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.

[soopahiro.livejournal.com]

Wow, you really sparked something, didn't you Ollie?

I work for a health insurance company, and I am shocked daily (perhaps not as shocked as I once was, after a few years of working here) at the amount of obese women that work for our company here in Portland. It's even a known and discussed fact by the people who work in my department and other parts of IT (who for some reason seem to be lacking in Obesity) that this is so.

The problem here is pretty obvious and my company can be used as a metaphor for our country, or at the very least a slice-of-life:

We employ more females than males, and in general (I don't have exact statistics, please don't jump on me) from my observation the chances of Obesity seem to run higher in females due to the way they process food post-pregnancy or on birth control. At my workplace, we employ a high number of claims processors and customer service reps and Females seem to be hired more often in these positions.

These jobs are almost completely computer and phone dependant, and literally require that the ladies sit on the phones and at their keyboards for hours at a time. It's a fairly boring job, so many of them will bring in little snacks and candies to keep themselves entertained, because we all know that boredom often leads to eating...

There's a second component to this problem. Because many of the Claims people are given short breaks and lunches (more claims processed = more efficiency & better customer service = more money saved by company & more customer referrels = better bottom line) - These women literally have to go off the clock when they call our helpdesk for help. It's insane - Our company has created a lunch room grill inside the building which offers many many fatty foods for very cheap prices. There are healthier options, and a gym also in the building, but I'll give you three choices where most of the ladies spend their time and money when given the choice.

It's one of the many reasons why my company sometimes disgusts me.

[idioticpoet.livejournal.com]

The way I see it, the morbid obesity has as much to do with unhealthy habits as it does, the gap between rich and poor. People will buy frozen tv dinners that are loaded with fats, salts and sugars, for a low price. When, if they'd take the time to spend the money on whole foods and making meals from scratch, they could easily be in better shape. Not only that, but the majority of towns/cities have no reasonable access to mass transit, and navigating the streets by foot when no sidewalks are present and cars are zipping by you at 35 MPH+ and people don't remember to look out for the pedestrian (as they are such a rare commidity) it's all too easy to further understand where/how obesity comes in to play.

[breaktheseparts.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, Americans don't realy do that great anyway.... everywhere you go they're off to fast food restaurants. bah, damn us americans! ;) lol, I'm korean, just happen to live in america though ;) hehehhee.