Super Size Me

[crystal]

Russia - 28% of women are obese! Finland - 19% of men and women are obese (compared to 19.5% of American males).

Oh no! It can't be true. Those statistics must be skewed in some way!

Seriously, I've seen some statistics which claim that Americans are fatter than people in any other nation.

 

[shadowdude]

Not everyone in America is Fat or obese.I don't see why everyone likes to pick on the US. What are the defintions of fat and obese anyway? They are probably different in Europe.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Obese is usually defined as a BMI higher than 30. When fat is given a rigid definition, it's usually BMI 25-30.


I'd like to mention that based on my personal experience, a junk food diet makes you lose weight.

I guess I might see the film. From the trailers, it appears to be pretty fun.

@SN: Remember to take cheap shots at people we already dislike when making that docu.

 

[crystal]

I just found this page:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-11-17-europeans-obese_x.htm

Percentage of adult population overweight in some European countries (The USA is at 31%):
United Kingdom 22%
Spain 13%
Finland 11%
Denmark 10%
Sweden 9%
France 9%
Italy 9%


Obesity is defined in terms of body mass index, a formula that divides weight by height. A body mass index of 30 or higher qualifies as obese; above 40 a person is considered morbidly obese.

Well, I'm not sure what's the definition of "overweight", maybe a BMI of >25?

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Obese is usually defined as a BMI higher than 30. When fat is given a rigid definition, it's usually BMI 25-30.

Believe it or not there are actually three classifications; overweight, preobese, and obese. Overweight is now 25-27 for males, 24-26 for females, with preobese being 27-29 for males and 26-29 for females. Obese is still 30 and up.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Does "overweight" mean "obese" in crystal's list? I frankly cannot believe than only 9% of adults Swedes are overweight by the definitions I'm used to.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Believe it or not there are actually three classifications; overweight, preobese, and obese. Overweight is now 25-27 for males, 24-26 for females, with preobese being 27-29 for males and 26-29 for females. Obese is still 30 and up.

Who invented those definitions? And when?

 

[cegman]

I don't notice them but my eyes is always on the skinny gals so hey. I don't know a great many fat people I have seen mabye 20 out of 400 people I have seen at my school.

I don't think that it is a bad thing we are fat. This sounds wierd I am really skinny but I mean isn't it a sign that we have enough money not to work. I guess it could be considered good. I know it is bad for the person.

 

[crystal]

Hmm, don't ask me about the definitions.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I don't think that it is a bad thing we are fat. This sounds wierd I am really skinny but I mean isn't it a sign that we have enough money not to work. I guess it could be considered good. I know it is bad for the person.

It was considered good in past centuries, actually. A sign of wealth, much like pale skin.

Of course, the obesity epidemic among poor people no longer gives it such distinction.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I read somewhere that Soweto has an obesity rate to make San Antonio (the US's fattest city) jealous.

 

[cegman]

Well thats sortof what I am saying our poor are rich enough to be fat. I know it is not as good now with the things we eat but I don't believe there are many fat people in third world countries. Apart from the rich leaders.

 

[shadowdude]

I read somewhere that Soweto has an obesity rate to make San Antonio (the US's fattest city) jealous.

I thought Detroit was the fatest in the US.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I thought Detroit was the fatest in the US.

I had heard Houston.

 

[shadowdude]

I had heard Houston.

You see it was Houston up until this year when It the honor got transfered to Detroit, which is why I'm confused as to why he said San Antonio.

 

[The Last Conformist]

This article from The Guardian says it's San Antonio.

Or was, a year ago at least.

 

[shadowdude]

This article from The Guardian says it's San Antonio.

Or was, a year ago at least.

Its old info, I'm searching for a link now but I can't find it.

 

[The Last Conformist]

If it's switching that fast, it can't be any big differences in any case.

 

[Shadylookin]

I couldn't justify paying money to see it and eating gallons of popcorn and drinking gallons of pop just to further continue the stereotype of overeating Americans. I also can't wait for this BMI stuff to disapear seeing as it's a useless statistic. I've seen plenty of people with high BMI's because they were fairly muscular and had little fat. As for the general fatness of Americans the only people that make the ideal weight look like runners(real skinny because they are constantly throwing up because they don't know when to quit) I swear I think it was invented by a starving ethiopian as a joke

 

[WillJ]

I thought Detroit was the fatest in the US.

It was, but then San Antonio replaced it.

I'm afraid that there is a gross generalization about only Americans owning the market on fat people. The western lifestyle tends to lend itself to low activity and high-caloric intake.

The Anglo-Saxon culture moreso than others, methinks.