Jamie Oliver takes aim at 'fattest nation in the world'

Byrnzie wrote:

In America, at least in some places - Mississipi, Houston, Detroit - it seems to have become acceptable to be obese to the point of looking like a whale. It's been going on so long that it's become an accepted part of the culture - maybe some Americans on here will be better equipped to put me right on this. In my opinion, Jamie's gonna be pissing in the wind over there.

Yeah yeah keep talkin' Byrnzie. I've tried your "English Breakfast". The only reason Americans are fatter than the British is that our food tastes better!

Collin wrote:

People don't walk, seriously. When I was in NYC and we asked directions to a certain place people always said "Just take the E (or the F or whatever...)" and when we said, but we want to walk... most of the time people said "but that's like 6 blocks."

That could be because everyone here is in a hurry and doesn't have time to walk further distances (especially crosstown blocks) .

I'm sure some are lazy but when I have time, like on the weekends, I walk instead of taking the subway. It's not uncommon for me to walk 60 blocks to get to a certain place and back. I'm certainly not alone though. Most people walk a shitload here.

Byrnzie wrote:

I've been to Mississipi and Houston. But that's irrelevant. I mentioned those places because they have all at some point been given the accolade of 'fattest city' - i.e, highest number of obese people in the States. (Not that Mississipi is a town, but i saw it mentioned in that regard somewhere or other).

i think it's a per capita measure...but, anyway...it's about personal responsibility once you're an adult, but schools do need to do something about the meals they offer and the offerings in vending machines...and parents need to take charge too...dammit!

Collin wrote:

Yeah, could be... but I still had the impression many Americans were lazy.

quote]

lol why would you think that?

Collin wrote:

Because of the things they said, their reactions and actions.

By asking a few people in NYC for directions you've come up with the generalization that most americans are lazy...lol good one.

miller8966 wrote:

By asking a few people in NYC for directions you've come up with the generalization that most americans are lazy...lol good one.

While I was in your country I did more than just ask directions in NYC and I did not say "most", I said "many". Furthermore, many Americans (not most) I met said that Americans, in general, were lazy.

Collin wrote:

While I was in your country I did more than just ask directions in NYC and I did not say "most", I said "many". Furthermore, many Americans (not most) I met said that Americans, in general, were lazy.

In many ways Americans are not "lazy." We, in America put a pretty low premium on recreation time, i.e. we work a lot. The 40 hour work week here is seen as lazyness-we wear our 60 hour work weeks on our sleeves.

However, in terms of moving our body's there is some laziness in my opinion. We will drive around for ten minues looking for a parking space that will save us five minutes of walking. Over half of urban auto trips are less than one mile--how many of these could be walked. Is it laziness or an unbelievable will to do what is most convenient? Our auto dependance has grown almost comical (in some anecdotal things I have seen).

Drive throughs, seas of parking lots, suffering public transit (regardless of how much congestion there is), less than 1% of commuters biking to work (you can find that on the Census website), very few carpoolser. We are addicted to convenicne. "If it causes any discomfort, don't do it."

I don't think that fatness is just an american problem, here in Europe it's almost the same...when I go swimming I always see kids who suffers from adipositas...man....it's insane...what are the parents waiting....is it really that difficult to teach children what they have to eat to be healthy?...the parents also do the same they don't want to spent some time in the kitchen to prepare healty food...God save there's a McDonald...fuck the clown....fuck the burger king....viva la revolution....the world seem to need a kitchen Che...why not Jamie Oliver???...I think he's able to reach children and parents....he made great job in England.....I often go to Italy and there the people cares of food it's one of their main matters what they're gonna eat next...the children knows what a tomatoe look's like...they live in the kitchen...it's the heart of the house...and the results? they eat healty...they are not gonna die with 45 years......have you seen "Supersize me"? It could be a help........

luxpjamer wrote:

I don't think that fatness is just an american problem, here in Europe it's almost the same...when I go swimming I always see kids who suffers from adipositas...man....it's insane...what are the parents waiting....is it really that difficult to teach children what they have to eat to be healthy?...the parents also do the same they don't want to spent some time in the kitchen to prepare healty food...God save there's a McDonald...fuck the clown....fuck the burger king....viva la revolution....the world seem to need a kitchen Che...why not Jamie Oliver???...I think he's able to reach children and parents....he made great job in England.....I often go to Italy and there the people cares of food it's one of their main matters what they're gonna eat next...the children knows what a tomatoe look's like...they live in the kitchen...it's the heart of the house...and the results? they eat healty...they are not gonna die with 45 years......have you seen "Supersize me"? It could be a help........

Have you ever been to the US?

Collin wrote:

Have you ever been to the US?

No, should I? Do you want to tell me that it is really that bad ?
But thanks to the U.S. to bring the fast food to the old continent. It's like a nutritional terrorist act. (don't want to hurt someone!!)