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American obesity epidemic
- Thread starter Oceano
- Start date
Ah well, could be worse, in Britain you folks apparently have got fully 3/4 overweight and about half of everyone is malnourished:
Many Britons overweight, malnourished
Food is plentiful, but average diet is low on nutrition, experts say
The Associated Press
updated 2:37 p.m. ET, Fri., June. 8, 2007
LONDON - It may be obvious that most Britons are overweight. What isn’t so obvious is that at least 2 million of them are likely malnourished — and that includes some of the people who are too fat.
Experts say the poor state of the average British diet — often high in fat, salt and calories, but low on nutrition — means malnutrition is a problem even though food is plentiful.
“You can’t always tell if a person is malnourished with your eyes,” said Dr. Marinos Elia, a professor of clinical nutrition and metabolism at Southampton University. “People may be eating too much food, but they may not be eating enough fruits and vegetables.”
Dr. Alastair McKinlay, a gastroenterologist and chairman of a British malnutrition action group, put it bluntly: “There’s a widely held misconception that if you’re fat, you can’t be malnourished.”
Some experts even contend that the food rationing system during World War II offered Britons more nutrition than what they’re eating today. From 1939-45, Britons got books of coupons, which they traded in for limited amounts of items like flour, milk, eggs, meat and canned fruit.
“Rationing was a huge success because it ensured that if you got your allotted amounts, you got a nutritionally reasonable diet,” said Dr. Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum. “I’m not advocating a return to rationing, but it was a more balanced diet back then.”
Making the wrong choices
Despite the unlimited food supply today, Waine said people don’t always make the right choices.
Many nutrition experts believe the number of malnourished Britons is closer to 4 million, about 6 percent of the population, than the government’s estimate of 2 million.
Most malnourished people have a chronic illness like AIDS, cancer or tuberculosis. In the last five years, according to the Department of Health, the number of hospital-identified malnourished patients has risen by more than 40 percent, though experts say that is largely due to heightened surveillance rather than a dramatic jump in cases.
There are no statistics on how many obese people may be malnourished, but doctors say they are seeing patients who are both overweight and malnourished. According to government statistics, 75 percent of Britons are overweight; more than one-fifth are obese.
While malnourished fat people are hardly in danger of starvation, other health problems are possible along with obesity-related complications like diabetes and heart disease. Once they start losing weight, malnourished people may actually burn their own tissue, including muscle, rather than fat.
Usually, people with vitamin deficiencies have skin problems, a swollen thyroid or bleeding gums. In severe cases, malnourished people might also experience hair loss, muscle wasting, a swollen abdomen, anemia or rickets.
A rarely noticed problem
In a country like Britain, experts say, malnutrition is rarely noticed. “You’ve got to have pretty severe deficiencies before this is picked up,” said Waine. “But I think a lot of people are on the borderline.”
Part of the blame goes to the rise of processed and fast foods, most of which contain only small amounts of healthy nutrients. The national diet is in such trouble that earlier this month, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency recommended that folic acid be added to the nation’s flour; a lack of it in the diet of pregnant women has been linked to birth defects.
Recent surveys estimate that fewer than 20 percent of adults eat the recommended five daily portions of fruits and vegetables.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: Many Britons overweight, malnourished - Diet and nutrition - MSNBC.com
Many Britons overweight, malnourished
Food is plentiful, but average diet is low on nutrition, experts say
The Associated Press
updated 2:37 p.m. ET, Fri., June. 8, 2007
LONDON - It may be obvious that most Britons are overweight. What isn’t so obvious is that at least 2 million of them are likely malnourished — and that includes some of the people who are too fat.
Experts say the poor state of the average British diet — often high in fat, salt and calories, but low on nutrition — means malnutrition is a problem even though food is plentiful.
“You can’t always tell if a person is malnourished with your eyes,” said Dr. Marinos Elia, a professor of clinical nutrition and metabolism at Southampton University. “People may be eating too much food, but they may not be eating enough fruits and vegetables.”
Dr. Alastair McKinlay, a gastroenterologist and chairman of a British malnutrition action group, put it bluntly: “There’s a widely held misconception that if you’re fat, you can’t be malnourished.”
Some experts even contend that the food rationing system during World War II offered Britons more nutrition than what they’re eating today. From 1939-45, Britons got books of coupons, which they traded in for limited amounts of items like flour, milk, eggs, meat and canned fruit.
“Rationing was a huge success because it ensured that if you got your allotted amounts, you got a nutritionally reasonable diet,” said Dr. Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum. “I’m not advocating a return to rationing, but it was a more balanced diet back then.”
Making the wrong choices
Despite the unlimited food supply today, Waine said people don’t always make the right choices.
Many nutrition experts believe the number of malnourished Britons is closer to 4 million, about 6 percent of the population, than the government’s estimate of 2 million.
Most malnourished people have a chronic illness like AIDS, cancer or tuberculosis. In the last five years, according to the Department of Health, the number of hospital-identified malnourished patients has risen by more than 40 percent, though experts say that is largely due to heightened surveillance rather than a dramatic jump in cases.
There are no statistics on how many obese people may be malnourished, but doctors say they are seeing patients who are both overweight and malnourished. According to government statistics, 75 percent of Britons are overweight; more than one-fifth are obese.
While malnourished fat people are hardly in danger of starvation, other health problems are possible along with obesity-related complications like diabetes and heart disease. Once they start losing weight, malnourished people may actually burn their own tissue, including muscle, rather than fat.
Usually, people with vitamin deficiencies have skin problems, a swollen thyroid or bleeding gums. In severe cases, malnourished people might also experience hair loss, muscle wasting, a swollen abdomen, anemia or rickets.
A rarely noticed problem
In a country like Britain, experts say, malnutrition is rarely noticed. “You’ve got to have pretty severe deficiencies before this is picked up,” said Waine. “But I think a lot of people are on the borderline.”
Part of the blame goes to the rise of processed and fast foods, most of which contain only small amounts of healthy nutrients. The national diet is in such trouble that earlier this month, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency recommended that folic acid be added to the nation’s flour; a lack of it in the diet of pregnant women has been linked to birth defects.
Recent surveys estimate that fewer than 20 percent of adults eat the recommended five daily portions of fruits and vegetables.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: Many Britons overweight, malnourished - Diet and nutrition - MSNBC.com
Too much choice, and portion size is out of control. Add that to the fact that less people cook at home now than used to and you've got a lot of people snacking on junk, eating fast food, and eating 2000 calorie meals at macaroni grill and fridays.
I love musclemom dishing out pwnage.
Dude, my country wasn't the one that came out with shows like "you are what you eat" or the BBCs lovely expo "The worst teeth in Britain" or Gordon Ramsey's "Kitchen Nightmares."
Bad cooking and screwed up teeth, it's the British national joke.
lol, how come you've watched all those shows? they're dear to my heart
Gordon Ramsey could beat up any American
Anyway, at least our country is pro-active, the American equivalent show would be, 'How can we eat more?'
And you guys are obsessed with teeth, nothing better than a good sturdy set of yellow choppers, not those fake shiny white plug-ins
BTW, here's one from one of your own publications, The Daily Mail:
Overweight Britons are among the fattest in Europe
Last updated at 11:14 14 November 2006
Britons are fatter than their Italian, Spanish and French neighbours and are among the heaviest people in Europe, according to figures from the European Commission.
A league table based on the average body mass index - a World Health Organisation-recognised measure - shows that the average person in the UK is overweight.
Three-quarters of the European nations surveyed tip the scales at well above the recommended levels. Residents of only seven member countries are, on average, a healthy weight.
The slimmest nation, according to the survey, is Italy. There the average index, which is based on a person's weight in relation to their height, is 24.3.
According to WHO guidelines, anyone with a BMI of between 18.5 and 25 is a healthy weight. Anyone less than 18.5 is considered underweight.
Between 25 and 30 is overweight and anything over 30 is classed as obese.
The only other countries with an average index in the healthy range are France, Turkey, Austria, Romania, Poland and the Netherlands.
The UK's average index is 25.4, putting it into the overweight category. The fattest country in Europe is Malta where the average resident has a BMI of 26.6.
Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of Weight Concern, said an ideal index is 22, so anything above that means the individual could be suffering the effects of being overweight.
He said: "Body mass index is an excellent tool for looking at populations and trends. It is always concerning that we in this country have among the worst figures in Europe.
But it is little consolation for the countries with a lower index because they are all over 24 and that means there is double the risk of developing diabetes than if the figure was 22, which is ideal.
"In the UK and other northern European countries we have been quicker to adopt an American style of eating big portions and convenience food and we tend to be more sedentary."
This week ministers from across the EU are due to meet in Istanbul to agree an anti-obesity charter. Experts fear that obesity rates are now rising so fast that this generation of children could be the first to be outlived by their parents. The research warns that a third of British adults and a fifth of children will be obese by 2010 if trends continue.
Reijo Kemppinen, head of the European Commission in the UK, said: "Obesity is one of the major issues affecting this generation."
Find this story at Overweight Britons are among the fattest in Europe | Mail Online
OneBreath
Elite Mentor
lol, wtf?
jnevin
New member
Haven't you started similar threads?
thats cos of all the McDonald's and Burger Kings you've been sneakily setting up here, you yanks must be stopped!
Actually in America we like men like Gordon Ramsey or Simon Cowell because it's so cool to see blokes who act like they actually own a pair instead of the national standard of "I bet he's a fag ..."
As for the teeth, honey, you don't have to have FAKE teeth to have DECENT teeth. Clearly, from your comment, your country suffers from a lack of sufficient orthodontists because you think the only way teeth can be a healthy color and of normal alignment is if they're artificial, and that's not the case. Or is it that braces are not covered under national healthcare and people won't break loose with their own dosh?
the Americans are over-obsessed with teeth because of the hollywood influence of having super-white teeth (which are actually unhealthy teeth), Britain only gets critcised because its one of the few countries that Americans acknowledge that acutally exists
btw check out this table to see where US/UK rank in terms of obesity:
The Global Challenge of Obesity and the International Obesity Task Force
u guys got problems
You're quoting documents 11 years old. Try this site:
Statistics on obesity. England Jan 2008 | The NHS Information Centre
I consider some of these comments notable:
1. In 2006, 24 per cent of adults (aged 16 or over) in England were classified as obese. This represents an overall increase from 15 per cent in 1993
2. 37 per cent of adults had a raised waist circumference in 2006 compared to 23 per cent in 1993. Women were more likely then men to have a raised waist circumference (41 per cent and 32 per cent respectively)
3. In 2006, 16 per cent of children aged 2 to 15 were classed as obese. This represents an overall increase from 11 per cent in 1995.
Chocolate_Thunder
New member
I read this entire thread, and I have to say Oceano, you should stop while your behind because Muclemom is just KILLING you right now. It's not even close.
Believe me you're not going to win this argument with her. I speak from experience.
Believe me you're not going to win this argument with her. I speak from experience.
Tatyana
Elite Mentor
The UK is full of fatties.
Scotland is not far behind the US. I think Greece is the fattest EU country though.
stosstruppe
Well-known member
L
lartinos
Guest
He just comes off as a bitter U.S. hater.
Almost all the brits I meet actually like americans.
Almost all the brits I meet actually like americans.
yeah the Scots are pulling us down especially with their love of deep fried mars bars
some posters have said musclemom is winning the argument, but its impossible for her to win, get this yankee doodles:
THE US IS THE FATTEST, UNHEALTHIEST, MOST OBESE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD - BAR NONE
there's no coming back from that
i respect u EF peeps tho ur some of the few that take 10mins out from burger king
I like America, but lets not pretend they're not fat and crap at sport. Don't be so sensitive, acknowledge reality. From there you can improve
Why do British drink too much, smoke too much, and don't brush their teeth that often?
L
lartinos
Guest
yeah the Scots are pulling us down especially with their love of deep fried mars bars
some posters have said musclemom is winning the argument, but its impossible for her to win, get this yankee doodles:
THE US IS THE FATTEST, UNHEALTHIEST, MOST OBESE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD - BAR NONE
there's no coming back from that
i respect u EF peeps tho ur some of the few that take 10mins out from burger king
I like America, but lets not pretend they're not fat and crap at sport
We led the world in medals but we're not good at sports???
Let it go bro, noone even your countryman are dumb enough to go along with that. Americans are fat as hell, I agree. We also have the bodybuilders in the world...
bw1
Banned
Hmmm, now which country took the most overall medals in the olympics and the second most gold? Oh, that was America, 110 total and 36 gold, wasn't it? Oh, and Team GB took HOW many? 47 total and 19 gold ... oh I say, well, done team GB. Much better athletes than America, right?THE US IS THE FATTEST, UNHEALTHIEST, MOST OBESE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD - BAR NONE
there's no coming back from that
I like America, but lets not pretend they're not fat and crap at sport. Don't be so sensitive, acknowledge reality. From there you can improve
HEY, YOU DUMB LIMEY BASTARD, THEY DON'T COUNT THE MEDALS USING THE METRIC SYSTEM. 110 IS MORE THAN 47.
chris302001
Banned
I hope musclemom rips you a new asshole on one of these threads....
Trust me, that hurts!
Trust me, that hurts!
Oh pshaw, it's just like what you tell people when you give them an LP, doc, it'll be a pinch and a little sting, barely hurts at allI hope musclemom rips you a new asshole on one of these threads....
Trust me, that hurts!
As has been said elsewhere, Britain's population is 60 million compared to 300 million Americans. if you're happy with second fair enough, sign of the times i suppose
The IOC ranks it with gold medals first. Btw getting angry and hurling insults is a sure sign of defeat
chris302001
Banned
Oh pshaw, it's just like what you tell people when you give them an LP, doc, it'll be a pinch and a little sting, barely hurts at all
LOL, no way, I've had an LP......and I've only done one so far, and it was an infant. He got fentanyl, but still cried.
That shit hurts too! Still not as bad as your ass reamings tho!
Razorguns
Well-known member
Ever been to the US? Fast Food everywhere. Tacos places everywhere. The diets of hispanics and blacks and poor white in tihs country is based upon cheap crappy fast food.
And the middle class warriros are holed up in little cages, sorry cubicles all day. So they also get zero exercise. Fatness there too.
But aside from that - there are far bigger problems out there. At least we don't have to worry about being slaughtered, or blowing up from car bombs or high unemployment. So life ain't that bad. It's actually pretty good.
r
And the middle class warriros are holed up in little cages, sorry cubicles all day. So they also get zero exercise. Fatness there too.
But aside from that - there are far bigger problems out there. At least we don't have to worry about being slaughtered, or blowing up from car bombs or high unemployment. So life ain't that bad. It's actually pretty good.
r
blueta2
New member
Unless you live in camden NJ
Yeah, I've spent quite a bit of time in the US, I really like the place and the people actually.
by cubicles you mean offices? the US has a good standard of living but obesity is rife. Strangely enough its the poorer people who are the heaviest, i guess the fast food is cheap.
I fail to see how population factors into anything, but if you want to go by IOC/Gold:
Q. Which country has won the most Olympic gold medals?
A. As of the 2008 Summer Olympics Games, it is the United States of America with 973
Angry, shit I'm just trying to get through that incredibly thick skull of yoursBtw getting angry and hurling insults is a sure sign of defeat
America: The people who left Great Britain in the 1600s, who cut you out of our lives (and out of our pockets) in the 1700s, and have saved your asses in every war ever since. We don't need to insult you, without us you wouldn't even exist.
Angry, shit I'm just trying to get through that incredibly thick skull of yours
nah, you lost, take the L graciously MM
We don't need to insult you, without us you wouldn't even exist.
works both ways
blueta2
New member
Poor people are heavier not because of fast food, it's because they are uneducated about proper food choices.
They eat a ton of white bread, drink soda like crazy and live on cheap ground beef.
It also cost more to eat healthier foods
it really has to do with location
i see far less fatties in LV than i did in the midwest
beachy/party type of cities-less fat people, more people concerned with looks
proly the same in SD or what ever fancy city you ball in
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