# It's the Food Pyramid that makes our kids fat! (mild, exhausted) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061 "2005-04-19T15:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/1 "2005-04-19T15:23:15Z")
[Yahoo! news story](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&ncid=571&e=1&u=/nm/20050418/hl_nm/food_consumers_dc_1) For those of you who don’t want to read the link, it’s all about how the USDA is working on a replacement for the food pyramid, which is all well and good since all I know is the four food groups anyway - “how to eat” comes and goes, but it’s always along the lines of “eat a bunch of everything and cut out the junk”, right? Well, the guy who does the South Beach Diet says, and I’m not exaggerating, that fat people are fat because the food pyramid tells them to eat too many carbs. Good lord, what a stupid asshole. People are not fat because they’re following the food pyramid. You might argue why people are fat - environment, diet, glands, whatever. You might argue why people _stay_ fat. I don’t think anybody in their right mind thinks that you’re fat because you were innocently following the **fucking food pyramid**! The article even goes on to say that everybody recognizes the pyramid but all these people are fat. Hello, dumb shit, sure everybody knows what they’re _supposed_ to be eating (although our portion sizes are skewed), but then they go and eat the fucking Twinkies! It just makes me want to throttle somebody - oh, we’re fat because of the _food pyramid_. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/2 "2005-04-19T15:31:16Z")
Well, the food pyramid didn’t help in that it was telling people to eat lots of carbs, but I’m sure there are other reasons too. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/3 "2005-04-19T15:31:49Z")
So long as the fat people can’t be blamed, balance will be maintained in the universe. I know there are some people who can’t help it due to a glandular problem, but they aren’t who I’m referring to. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/4 "2005-04-19T15:34:38Z")
Yeah, I always get a kick out of people assuming that the average American follows any kind of reasonable dieting guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![wonderwench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wonderwench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderwench)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/5 "2005-04-19T15:39:15Z")
I always (well usually) get a kick out of observing people who reveal their disdainful attitudes towards Average Americans. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/6 "2005-04-19T15:43:04Z")
Well, to be fair, the jury’s still out on the carb thing. But to turn an untested and controversial new diet into government endorsement is asinine. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/7 "2005-04-19T15:44:06Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Well, the food pyramid didn’t help in that it was telling people to eat lots of carbs, but I’m sure there are other reasons too. Carbs don’t hurt. The problem was that people saw bread there and assumed it meant Wonderbread or some other such “cereal.” Not only that, but people have no idea how much a serving size is, especially with breakfast cereal. They assume it means one normal sized bowl of it. I measured out a serving size of Cheerios one day and one bowl is at least 2 servings. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt if they just got up and did something more than just sit on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/8 "2005-04-19T15:47:23Z")
> [@wonderwench](#): > > I always (well usually) get a kick out of observing people who reveal their disdainful attitudes towards Average Americans. Who’s being disdainful? All that’s been said so far is that the average American doesn’t follow the food pyramid. If you think that’s condescending…well, that says something about your attitude, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![wonderwench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wonderwench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderwench)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/9 "2005-04-19T15:54:59Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Who’s being disdainful? All that’s been said so far is that the average American doesn’t follow the food pyramid. If you think that’s condescending…well, that says something about your attitude, doesn’t it? I observe here, and elsewhere on the internet, a tendency of quite a few people who sit at their computers (American ingenuity in action) using high speed connections (more ingenuity) while discussing American society (Freedom of speech in action) - that there is a large contingent who look down on America. Their attitude is of the “Americans are fat, lazy, stoopid TV watchers who eat fried cheese”. I’d say that this attitude is well-represented in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![wonderwench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wonderwench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderwench)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/10 "2005-04-19T15:57:02Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Who’s being disdainful? All that’s been said so far is that the average American doesn’t follow the food pyramid. If you think that’s condescending…well, that says something about your attitude, doesn’t it? I call it like I see 'em. The condescension is so pervasive, those who perform it think it is objective observation. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/11 "2005-04-19T16:03:32Z")
> [@wonderwench](#): > > I observe here, and elsewhere on the internet, a tendency of quite a few people who sit at their computers (American ingenuity in action) using high speed connections (more ingenuity) while discussing American society (Freedom of speech in action) - that there is a large contingent who look down on America. Fascinating. Is your name on the computer patent? Did you have anything to do with their invention? Did you develop high speed connections? Did you work on the Constitution and subsequent case laws that solidify our freedoms? No? So why should you get any credit for any of these things? Maybe the description of fat, lazy and stupid hits a bit too close to home for you and you’re seeking to piggyback on the genius of others to make yourself feel better? ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/12 "2005-04-19T16:07:10Z")
So let me get this straight: Obesity rates are going through the roof. **ultrafilter** comments that the average american is not following the food pyramid. **wonderwench** concludes that this is condescending? How is **ultrafilter** presenting anything but a reasonable conclusion? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/13 "2005-04-19T16:18:46Z")
Holy hell. We’re calling fat people in the U.S. ‘Average Americans’ now? When did this nonsense start? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/14 "2005-04-19T16:20:48Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > Holy hell. We’re calling fat people in the U.S. ‘Average Americans’ now? When did this nonsense start? When overweight folks became the majority. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/15 "2005-04-19T16:25:43Z")
And so it begins. Can’t have a thread in the Pit with the word ‘fat’ in the title without it being derailed before the end of the first page. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/16 "2005-04-19T16:54:34Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > And so it begins. Can’t have a thread in the Pit with the word ‘fat’ in the title without it being derailed before the end of the first page. Fuck you! It’s glandular! Substitute the word “black” for the word “the” in your post to see how racist you really are. You and your liberal media SUV-driving flag-burning IPU-worshipping Bush-loving hate-mongering NIMBY NAMBLA NAMBY PAMBY friends make me sick. Why do you hate America? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/17 "2005-04-19T16:58:41Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Substitute the word “black” for the word “the” in your post That’s pretty goddamn funny. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/18 "2005-04-19T17:08:34Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > That’s pretty goddamn funny. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/19 "2005-04-19T17:09:11Z")
According to this article, there isn’t just one pyramid, either. There are 12. From what I’ve read, the USDA has come out with an Asian, Mediterranean, Latin, vegetarian and a few other pyramids. Then there’s the “Healthy Eating” pyramid which, I believe, is what the article cited by the OP refers to. Either way, it’s a remarkably stupid assumption that a) most Americans now follow the fucking pyramid or that b) most Americans _will_ follow the new one in the future. And I have to agree - how does coming to this conclusion make people condescending? I was under the impression that studies have show that people _don’t_ follow the food pyramids. It’s just a fact. [See?](http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/fitness/articles/2005/04/19/food_pyramid_is_changing/) If you scroll down, you’ll see this comment: > [@](#): > > Johanns said the 1992 pyramid had “become quite familiar, but few Americans follow the recommendations.” He said that knowledge about nutrition and food consumption patterns has grown significantly in the past dozen years and is reflected in the new food guidance symbols. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061/20 "2005-04-19T17:21:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Fuck you! It’s glandular! Substitute the word “black” for the word “the” in your post to see how racist you really are. You and your liberal media SUV-driving flag-burning IPU-worshipping Bush-loving hate-mongering NIMBY NAMBLA NAMBY PAMBY friends make me sick. > > Why do you hate America? You rock, **tdn**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-food-pyramid-that-makes-our-kids-fat-mild-exhausted/300061.md?page=2)