As many of you know, the rates of obesity and associated illnesses in USA have gone up a lot over the past four decades. As late as the 1980s, obese people were still not a common sight in this country- esp outside poor neighborhoods. However, by the early 2000s we had already reached a point where a significant minority had become obese. Which brings us to the often asked question- how did so many people become so far so quickly? There are those who want to invoke ‘genetics’ and ‘hereditary’ to explain this shift. But ask yourself- how did a population of otherwise well-fed people who did not display any prior predisposition to obesity suddenly develop this trait? One of the best examples of why this explanation does not work is by comparing Italian-Americans to Italians who still living in their home country. While the former are among the groups most prone to serious obesity, the later have some of the lowest incidence of obesity in Europe. Clearly ‘genetics’ is not an adequate explanation.
Fast Food Can be Harmful, But is Not Addictive
Fast Food Can be Harmful, But is Not…
Fast Food Can be Harmful, But is Not Addictive
As many of you know, the rates of obesity and associated illnesses in USA have gone up a lot over the past four decades. As late as the 1980s, obese people were still not a common sight in this country- esp outside poor neighborhoods. However, by the early 2000s we had already reached a point where a significant minority had become obese. Which brings us to the often asked question- how did so many people become so far so quickly? There are those who want to invoke ‘genetics’ and ‘hereditary’ to explain this shift. But ask yourself- how did a population of otherwise well-fed people who did not display any prior predisposition to obesity suddenly develop this trait? One of the best examples of why this explanation does not work is by comparing Italian-Americans to Italians who still living in their home country. While the former are among the groups most prone to serious obesity, the later have some of the lowest incidence of obesity in Europe. Clearly ‘genetics’ is not an adequate explanation.