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Most Americans simply need to eat less. America is not facing an epidemic of rickets, scurvy or beriberi, but it is facing an epidemic of obesity-related diseas

Most Americans simply need to eat less. America is not facing an epidemic of rickets, scurvy or beriberi, but it is facing an epidemic of obesity-related diseases. The average American is eating ~50% more calories than they need. That caloric surplus is the dominant issue. Skipping dessert is free. Not snacking between meals is free. Serving smaller portions is free. Apples are cheaper than candy bars, carrots are cheaper than meat. Whole grains and pulses are the basic sustenance for most of the poorest people on earth. The problem is simply too much food, available too cheaply. There is an abundance of tempting, calorie-dense foods. Given the choice between spending $0.25 on a banana and $1 on a candy bar, most people choose the candy bar. This is why we're seeing increasing mortality in middle-income countries - when you overcome the diseases of poverty, you quickly start developing the diseases of wealth.

linkregister 10y ago
I doubt that any quantity of carrots would provide the satiety needed to overcome impulses to overeat with ultra-high-energy food. A balanced diet containing a mix of vegetables, meat or meat substitute, and carbohydrates will provide this satiety and the necessary nutrients. And it will taste good. A blame-centric approach only works on an individual basis. Using a blame-centric model is unlikely to be productive when addressing groups.
- Trundle 10y ago
  It's not about being blame centric it's about accurately targeting a goal. Healthy or more importantly just healthier is near treated as some form of weird mysticism that needs to involve home made fruit smoothies and yoga in the mind of the public or at least it can seem that way when it's discussed. I think he makes an excellent point that most of society isn't suffering illness from a lack of micronutrients but instead excess calories and I think it's worth mentioning because so much worry and over optimisation in people trying to eat healthier involves trying to maximise micronutrients. Yes, swapping from a calorie dense diet to a not so dense one is mentally difficult. That's a point for why we need less focus on a vague "heathy" label that makes the task out to not just be a difficult exercise of willpower but complex as well.

linkregister 10y ago

I doubt that any quantity of carrots would provide the satiety needed to overcome impulses to overeat with ultra-high-energy food. A balanced diet containing a mix of vegetables, meat or meat substitute, and carbohydrates will provide this satiety and the necessary nutrients. And it will taste good. A blame-centric approach only works on an individual basis. Using a blame-centric model is unlikely to be productive when addressing groups.

Trundle 10y ago
It's not about being blame centric it's about accurately targeting a goal. Healthy or more importantly just healthier is near treated as some form of weird mysticism that needs to involve home made fruit smoothies and yoga in the mind of the public or at least it can seem that way when it's discussed. I think he makes an excellent point that most of society isn't suffering illness from a lack of micronutrients but instead excess calories and I think it's worth mentioning because so much worry and over optimisation in people trying to eat healthier involves trying to maximise micronutrients. Yes, swapping from a calorie dense diet to a not so dense one is mentally difficult. That's a point for why we need less focus on a vague "heathy" label that makes the task out to not just be a difficult exercise of willpower but complex as well.