Is it true that obesity used to be rare in American society 40-50 years ago? What changed? Were men actually too “underweight” for military service?

[WhiteBoyChill]

My Mom and Dad who are in their early 50’s both say that when they were growing up as kids in school, you would literally almost never see obese kids.

My Dad said there were two obese kids in his entire school and everyone knew who they were and kids made fun of them and thought they were weird.

Anyway, what changed?

Also my Grandfather said that he literally knew of kids getting turned away all the time because they were too “underweight” to serve in the military.

But its just sad really.

Thinking about how much American health has suffered in even just the span of a single generation.

Anyway, I heard that the military’s struggling so much with recruitment they’re actually letting more obese people join.

[Anonymous]

You ever watched the History channel's "The food that built America"? In 1953 Swanson created the first "T. V. dinner". Now I'm not putting this all on the t. v. dinner. In fact the t. v. dinner was not a bad thing. It gave mom a not night off from making a meal from scratch, which was a nightly thing. But I'm trying to say the couch potato lifestyle was born. In the the 60 moving into the 70's gave way to fast food. Now Americans dodn't even have stop to eat a meal they could get one on the go. But you have to add flavor enhancers, sugar, salt, fat both to extend the life of the food but also to make it more palatable like a healthy home-cooked meal.

In short no ONE thing did it it was a series of business and societal changes. Now our food has decreased in cost (not counting recent food costs of course due to the economy etc.), but our Healthcare costs have increased due what we eat as diabetes and heart disease are chronic conditions.

And probably the worst part of all this over the past 40 years. We learned so much about health and diet. But there is little will to change. Because until the American consumer says "NO"! The powers that be don't really want things to change. Because American business is making money coming and going. American business makes Americans sick. Then the Healthcare industry ( which employs 1 in 6 Americans, so don't kid yourself it's very much a business) steps in and makes money off of treating you after you're sick. And since you conditions is chronic now, you'll always be a repeat customer for them.

The good news is America is changing. Water has become the #1 drink for the first time in years. The bad part? American business are like drug dealers. They just going to double down and try to make thier products more addictive to keep what they still have.

[exitseven]

It is fast food and lack of exercise. Kids today do not play outside or ride their bikes. Video games and social media take up most of their time. When I go to the beach, a person of either gender that is in good physical shape is rare.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[OlderAndWiser]

Yes, I remember far fewer fat girls when I was a young boy. I don't know about fat boys 'cause I wasn't looking at the guys!

[handsomelad70]

There was an approximately FIVE HUNDRED POUND chap with whom I was at loggerheads when I was in high school.

[WhiteBoyChill]

So what do you suspect changed?

[OlderAndWiser]

Kids spend hours playing video games and people eat half their meals in restaurants.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Oh true. I hate eating out personally cuz I always feel I have to vomit afterwards

[handsomelad70]

And the "restaurants" most frequented are IHOP, Denny's, Carl'sJr., Wendy's and of course, Mickey D's, where fast food "meals" abound.

[Fireguy17]

yeppers, when you look at older pictures kids were much smaller.
Audie Murphy was too small and young, to get in most branches of the service back in WW2, but he got in and won the Congressional Medal of Honor as well as many others.
I was a big kid in High School, there were some that were taller, but I had most of them beat on physical size and strength.
I was normally 195ish, 56" shoulders and a 34" waist. When I played football I ate my way up to 210.
Now there are kids in Jr. High that are that size.
Girls too, they used to be way smaller, maybe a couple were 5'10". but most were pretty short.
Shoe sizes for women were also smaller, and 8 was about the largest, now its tens and larger.
I'm not sure if it is the growth hormones for cows, chickens etc are doing it or what, but it has changed over the years.

[handsomelad70]

"The Naked Chef" Jamie Oliver went to West Virginia to show the goobers that grease need not be 75% of their "food." For his trouble, Billy Bob, Bubba and Becky revolted, nearly causing Jamie to be the first white man lynched in West Virginia.

[strateguy632]

yes everyone around me was thin except my parents but all other adults and students were thin.
now parents can't hit the kids so when kids repeatedly ask for fatty snacks they annoy parents, parents give in and give fatty snacks all the time.

[XXblack88]

Well, there's sugar in everything in America including things you wouldn't think have sugar. We also have a lot more frozen foods which has a lot of added preservatives in them let's not get started on the fast-food people back then ate more home cooked meals and less junk

[WhiteBoyChill]

Also, I heard Europe is more of a walking based society than a driving based one

[XXblack88]

yeah, I've heard that too

[WhiteBoyChill]

Its really driving up the healthcare costs though which is just really bad and they’re going to keep getting worse and worse unless we seriously find a solution and do something about it

[XXblack88]

there are solutions our gov. makes it hard you need 2 incomes at less to live a small family farm isn't always an option and people are to glue to their phones to get out and physically do something

[handsomelad70]

I'm 70, and as a boy I saw very few obese kids, but now they're rather common, due to both parents working and having little time to prepare nutritious meals;now most families tend to dine on fast food often rather than rarely, causing kids' (and adults') skyrocketing obesity.

[WhiteBoyChill]

And you are from the UK, correct?

While it is known to be an American problem, I was just looking at some statistics and apparently 100 of the world’s countries have a rate of 20% or higher of obesity

[WhiteBoyChill]

87* en.m.wikipedia.org/.../List_of_countries_by_obesity_rate

[handsomelad70]

I'm a Canadian whose mother was an American.

[Bricealan]

I'm in agreement with your parents... Had one 'obese' guy in my HS class.

Honestly don't know what changed? I weigh what I did in HS...140lbs - 5'8"

I wish I knew the cause, since it is an epidemic

[WhiteBoyChill]

I suppose maybe your diet hasn’t changed much and you are physically active?

[Bricealan]

Yes, true on both counts...

[DryGermanGuy]

HFCS (in everything)
Fastfood joints everywhere
Drive to, drive in, drive through…

[dreamstar72]

Home cooking was more popular. Meals today separate for the most parts

[OtterMan68]

yes before everyone decided to stay indoors and gorge on sugar-laden foods all day.

[BlissfullyCurSed]

Those burgers made you boys phat...