the table put your hands on the edge of the table and PUSH BACK AWAY FROM THE TABLE works great every time you do not eat as much

[Wise4myage]

Its a huge problem here in America, and people have to take charge of their own lives, and want to live a healthier life style.

[TacosRAwesome]

Yes. We are in the top 10 of most obese countries in the world. Possibly top in Europe.

[ArtemisSilver]

Regular and tax on damaging foods, tax breaks and free medical support for weight loss.

[Iron_Man]

Cut down on all the advertising pizza commercials and the rest

[KostasKouvalis]

I live in the US, so what do you think?
Bring back fat shaming.

[captain_voidwalker]

Well bombing everything into a state of 3rd world squalor would fix the problem but would it be worth the price?

[EssenceOfLight]

Yes. Lot of people eat too much, too fast and too unhealthy.

[motownplayer2000]

Fast food is the problem.. and people having food readily available that don’t have discipline

[Contra1166]

Yes Americans gotta stop eating bad food but life is rough for a lot of fold out there.

[RandomGuy1030]

No one cares about each other enough to tell them to put the fork down

[Staximus]

Yes, fat Americans are a thing.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

You might as well call it an evolutionary trait

[SignedAutographs]

Yes it is, less fast food, and more exercise

[jimmy2]

Stop eating out of a window

[AugustReliable]

Yes…. closing your mouth and working out

[slatyb]

Yes, it is.