# Level of obesity in the US **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069 "2001-01-15T02:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![webmastr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@webmastr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/webmastr)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/1 "2001-01-15T02:11:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/2 "2001-01-15T03:23:00Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![webmastr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@webmastr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/webmastr)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/3 "2001-01-15T03:31:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Silly\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Silly\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/4 "2001-01-15T03:36:08Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Fletch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Fletch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fletch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/5 "2001-01-15T03:43:03Z")
Speaking of one trick ponies, didn’t you get flamed enough the first time around? Kind of slow on the uptake aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/6 "2001-01-15T03:52:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![webmastr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@webmastr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/webmastr)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/7 "2001-01-15T03:59:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/8 "2001-01-15T04:07:07Z")
I smell someone who may be as obsessed as JDT. ---
**Author:** ![webmastr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@webmastr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/webmastr)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/9 "2001-01-15T04:15:08Z")
I give up. Moderator, feel free to close this one. I no longer give a damn, and obviously nobody else does either. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-of-obesity-in-the-us/50069/10 "2001-01-15T05:31:35Z")
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