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Is there evidence that our culture is becoming less healthy? It seemed to me that we, meaning the US as a whole, have been building better habits. I feel that

by CardenB 10y ago

Is there evidence that our culture is becoming less healthy? It seemed to me that we, meaning the US as a whole, have been building better habits. I feel that this is an economic issue more than anything else.

k-mcgrady 10y ago
Anecdotally I notice that a lot more younger people seem to be eating healthy and exercising regularly (although it seems to be two extremes with the other younger people being particularly unhealthy and a lack of people in the middle). Maybe the problem is that the push for healthy eating and exercise in culture has come too late for some people who are now at the age where their bad habits are leading to early death.
- hanklazard 10y ago
  I see that too, among the relatively wealthy, well-educated people that make up most of my friend groups and family. However, as a primary care doctor, I can tell you that obesity and type II diabetes seem to be affecting people at a younger and younger age amongst the poor. I'll look for actual data later this afternoon, but that's been my experience and those docs who have been practicing decades longer than me tend to agree.
- mason240 10y ago
  >Anecdotally I notice that a lot more younger people seem to be eating healthy and exercising regularly How long has it been since you visited a school? It's very depressing to see how many elementary aged children are 20+ lbs overweight.
  - k-mcgrady 10y ago
    I've noticed this but left if out of my comment. The reason being that young children generally aren't in control of their diet and exercise so it's probably a result of the parents and where they fit in on the two extremes I've mentioned.
notadoc 10y ago
> Is there evidence that our culture is becoming less healthy? Obesity is widespread and extreme.
mikestew 10y ago
Is there evidence that our culture is becoming less healthy? A trip to any U. S. major theme park ought to do the trick, preferably one of the ones around Orlando. It seemed to me that we, meaning the US as a whole, have been building better habits. I hesitate to pull the "you live in a bubble" card, but I think it applies here. If I looked around me here in Seattle, I might agree with you. Buncha fit hiker/snowboarder types driving Subarus on their way to the xTREME Mudfest This Is Sparta Run Sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink. You have nothing in your profile for me to go on, so I'll go with assuming you're a 20/30-something bro living around SV who's into running/biking/whatever like all of your friends. You look around and go, "obesity problem? What obesity problem?" Then I hop on a plane to visit my parents in Florida, and the bubble pops. O...M...G, when did children turn into such butterballs? Oh, that explains it: look at their parents. Pictures of friends in the Midwest? Same thing: when did my classmates get so fat? Again, I don't know your background, but if you're basing your opinion on what you've seen on the west coast, you're doing it wrong.
- munificent 10y ago
  If you think Florida is bad, try Appalachia. I moved from Orlando to Seattle and earlier this year took a trip to Gatlinburg. The obesity there was just insane.
  - mikestew 10y ago
    Good point; sadly it's been a good ten years since I've been near the NC mountains and I've forgotten. I have no reason to think it has improved. Though the fact that the wife and I lost weight when we moved from NC to Seattle ought to tell you something.
- ideonexus 10y ago
  Living in urban Northern Virginia (NoVa), I had a similar culture-shock when I moved to NortheEastern North Carolina, a very rural area. All of my coworkers and neighbors were obese, I quickly became known around town as the weird guy who walked everywhere, and at restaurants my friends would make fun of me for eating salads while taking pride in showing off how much food they could eat at one sitting. I once made the mistake of making a critical comment about McDonald's and was accused of "pushing a liberal agenda." Back in NoVa years later, and the mindset down there still baffles me. Heart disease and diabetes are just kind of accepted as inevitable natural outcomes of aging, and are not seen as the consequences of overindulgence.

by CardenB 10y ago

k-mcgrady 10y ago

Anecdotally I notice that a lot more younger people seem to be eating healthy and exercising regularly (although it seems to be two extremes with the other younger people being particularly unhealthy and a lack of people in the middle). Maybe the problem is that the push for healthy eating and exercise in culture has come too late for some people who are now at the age where their bad habits are leading to early death.

hanklazard 10y ago
I see that too, among the relatively wealthy, well-educated people that make up most of my friend groups and family. However, as a primary care doctor, I can tell you that obesity and type II diabetes seem to be affecting people at a younger and younger age amongst the poor. I'll look for actual data later this afternoon, but that's been my experience and those docs who have been practicing decades longer than me tend to agree.
mason240 10y ago
>Anecdotally I notice that a lot more younger people seem to be eating healthy and exercising regularly How long has it been since you visited a school? It's very depressing to see how many elementary aged children are 20+ lbs overweight.
- k-mcgrady 10y ago
  I've noticed this but left if out of my comment. The reason being that young children generally aren't in control of their diet and exercise so it's probably a result of the parents and where they fit in on the two extremes I've mentioned.

notadoc 10y ago

> Is there evidence that our culture is becoming less healthy? Obesity is widespread and extreme.

mikestew 10y ago

Is there evidence that our culture is becoming less healthy? A trip to any U. S. major theme park ought to do the trick, preferably one of the ones around Orlando. It seemed to me that we, meaning the US as a whole, have been building better habits. I hesitate to pull the "you live in a bubble" card, but I think it applies here. If I looked around me here in Seattle, I might agree with you. Buncha fit hiker/snowboarder types driving Subarus on their way to the xTREME Mudfest This Is Sparta Run Sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink. You have nothing in your profile for me to go on, so I'll go with assuming you're a 20/30-something bro living around SV who's into running/biking/whatever like all of your friends. You look around and go, "obesity problem? What obesity problem?" Then I hop on a plane to visit my parents in Florida, and the bubble pops. O...M...G, when did children turn into such butterballs? Oh, that explains it: look at their parents. Pictures of friends in the Midwest? Same thing: when did my classmates get so fat? Again, I don't know your background, but if you're basing your opinion on what you've seen on the west coast, you're doing it wrong.

munificent 10y ago
If you think Florida is bad, try Appalachia. I moved from Orlando to Seattle and earlier this year took a trip to Gatlinburg. The obesity there was just insane.
- mikestew 10y ago
  Good point; sadly it's been a good ten years since I've been near the NC mountains and I've forgotten. I have no reason to think it has improved. Though the fact that the wife and I lost weight when we moved from NC to Seattle ought to tell you something.
ideonexus 10y ago
Living in urban Northern Virginia (NoVa), I had a similar culture-shock when I moved to NortheEastern North Carolina, a very rural area. All of my coworkers and neighbors were obese, I quickly became known around town as the weird guy who walked everywhere, and at restaurants my friends would make fun of me for eating salads while taking pride in showing off how much food they could eat at one sitting. I once made the mistake of making a critical comment about McDonald's and was accused of "pushing a liberal agenda." Back in NoVa years later, and the mindset down there still baffles me. Heart disease and diabetes are just kind of accepted as inevitable natural outcomes of aging, and are not seen as the consequences of overindulgence.