Level of obesity in the US

In My Humble Opinion
1

It has been my impression from extensive travel throughout the world that the level of obesity in the US is alarmingly high. I also note that food portions, on balance, appear to be considerably larger than in other countries.

And yet, I also hear that the US leads the world in per-capita spending on health/diet food and other health-oriented products.

So what gives? Is obesity a problem in the US? If so, do people in the US consider it a problem? Is this a common perception among non-US citizens?

Disclaimer: In this post, I am making absolutely no assumptions about obese people themselves; my question pertains to obesity (and/or the perception of obesity) in the US as a general phenomenon.

2

Considering you ALREADY have a thread on this going in the pit, I’m going to ask the moderators to close this one…

And one track mind much, hmmm?

3

Why? People jumped up and down at the other thread saying that I may have a reasonable question, but was too hostile in my phrasing.

So I am re-phrasing.

4

If discussed in an intelligent and knowledgeable fashion with facts and stats to back you up… maybe they will move it to GD. Otherwise, I smell closure real quick.

Have you nothing else to talk about?

5

Speaking of one trick ponies, didn’t you get flamed enough the first time around? Kind of slow on the uptake aren’t you?

6

Why do you care so much?

Anyway someone else said on the other thread that it might stem from the Depression…not enough food then, double portions now. Dunno, just a WAG.

7

So after being flamed for being an insensitive, ignorant, closed-minded clod, now I get flamed for trying again in ‘an intelligent and knowledgeable fashion’? I mean, the SD boards are about fighting ignorance, right? Well, maybe in my case the boards actually worked!

And anyway, my OP here does not say ‘obesity is a problem in the US’ (i.e., the OP doesn’t need ‘facts and stats’ to back it up). My OP says that is my impression, and asks if it is indeed a problem, or seen as a problem, by people in the US and elsewhere.

8

I smell someone who may be as obsessed as JDT.

9

I give up. Moderator, feel free to close this one. I no longer give a damn, and obviously nobody else does either.

10

Oh, I’d feel perfectly free to close it anyway because you already have this topic running in The Pit.

I’m using my moderator voice now, webmastr. You’re perfectly entitled to you opinions, and to discuss them. The SDMB is a great place for it. But it isn’t a place with unlimited resources. Your other thread is already running some 5-odd pages. Re-positioning the topic in another forum is redundant and Not Playing Nicely. We’ve provided you house room for your arguments; now you let the discussion play out as it will without spreading it all over the boards.

Consider this official notice that you’re NOT to do this again, webmastr.

TVeblen,
Moderator, IMHO