Why Are People Fat

Of course the obvious answer -- people eat more calories than they can burn off in a day. What I am getting at is how do people come to this?

An often overlooked part of the puzzle is the hideous diet, especially among the poor and disadvantaged living in a rich country. One thing that is hard to miss -- the poorer on the socio-economic level, the more you will find overweight people. Why is the diet of the poor a leading contribution to obesiety?

Good, healthy food is expensive. McDonald's is cheap.

Face it. Those with lower incomes generally do not buy organic food or higher quality food products because they are often out of their budget. At times fruit and vegetables are the last considerations on a shopping list because feeding a whole family and making sure they are full can often be done cheaper with starches and meat.

Also, many on a lower socio-economic level are usually working more than the standard 40 hour week. Some are working 2 full time jobs per person in a family, or 2 parents working one full time job and sometimes even an added on part time job. With working so hard it is easier to get a cheap takeaway than to take away time from the family fixing a proper meal.

It is easier for those on the higher end of the socio-economic ladder to wag their fingers and say, "Why don't you just save your money and cook at home?" or "Why don't you stop buying junk food and buy more healthy food?" The reality is the cost of buying a proper selection of food for a week is often the same cost of buying the junk for a month. And when you are dog tired from working menial, soul-breaking jobs, it is sometimes the time you spend with the family that gives you a reason to go on.

If people are poor enough to qualify for help from the government, at least there is the good possibility to get fresh fruits and vegetable along with a well balanced diet. However, there are a lot of working poor who do not qualify for help that often have to go without the fruit and veg.

Europeans generally do not understand why the US freely sells irridated, genetically modified, steroid injected food. Without such methods, the price of food would be too high for so many. The drawback is obvious, health risks in eating it. It is either starve or risk your health.

Not to be misunderstood, let me make it clear, people do have some personal responsibility towards their condition. There are things that can be done to cut down on the scale:

1. Drink more water - If you drink a full 12 ounce glass of water before a meal and another during the meal and another after the meal, you will feel full faster and be able to eliminate the meal easier.
   
2. Walk more - Even if it is just walking up the stairs instead of taking an elevator or escalator or walking to a store, school, or any place within a mile distance instead of taking a car can help.
   
3. Stand more - Periodically get up and just stand instead of sitting and vegetating.
   
4. Exercise during television - It doesn't even have to be full scale hardcore routines. Simple leg and arm exercises, use weights, do crunches all while watching the telly.
   
5. Take a vitamin and drink your fiber - If you can't eat a proper diet, at least compensate.
   
6. Avoid alcohol and any product with zero nutritional value - There are always cheap alternatives with better nutritional value. Instead of a beer or sweetened fruit drink, go for water or a glass of skim milk. Instead of a bag of potato chips [crisps] try a handful of sunflower or pumpkin seeds. If you crave sweets, make a baked apple sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
   

It's not going to make you lose 10 pounds in a week or anything ridiculous like that, but it is these little things you can do to at least keep a bad thing under control.