Report: More Americans Gaining Weight, Eating Poorly During Recession

Wall Street Journal:

In an online survey this summer of 1,200 people about food affordability, conducted by food-industry research firm Technomic, 70% of respondents said healthier foods are increasingly difficult to afford.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[GirlFriday123]

Victory gardens can't solve all our social ills and probably can't replace an entire diet, but they sure can do a lot.

We spent the afternoon as a family composting and pulling in the last few beans and squash, and I can think of at least three ways that little bit of activity improved the health of our family: we had a fun productive time, we exercised, and we got a bit of healthy food out of the day.

[RusStyles]

The problem isn't fast food. It's the amount of food consumed (too many calories from healthy food will make fat), combined with lack o activity, exacerbated by unhealthy stress. PE is no longer mandatory. Most jobs are sit-down, and hunched over a computer. Too much TV and X-Box. Too few companies offer wellness programs. Not nearly enough walking/bike paths. These 21st century lifestyle behaviors give rise to laziness--it's a vicious cycle!

Solution: Our leaders from CEOS, pastors and parents, all need to step up and lead by example. Problem solved.

[MaggieMamacat]

It's easy to push one simple message, whether it's blame the fatties, blame the poor, blame the food makers and ads, whatever. How about we need changes all over. We need to stop using corporate welfare to subsidize health hazards like corn syrup. We need personal responsibility and knowledgeable consumers/cooks. We need to promote truth in advertising by insisting that makers of fattening foods use more plus size models in their ads. (okay, that will never happen but it makes sense to me) We need a society where we give each other enough comfort that we don't rely so much on comfort foods, and where frequent exercise is encouraged and made convenient. We need to understand that the fat, poor looking person you're sneering at in the checkout line is stocking up on hot dogs and macaroni because they're cheap and throwing in some junk food because they crave comfort. We need to work on every angle this problem has, because individually and as a nation we're digging our graves with forks and spoons.

[Paula Ann]

one more reason i will remain grateful that we were overseas when my daughter was growing up:
there were "american" grocery stores, but labels i was familiar with were at least 3 times more expensive. we would buy local fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry, eggs and adapted local cuisine to our taste (of course, i would sometimes buy cookies, ice cream, beef).
to this day my daughter still reads the nutrition label to determine calories from fat, carb, protein as she was taught by her incredible health instructor in junior high.
eatting healthy is easier when done from a young age.

[BigPictureReg]

As much as we'd like to assign a penalty to excess weight, if you're too slender, you could be at even greater risk

http://www.healthmadeeasy.com/health-news/2801-a-slight-weight-excess-might-prolong-life-span-a-little

[motoGpifupleez]

This does not surprise me in the least. Over the course of the past few months, there has been a marked increase of fast food chains distributing coupon sheets through the newspapers and mailings.
Just before the expiration date is reached, a new sheet will arrive.
The main thrust seems to be coming from the Hardee's (Carl's Jr.) chain.
Let's not forget the rise of the "gamer" and "blogger" culture, as well as those who need TV time with FOX "News" so they will know what to think and say.
The sedentary lifestyle is every bit as much to blame for the expanding American waistline as the fast food industry.

[Niasia]

I live in a very urban where there are all types of craptastic off name grocery stores... I was getting ( still am ) low on cash an decided to try one... oh my goodness even the frozen un cooked food had ungodly amounts of sodium! I had to walk out and never return. it's like a set up for all types of health problems. Couple that with the inability to afford a gym membership and a dangerous drug ridden neighborhood... you have the recipe for and I quote from another poster "manatee like" obesity. Also Americans do not like to walk it's like we have to drive everywhere. I am fortunate to live very close to the District so I have sidewalks and such but as soon as u cross into MD the sidewalks dissapear enabling the " I must drive everywhere" mentality!

[NotWaldo]

A lot of americans have the body of a God.

Buddha !

[robert234]

Bull! Just shop the perimiter of the store, basically stay out of the middle, fix meals at home, and speed up when approaching fast food joints!

[NotWaldo]

Beer is OK, it doesn't make you fat.

It makes you lean ... against doors, tables, walls...

[JulieSA]

I can unde.rst.and people cu.tti.ng back on pur.chases of org.a.nic food to buy the chea.per conven.tional food, and focusing on "Value", but this article also says people are buying more chips and cookies and subs.ti..tuting that for real food.

That is not smart. They need to look at it as price per unit of nutrient. Looking at it from that an.gle, ju.nk food has no "value" whatsoever, even if it is chea.per. I eat only m.eat, nuts, veg.gies and fruit--no star.ches, sugar, juices or sodas. Those things cost more than coo.kies, pas.ta and pota.toes, but they're also far more nutri.ent-dense, so you don't need to eat much of them in quantity. And, my blo.od pressure and weight have decreased.

This is not to lec.ture people who are sh.ort on time and money--I've been there, and I know it's extre.mely hard to change di.et habits, especially under str.ess.

[JulieSA]

Sorry about the multiple comments. I thought they'd been cut.

[JulieSA]

I can understand people cutting back on purchases of organic food to buy the cheaper conventional food, and focusing on "Value", but this article also says people are buying more chips and cookies and substituting that for real food.

That is not smart. They need to look at it as price per unit of nutrient. Looking at it from that angle, junk food has no "value" whatsoever, even if it is cheaper. I eat only meat, nuts, veggies and fruit--no starches, sugar, juices or sodas. Those things cost more than cookies, pasta and potatoes, but they're also far more nutrient-dense, so you don't need to eat much of them in quantity. And, my blood pressure and weight have decreased.

This is not to lecture people who are short on time and money--I've been there, and I know it's extremely hard to change diet habits, especially under stress.

[naschkatze]

I've read the comments below and would like to add that if people are worried about their financial means, have lost a home or life savings, there is a good possibility that many of them might be mildly depressed or anxious right now and are binge eating.

[MaybeMilo]

It's a misapprehension that "fast food" is a cheaper alternative to home cooked meals.

In my area, a QP w/ cheese combo meal will cost you around $5 (+/-), an amount that'll get you a lot more at the grocery store.

It certainly qualifies as "comfort food," though, and requires zero preparation.

[boyoboy]

If you work at a fast food restaurant, you probably eat for free. Does that quailfy as cheaper? Also, many people don't order a combo meal for each family member. They might order off of the dollar menu or combine a combo meal with other items so that the food costs much less. Take a Big Mac meal, make it large, and add a $1 chicken sandwich. Two people can share that meal and it brings the price down.

If you've worked three or four jobs that day for a grand total of more than 12 hours, zero prep sounds pretty appealing, yes?

[xstevejx]

I love it when they post pics like this....makes me feel normal! ;-)