Obesity rate map of Europe

[Pablo]

It might be biggest reason.

When I wrote sugar I meant ALL forms, but fructose is especially insidious. HFCS is actually poison.

The other poison I mentioned in passing are refined seed oils. Not really a thing in Italy. Total poison in the USA.

This is not a knock on the USA, it's what our people eat.

 

[edyvw]

Sugar is the real problem. Once you start consuming excessive amounts of sugar and insulin resistance begins, it's an uphill battle where the hill becomes steeper and steeper as the indulgence continues. Italians and most central Europeans consume very little sugar (by comparison) and also walk quite a bit more than us in the USA.

Italians average 5,296 steps a day compared to Americans at 4,774 steps a day. (Per 2017 data)

A bigger factor in obesity is the activity gap. The USA has one of the largest inequalities in activity among societal classes. Compared to the lower class, the middle class is +77% more active and upper class is +101% more active. The activity inequality and economic inequality likely effect one another as a better economic status allows one to afford a healthier lifestyle, and that healthier lifestyle promotes higher confidence and self-esteem to be more successful. For example, the USA and Mexico have nearly identical average steps per day (4,774 vs 4,692) but the US has a much larger activity gap reflective of a much higher obesity rate. Italy has a much smaller activity gap than the USA, on top of higher average steps per day, and thus their obesity rate is a fraction of ours.

^This!
The gap is real. The US is extremely productive society. Europe? Not so much. There is saying: you live in the US to work, in Europe you work to live.
From my point of view, someone who is from Europe and live here in the US, US is far better once one achieves certain professional success and can afford better work-life standard. Regardless that Europe has “free” higher education, more vacation days etc. upward mobility and access to higher education is still better in the US. However, Europe is definitely more equal society and that shows in health statistics.

 

[edyvw]

When I wrote sugar I meant ALL forms, but fructose is especially insidious. HFCS is actually poison.

The other poison I mentioned in passing are refined seed oils. Not really a thing in Italy. Total poison in the USA.

This is not a knock on the USA, it's what our people eat.

I know what you meant. Those ingredients are far better regulated in EU. For all their excessive regulation, this is where they hit the nail on the head.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Sugar is the real problem. Once you start consuming excessive amounts of sugar and insulin resistance begins, it's an uphill battle where the hill becomes steeper and steeper as the indulgence continues. Italians and most central Europeans consume very little sugar (by comparison) and also walk quite a bit more than us in the USA.

Italians average 5,296 steps a day compared to Americans at 4,774 steps a day. (Per 2017 data)

A bigger factor in obesity is the activity gap. The USA has one of the largest inequalities in activity among societal classes. Compared to the lower class, the middle class is +77% more active and upper class is +101% more active. The activity inequality and economic inequality likely effect one another as a better economic status allows one to afford a healthier lifestyle, and that healthier lifestyle promotes higher confidence and self-esteem to be more successful. For example, the USA and Mexico have nearly identical average steps per day (4,774 vs 4,692) but the US has a much larger activity gap reflective of a much higher obesity rate. Italy has a much smaller activity gap than the USA, on top of higher average steps per day, and thus their obesity rate is a fraction of ours.

Italy does eat some pasta but they burn it off

They eat less sugar and terrible ingredients. Most foods are whole- less processed and more fresh

They are not afraid of eating fats and oils which is the real weakness of the USA food recommendations

Well you'd be surprised how much sugar is consumed in Europe. Italy is on par with the US.

Sugar Consumption by Country 2024

 

[Pablo]

I have doubts about the accuracy of the information after seeing who funded the research.

Obesity Rates by Country 2024

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I have doubts about the accuracy of the information after seeing who funded the research.

They didn't fund anything. They compile the data. However there's a good question as to whether there are differences between countries with regards to how they determine obesity. Countries like our own states don't always use the same definitions.

 

[97prizm]

Been to Europe and Scandinavia over 50 times. No shortage of fat Germans and fat Danes. UK has it's share too.
Not just a US thing but another poke at the US.

Apparently France isn't far behind. According to a couple of news reports yesterday American fast food chains have exploded in popularity (which seems surprising). My dad went to France a few times for work and from his accounts Fast, food, and dining never were used together in a sentence. From the sound of it Five guys, Burger King, and a few others have opened at a blistering pace since 2018 or so.

 

[97prizm]

When I wrote sugar I meant ALL forms, but fructose is especially insidious. HFCS is actually poison.

The other poison I mentioned in passing are refined seed oils. Not really a thing in Italy. Total poison in the USA.

This is not a knock on the USA, it's what our people eat.

Unfortunately hfcs was invented in the 50's and the scientist thought that due to its sweeter taste and needing less it was a healthier alternative. This makes me wonder what they'll find out in 100 years from now.

 

[Pablo]

Well you'd be surprised how much sugar is consumed in Europe. Italy is on par with the US.

Sugar Consumption by Country 2024

That data is odd............or is it only white granulated sugar, sucrose?

From the same source:

"Sugar Consumption In The U.S.

The United States is the biggest consumer of sugar on the globe. According to sources, the country's per capita sugar consumption is 126.4 grams daily. That translates to more than ten times the lowest recommended intake of 11grams per day. According to health scientists, a significant percentage of this sugar is contained in these Americans' foods and beverages. And these added sugars may take different forms, including white/ brown sugar, honey, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, molasses, etc.


Though the federal government urged Americans to limit the amount added to only 10%, the effect of this recommendation has remained insignificant up to date."

 

[Kira]

a good, diverse family helps

Possibly not. Isn't "provincialism" associated with inflexibility and narrowmindedness?

 

[supton]

Possibly not. Isn't "provincialism" associated with inflexibility and narrowmindedness?

This is true. I didn’t mean to make it sound like a fail safe method, plenty of people just outside of the norm have been disowned over what we might think of as small today. But taken as a larger picture, zoomed out, might there be something? “On average”, that sort of thing.

Today the world seems to be at our finger tips, on the web, television and papers. So it should be easy to get exposure to a broad variety outside of what one might see in the home, and perhaps grow up mulling over those differences, and which may be better, worse, or neutral. Parents increase their kids exposure to such things, and the kids grow up being able to compare and contrast to what they see in their “safe” little area.

But I did grow up in a small town, and have an understanding of how groupthink on a small level can permeate thinking. There was a bit of shock going off to university, and another one going to work in a big(ger) city.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

That data is odd............or is it only white granulated sugar, sucrose?

From the same source:

"Sugar Consumption In The U.S.

The United States is the biggest consumer of sugar on the globe. According to sources, the country's per capita sugar consumption is 126.4 grams daily. That translates to more than ten times the lowest recommended intake of 11grams per day. According to health scientists, a significant percentage of this sugar is contained in these Americans' foods and beverages. And these added sugars may take different forms, including white/ brown sugar, honey, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, molasses, etc.


Though the federal government urged Americans to limit the amount added to only 10%, the effect of this recommendation has remained insignificant up to date."

Why is the data odd? Europe practically invented modern day pastries, candies, chocolates, cookies, etc. This data is probably total sugar consumption which includes HFCS etc. Apparently the US by far is the greatest consumer of fructose but some countries allegedly are not (ex UK, France) which kinda runs counter to the Obesity graph with regards to the UK.

 

[Pablo]

Why is the data odd? Europe practically invented modern day pastries, candies, chocolates, cookies, etc. This data is probably total sugar consumption which includes HFCS etc. Apparently the US by far is the greatest consumer of fructose but some countries allegedly are not (ex UK, France) which kinda runs counter to the Obesity graph with regards to the UK.

It's odd because the number in the paragraph quoted doesn't match the chart number.

I think we agree the paragraph is as I highlighted = all sugars, chart is sucrose consumption.

I am not doubting people like sugar and most - we see around the world -confections in some form or another came from Europe. Although in Italy pastries are usually a bit smaller and not so many donut shops.

I think as we are saying, it's not singular. But the combination in the USA is not working!

Here are my deadly five, still early:

1) Sugars and simple white starches of ALL varieties
2) Refined seed oils
3) Prepared foods, toxins, additives, etc in foods, not whole foods
4) Sedentary lifestyle
5) Smoking and drinking excessively

 

[Leo99]

That and high fructose corn syrup is in everything in the USA. I'm now starting to see packaging with "No HFCS" on it but it took way too long for this to happened

It's a marketing scam. HFCS is no worse than sugar. Don't think that eating something with no HFCS is healthier for you.

 

[Pablo]

It's a marketing scam. HFCS is no worse than sugar. Don't think that eating something with no HFCS is healthier for you.

It is worse than sugar. No doubt about it.

Different metabolic pathways for one.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

It's odd because the number in the paragraph quoted doesn't match the chart number.

I think we agree the paragraph is as I highlighted = all sugars, chart is sucrose consumption.

The figures in the chart are in kg/yr per person but there is a divergence. I'm not sure where it's coming from (ex 2020 vs current).

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

It's a marketing scam. HFCS is no worse than sugar. Don't think that eating something with no HFCS is healthier for you.

HFCS is kinda worse because the way it is digested but ya table sugar isn't significantly "better".

 

[Pablo]

The figures in the chart are in kg per year per person but there is a divergence. I'm not sure where it's coming from (ex 2020 vs current).

Ah yes. Too early. Thanks

 

[panthermike]

Agreed with a lot of points here; table sugar and HFCS are absolutely an issue. Some of the leanest/longest living countries in the world eat a high carb diet, but whole foods!

 

[John105]

When I visited Scandinavia in 1997, I found Norwegians to be all seriously fit. Swedes were very tanned but some folks did have guts. And of course I was much younger and felt the food portions were literally 1/4 to 1/5 vs back home, and expensive.