Emotional Eating: Why Americans Struggle with Weight Loss
Posted on June 26, 2008Filed Under Diet, Fitness, Weight Loss |
To varying degrees, we all have internal struggles. Take a close look around you; everyone suffers from some kind of inner turmoil; even the ones with the “perfect” lives. In this topsy-turvy world, coping with stress is difficult, especially when we are not taught healthy coping mechanisms. Our copi
ng mechanisms vary from person to person. Some of us gamble, drink, shop, take drugs, smoke cigarettes, or overeat, to name a few. If you notice, all the aforementioned are different types of addictions, if done in excess.
Of all the industrialized nations in the world, guess which country has the highest rate of obesity? Yes, you guessed it; United States. According to Forbes, 74.1% of Americans are considered overweight. As a result we spend large amounts of money on weight loss products. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), twenty-two states have an obesity rate greater than 25%; two of these states (Mississippi and West Virginia) have a obesity rate greater than 30%. The CDC states the difference between being overweight and obese (for adults only) is determined by using weight and height to calculate “body mass index” (BMI). BMI indicates the amount of body fat.
- An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
- An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
For more information regarding BMI, click on this CDC page http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/index.htm.
Sadly, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States during the last 20 years. Let’s face it, there’s an epidemic going on here but why? At first glance, we know that on average Americans are not physically active, have stressful jobs, work long hours, we eat overly processed (foods that contain high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils) foods, and we eat too much of them. I will never forget the time my uncle was visiting from Greece. He was craving a steak so we took him to Black Angus. When the steak arrived, my uncle was stunned and dumb-founded. He said, “I asked for a steak, not half the cow.” The portion sizes in restaurants are ginormous. Why do Americans eat so much? If you look at the psychological factors, I believe the American culture is suffering from some type of emotional disconnect, either within ourselves and/or with others. As a result, we eat excessively because we are not happy. Why the disconnect? It’s a complicated issue but I think it’s a combination of an unattached, emotionally disconnected society where individuals, companies and corporations conduct themselves with misguided priorities. Our culture is a fast paced, consuming, materialistic society that leaves little time to cultivate ourselves and our humanity. Sadly, the cycle continues as we raise our children. Not only are we in denial about our problems, it seems we place more value on things instead of people (this includes the way we treat ourselves), which causes an internal disconnect. On the other hand, many European countries have lower rates of obesity, which I think is largely due to an overall happier culture/society where one may feel freer to express themselves, to live more fulfilling lives. Also, the foods in Europe are fresher with fewer chemicals and preservatives. We’re too busy here trying to be happy instead of really focusing on our issues and resolving them. Interestingly, Japan has a very low obesity rate but even that’s changing as they adapt to a more Western lifestyle. This is just my theory, but I believe Americans not only eat the wrong foods, but we overeat them to cope with our dissatisfaction with ourselves and our lives! Then we look for a quick way to lose weight. What do you think? I’d love to read your thoughts.
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4 Responses to “Emotional Eating: Why Americans Struggle with Weight Loss”
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I’ve never quite heard it put that way. That really makes a lot of sense though. We are so materialistic that we cringe at magazines with overly thin models and sooth ourselves with food because we are depressed, stressed, and overworked. Maybe the answer is not so much dieting but more self-love and a more supportive society.
How about the amount that Americans work- so little vacation, so little time with family. Constantly on the stress roller coaster, never able to really take a great vacation because there is always so much to do around the house/kids getting sick/you getting sick. It’s freaking depressing!
Eating is cheap, and all over. The worse the food is for you, the cheaper it is (McD, TBell).
Whaddya say we petition the government to stop subsidizing corn and start subsidizing organics??
I am tired of being fat, tired of feeling like a failure, tired of being stressed, tired of having food on TV all the time. I need help, and that isn’t help.
Great article. I think that the reasoning is quite on target here. Stress, from long working hours, food with too many unhealthy preservatives, all the things mentioned. Lack of exercise is a big problem. I blog on a site where many Norwegians have commented and they seem generally more happy, not blogging from emotions, but from facts. They seem to have a sense of balance about themselves in relation to the way the view their country. We are so emotional in this country. We have left God out of our lives too and we are reaping the consequences. Get the focus back on God, healthy living, and government reform that would make our forefathers proud and we will be on the road to recovery in my opinion.
You are on to something. Food also has a numbing effect depending on the quantity we eat. We stuff ourselves as opposed to speak our truth and seek that which is more fulfilling in life. We work too much, take few vacations and have less money everytime we turn around (thanks to our political system, etc). We work harder every year for less and it IS DEPRESSING to feel so out of control. Unhealthy food is cheap but there are options, they just aren’t FAST enough.
At some point our system will break down and the death rate due to obesity will further increase the need to address our health care system and being more proactive. I am an HR professional and can’t begin to tell you how many employers don’t want to provide vacation or sick time to employees and yet expect the world from them at work. The disconnect is greed and misguided principles in our country. The mentality of “who has the bigger stick or the most money wins, or he with the most toys” has to stop so we can address what we want this country to look like in the next decade and more. We are being called to behave in a new way sociologically/culturally and I hope we don’t miss the opportunity to turn things around. I am afraid we are running out of time. Owners of businesses fail to realize that regulation comes out of a lack of doing the right thing in the first place. Take care of your people before the government MAKES YOU DO IT. We are already there…..