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Three-quarters of U.S. adults are now overweight or obese (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/news@lemmy.world
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Summary

A new Lancet study reveals nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, a sharp rise from just over half in 1990.

Obesity among adults doubled to over 40%, while rates among girls and women aged 15–24 nearly tripled to 29%.

The study highlights significant health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and shortened life expectancy, alongside projected medical costs of up to $9.1 trillion over the next decade.

Experts stress obesity’s complex causes—genetic, environmental, and social—and call for structural reforms like food subsidies, taxes on sugary drinks, and expanded treatment access.

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[–] 13 points 2 years ago (1 child)

Yeah but you're missing the fact that their shitty junk food is still miles better than the shitty junk food here.

Look at something that is sold in both places and check the ingredients list. The one I'm Europe will have less ingredients and more real food in general, the American one will have a ton of chemicals and other shit

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  • [–] -3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)

    I acknowledged that. I'm highlighting that when presented with that option, the above commenter chose to eat American junk

    If you eat 1k calories of excess sweets, it's the same the world over.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)

    Yes, calories-wise it's the same, but it's far worse biologically in the US where the sweetener is predominantly high fructose corn syrup. Not all sugars have the same effect.

    Fructose has to be porridge processed through the liver and causes much higher incidence of non-fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, uric acid causing gout, etc. leading to higher rates of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. When someone is ill from these sorts of diseases, they're less likely to exercise or move around, and will tend to want to eat more convenient comfort foods, which only amplifies the obesity issue.

    Many of the countries that consume the least amount of fructose per capita are in Europe (Germany, Poland, Greece, Portugal, Finland, etc.)

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    The article is about obesity, which CICO is the chief, immediate topic of significance. Long term organ damage from different sugar sources is a good topic, but not proximal to obesity in the near term.

    Eat too many calories, get bigger. Easy to do when the grocery is packed with junk, but good food is available (and affordable) in both places.

    Discussion on food deserts and time-to-prepare are also critical, but again I think present in both continents.

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