The US is a pretty big place but there are some cultural/regional reasons that explain some of the trends. For starters a lot of the country doesn't have access

The US is a pretty big place but there are some cultural/regional reasons that explain some of the trends. For starters a lot of the country doesn't have access to nutritious food and grows up eating calorie dense but nutritiously void foods. Then you've got portion sizing/control (or a complete lack thereof). It's still pretty normal to eat meals sized for folks doing manual labor but in a lifestyle that is increasingly sedentary. But to answer your question directly; some people do notice and do care but feel powerless to halt it, other people do not notice because it's sort of a gradual slide/they are already overweight and do not spend a lot of time thinking about their body.