just something I've noticed

[dotinthesky]

I had to go to Camden Town this morning, to drop more handouts at the printer. It's beautiful outside but I had to go underground and take the Tube.

The seats were full so I had to stand. I stood near a woman holding a little girl. The woman said to another woman, in an american accent, "mom, we get off the next stop." The train stopped, they stood up and left. They were huge.

Now, there's something I've been noticing lately which I find quite strange: everytime I see a morbidly obese person, they always turn out to be American. There are hundreds of thousands of Americans visiting London, and they come in all shapes and sizes. But, but, but... I've never seen a morbidly obese person who was not American.

You might be wondering why I find it strange. If someone is fat, who cares except that person? It's nobody's business. I know that, and I agree with that. But, just out of curiosity, I'm interested in this phenomenon (and it is a phenomenon - there are even books about it) because it does represent, maybe symbolically, the dark side of America's culture: on one hand, excess, indulgence, lack of control; on the other hand, hopelessness, the individual as a freak show, sadness. In one way or another, those are feelings and notions which I attach to America nowadays. Could it be that unhealthy lifestyles and a drift away from a more integrated life with nature is the result of this - the ultimate result of industrialization? Is it an example of what can happen to capitalist cultures that have strayed too far away from a point where care for the individual is a priority? Or is it just an example of a society where creature comforts are more valued than simple things like exercise and healthy eating?

I've been to a few cities in America (Athens Georgia, New York City, various parts of Florida, Buffalo New York, Hampstead Massachussets) and I know they are all very distinct from each other... still, some cultural similarities can be drawn which hold the American people together and make them stand out from the rest of the world. Morbid obesity just might be one of the most glaring ones , something that is becoming more noticeable to the rest of the world.

Comments

[myendeavorca.livejournal.com]

I think it happens more as a result of isolation than any other factor. When people live in cities, and know the neighbors, and walk places, or live in the country, and know their neighbors, and walk or do work, they are less likely to be morbidly obese. Unfortunately, we have a fast food culture in most of the U.S. Everything is "biggy sized" or a "double double". Restraunts can't sell food unless it is in huge 1,000 calorie portions. People equate food with happiness here. It started after the Great Depression, I believe.

And it goes hand in hand with the suburban life. Suburbia is living just outside the city. You must drive to and from work, and drive to a grocery store, drive to anywhere. The reason being, is that you are completely surrounded by houses. Nothing but houses as far as the eye can see in "planned communities" that often leave out things you would find in an old fashioned neighborhood: parks, schools, markets, and doctors offices. They are all far enough away to where you have to drive. And this is where most families live because it is "safer", and the homes are bigger and cheaper. What I have found though, is that they actually isolate the individual. The kids in Columbine came from such an affluent suburb. In fact, every school shooting case I can think of happened in suburbia.

On the flip side, many people who live in rural America and DO NOT work on the farm because most of the work has been mechanized now. And there are actually very few farms now. They are mostly owned by giant corporations. And when they do employ people, it is ususally in the form of migrant workers/illegal aliens, who are this day and ages answer to what slaves were in the 1800s. Seriously. So what do people do in the country? Well, they eat. Lots. BBQ, pies, cornbread, grits, pancakes, eggs, MEAT galore. I know. I went to high school in the country. They had yearly festivals devoted to food, food, food. It's all about having babies, a few cows, and a big truck.

And people all over America are in debt over there ears with this expired American dream. And they are depressed because they know it. Almost like they are stocking up for a bad winter with that extra fat.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

you've painted a very depressing picture for me... it reminds me of a good friend of mine, Sue, who went to high school with me in Hong Kong. Later, she moved with her family to Indiana (when I went to Canada). She came to visit and she told how she would never walk a few blocks to go to a cornerstore - she would take her car instead. And she said that's what everyone did.

I know that in some progressive areas of America (parts of California, Portland, etc) there's been a shift to the "Slow Food" movement - which includes a return to eating properly at the table, eating traditional food which is nutritionally rich, becoming more aware of a life that's different from the "fast food - fast everything" life. I was wondering if you felt that, if you have seen a shift in some people away from what you just described.