The Weight of the Nation: Poverty and Obesity (HBO Docs)

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To win, we have to lose. The four-part HBO Documentary Films series, The Weight of The Nation explores the obesity epidemic in America.
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The Weight of the Nation: Poverty and Obesity (HBO Docs)
• The Weight of the Nati...

[@maureenw.m2677]

This makes me grateful that i love in an African country where it is actually the opposite. Healthy food is cheap while fast foods are expensive.

[@calsaver]

People are lazy and they don't want to cook. Or they have to work three jobs to pay the rent and they're too tired to cook anything so they go to McDonald's.

[@aminaelo]

same 🥰

[@thelonewolfproductionz1592]

Whoa;

[@Happymind-happyworld.]

Exactly, most people in Africa leave things like pizza are for the wealthy yet our veggies are so cheap. I am so grateful for that

[@kylekampa6721]

Don’t let them fool you. It is NOT expensive to eat healthy in the U.S.! People just are lazy or they don’t want to cook.

[@BloodOrangeSun]

I lost weight being truely poor. Water is cheaper than pop. Stop drinking it. I saw so many people on stamps refusing the fresh veggies at food pantries. I wasnt on stamps so I took them. You appreciate good food and eat things you'd never eat before, when you're only able to afford a 900 calorie diet. There were days when my lunch was a box of raisens. Appreciate what you have.

[@phairplaigh]

Americans are spoiled & expect to be paid for being born.

[@aateena]

My question to you is how did you know those people were on food stamps?

[@subscribetomefornoreason7294]

I think obesity probably has more to do with low iq and people making stupid decisions than income but you see the correlation with obesity and low income because low iq correlated with low income and low iq correlates with obesity so remember kids correlation doesn’t equal causation

[@LisaGrace]

Yes. Our church actually received boxes of veggies from a food pantry that couldn't give the veggies away to the food-challenged. The poor wouldn't take them. Uneducated people have no idea how to prepare most veggies and aren't willing to try. It may be a result of having lower IQs. High simple carb foods spike insulin and the hormone ghrelin keeping them constantly hungry and fat. Fruit doesn't help either as fructose also spikes insulin. Meats and veggies are the way to go. Chicken thighs and wings are cheap. Get in-season veggies or slightly damaged. You can eat fresh on a budget. No snacking between meals. Cut out soda and juice.

[@subscribetomefornoreason7294]

Lisa Grace exactly I don’t think they’re fat because they don’t make a lot I think they’re fat and don’t make a lot because they’re stupid

[@UAPInfoDeutschland]

There’s an observation I found interesting: when I was in my teens me and some friends from my school in Germany went to the US for an exchange program/ Highschool year to learn English. All of us came back heavier( some REALLY-heavy) and when we talked about it, we felt that we were more hungry and needed more food in order to be satisfied. All our weights normalized as soon as we got back to Germany...

[@kristianutomotobing9719]

Do you think that american food usually have more sugar?

[@agnediciuniene9861]

Everyone I know who lived some time in USA had the same thing happen.

[@mirage1182]

Same here... I went on vacation to the U.S for 2 and a half months years ago, gained 10kg. I was HUNGRY all the time. Huge portions of food would only satisfy me briefly and it was too easy to get addicted...it made me really rethink the obesity problem there. You think how the hell does anyone get that big, then you experience it. Lots of the bread was also crazy sweet. I think what shocked me the most was how quickly I got used to it.

[@LunethAkumajo]

The food in America is created to make you crave more. They add sugar and msg which is addicting and encourages diabetes so you're always hungry. It's also low in nutrients, leaving you unsatisfied.

[@rocinante4488]

I noticed the same thing. I am American and was living abroad for a few years. I moved back some months ago. I don't even eat fast food, and I cook most of my meals, but I still feel constantly bloated/gassy, I'm a few kg heavier, and I feel like I need to eat much much more.

[@DR-hy6zw]

I cut out 3 things and I lost 50 pounds (from 240 to 190, 6ft man), sugary drinks, fast food, and dessert. It’s crazy how addicting these 3 things are, but just as amazing how quickly you can get off that addiction. Took me about 2 weeks to stop overly craving them. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll have a little slice of cake or a soda every once in a while, but not how I used to.

[@santiiiiiiiiii7]

That's how you supposed to do it, so props to you. People think it's all or nothing, but you can basically have any food or drink that you like, but people need to learn about calories, and the high calorie food you can still eat, just not as often. It's all about balance.

[@jenrich111]

Congrats !

[@kathleenking47]

How old are you

[@joarcokru]

And you saved money. Kind of contradicting the thesis that poor people don't have a choice but to eat junk food and be fat.

[@learnenglish699]

americans don;t know what to eat/they always go for sweet items/ sugary things and then fucking cry lol

[@garrisdom]

We just gonna ignore the fact that dude is a medical doctor, attorney, and a master in public health? Respect!

[@SuperElite27000000]

Your grammar is atrocious.

[@mosman1372]

@@SuperElite27000000 Either correct it politely or shut up! Don't just point & mock 13/Aug/2020

[@mujtabaahmed6947]

@Alexander or maybe he was driven and wanted to do something for the community

[@mujtabaahmed6947]

@Alexander I always find some people who look at others and tell they got to the point because they had someone help them out may be that's true but I have seen farmers kids becoming doctors yes they had loans but eventually cleared them

[@ishmael802]

The man is definitely an A type personality.

[@captianxanax]

this video was posted 7 years ago look around now people are riding carts to go grocery shopping to buy more frozen pizzas

[@rachelc.5463]

I've noticed over weight people on scooters riding around in stores like Wal-Mart and Target. If they were not so over weight they could walk around the stores like everyone else.

[@Competitive_Antagonist]

Rachel C. Genius observation there.

[@jpzclewis]

@spirals 73 or maybe the weight problem is the major contributor to their immobility....hmmm...

[@littleblueprintwritinghood192]

@spirals 73 that's true my auties back is made of metal but her pride won't let her use the scooter though she should

[@DavidLee-vp3nr]

The obesity epidemic is only going to get worst

[@spikeycat81]

I make soup for 5 days from chicken bones, I add brown rice, onion, garlic and carrots. The chicken before that made a meal for 3 and sandwiches the next day. Teach people in schools about food and how to cook.

[@Attmay]

Don’t they teach home economics anymore?

[@ricardodelacrvz1400]

onion nd garlic will destroy every nutrient coming from the already lack of nutrinents in chicken bones loooool eat meat not soup

[@user-zy3nv1jy1m]

Low-Fat high carb Vegan for the win

[@dmitriyr4095]

@@ricardodelacrvz1400 where did you get that nugget of info

[@ricardodelacrvz1400]

@@dmitriyr4095 internet, there are books on the biological content of food like onions and garlic, garlic cells kills any other cells that touches, they are not meant for human consumption. there are also lots of books on evolutionary biology and evolutionary nutrition. worth taking the time to reseach.

[@Jazzisa311]

The kid going 'ooeeeh can I have some cherries??' in the same excited tone as if he were asking for candy, made me really happy.

[@jimmytaaffe]

Step one: Stop drinking soda.

[@ImprovementisGrowth]

I cut down on my soda drinking and replaced it with flavored water. There are some stores( Trader Joe's) that sell flavored bottle water for less than a dollar.

[@luzfigueroa1550]

Ok then what water?

[@luzfigueroa1550]

LimelightImages NYC water not soda.

[@mingsong]

Or make homemade soda aka kombucha

[@thefrugallandlord2226]

youre still getting ripped off, stupid

[@eyarbroughzone]

Poverty makes you sad. Eating gives you happiness, momentarily. It's an addiction I think. You can't afford tickets to a concert, but you can buy a bag of chips and you've got something to do.

[@alexisk1659]

Well said:(

[@ashokpatel6680]

💯 right

[@PaperPlateClorox]

Yep

[@tomhal4388]

That doesn't make sense. If "poverty makes you sad," and poor parents love their children, why would they bring their children into lives of poverty?

[@lisamurphy6344]

When you are broke the only fun you can afford is a 99 cent cake mix

[@mitchlee2137]

Really thankful for the line "We've got food at home!". Saved my ass from eating junk and crap.

[@ang8574]

That and “Do you have McDonald’s money?” 😂

[@Bleen76]

Why not tax sugar like we tax tobacco? Sugar kills way more people and it is just as addictive as nicotine.

[@4cistasonly897]

When did cooking your own food become abnormal, especially when u have multiple kids. Cooking is cheaper

[@notthedoctor8621]

It still falling on working women, despite most parents work nowadays, and the fact that he's slacking and she's not afraid to voice her opinion contributes to neither doing it. Also, I feel the US has pushed food on the go aggressively, both as a cultural and status symbol and for marketing purposes of course. It's a shame because the US has an unbeatable variety of local produce

[@amazingdany]

Errbody should know home cooking.

[@michaelmilam7285]

Not as cheap as fast food

[@Arthur-nr5ci]

In an economy that relies on dual incomes, it can be almost impossible to find the time.

[@leotardbanshee]

Its an issue of transporting ingredients to your home.

[@duckinatf2hatv457]

14:29 that boy asking for cherries had made me smile

[@thecrimtrbune.4270]

Got me as well. So cute.

[@7arboreal]

I’m genuinely a bit shocked by this. In Britain poorer areas still usually have supermarkets like Lidl with good fresh produce (not that there isn’t an obesity problem in Britain but access to good food isn’t so linked to area).

[@vivianfoster702]

Stores don’t open in poor areas in the US bc they can’t make a profit. It’s called stealing and looting. It’s a catch 22.

[@Origami84]

Ah, don't worry. Give it enough time and diversity, and food deserts will spread in good old Britain, too.

[@piapenske9767]

My mother worked full time, had two kids, took care of here disabled mother, was active in church and still was able to bring a healthy dinner at the table every night.

[@noemimariazaica8245]

Bless her🙏

[@disneyprincessintraining2725]

This breaks my heart. I’m a CNA, and I literally watched someone take their last breath and die an agonizing death because of complications caused by obesity and heart failure yesterday. Please, please, all of you, work towards a healthy life. Nobody deserves to live their final moments being too big to leave their bed and needing to wear diapers, and being crushed by their own body fat. You don’t need to be stick thin, but I promise you will not regret making your life better.

[@Mbspitz851]

My boyfriend lived in a poor section of Philadelphia and we made garden boxes and grew fresh vegetables from the very very small back yard. Despite the pollution the vegetables grew and we made fresh salads.

[@biffbyfford6890]

Good on you! Most people are way too lazy and don't value nutrition as something which is important to sustain your life, which is why they aren't proactive like you.

[@Skarlet79]

I am originally from Germany but have been in Canada since 2006. They have mostly the same food as in the US. I am not bigger than I was in Germany because I pay close attention to my weight. But I can tell you it takes lots of self-control and discipline not to go with the flow and devour tons of fast food. If I would eat all I wanted I would be twice my size.

[@rae-everything]

As bad as Canada is, on average we're a lot thinner than Americans. But, your point stands.

[@cosmicreef5858]

It is not what YOU want. That is the trick. It is poisoning the mind with the fast food commercials, the signals. Manipulation, It FORCES you to eat what in normal conditions you would avoid with no problems.

[@sweetycamy]

in Germany you walk a lot. IN the US you're tied to the car

[@KennedyIvy]

​@@sweetycamythere's treadmills fatty. No excuse

[@michele2855]

If you don’t have access to fruits veggies and whole foods in your neighbourhood once a week make a trip to get some. Good exercise too

[@yourenough3]

That is quite sad to see the woman SO happy she finally got a grocery store in her neighborhood. Made me appreciate the little things more. Thanks for posting this video.

[@Clemburke1111]

Oh Please

[@JW-uy2on]

If 70% of a country is overweight, then it's a societal problem, not an individual one.

[@snookysnax]

John W, a problem caused by 70% of people, costing the other 30% because of their gluttony ,laziness and high carb food addiction.

[@bobjacobson858]

Programs such as what was shown in this video are addressing the problem on a community level, with a community being a local "unit" of society.

[@darthvader5300]

@@bobjacobson858 Pentagon Report: The U.S population in 2000 is 282.2 million of which only 33 million Americans are both mentally-pyschologically and physically-physiologically FIT AND STABLE. Now it is 2020 and the U.S population is 331,002,651 of which only 25 million Americans are both mentally-pyschologically and physically-physiologically FIT AND STABLE. That is 1 American supporting 13.24 unhealthy and unfit Americans. If war breaks out the war industries and the war machine will get bogged down.

[@darthvader5300]

SHEER IGNORANCE AND LACK OF FORESIGHT OF THE COMING CONSEQUENCES OF HER ACTIONS in the future for those who are doing their best to properly care for themselves and their families regardless of the fact that they have 5 to 9 children is a selfish act to cover up their ignorance and it only expose her selfish attitude which is "WHY BOTHER, WHEN THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES AND WILL BE FIT IN MIND AND IN BODY TO CARE FOR ME? THEN I CAN AFFORD TO NEGLECT MYSELF AND MY KIDS"

[@darthvader5300]

Conveniences at the price of higher medical bills? Enjoyment at the price of higher taxes to support higher costs public health care which are the results of their unhealthy lifestyles? Logic and rationality, reasoning and facts and figures is no longer in the minds of the average American.

[@GirlArmy21]

In our city, we have a community garden where high school kids tend to the gardens and sell their produce at cheaper rates to local groceries and give some to soup kitchens. It is a win-win. Giving back to our community.

[@akanksham9076]

"I have five kids, it's hard" Why did you have five kids if it's hard for you to provide. I hate people like this. If you can't give the child physical, mental and financial support, then please, please don't have children.

[@dorismahoney1440]

U are rude. Ppl can lose their job, divorce, illness.

[@tommylehomme8695]

You have no idea what it's like to be poor. Kids are an insurance policy for your old age. The more there are, the better chances you have for care and financial support in your later years. Rich people have money and access to quality care and healthcare. Poor people have children.

[@akanksham9076]

@@tommylehomme8695 are you really gonna justify having kids go through negligence and abuse due to lack of finances, cause parents thought having kids is equivalent to insurance policy or retirement plan.

[@rebeccaa.3121]

Perhaps the US should start with adequate sex education on how to do family planning.

[@veronicahaney6005]

@@rebeccaa.3121 We literally do have it! And there's the internet now also, If ppl have time to research what is going on in Cardi B's life, they can research all the ways to not get pregnant.

[@mattperez3618]

Saying that fast food is cheaper than healthy food is a myth. Let's start with the staples. A box of pasta at Kroger(whole grain) costs one dollar. Sauce, a dollar. Seven servings. Do the math. A bag of beans and brown rice is three dollars... Aka a shit ton of servings... Do the math. Tortillas and eggs are relatively cheap. Lentils, cheap. Tea, cheap. Whole wheat bread, cheap, turkey, cheap. The fact of the matter is when you shop at a grocery store, your units of measurement, whether it be in servings/ounces/grams/lbs/etc will always be cheaper than buying fast food. Three dollars at McDonald's will feed you at one meal. I can eat off three dollars of beans, rice, and pasta for multiple days. Anyone see this picture? We're making excuses. Education and misinformation is the real culprit.

[@mattperez3618]

***** So very true, and it's difficult to break the cycle of eating fast food.

[@ImplosiveCatt]

Matt Perez Yeah. I think "expesiveness of healthy food" is convenient cop out of junk food addicts. The real problem with poor comunities is lack of motivation.

[@caffeinated4671]

Matt Perez I think if more people knew about the addictive component of sugar and the damage it does then we'd be better off completely as a nation. People joke about being addicted to coke, but it's not really that funny when the companies put sugar in _everything_ . It kind of seems insidious almost. "Just will yourself to not do it" will not solve anything or help the nation as a whole when the majority of the population are ignorant and surrounded by cheap sounding tasty, sugary, addictive food.

[@FlyingDutchman19801]

Matt Perez your math is flawed.

[@biohazard2treepercs]

FlyingDutchman19801 your brain is flawed...

[@PaperPlateClorox]

Brown Rice- $1.00 Cabbage- 1.00 Chicken Legs- $4.00

[@zerou24]

who the fuck eats chickenlegs? oooh now i see ur profile picture

[@monalisa9636]

zerou24 don’t be mean because she’s right. You don’t get fat when you’re poor. Poor = starving to death in 99% of the world.

[@tuffguydoe7937]

great example and that is at least 3 meals for a single person. I hate the argument that it cost money to eat healthy. Fat person: "that's not right, comparing that to my large burger combo that I don't have to put in effort into making."

[@jgdooley2003]

A recent development has happened in ireland with increasing wealth. Chicken is now consumed in portions instead of being bought whole. The breast meat is sold locally. Wings and legs are shipped to other countries because the rich Irish will not eat anything but chicken breast meat. There is a huge reduction in eating healthy food such as chicken and people are pickier.

[@jgdooley2003]

@MsSunhappy I know, when done the right way Legs and wings are good eating but many Irish are now time poor and have more money than they know what to do with. This is what I've been told by supermarket specialists, The Irish mow eat 70% beast meat from chicken and the rest is exported.

[@Yolduranduran]

For me the epidemic made my overeating worst. I felt so stressed not knowing what was going to happen that I kept eating. Now that I have accepted our reality I have returned to making healthier choices and tracking my weight. It is an ongoing struggle .

[@dwenjp]

i’m so happy that i have a chance to go to a japanese public school where we learn to cook our own food, and get healthy and balanced lunches. I lived to the U.S for almost two years and i definitely noticed a weight gain, but even since i went back to japan my weight has dropped back down. I hope that in the U.S school system they can teach home economics or skills that you can use later in life to live a healthy lifestyle. Balanced, home-cooked meals can really benefit your diet. A student should know how to go into adulthood learning simple skills

[@veronicahaney6005]

They used to until no child left behind program

[@seeamerica1]

I'm beating the odds. + you can too! I live in the lowest income area of town, stores, banks + businesses have all left. What remains is McD's + Hardees + a small local grocery store. Last year when my doctor told me I had diabetes I vowed to research how to get it under control because I wasn't far away from having to go on dialysis from kidneys failure. I learned the culprits were bad fats, starches, breads, processed foods (commercial made/boxed + canned foods, + of course sugar.) I decided to stop eating those foods so there was no more eating out for me. Now I buy fresh foods as much as I can afford +cook my own meals. I carefully monitor my blood sugar with a meter every day. It's taken a year + a half of keeping a food diary to find what affects me personally. My last test at the doctor had me down to a pre=diabetes level only one point away from normal. My biggest challenge is not being able to exercise due to a foot injury as I use a cane so watching what i eat had to make up for that issue. Now I've cut down eating snacks late at night which really helps. Because cooking my own foods is time consuming I found a solution which was to cook a large pot of soup only one day per week to last me the whole week by freezing what I don't eat. I think it's worth it + saves on doctor + electric bills. Living on social security budget isn't easy + I wish I could afford all organic foods but since I can't for now I stick to only buying organic apples + I grow my own pesticide free tomatoes in containers on my porch . It's been a long hard journey but at least my diabetes is now getting under control since I've lost 20 lbs + it has made a big difference. Best advice I can offer is to read the label ingredients of everything you are buying + you'll see how much sugars the food industry adds to everything to get you hooked on their product. Beware of buffets especially Chinese buffets as everything there also is also loaded with sugar!

[@joeyk3134]

It's definitely cheaper to buy things like beans, rice, whole grain pasta, sauce, and occasionally meat than buy mcdonalds everyday

[@ensignmjs7058]

That's assuming you regularly have access to those ingredients and the financial resources to purchase them.

[@judithjanneck1719]

And that doesn't really sound healthy. But better than fast food I guess

[@Volkischer14]

Ensign MJS it’s called getting off your lazy ass and getting a job. Don’t be a victim your whole life. There is no pride in playing the victim

[@julianunyabiz2193]

Yeah and when you have to work 3 jobs to pay rent as they clearly fucking said, you can try to find the time to do that. Good luck. Most of the edgy trolls commenting on here probably dont even work 1 job. Let alone 3.

[@kylekampa6721]

Personally I keep away from refined carbs like pasta, breads, etc. I don’t think you have to go keto, but reducing sugary foods and refined carbs does wonders!

[@zayaalily6916]

Had soda for the first time in a while, and it triggered the strongest junk food cravings. It was 0 cal sparkling water, and I hate carbonated drinks, I didn’t even finish the can, but I ended up gorging on chips and donuts and cheese. Scary realization, but now I can get back on track.

[@nmarrs8539]

I’m sorry when she complained about preparing the food was too much for her. I have no sympathy for that.

[@joeyweston9001]

some humans are just lazyyy

[@carriekoltunov3288]

It depends on so many factors - you have no idea what was going on with her. I am a cancer survivor, and my energy levels since then have just not been the same. I work full time, and it leaves me with very little energy for other things. I do cook, but not all the time and sometimes I just really need sleep more than home-cooked food. What if she works 2 jobs? Sometimes it makes it incredibly difficult to cook if you are also juggling the schedule of 2 jobs plus trying to raise your kids. And if you don't have a car, it's even harder.

[@veselgana]

@@carriekoltunov3288 This is counterproductive though. If you don't have energy, then you need even more quality food to get some...And you also can prepare healthy food very quickly sometimes. You can prepare a salad for 15 minutes.

[@carriekoltunov3288]

@@veselgana I agree with you. Yet I have plenty of days where preparing even a salad seems like a completely overwhelming task. This is a symptom of depression, and it's really, really hard to overcome it without some sort of assistance.

[@bikesrcool_1958]

@@gianlucarusso4480 yeah but like putting a salad together isn’t that hard

[@texas1949]

I’m so thankful my mom raised us kids at the dinner table every evening with a fabulous home cooked meal! Thanks mom!

[@kinksofjoy3437]

Mine too. We only ate out and drank soda on special occasions, the only snacks available to us were fresh fruits and we got at least 2 hours of play outside everyday. Maybe it's because i grew up in a different country and in a different time.

[@texas1949]

KinksOf Joy The American family used to be nuclear. That is... mom, daddy and children. THATS what changed. Single moms today not only were not raised in that very safe and special way, some immulate the “gotta go, hurried/busy” lifestyle. It’s sad but that’s how it is! 😢

[@bhagyashreedubey7757]

Mine too

[@aakima9684]

ive seen u on amberlyn vids haha

[@NoctLightCloud]

very lucky! mine stopped cooking a year ago because she felt "abandoned" that I went abroad to study for a year (I had a 100% scholarship). Needless to say I never really had breakfast with my family when growing up. Messed up.

[@ashj.5791]

I have a family member who is a nurse and very obese. She has knee problems and has diabetes,but still doesn't see the problem. Her diet is poor and artificial. Fried foods and cheese over everything. She just doesn't care either. If she lost 100lbs,she'd feel sooooo much better. She won't get up and even go for a walk. It's sad,because her three children are already overweight. A lot of my family members don't eat very healthy,not over weight,a lot of beef and pork. I'm so glad to get out of that town and state altogether. Being fit and healthy makes you feel so much better.

[@joeyGalileoHotto]

Personally, I would be terrified if she were my nurse. It's ironic that she'd tell people how to take care of her health on daily basis when she can't do the same.

[@theunknowncommenter3444]

I just recently decided to stop eating fast foods and started eating healthier. a new years resolution of mine and I have already lost 10 lbs and I can say I feel much better.

[@gingerellacookiecookieguts273]

Ash B. I'm thin person who eats a crappy diet looking to improve thst for health reasons

[@PunkBunny56]

Ash B. My parents are both obese. I was overweight for my entire childhood. I’m a healthy weight now because I exercise and eat a healthy diet. I only spend 30 dollars on food a week for myself. My brother on the other hand only got fatter and is now morbidly obese. He spends hundred of dollars on food because he only buys packaged and fast food. As an adult you have to take responsibility for yourself. I worry about the damage my diet growing up did to my health. I cannot change that though. I can only control my diet now.

[@Wh1teD3ath]

After dropping almost 90lbs I can agree. I feel amazing in comparison to who I was before.

[@cefarther3945]

I grew up with physical fitness and home cooked meals. Pressure cookers, crock pots, the oven--can make a cheap lovely dinner. No snacking, no pop, real meals and we cut off after dinner at 5 pm. We were slim, healthy, and good at whatever we did.

[@kubuspuchatek19833]

Let us all appreciate our moms who sacrifice their free time to provide healthy, homemade food for us.

[@joaocunha7933]

Not drinking soda is not expensive, on the contrary, it's cheaper.

[@robertpreskop4425]

I avoid soda entirely. In fact I dumped soda almost 20 years ago and regret not doing it sooner. I also stopped touching alcohol after 12/31/99.

[@lorenzomagazzeni5425]

In many US states the tap water is horrible and polluted - Iwas living in NOLA and the tap water was missisipi piss "filtered" ...

[@milkweedsage]

sadly there are areas where the water is unsafe to drink and soda IS cheaper than water. isn't that insane??

[@stevengonzalez27]

milkweedsage It is nuts. Totally. The dentist, and diverse health issues are however the price that people end up paying when addicted to soda and junk foods in general. Bananas, potatos, rice and beans, pasta and sauce, will fill an empthy stomach just fine. Looking for any seasonal and other bargains is not so hard to do. But it takes some time. Add gardening to a healthy way of living, and get the family envolved. Great activity for kids and parents, and a great time to talk.

[@stevecvntniko8271]

Fizzy drink is cheaper than water in Australia. Sugar is the main problem. I do the keto diet to drop body fat fast or I do the rice and lean protien diet and I lean bulk. But never mix fat and carbs in big amounts because your body only needs one fuel source..

[@Prickly_Cactus_1993]

Lots of people choose the unhealthy food, I volunteered at a food bank where those with low income brackets could claim a certain amount of food weekly, they choose what they wanted from the shelves. There were lots of donated canned fruits and vegetables, pasta and brown rice, but they choose the white rice and the kraft dinner, as well as stuff like spam and jello, some of the canned vegetables just sat there week after week. The kraft dinner seemed to be the top pick for everyone.

[@hainleysimpson1507]

What are they little kids?

[@lindavel43]

I also disagree with this documentary when they showed Santa Ana. I grew up in Santa Ana and we used to out once a wk to those nasty fast food places. But, my family also ate lots of beans, rice and tortillas cooked at home with fresh salsa. Fresh fruit and vegetables, along with junk food. Then my mom got diagnosed with diabetes and she cut out all the bad foods. It was hard as a child to cut all that crap food cold turkey. But, it can be done even in Santa Ana. So, I agree with you.

[@missturtlegurl]

I think that may be partly because kraft dinners are fast foods with the illusion of home cooking and and some people are just too lazy to balance their meals

[@memrod667]

Canned food is just as bad. Too much salt

[@tiahnagrace6325]

@@memrod667 I was going to comment this too. I think food banks are a good idea, but I still think they can do better. Like, there could be a program where farmers donate "ugly" fruit and vegetables to food banks.

[@Itried20takennames]

The “healthy food is more expensive” myth has been debunked many times. 65 dollars buys enough fruits, veggies, small amount of non-red meat, brown rice, beans, oatmeal, etc. to eat for a week. The prices quoted as “more expensive” often assume that people get every meal at the Whole Foods pre-cut salad bar, the least budget-friendly option. Fast and processed foods are quicker, often more available and tastier, but not cheaper.

[@RealMonoid]

Exactly. These people lack some background info on nutrition. Potato chips might be cheap, but they are not satiating.

[@laureljade3476]

I think it's cultural, frozen broccoli costs less than a dollar.

[@majestycrush]

This is my biased opinion, but I think that the problem isn't that healthy food is "expensive" (or at least it is seen that way) but that unhealthy junk food is incredibly addictive and just better tasting for people who are used to it, and once a person is used to eating that, eating healthier just doesn't fulfill them. Then there's the problem of fast food places being conveniently placed where poorer people are. On top of that, you have to remember that a lot of the "healthier" foods have to actually be cooked and prepared, and when you work a full time laborious job and children to take care of, the last thing you want to do is add even more work to your day when you get home all tired, so an instant microwave meal will do. And then the cycle continues. Ultimately I blame the food corporations for valuing money and profit over health, as always.

[@Attmay]

The idea that a diet intended to fatten ruminant animals is in any way healthy for humans has also been debunked.

[@CaptchaNeon]

Do you know how horrible some of those foods can be? Take instant oatmeal for instance, it has MORE carbs than soda! Carbs in excess contribute to obesity.

[@violetagira8687]

And here we are 11 years later in 2023 and things has gotten even worse. I am a Eastern European girl who moved to US in 2010. I noticed the poison in the American food as soon as I got here. Luckily for me my stomach simply did NOT accept the food I was eating. I would literally get stomach aches up to a point I had to vomit everything I ate in order to release the intestinal pain I was experiencing. I could not and still can NOT eat the gluten in the American pasta (however I am fine eating pasta and pizza every time I go to Europe). I can't drink milk or anything made out of milk like cheese, ice cream or cakes. However again, I am fine and have no problems drinking the raw milk straight from my grandparents cow. It's just horrible. I live in US right now full time and my diet is whole foods, plant based home made food. It's all I can eat.

[@user-od5fh3gn4d]

That’s fascinating. I wonder what’s different here-

[@ainijay2762]

In my country, fast food cost more expensive than healthy food..thank God..

[@Steve32797]

+aini Jay Here in the US, you can buy a McDonald's cheeseburger for $1.00. It's fucking insane

[@saral2601]

+aini Jay I remember visiting Russia when it was still the USSR (April of 1991) and going to McDonalds in Moscow. At that time the exchange rate had just changed and it was 26 rubles to $1. I paid for the two of us to eat there and it cost me 22 rules, I believe. So the two of us ate for less than $1 American. That is cheap to us, but not to the people who lived there. We were told that for many people it would cost about a months wages to eat there. There was still a two block long line when we go there though.

[@janisjoplin9316]

In my country as well. Kfc is $25.00.

[@tikimiller7966]

WHERE

[@youllbeloved4122]

In my country You can get a burger for 1 euro, but people KNOW to eat junk food not so often. Because the culture is to cook, Americans are lazy and think they don’t hace time

[@dukesilver6533]

I work full time all day, come home and make my family a home cooked healthy meal before working part time for several more hours at night I grocery shop at Aldi once a month with a list that I stick to. Then I go back two weeks later for produce and dairy only. I don't buy fast food, no soda, try to avoid corn syrup and gmo's as much as possible. I keep my grocery budget at about $120 a month. Don't be lazy. Cook real food for your family.

[@darwincity]

Interesting to hear that Aldi has expanded in the US.

[@Vel.Asunai]

Some places don't have access to aldi's and other healthy resources, that's the point of the video. There are less healthy options in lower income areas. That doesn't mean it's impossible, it just means it's harder.

[@rondonnis6588]

you are a liar 120 dollars which is 100 quid in the uk wouldnt be enough to feed 2 people and buy all ingredients seperate to put together in the cooking process would be far to expensive

[@adabekeable]

Duke Silver - Amen!

[@TomikaKelly]

@@darwincity Thank goodness! Aldi is a lifesaver. Sooo inexpensive.

[@aviationdigitalmarketer]

really blessed to live in a country where healthy food is cheap and fast food is expensive 😅

[@jenniferwilcox9759]

Wow! I'll bet this documentary was made a few years back. It's 2020 and I'm looking at the price of the vegetables. I saw $2.99/lb for broccoli and collard greens. Dang, that's expensive by today's (at least in my area of the city I live in) standard. Oh well, it's still nice to see a grocery store in an area that didn't have on. Thank you for posting this.

[@claytosrepublic7858]

"Do you know why they call it 'Fast Food'?" "No why?" "Because it hastens your journey to grave" From the 1985 movie 'Remo - Unarmed and Dangerous' ...

[@amazingdany]

Should be renamed _fast-killing food._

[@elise8276]

Folke then it wouldn’t sell well xD

[@antoniaburnett6067]

wry emoji.

[@emptysoul5057]

My mom had 4 kids right away after getting married and my dad made 7 dollars an hour as a water biller. She cooked every single meal we ate. We never had sweets unless it was a birthday or Christmas. She would go out to the outskirts and buy discount produce off of farmers. She grew veggies in the yard in front of our trailer. She canned what she grew. We never ate out ever. She forced us to walk for miles on weekends because she thought it'd make us stronger. We are all adults now and only one of my siblings is over weight. Never eat out is the answer I think.

[@r5t6y7u8]

Physical fitness is 50% upbringing and 50% personal responsibility.

[@Attmay]

Even food delivery apps can be customized to remove ingredients you don’t want, depending on where you order from.

[@andreeagorcsa1812]

Great mom

[@JW-uy2on]

My mom had to work long hours and didn't have time to make home-cooked meals every night.

[@emptysoul5057]

My mom also worked over night 10 hour shifts

[@metalgrinch]

Knowing how to cook will save you hundreds every year. Yea, you cant get a head of lettuce cheaper than a dollar menu double cheeseburger, but get a head of lettuce, some meat and bread, and spend $5 to feed yourself for a week instead of 1 day. And that's just regarding lunch! Cooking dinners instead of going out for dinner will save even more.

[@mww59]

My first thought was "grocery shopping is usually cheaper" because thats the reality where I live. But then I realized, I have 4 grocery stores in my neighborhood and I have a car that I can transport my groceries in. I never realized how hard it can be without those things

[@nicolemarie1360]

Thank you for actually acknowledging some of the core issues this documentaries raise. I've lived in a food desert in Cleveland and I had to walk MILES, plural, for the nearest grocery store. That meant I could only buy what I could carry for miles. That's not easy for anyone, especially after eight hours of work. Then whatever vegetables you get are gone in a day or less because they will rot, so it's another hike to the store, and it's exhausting. I like walking so it wasn't so bad until I was carrying stuff back, but a lot of people are not gonna want to do that daily just to get a handful of vegetables. (Going off 2024 prices now, it's even less worth that exertion)

[@blackadder564]

It's 2020 and this is from 8 years ago. I have a feeling there haven't been a lot of changes.

[@CoolSmoovie]

It’s 2021 and this is from 9 years ago. Your feeling is correct and people are becoming bigger since they can’t leave the house.

[@july9566]

Lol yea that produce market probably got shot up and closed down lol

[@viga1802]

They have started normalize obesity

[@TheAOoOoOz]

Nobody mention the education around the eating habits. The school restaurant is really important too in this topic...education is the key!!

[@jgdooley2003]

UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver did a documentary on UK school dinners and it was found that a lot of them were very substandard regarding food quality and nutritional quality. Perpetually hungry kids were eating more empty calories to satisfy their appetites. Obesity is an epidemic in the UK and Ireland because of our shambolic dietary habits.

[@peterpiper8309]

For sure! Unfortunately, a glimpse inside America's school menus would leave you disheartened...

[@na6493]

I’m the only person in my family within a healthy BMI. I am also the only one who went vegan-vegetarian, before switching back to lean meats. I introduced this idea of healthy living my family laughed at me. I realized, it’s just a mindset more than anything. When people get too comfortable in habits it’s harder for them to change. Change is difficult for most people. You must be open to new information. They rather look good with expensive clothes and shoes than be healthy inside.

[@hds66nl29]

Yeah, complaining all they sell is junk food. Sorry, but if there would be demand for fresh food the stores would sell it. Supply & demand. In the end obesity is eat to much, excersise to little. Although having some fysical activity is hard in a country redesigned around a car. I live in a country where I do most (aka all, no car) of my shopping on foot or by bike and that helps a lot. It is almost impossible to find a place without a supermarket at walking/biking distance, some really small towns lack one, not sustaineble.

[@na6493]

@@hds66nl29 it’s basically a bunch of excuses for the problem instead of seeking solutions. The supply and demand point you made sums up the hypocrisy of the modern consumer, especially in lower income communities. The infrastructure in the US makes it difficult for physical activity, but public transport is usually easily accessible to everyone. Plus, if you want to exercise you can do that in your home and without equipment. This is a reason why I enjoy Europe and Asia, usually markets are always within walking distance and there are walk paths without as many cars which are horrible in the states because when it comes to structuring city planning it’s all about cars.

[@hds66nl29]

@@na6493 I agree, if you want excersise there is always a possibility. Point is if you can combine that with shopping or visiting a friend, than you get your excersise without really noticing it. The US car centric suburbs and zoning laws are a failed urban design idea, sadly they will be suffering the consequences for decades to come. Never really understood that idee, the European an Asian cities you refere too, that is how cities are built for over millennia now (Roman cities were already designed like this, commercial activity groundfloor, living above) and it seemed to work very well. If it ain't broken don't fix it. I never been to the US, but when I see video's on suburbs and shopping landscape it always strikes me how desolate those places are. Suburbs emty streets, empty playgrounds (if there are any) looks like ghosttowns.

[@na6493]

@@hds66nl29 agreed, it combines the effort. This won’t happen anytime soon with the continuing and ever expanding highways and parking lot infrastructure. We should take a page out of Amsterdam’s playbook who did plan their city around highways in the 60s and switched; the only difference is were much larger!

[@hds66nl29]

@@na6493 I have seen those plans for Amsterdam, turning the canals into highways, glad that didn't happen, dodged a bullet there. I am Dutch, live in Tilburg and during the 60 we were destroying city centres for roads. But luckely the people revolted, they didn't want there cities destroyed for more cars and the most famous protests in the Netherlands were the "stop de kindermoord" protests (stop the child murder), because of the volume of children killed by cars. I am so thankfull for those people because they changed the country. Policies changed, cycle lanes were built and proved built it and they come, city centre were made car free and the car free zones are still expanding. Mentallity changed, I know a few years back a city wanted to extend its car free zone, there were protest from shopholders, their shops were just outside the car free zone and they wanted it extended so their shops would also be in the car free zone. Imagen that happening in the US. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqallZlvn76dbdE

[@Prettyordying]

Being poor is not the only issue, although it definitely affects obesity in America. I think being uneducated about health by parents and teachers regularly is also contributing to the problem. (Also unhealthy consumerism and commercialism is seen on a daillyyy basis)

[@Day-ZDuke]

....those issues are linked though People in poor areas tend to get less quality education, the parents often work 2 minimum wage jobs, leaving the kids alone often. Or they are on welfare, and perpetuate the problems further

[@gordocarbo]

One can google how to eat healthy, cook etc problem solved. Ill never buy its a poor thing Its a lazy thing

[@sere7000]

"I only have 3 dollars so I'm gonna get a mcdouble " No go to the grocery store pick up a head of broccoli $ 0.80 and a box of rice $1.29 . You'll have 2-3 meals off of that . Smaller portions too people . We eat wayyyyyy more than we should

[@jgdooley2003]

You need to add beans or pulses to that such as lentils and a bit of fruit then fully fed.

[@Volkischer14]

Bingo! People are too lazy to plan ahead, and the portions are absolutely ridiculous.

[@contenderbp]

K. Roberts Actually no. Broccoli has the highest protein level out of the plant based selection. Lentils are the highest in the legume category. The perfect protein choice is any legume w/rice. Vegetables and fruit contain protein. Finally, even as humans, although we do have four incisors for cutting. We’re not designed to eat meat. Research what early man ate. Mostly all were vegan because that’s what Mother Earth had to offer. Best decision of my life to stop eating anything with a face.

[@EddieKMusic]

contenderbp yeah it has 2.8g of protein in 100g, but chicken has 28g protein in 100g, so do the math

[@pamlyles8905]

Rice? It's fattening.

[@Pinakij]

I'm poor, so I just fast...poverty destroys the mind also, complacency is the enemy, unfortunately, and it's easy to give up when your fat

[@mrsbee5056]

Never give up, get a picture in your mind of who YOU WANT TO BE, and you will get there. Do something to improve yourself every day, no one else will do it for you. And believe me there are a LOT of rich fat people. You have a choice. I am not well off but I visit Lidl each day, and other shops like Iceland where I get a huge bag of whitefish for just £5. Then its time to have fun, add some cheap veg and a jar of lloyd grossman pasta sauce and you have a delicious fun dish. Be positive :D

[@montesa9136]

Of Course!! As with Everything, there is a tipping point!!

[@monalisa9636]

Pinaki Joadder I’m poor too, so I eat less. I don’t get being truly poor and fat.

[@karansena]

Sugar syrup avoid it

[@littleblueprintwritinghood192]

Lots of money to be made online now and free education

[@HermaeusM]

If you are at square 0 in your journey to health, start by drinking water instead of soda. *100%* of the time. Drinking soda is like changing the oil in your car with more used black oil… After drinking water for a while, you’ll see how much it quenches your thirst. Your body, wallet and mind will thank you.

[@kamigriff]

i did not expect to cry watching this. This is America.

[@sydney_jay]

I live in a very poor urban neighborhood in Baltimore,Md and I'm quite sure my family and I live below the poverty line. It's hard for me to sympathize with these people who also live in poor neighborhoods because I do not allow myself to gorge on fast food everyday just because I am in that environment. My family goes shopping once a week at a grocery store no matter how far and we buy vegetables and chicken to bake or meatloaf. We may eat fast food every now and then but for the most part we home cooked meals that are not deep fried in oil. On the other hand I must remember that my mom learned healthy eating from our other family members and I have as well so we are not at the same disadvantage as some.

[@jeangrey5911]

Thsnk you! You are a wise person!

[@kuolanen]

I agree with you. You can`t totally deny peoples own choices. You can buy cheap vegetables and make soups and other cheap but healthy meals. You just need to put more effort on it. And its not impossible to stop drinking soft drinks and eating candy every day. Its so easy to drink lot of calories only by that habit.

[@danpt2000]

many lower income neighborhoods all they have is Liquor stores, convenience stores. Its true, if you make an effort to be healthy, you can find the good food in most places. but some of the people in the poorer neighborhoods also do not know how and what to eat.

[@danpt2000]

15:36 Jumbo Steak, Steaks and Hoagies, Fried Chicken, Cold Beer.

[@kuolanen]

We have quite lot grocery stores here in Finland. Still the situation here is the same than in Usa. Well educated people are less overweight and overall in better health. Feels like many people dont just care too much about their health. It may intrest more when you get a diabetes or heart attack. Then you hope that its not too late to change your ways. All around the world people are getting fatter its same here in Europe too. More cars, less cooking, bigger meals in fastfood and packs of candy etc... But its true that its hard to make meals if closest store is miles away. They should give more education about nutritions and cooking in schools.

[@ChinaConsultingTravelBlog]

20lb bag of brown rice, dried beans, carrots, and other root vegetables along with apples and bananas are actually pretty cheap. Those can give you most of what you need, carbs, protein and vitamins. It's a combination of culture, education, laziness and convenience

[@anthonycruz9944]

That fruit vendor idea was genuis, straight god send. That has helped my neighborhood so much.

[@christinajackson3631]

9 years later this still lives today and growing. In America most inner city areas are filled with corner stores. My son's look at them as death traps. My son's also know that most of those who run those death traps does not support most black business. I believe it's sad when one is in poverty with no car and have only access to a corner store. I pray for those. For those who struggle with higher income with a car. Knowing how to Cook is a must. I focus on taw salads for breakfast. Growing up on heavy carb filled morning meals was my life. Now no more. I also snack on nuts, yogurt, berries and once a month I bake home made pumpkin bread. For lunch well there is no such thing. Me and my boys eat when we hungry. The US Gov meal plan is a lie. My boys do not eat meat. For dinner we focus on zucchini pasta with jamaican flavor sauce or broth bowels filled with veggies like kale and cabbage. Learn to not drink your your calories. I love sugar free cool mint hot tea. Infused water with pineapple. I gave some tips. I hope this help some one. But start change with meditation and removing toxic energy which interrupts your spirit, your emotions. Solitude is important. Connect with yourself, your spirit, GOD. Stay prayed up. Listen to your body. Get to know you. Govern your self , your health, your life. You can be healthier. Start with your emotions. Anyone can eat healthy but when your emotions are not in controls. You won't be consistent. Consistancy is key.

[@MRkriegs]

good ideas and tips

[@SamSung-nf6tr]

In the 1980's the sugar flour & corn lobby's stopped reports that predicted this happening .

[@jackiehoward7300]

Yes. Also, add in the dairy lobby.

[@richardsanchez9190]

I was going to go to the gym then I got home and felt lazy and I was debating whether I should go or not then I saw this I'm headed there as I'm writing this

[@mrssclarkie5474]

I don’t understand !!! When I was a single mum and broke.....I cooked all meals shopped carefully and was always under weight 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️ my bills were always paid and my son fed, but I went without OFTEN so my son could eat better....can’t get my head around this 🤯🤯

[@aeonbollig666]

Without question, environmental factors matter. If a person lives in an area where there are a ton of fast food restaurants and no grocery stores, they are going to be statistically more likely to make worse choices. However, while attempting to reshape neighborhoods and make produce more accessible is a worthy goal, educational and cultural factors play a major one as well, and that is a big part of the solution. Horrible habits are formed from a young age both in school and in the home. At school, kids eat breakfasts consisting of sugary cereals or pastries, and lunches consisting of chocolate milk and processed, microwaved pizza, egg rolls, tacos, etc. . At home, many kids aren't learning about how to eat within a budget and cook their own meals. This kind of environment is setting people up to make horrible choices no matter where they live. Personally, I live in a poor neighborhood with around 10 fast food joints or fatty restaurants within 3 blocks of my house. However, because I understand that it's much healthier and affordable to cook my own meals, I make the extra effort to travel to the nearest grocery store (half a mile away) to stock up on legumes, oats, veggies, and eggs on a weekly basis. I live on about three dollars a day. The reason I make this extra effort is that my parents did the same thing, and taught me how to eat and shop ideally. I brought my own lunch to school, and cooked with my parents every weekend. Reforming those two institutions (school and the home) are mandatory.

[@SK22000]

They left out the fact that grocery store chains like Kroger move out of low income neighborhoods because they get robbed to much. The Kroger closest to me shut down because it was experiencing shoplifting and robberies almost every day. They weren’t stealing food most of the time. It was alcohol and high dollar items.

[@taylorm3560]

​@WinterGirl Incorrect. They have a profit margin to maintain per each store location; alcohol sales are often a significant source of revenue. Running costs will be the same whether or not they are selling alcohol, so it makes sense to be in an area wherein they have that added revenue stream. As a business, they are better off moving to an area wherein they may utilize all revenue streams without theft.

[@trinaj9749]

There aren't any Kroger stores in NYC, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Kroger stores are in the Midwest and South

[@laprincessdeans5675]

Walmart experiences theft as well and they don't close down they get security

[@justsaying4451]

Yes. It's truly amazing how they never talk about that.

[@garycollier6950]

@@trinaj9749 Kroger stores in Portland,Oregon are called Fred Meyer. In California Kroger stores are called Ralph's ,same corporation.

[@ElaineEC]

There was a time in my life when I was dirt poor. I needed money for housing, utilities, medicine, clothing, public transportation to my job, and food. Only food & clothing were expenses I could control. Buy only clothes I needed & eat cheaply. I ate oatmeal for breakfast and a lot of brown rice & veggies with chicken for dinner. Cooked in a hot pot because I had no stove. I brought lunch to work. This was very inexpensive, healthy & tasty and I didn’t get fat. Sorry, poverty is no excuse for fat.

[@TomsLife9]

thank you for sharing your story!

[@LSSYLondon]

@Daniel Garrett Sure they do. Even in the worst part of the Bronx NY there is a grocery store with all that. The US does not have ANYWHERE That isn't close to veggies, chicken and brown rice.

[@josephkitchen3059]

One of the reason poor neighbors (I grew up in East Cleveland) don’t have easy access to healthy options is because of crime. Why open a business there when you’ll be robbed? And eating healthy is not that expensive.

[@chelseadrew4214]

I’m so grateful that my town water is okay to drink. I have a filter on my tap and I fill up my yeti and take it to work. Saved me money and calories. It breaks my heart that water is polluted in other areas 😔

[@javiersosa3368]

I'm poor too, but I eat fast food only once a month. It's cheaper to buy your raw food and cook it at home than to buy that shit of fast food. I'm 57, I don't use any medication ANY. My sugar levels is 81. I only buy raw food, and everybody at home help at cooking time. We never buy soda, people is always whining about having not choice, it's not true, but they prefer others make their meals not matter if they prepare tasty shit. I eat a lot of salad with canola oil and salt. Fish, chicken, and steamed veggies. It's cheaper than McShit

[@AgeofDoom]

Well said sir. Try to eat olive oil.

[@TysonTheDyson]

Tastes so much better, too.

[@fitawrarifitness6842]

It's more about ignorance vs education.

[@lissettevasconez9939]

Yup!.. Gustavo it’s cheaper to prepare your own meal than spending on fast food. They judge people on low income spending on fast food which that’s not true. I am always shopping on farmers market and cooking at home, sometimes diabetes are genetics

[@jazrerunt6868]

What about access? Do you live in a food desert? (Not being facetious, genuinely want to understand)

[@josephinesosingot-raisanen6743]

Its about the parents and culture if your kids know only Macdonalds and other fast foods...then they don't know any better

[@patsypats8307]

Josephine Sosingot-Räisänen I went to Mexico 2 yrs ago and visited a McDonalds there. It was actually the only McDonald’s in that small City and just opened about 7 yrs ago. It was interesting to know that the wealthy people there were the only ones that can afford it. It was so weird to learn that because it’s the opposite of how we see McDonald’s her in the USA. The poor or less wealthy only buy food from the markets. A combo was about 4$ there and with 4$ about 3 people can eat from the markets there in that area of Michoacan Mexico.

[@5thdimensionliving727]

Amazing documentary. Thank you for sharing. I will never take for granted my local, humble supermarkets and mini marts and that provide me and my community with fresh fruit and vegetables 🙏🙏

[@thebesteveralina]

So glad we have these people who fight for others.

[@potatosaladd]

In Asia when we don't have money, we eat rice with vegetables and drink soup. Meat and take outs are expensive. Or you live surrounded by friends and family who are going to say "bro you getting fat" when you put on 5 lbs. Then you're ashamed and start monitoring what you eat until you lose those 5 pounds. How are people OK with themselves getting so overly obese in the first place? I'd 100% eat less when I see myself gaining weight month by month!

[@TomsLife9]

I agree. There is a lack of self-awareness and embarrassment among Americans

[@iamtheruraljuror9257]

Our local restaurants/food vendors sell delicious, cheaper food too. McDonalds are expensive here in Asia. Another reason why not many people are obese in Asia.

[@knmplans]

Telling your friend they’ve gained weight borders on a hate crime here. In the US some of the push to be politically corrects has been good. But in other areas it’s a problem. As for me, I’ll never understand why it’s okay to encourage people to stop smoking, but if you tell someone to put down the soda before their teeth rot out of their head that’s going too far.

[@DavidJohnson-dp4vv]

So are you saying fat shaming works.

[@MaronXchiaki]

David Johnson apparently ... those asian aunties and uncles will tell it to your face

[@ohwhatworld5851]

There are A LOT people people making A LOT of excuses in this video.

[@Dre2Dee2]

Yuuup, which is why things will NEVER get better

[@buddcarcook4655]

Absolutely! I live in a poor neighbourhood. I walk 6 blocks to get fresh fruits&veg. And sugar is a big addiction. Carbs as well.

[@TheLoup359]

Did you miss the discussion on the implications of addiction and lack of choice on free will?

[@dustsky]

@@TheLoup359 Self-control, will-power, and intelligence are all reall things. Call it/me what you will, I won't hold a grudge. It's nature at play...

[@focusonme27]

Well dumb ball....a lot of people can't help they are on fixed-income and have to get what they can afford like me😑

[@jonathanwaites7085]

I need all of the calories I can get. Because I work in construction. It's hard for me to gain weight. Start working in construction.

[@arora6547]

18:00 this line actually hurt me a lot 😔

[@Qee7en]

I don't get it. Eating Subway every day is way more expensive than buying a bread, some butter and cheese. I mean, if you cook fresh for a family of four, it will always be cheaper than eating at whatever fast food joint; if you haven't got the time to cook, teach your kids at an early age. That's how I was brought up.

[@Qee7en]

CannibalCupcake Well, I ate that my whole life and feel pretty good. Also, bread is just fat? Where did you get that bullshit? Also, what on earth do you have for lunch, then? And apparently you can't read well, because I never talked about vegetables. Unless you call that dying piece of lettuce they put on a Subway sandwich 'vegetables'.

[@Qee7en]

CannibalCupcake K den. I still don't understand your logic, but oh well. If you're bored now, let's just forget about it. And my main point still was/is I don't understand people saying that subway is cheaper then eating at home, which it certainly doesn't have to be.

[@Qee7en]

CannibalCupcake Then I don't really see the original contradiction anymore. But let's forget it, this is going nowhere. Unless you've got something new to bring into the discussion. But you were 'bored'.

[@Qee7en]

CannibalCupcake Hahaha. That is simply not true. But it's not worth arguing with you. Goodbye.

[@milkweedsage]

CannibalCupcake in fairness, there are plenty of subway sandwiches that aren't nutrient dense. my kid will eat a ham sub - no vegetables - and refuses anything else (don't get me started.... i don't buy her subway obviously). i on the other hand LOVE a subway salad with chicken teryaki and tons of lettuce and spinach and tomatoes. equal cost, very unequal nutrients. the original comment about subway being way more expensive than a cheese sandwich is true, and IF it's my kid making the order, it's totally a fair comparison. not suggesting my kid's preference in sandwich is healthy in any way, just that "subway" can mean a lot of very different foods.

[@milkweedsage]

i have lived in poverty quite a lot in my life. some of it was typical "starving student" type stuff in university, and part of it was "my world exploded and i landed in shit". i'm middle class now, but for that time, i totally did buy shit food. fresh vegetables? too expensive. fruit? apples were ok, everything else, no. i made myself cheap homemade bread, i got beans from the food bank (one of the few things i ever ate that was good), ramen noodles and generic mac'n'cheese - the crappy food kept the belly full enough to keep hunger pangs at bay, but they might as well be lipoinjections. like the opposite of liposuction. i was lucky enough to have a safe roof over my head and clothes on my back (i live in the north, clothing purchases are not optional), but food was something that fell by the wayside at times. it'll differ depending on where you are but in many places (especially the north) fresh healthy food is totally out of reach financially compared to processed food, and there are times when you can go to mcdonalds and buy one big burger that'll last you a lot longer than a tasty salad with grilled chicken - even if you have to split that burger with your kid. the US and canadian governments both provide way too many incentives for people to grow wheat and corn and soy, so many bloody subsidies and a lot of the corn just goes to high fructose corn syrup. why not put those subsidies into vegetable farms so you can get a big head of broccoli and a bag of onions and a bag of carrots, and it'll last you multiple meals for the same price as a big mac meal. THAT would help the obesity epidemic.

[@robertthomas7751]

Lifetime Sugar Addiction had to be conquered before I could successfully Intermittently Fast. That took many years, beginning with eliminating Coke, then eliminating other sugary beverages, even concentrated OJ, then replacing all sugary fruit juices without all the nutritious pulp, with RO water. Then I learned to identify and eliminate Refined Food with hidden added sugars. THEN, after much struggle, I gave up candy, then all Refined Sugar and Refined Flour. I can expressly achieve any weight / BMI desired with Intermittent Fasting.

[@Uare2MuchRetarded]

I've been to the US twice and the food you eat really was a culture shock. I got the impression many Americans don't know how to cook a good and healthy meal using basic ingredients (that are not exensive or difficult to prepare). Potatoes, vegetables, meat that is NOT fried and water with the meal, not soda or juice.

[@annebremen3961]

That's incredible, I live in a small german town with a population of about 50 000 people. In my close proximity alone, I can think of 5 supermarkets who are less then 20 min walk away. Most food offers are quite healthy, even though we also have McDonalds, etc. I can't imagine that they don't have supermarkets in such high populated areas

[@mascara1777]

I lived in NYC and I've visited Philadelphia. There absolutely are areas where there are NO grocery stores.

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

Anne Bremen they do. This is misleading

[@serberus5233]

It the same here in America... It's just that people here are unfamiliar with the concept of a 20 min walk.

[@rramona88]

@Aaron I live in a small town in France that has a population of 3500 and we have a corner supermarket and a farmer's market twice a week . I don't know of any small town in my surrounding area that doesn't have access to produce in it's close vicinity .

[@TypeOneg]

I am so glad I’ve been able to control my weight all my life. Biggest I got was 176. That’s never happened since, and I lost it in 18 months. 80% of weight problem is what you’re putting in your mouth, not activity level.

[@PG-to3yp]

People have to start taking responsibility for themselves and stop blaming others and making excuses

[@cosmicreef5858]

The food industry is still at fault as well If you get attacked on a street because you accidentally turned into a bad neighboorhood then it is still the criminal who is at fault on attacking you!

[@michaelmendez5860]

Blows my mind! I live in a state where 3 grocery stores are within a mile and fresh fruit and vegetables grown all around me! So much of it that you tend to get a lot of it for free!

[@truthchangelove8913]

"If you don't have a car and there's not food market, what else are you suppose to buy?" Me: Isn't that Sunshine Food Market right behind you in big letters while you say this? LOL

[@marciathehooligan3861]

Do like I do..hop on your bike & ride 2 miles to a supermarket. The only supermarket in my small town just closed down so I have 3 choices. Ride to the next town & shop. Eat crappy fast food. Go hungry

[@FitnessAtHomewithClintGrimes]

Yep! Mayor Nutter missed the Sunshine Market right behind him with plenty of fresh meat and produce inside!!!

[@JavierBonillaC]

Darn good eye!

[@fernandovalencia3542]

Have you heard of uber.

[@chlorone]

newsflash: the guy who says it in the video is neither obese nor poverty, but its funny that theres s a supermarket in the background while he explains the situation of some folks

[@mimib___6709]

My stomach has been my worst enemy at times because it is so sensitive. But the sensitivity has saved me in some cases. I have no choice but to go for the lentils, mixed veggies, chicken, and good grains because if I eat too much of the other crap, it will not be a fun night. But at the same time after a long day of work/school/studying it can be hard to want to cook a meal. And cooking isnt even the problem for me, its the DREADED DISHES. That vendor's apples look heavenly. Albeit I realize how fortunate I am to have an Aldi, Publix, and Sprouts market all within walking distance of my home

[@soso3792]

Also, I’m sure there’s some ways around getting overly unhealthy food in these places, though they may not be as optimal as actually having good access to healthy food. For example, if a burger is the best bet for veggies you can find, you can eat a third of the burger and finish the vegetables. Dropping the soda helps as well, and you can try to replace it with water whenever you get the chance. Eating slower can help increase satiety and decrease the amount of unhealthy food consumed. Walking/jogging more to further grocery stores that sell healthier food once in a while can help a bit as well. These may not be fully optimal choices but they are changes than can be made even in their situation. I hope they will get better access to healthy foods in the future.

[@veronicahaney6005]

or order the small size and ask for extra lettuce and tomato

[@JeffSmith-eq3kc]

It's far less expensive to eat healthy in the long run. Far, far, far less.

[@billybbob18]

I quit drinking soda and lost 30lb in one month without even trying. Nothing will make you lose weight faster than to quit soda. WAAAAAAY to much sugar (high fructose corn syrup).

[@912deborah]

billybbob18 I quit bread, rice and sweets and lost 24 pounds in one month.

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

billybbob18 exactly. i never drink pop anymore

[@jaclyn4098]

Good for you! But that doesn't work for everyone.

[@912deborah]

jac lyn well it doesn’t hurt to try. it works bc the key to weight loss is to control insulin. So give up sugar and processed carbs and the weight will fall off .

[@tahiramehmet7163]

i quit drinking soda and gained 7 pounds. the bubbles were suppressing my appetite and without them I was always hungry. it's not a healthy thing so I don't have it but not everyone will lose weight without it, only if they're drinking many cans a day.

[@LeapingRat]

I work at a supermarket in the middle of the city. One of the most common things I hear with people is that they traveled by bus to get to the store because their area didn't have a supermarket and they didn't have a car. I work in the Dairy department with many products that have a shelf life of 2 weeks (yogurt, milk). I always markdown these items when they are within 2 days of expiration, sometimes up to 75% off! Product waste is another thing that bothers me. Expiration dates on yogurt and milk are not labeled for your health but by the quality the company thinks the product may be at. Milk is pasturized, some ultra-pasturized which means there is no contaminants and you cant get sick from drinking past the exp date but rather, the quality will be compromised. All this to say that, if any product is expired we throw it away. We throw away a lot and that's why I markdown products up to 75% off. Helps people that have low incomes and we don't waste food. Produce is WAY worse with waste. Which sucks because the way everything is priced in produce (if it isn't cut and prepackaged prepared) they are practically throwing vegetables and fruit at you for free!

[@Dre2Dee2]

super markets left inner cities because they got robbed by customers and employees, so they went out of business once again, its poor peoples fault lol

[@happydays1336]

Some schools are planting vegetable gardens and teaching students how to tend them. The children make recipes with the produce they've grown, learn to like it, and then tell their parents about it which helps them family get healthier. (I learned about this in a KZbin documentary about a long term research project studying overweight and obese people in the South. Sorry I don't have the link.) Planting gardens also helps children learn basic math skills such figuring out the spacing between the seeds, how many pounds of veggies you can grow from a packet, etc., etc. I hate Brussels Sprouts because we never had them when I was growing up (I did like spinach and beets, though). Brussels sprouts are cute but looks can be deceiving! A person can buy a box of uncooked, dry regular oatmeal (not the sweetened packets) for a lot less than sugared cereals. (Now just look in the comments lower down on the thread. This will be posted twice which I didn't do. Something's weird with my computer and all of my posts duplicate no matter what video I comment on. It's a mystery to me.)

[@happydays1336]

Ooops.."which helps the family"--not "them family."

[@dustsky]

@@happydays1336 Kudos for caring enough to proofread your own comment, in a day and age when the Internet is, more often than not, treated as a garbage dump.

[@happydays1336]

@@dustsky Thanks! I like using comment boards for writing practice. Where I went to school my English classes were really thorough. We first studied vocabulary--which included learning how to use a Thesaurus. We progressed to writing sentences, then paragraphs, then short essays and, finally, a full multi-page essay written in an expository style (in which each sentence of the first paragraph is used to open the following paragraphs with a recap of the first paragraph at the end). Expository writing can be dry and boring because it's formulaic. Other styles are more creative. I feel very fortunate to have gone to good schools. So many students now--even college students--don't have a clue about how to write well. Shame on their teachers who themselves don't know how to write!

[@theoverlord1925]

It’s about education. If you start teaching high school students basic nutrition and cooking skills it should make a difference. Include statistics on diabetes , and other diseases linked to poor nutrition as well.

[@vinceyoung5912]

Thought brings action. Action turns into habit. Habit becomes character.

[@avuncular300]

I found it to be a heartening programme. I loved the commitment of local leaders to effect change. I do hope that success continues for all.

[@mairedaly4548]

I've noticed, when I'm stressed its because I'm time poor (less time to buy and prep food), I eat badly...

[@chengliu872]

One of the reasons that food deserts exist is because of demand. That is why some predominantly Asian neighborhoods like Flushing, NY are packed with grocery stores even though it is far from a wealthy area.

[@junaubomber6977]

If you're able to afford fast food, you're not really poor. There I said it. When I was little, we were proper poor and had to pinch pennies, we obviously didn't have a car, never ate out, fast food was a treat for me as a kid.

[@comicat2881]

Videos like this makes me feel a whole lot more thankful for what I have.

[@skylerwillden4477]

Not one mention of personal responsibility. They talk about these people as if they were cattle who had no minds of their own.

[@subscribetomefornoreason7294]

Skyler Willden that’s because most people are and they understand that the majority of the population are sheep

[@nunyabuisness7552]

That b!tch kept saying "Urban Design is MAKING people obese". Liar! Nobody is making anyone get obese. Having options is not making someone do anything. Matches, tobacco, alcohol, drugs do not MAKE anyone a criminal or an addict. I own a gun but that does not MAKE me an armed robber. I drank alcohol but that does not MAKE me a drunk driver. Fast food or grocery stores do not stock food to force the urbanites to buy it but in fact stock their supplies with what will sell. She completely reverses the truth of it by blaming everyone and everything except the peoples preference to purchase what they choose.

[@olgaharris9746]

nunya buisness I think you misunderstood the point. For example, I came from a European country, where the cities and even countryside are designed in such a way that one MUST walk. There are mostly small grocery stores on the way home where you pick fresh food up every other day or so and cook fresh, because you can’t carry realistically too much fresh produce in you hands per walk. You have no choice in the US, most of the time you are stuck in the car driving sitting on your behind. You are more motivated to buy food to last 1-2 weeks to minimize the amount of trips to grocery store). So the type of food is mostly packed with preservatives and sugar is one of them.I’ve gained weight immediately once I came to US without changing my diet much (I cook every day, never drink soda, I hate the flavor, and don’t eat fast food pretty much ever). One thing I’ve noticed is that everything in the US tastes sweeter , even the fresh produce. But the culprit in my honest opinion and since I have something to compare too is the city/country design, it starts from it. Walking plus cooking fresh food is the solution, but it does go against human lazy nature.

[@nunyabuisness7552]

@@olgaharris9746 -- I didn't miss your point at all. I think you missed mine. Nobody is forcing anyone to eat any particular food. Every store sells junk and healthy foods and the consumer decides how much of which type of food gets stocked. I shop every other month! No joke, about 60 days in between shopping and I eat amazingly healthy! The only items I run out of between trips are milk, certain types of fresh fruits and fresh salad greens. I do however buy a ton of frozen vegetables which, in some cases are healthier than fresh because they're frozen immediately after harvest and aren't transported warm. City design is not an excuse and neither is fast food. Consumers always decide what sells and whats doesn't by their spending habits and every city has and small town has options and what sells or doesn't can change quickly if the consumers want a product.

[@dogan6070]

Lol

[@ishmael802]

excellent documentary.

[@SolracNexus]

The fact that they treat the city as a battlefield makes the situation more serious than it is