The REAL Reason America is Obese | 9 Studies Compare Europeans to Americans

[@ThomasDeLauerOfficial]

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[@kathleenking47]

The UK is catching up on obesity

[@ynotttt]

Ha!!! You will be censored at some point. Healthy lifestyle is antithetical to big food and medical industrial complex. We are all subjugated by these powers that have bought our politicians. You are in their way….

[@guidedmeditation2396]

I blame 90% of the obesity and diabetes epidemics on hidden MSGs that are in 95% of everything on the grocery shelves. They spike your insulin levels up to 300% packing on fat and making it impossible to lose weight. Even diet sodas make you fat not because they contain calorie but because they spike your insulin. MSG/Monosodium Glutimates come in many similar forms to achieve the same series of proteins that cause both spikes in insulin levels but also inflammation and contribute to a huge number of inflammation related problems. A person who gets migraine headaches will know quickly they have just consumed hidden MSGs which may be as much of a blessing as a curse because those who don't get a headache will still get inflammation and weight gain and even tumors without ever having any warning. There is a Dr. Berg video here that I would suggest anyone to watch. Hidden MSGs include MSG, Dextros, maltodextrin, hydrolized proteins, soy protein isolates, paprika extract, cultured celery powder, natural flavors whey protein isolates, and one that particularly annoys me, so called vegetable broth which is nothing like the broth your grandmother might make. If it gives you blinding migraines and makes you vomit it is much more than just vegetable broth. It is like calling Russian Vodka Potato broth, or calling Soy Sauce vegetable broth. Sure it is made with vegetables or soy beans but they are fermented and become something else completely. When you know these spike your insulin levels you will be able to finally understand why you cant seem to lose weight even if you have been eating foods you were told were diet foods. You can eat only salads but if your salad dressing is spiked with hidden MSGs, even if you don't gain weight you will also not lose weight. Talking to anyone about hidden MSGs is like talking to your cat about quantum physics. They zone out and you have to just let them. I have had bosses and friends that have horrible migrains that put them in bed for days, I will ask them what they ate and they would say, just simple things like baked chicken and rice. Well Rice A roni gives you migraines. Or they say they just had a glass of white wine and a healthy salad-- with blue cheese dressing... Packed with hidden MSGs. Years go by and they still get their headaches and vomiting and go to the doctor etc and cry about how painful it is. But they keep eating those foods. People don't want to believe that 95% of foods on grocery shelves are poison and cause weight gain and cancer.

[@adrianahlz1895]

I live in Sweden and when visiting the US last fall, I was amazed at how hard it was to get "real" food. I also saw just two types of people: either fat (mayority), or super well trained. There was no medium. To live in the US and not be overweight, I imagine it requires dedication and being always hyper-aware of the foods you eat. You cannot just go on autopilot.

[@jasonreviews]

try to go to asian restaurants.

[@dontfit6380]

Where did you visit? I can go to any restaurant in town and get real food. I traveled through 4 states last year and had no problem finding real food. As for fat people in the US yeah they are everywhere but they did have a choice.

[@roberttate-q3e]

The problem with Whole Foods market They bathe most everything on hotbar saladbar in Canola so its shiny

[@dontfit6380]

@@roberttate-q3e huh I thought Whole Foods was a grocery store.

[@pattycarljackson]

I’m on autopilot and don’t eat unhealthy but I guess that’s because I don’t need to go out to restaurants or fast food places or corner stores every single day I go shopping for “real” food and make food at home. It’s an excuse to say America is overweight because there’s no healthy options for fast food or restaurants.

[@johnrobi0]

After travelling through several countries in Europe, I noticed the people are far more relaxed than in the US. It seems they also work to live; not live to work like we do here. The food is so much better; just about all the foods I avoided in the US, I could eat in Spain, Italy, France, with no side effects; no indigestion, no acid reflux.

[@cab26]

Is this on comparing fast food? Or quality restaurant?

[@icysurfer1]

So True. Much less stressed. Especially compared to SE Michigan. Night and Day.

[@johnrobi0]

@@cab26 Can't say much about fast food other than I liked the option of getting a fried egg on my McDonalds cheeseburger. Just talking about average restaurants/mom and pop shops and pastries. Can't hardly eat any type of pastry here but I could eat anything in Europe.

[@jamesasimmons]

Also in Europe you see small bakeries and butchers. I miss not having those in the states 😞

[@andrewbellinger6120]

I work 55+ hours a week, but get up at 4AM to do a 50 minute run and 25 minutes of bodyweight and resistance exercises every other morning. Grilling a steak or broiling some salmon and steaming asparagus or broccoli takes ~15 minutes so I also cook dinner for myself 6 nights a week. Cooking some eggs in the morning and grabbing a tin of fish and some cheese or nuts for a healthy lunch takes all of 8 minutes in the morning. I can make a large salad with lots of veggies in 6 minutes. If you are willing to sacrifice watching an hour or more of television a day (which even the busiest of people tend to do) its very easy to exercise and eat well. I let myself get fat previously blaming my busy job and long hours but that was nonsense, I just had to start respecting myself enough to expect better. Now I wouldn't dream of missing the gym or eating nonsense food, it becomes automatic to take proper care of yourself once it becomes a routine.

[@wolverine754]

I'm old enough to remember when the health "experts" determined that butter, animal fats, and red meat were unhealthy. Almost overnight people began to consume margarine and vegetable oils. I also remember when fast foods and junk foods became more readily available. I don't believe anyone thought these changes were healthy. The root cause of this madness is the lack of ethics. It's all about the love of money over a good conscience.

[@SkyZer0]

too much saturated fat in the diet from animal products and tropical plant oils does have a strong influence on ApoB, and high ApoB is causal for increased risk of CVD, atherosclerosis

[@wolverine754]

@@SkyZer0 the key words are "too much". Anything to the excess can have a negative effect on the body, including water.

[@SkyZer0]

@@wolverine754 correct, notice how I wrote those words instead of just pointing out SFA itself. studies show that exceeding a certain threshold when it comes to SFA (more than 10% of calories) is when ApoB starts to tick up.

[@wolverine754]

@@SkyZer0 that's good info to know, but my point is the food, health, and medical industries are a multibillion-dollar conglomerate, and we are all being screwed around by those profiting from it. The best advice for health, which just so happens to be free, is to eat a whole-food natural diet, reduce stress, meditate, rest and sleep well, and exercise.

[@SkyZer0]

@@wolverine754 Socioeconomics also play a huge factor. dont eat out all the time, and dont order in food too often as well. prep and cook your own meals with whole foods so that way you have full control. the rest and meditative part are underrated

[@ruimarques1979]

I live in Europe, I'm Portuguese, the basis of my diet is simple, I don't consume processed foods. Food is meant to be peeled, not unpacked.

[@TomRipley7350]

I think we in the UK are starting to give Americans a run for their money in terms of adult obesity, but I’ve never seen such HUGE kids than in the US. I was there a couple of months ago and they’re like little barrels. You shouldn’t be morbidly obese at 10 years old. That’s bad parenting.

[@monnoo8221]

point is that a fat woman will have a fat newborn child. That has nothing to do with genetics. And growing up means growing up within the wrong paradigm, just as Thomas showed, kids are kids because they get in-formed by their environment. The bad behavior perpetuate. it is not precisely bad parenting. It is the lack of ability to gather and apply knowledge about feeding. Despite parents may be the primary cause, the problem has many levels and aspects. In short, Americans lost the cultural knowledge, and a healthy structure of feeding.

[@zylbygdfn6542]

Barrels😂😂😂

[@andrewbellinger6120]

Very sad- I overheard a woman making her fat kid eat sugary cereal with skim-milk because it has less fat than eggs and bacon. People are glucose/fructose poisoned here from decades of anti-fat propaganda, its so engrained in the population. The observant and skeptical have figured it out based on the keto and carnivore communities popping up online, but the brainwashed masses will continue on with their "healthy" low fat diets as their toes are amputated and eyesight fails unless they take $1200/month prescription GLP-1 agonists Big agriculture and big pharma really have figured out an amazing partnership.

[@johnh3611]

The UK is getting close in terms of obesity rates. Northern Africa has virtually the same rates. Saudi Arabia's are even higher than the US. It's all over the world really, with the exception of Asia. Cheap sugary snacks, excess carbs, excess food in general, this stuff isn't unique to America.

[@alanequi2786]

@@johnh3611 It's not unique to the USA, but it started in the USA! The obesity epidemics now happening in other countries are more recent.

[@bcab7955]

I'm an American living in Dusseldorf, Germany and the infrastructure is completely designed as a walkable city. My girlfriend and I have no requirements for a car as everything can be reached within a 15 - 20 minute walk. Its a game changer and a rare sight of obesity regardless of the less than stellar traditional German diet. Its saddening knowing how unattainable this lifestyle is in American and wish it wasn't the case.

[@seth101-hv4st]

Part of the problem about walking in America is that you can feel judged in certain places. People look at you and think "what's wrong with that guy? Doesn't he have a car?"

[@lilithowl]

​@@seth101-hv4stwhy care what strangers think? I don't understand that mentality.

[@robertchmielecki2580]

How is that a problem?

[@blankseventydrei]

I lived in Mülheim a.n.R for several years and I completely agree, now I live in another part of Germany and mostly ride my bike. The thing in the US, the infrastructure is set up for cars and people as an after thought. my parents live several blocks from a Blockbuster and I would walk there, I need to wait for a light to cross a major road, people would stare at me... I did not care but what was scary is the cross walk light went from green to red while I was in the middle of the road without a medium.

[@hisdud3ness93]

I was in awe how car focused everything is in America when I visited, but I also partially understand since US is so huge and distances are much more challenging. But the design of neighbourhoods makes it many times impossible to not own a car. Here in the Netherlands I have 4 grocery stores, butcher shop and a bakery within 15min walk of my home in a suburban area. Also there are very few fast food chains compared to US. There was SO much fast food everywhere in the US. Even most diners I went to are basically fast food restaurants, because there are none, or very few healthy options on menus. Shopping for groceries I was hard pressed to find fresh or whole produce in a regular supermarkets. On the other hand l passed dozens of aisles with so many options of ultra processed junk like cereals, chips, sodas, every kind and size of sugary snack ever invented… From the outside it almost looks like a perfect consumer machine, starting with junk food commercials for kids, going to adulthood with high stress from jobs with no time off or benefits and full blown fast food addiction, ending in older age when the insanely expensive health system syphons most of your savings to survive the consequences of your lifestyle.

[@Journeyofamomdoc]

When I went to Croatia 🇭🇷 We had fresh caught fish and tomatoes/cucumbers salad from The garden … all fresh … simple and healthy

[@SenkaVucko]

Croatia is hiden gem. Also the most beautiful and handsome white womman they have + 4 landscapes and weather type in a area circle of 100 km

[@uisblackcat]

I'm so glad you're talking about walkable cities and ultra-processed food! They go hand-in-hand. I noticed that it was easier for me eat fresh food when I lived in an urban, walkable place, because I could just go to the market whenever I needed some greens. I live in a car-dependent area now. It's a hassle to get in the car, fight traffic, find a parking space, go into the mega store, and find the fresh ingredients.

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

I wish these health activists would discuss the American notion that to be healthy, you must torture yourself.

[@juliasummers7417]

When I travelled to the US, I found the food too sweet, too much and too processed. My relatives in the US seemed to be constantly stressed, too. We walk a lot in Europe and use very often public transportations. So we don't necessarily need to go to the gym to do sports. When we went on a vacation in Southern Europe, we walked hours and hours and enjoyed the outdoor time greatly. The food was always fresh and delicious.

[@martinfiedler4317]

Yea. That nonsense with the gyms - especially with the jogging machines - is a prime example of the commercialized nonsense in today's society. One the one hand, one is practically forced to buy a car to move around, one the other hand one pays for going to the gym to get compensate for sedentary lifestyle...

[@lg206]

That is one of the reasons why I am such a believer in traveling. If more Americans travel to Europe and Asia, they would realize just how abnormal this life is. It is not normal to have this many people walking around with pot bellies. It is not normal for even organic produce to last two weeks, bread lasting two months. Travel so you learn what is healthy and normal

[@lg206]

@@martinfiedler4317It’s by design. In the 1950s LA had a public transport system as good as Switzerland and Italy. GM realized that at lot less people would buy cars with high quality public transportation so all over the country they started buying up connecting rail lines to ensure that public transportation is horrible and people would buy cars.

[@martinfiedler4317]

@@lg206 Yes, they wove that into the background of "Who framed Roger Rabbit". Saw that movie as kid in the theater and still remember. At that time, it looked so irrelevant to me...

[@captainnerd6452]

@@martinfiedler4317try living in rural USA without a car.

[@yearight1205]

I have family that married people from Lebanon then brought them here to America. In both cases when they came here they were slender, and in both cases they started gaining weight and couldn't explain it since they were eating the same stuff they were eating back home. There's definitely something different about our food.

[@judahofjudea4601]

Its the vegetable oils, seed oils, corn syrup and ungodly amounts of sugar.

[@dag1704]

From what I know, you have much higher concentrations of sugar in nearly everything. Also the car dependency seems very high in the US, so you probably sit more than the rest of the world. If you adapt to the US lifestyle as a foreigner and eat lots of processed foods with hidden calories, I can see why they gained weight.

[@Jennifer_Lewis_Beach_Living]

Yes, this definitely happens. My cousin married a woman from China. When she came over here, she was SLIM. She was so small that in the US, a size 00 was a little too big for her. She was NOT anorexic - she ate more than I did! As she got accustomed to the American ways, she GAINED 45 lbs and ballooned to a tight US size 6. While most women would give their right arm to be a US size 6, unfortunately on her barely 5’0” frame, it made her overweight.

[@glennet9613]

Americans seem to graze a lot, in Europe you rarely see people eating in the street or at their desk. Workmates usually eat together, even at remote locations they will bring a portable table or build a makeshift one and sit down together. This also builds a team spirit.

[@tempestsonata1102]

I experienced the same in Japan (Yes! In Japan!) when I moved there from Eastern Europe. I had to conculde that there was something fundamentally wrong with ultraprocessed, sweet, soft "first world" food, so I have stayed away from it in the last 15 or so years.

[@Broccoli_Highkicks]

As a European, I'm always amazed when I see documentary footage of average Americans from the 70s and 80s, and notice how thin they are. 8 out of 10 average Americans I see nowadays are at least 50 pounds overweight. And it's not just big bellies or fat thighs, they're huge all-over. I looked up stats for average male waist size recently, and for Americans it's up to 40.2 inches. Dude, that's HUGE. I worry when I don't need a belt to hold up 32 inch pants... Clearly something happened in the last 20 to 30 years to the average diet in the US. Some of the garbage Americans shovel into their face, you couldn't even legally sell in the EU. But because the US is a regulation cutting free-for-all, food manufacturers can cut corners and pump you full of any old shit. America seems wholly unwilling to accept, that letting corporations basically regulate themselves, is like giving a burglar the key to your house and a schedule on when you're going to be out. The honor system doesn't work on profit-obsessed sociopaths. You want to know the real difference between the US and Western Europe? It's simply unregulated vs regulated capitalism. The problem is that Americans have turned an economic system into a cult - a way of life that cannot be questioned or critiqued, because doing so would be "un-American". Religion is still big in the US, but ain't no god higher in America than the Almighty Dollar, no religion bigger than Capitalism, no commandment holier than Profit. The ancient Romans had bread and circuses; America has processed junkfood and network TV.

[@malwads1836]

As an American I actually cook daily homemade meals with real food...Even my mother in her 60's eats the food I prepare daily.Some of the things that always shock me are how dull everyone's hair looks & how dreadful a lot of people's skin looks... Meanwhile my hair is shiny & thick and I don't wear a bit of makeup.Even my mother's hair is a thick glossy mane & her skin looks pretty good too.Most 🚺 wear makeup simply because they're trying to hide how bad their skin looks🤨.People really underestimate the importance of good nutrition & adequate exercise in 🇺🇸😮‍💨.

[@erossinema8797]

I'm American and I cook daily as well. And I really cook. I don't just open up a packet of hot pockets and stick it in the microwave. I do know someone that eats like that all the time and it's disgusting. Not all of us are weirdos that have fallen into the poison food trap, which is obviously intentional.

[@LiberationSeeker101]

Yes, something happened indeed. The President had a heart attack and suddenly, all the blame went to fat (the now disproven Diet-Heart Hypothesis). Nevermind all the smoking and fumes from factories, among other things...nope, it was all due to saturated fat and cholesterol. Then came the emphasis on grains (the Soviet Union had a major shortage at the time so the US made quite a killing on that). Problem is that years later, when the shortage was over, now the US had TOO MUCH grains on hand. Enter the food pyramid that call for 6-11 DAILY servings of grains. Problem solved. But sure, it's all about the health of our nation. Riiiiiight... 🤦😌

[@margrose5]

The FDA is complicit in this obesity epidemic. I would say the AMA, big pharma, and the food industry is, as well. It’s all about money. Every time.

[@Tony4TX2]

The sicker the people...the more money they make

[@margrose5]

@@Tony4TX2 absolutely.

[@michaelderobio5256]

I generally agree. But please be careful (more specific) when you say it's "all about money". It's when the corps merges with the politicos. But you can't possibly argue that, despite having the best farmland in Europe, the USSR ate great. Socialism does not lead to better health outcomes than free markets (sure sure "but real socialism has never been tried") . There are many ways to organize a free market economy though. Ours is not great.

[@danieldeneve3154]

Government subsidizes US agriculture, this is not capitolism

[@RedBeardDevelopment]

The American heart association is also a major culprit. Anywhere there can be bribes, they have been bribed.

[@vincewhite5087]

First time I went to Netherlands, I stayed at 5 star hotel. I went to the front desk & asked where the gym is. He asked ‘what is a gym?’. I said ‘A place to exercise.’ He pointed to the doors to the outside, & said, ‘All the Exercise you could want is out there.’ I then asked about a pool, he laughed and said, there’s lots of channels out there too, go for a swim,’

[@fortheloveofnoise]

The Netherlands is full of freaks, in Sweden they have gyms......

[@daphne8406]

As a Dutch person I would not encourage swimming in the canals 😂 Especially not in Amsterdam 😝

[@zyancuerdo1615]

I woundt suggest swimming in the canals man I learn that the hard way in Amsterdam

[@kaszaspeter77]

That story sounds super fake or it's the worst 5 star hotel in Amsterdam or anywhere else for that matter.

[@schadenfreude191]

I grew up in Germany during the 90s and the food was just so much better. I remember ordering chinese in the states when we returned and it was night and day the quality vs Chinese food in Germany.

[@icysurfer1]

I am sure You are right, my Travels indicate the food in the EU can be more pure. But, using Chinese Restaurants to compare might not be Apples to Apples. There are many, many great Chinese eating establishments all over the world. Also, lots of poor ones. :)

[@schadenfreude191]

@@icysurfer1 it was the quality of all food. If you got Chinese in Germany it wasn't deep-fried and coated in sugar sauce. If you got german food it was quality meat and fresh veg.

[@maryohmaryoh]

I was visiting family in Poland once and one day we crossed the border to the Czech Republic to shop at this giant grocery store. It was massive, like the size of a warehouse club store in the US, and we got some Chinese food at the food court inside and it was night and day to American Chinese. Everything was very fresh and light compared to the US version. I had ordered a beef dish and the meat was like good steak.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

I visited the US for work once, staying at hotels. There were breakfast buffets and I literally could not get anything really healthy. The best option there was was cornflakes, but that definitely isn't a health food.

[@KatsCorner]

I was a junk food junky for fifty years. It lead to me having a lot of health issues including Asthma. Gum disease. Type two diabetes. Bladder infections. Hypothyroidism . High blood pressure, and chronic Venus insufficiency. I was sixty and looked 70. I wanted to die. One day I stopped all processed food by becoming carnivore. In two weeks I was walking to work. In a month I lost twenty pounds. I was shocked. Seven months later and I am off all meds. I am at my teenage weight, exercising daily, cooking my own food and I only eat real food from the edges of the grocery store. My teeth feel great. I look like I am In my fifties and my hair colour is coming back and most importantly I am off all meds and 100 percent healthy. We are what we eat and I am never going back to sugar, processed food and seed oils. I hope others do the same.

[@dag1704]

Thats a crazy transformation! I am happy you found what works for you :)

[@mofly1860]

That sounds so inspiring. So happy for you!

[@sarvamithraJr]

Wow 🎉🎉

[@csv8944]

Damn bro. Really makes you think about the villification of meat in our current government recommendations.

[@dag1704]

@@csv8944 Carnivore is not for everyone, sadly people and what they can eat the best is completely individual. Some can not process gluten, some can perfectly. Some can not process certain vegetables, some have no issues. Some have issues with eating meat, some thrive on it. Some are alergic to sugars, some have no issues with it. Some get issues with additives, some don't. Sadly its not a easy "fits all" solution. But yes, it does seem overall, meat is good for humans and we should not condem it. Sadly a lot feels like the misinformation campaign the sugar lobby led in the 70s today. Slowly but steady lobbying erodes scientific progress and peoples trust in it. It is really a shame to watch.

[@enonknives5449]

Ultra processed foods, high stress, toxins in the environment, lack of community, lack of physical activity. This is why comparing to so-called "blue zones" is irrelevant.

[@CJ-jq4lv]

Agreed! Lack of community and lack of activity have a big effect.

[@ropeadope3010]

Too much calories in vs minimal calories out. The type of food does not matter.

[@enonknives5449]

@@ropeadope3010 -- Of course that is always true. But calories consumed aren't always identical to calories in, because some may not be absorbed. And calories out are dependent on metabolism, which can vary widely between people based on differences in health.

[@megarodcam]

In all my many years of living in several countries in Europe, I have yet to encounter one single person who felt less free than America or who was jealous in any way or form. If you mention it, they'll ask you what liberties and freedom you're talking about. Europeans also feel they have full freedom. I think the narrative should be that freedom exists in both regions in different forms, and it's more a matter of cultural adaptation.

[@djune286]

Could not agree more

[@PhonySopran0]

Remind me where people are being put in jail for memes.

[@dag1704]

I always think from what I see about the US, that we in Europe have higher individual freedom. For example, our cities restrict cars, they are more walkable. Sure, that restricts your freedom to drive and park everywhere, but it gives you the liberty to choose to walk, to ride a bike, to take the tram etc. Because you don't have to drive, you have options. The US seems to focus on corporate freedom. I would not be surprised if one day, if they "lobbied" the correct politicians, Coca Cola could put Cocaine back in their drinks. Although sugar is cheaper and also addictive, so they would probably do that, wait...

[@keenanhomemovies6517]

@@PhonySopran0 bingo

[@Agent.Wadsworth]

Yeah, we lost our freedoms way before covid. We are definitely NOT a free country

[@marpsr]

Bottom line: don’t be a sheep! Get informed, make choices that don’t compromise your health. Eat whole foods and exercise.

[@mofly1860]

I was in Iceland several years ago- I am somewhat tall thin and blonde and people assumed I was European. When I told them I was from the US they actual said "but you're not fat" I cracked up but they are right I grew up in KY and would always go clothes shopping there vs Chicago where I live because the small size women's clothes were always 50% off or more in KY because everyone is so large. It's very sad. The fat kids in KY make me sad I think it should be considered child abuse. I'm 42 and remember like one fat kid in my elementary school classes.

[@suekaiser4163]

It is bad parenting at the very least definately bordering if not child full blown child abuse. Those kids will likely struggle with their weight health their entire life. Colon cancer is now a young persons cancer. One can thank the processed foods they have been given their whole life.😢

[@daryl4841]

I had some similar experiences earlier this year in the Netherlands. I'm a very tall and slender American and I had several people walk up to me speaking in Dutch. I was very flattered that I appeared to fit in that well.

[@jennyh4025]

😂 when I (German) visited family in the Chicago area I was pretty much the only one, who could fit in the „not underweight“ clothes on the smaller side (US size 6). I felt like a rare specimen when I was outside, either feeling fat or very thin, depending on who I met.

[@richardlawson6787]

When i was in high school we had about three students who were obese...

[@jasongodwin1319]

I'm 46. I haven't walked sown the cereal aisle more than a couple of itmes in the past 15 years. I get too nostalgic and still feel the same excitement i did as a kid when I those cereals that I got hyped about form seeing on saturday morning cartoon commecials.

[@Sew4Fun]

Thomas, this was one of the best, most approachable and digestible videos you have put out in a long time. THANK YOU. It was inspiring and encouraging.

[@thebanker369]

Agree with this

[@leezap]

He still hedged on the plant based by not calling them out.

[@Moeller750]

Availability is so important! I grew up in Denmark, and I remember being 18 and moving away from home, and suddenly understanding why my otherwise not very health conscious mother would spend hours every week making salads and vegetable stews - because fresh vegetables were essentially the cheapest way to keep a big family full. As long as ultraprocessed food is the cheapest option, regulating advertisements is pointless

[@KsyuSmith]

A European here (Spain, to be precise). I studied in the US a couple of years ago and couldn’t help but notice how big ppl there are in comparison to what I’m used to in Europe. But we here move around so much more. I easily walk around 7-10k steps a day plus affordable gyms, regular outdoor exercise and so on. Our diet is very different, and most importantly, I think, the culture of eating food is very very different

[@tbone3079]

Until I quit drinking alcohol I couldn't control myself around food. I still have Alcohol but very rarely. Control stress is the second thing. It is now much easier to make good food choices.

[@wezzard]

I was born in the early 80s in quebec, since we have a law that forbid advertising for children back then, the only way for me to watch the cool toys and food ads for kids was to watch the channels from ontario. So in a way, it helped me to learn english 😅

[@leezap]

Alright.

[@potsofstew1369]

The US isn't the only country rapidly gaining weight - I was in Egypt & the Gulf recently after several years away & was shocked to see that most people walking down the street were obese. Obesity was rare there just a few years ago, now it's an epidemic

[@mark2073]

Started in the US and now the world is their oyster

[@aldfjak]

northern africa is becoming extremely obese.

[@LoyaFrostwind]

Kids in Asia are also getting chunky.

[@andyharpist2938]

Also Amazonia after they started 'supermarket boats' with cheap sweets and snacks.@@LoyaFrostwind

[@leezap]

I heard that Mexico is among the worst.

[@markNL5]

As a European who has visited the USA a couple of times i was amazed by how much unhealthy stuff is sold in supermarkets and how few heatlhy food is offered in places like shopping malls. The largest amounts i saw was fast food. And the few stores that sell healthy stuff are really expensive. So ofcourse people will get fat if so much bad food is offered / bought. We have fat people here too, and it is moslty bad diet choice and eating too much. But the really fat people we don't have a lot of them. I also visited an all-you-can-eat restaurant. For a European, i can eat a lot. But so many people there ate way more than me. Some even twice as much as i did. And i knew i ate too much that evening. There was even a guy so fat he needed 2 chairs. So yeah there is a lot that needs to be fixed, or this will only get worse.

[@WasFakestCenturyAesthetics]

Have you seen that Simpsons episode where Homer sues the all-you-can-eat restaurant for kicking him out? And the fat guy on the jury says "that could have been me!"

[@rubyjimenez8734]

My parents both immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. Growing up I resented them not allowing me to eat McDonalds/fast food. They could not afford to give me money to buy chips or soda at school like my friends. They always thought that even in hard times, making a fresh pot of beans and home cooked rice was better than fast food. I’m now grateful for my mom’s home cooked meals because she never fed us frozen foods or used canned beans. I’m now in my 30’s and have never been overweight. I’m grateful for my good health and have improved my eating to also include veggies 😅

[@alicesuperpower]

i feel the same about my parents - cuban and el salvadoran who came from families of farmworkers - thank god, up until this ady my mom likes having a garden with mangos, aloe vera, etc super natural and fresh

[@keithzastrow]

As someone born in 1970 who was a kid in both decades of the 70's and 80's, IMO things got way out of hand in the 80's once so much more ultra-processed foods came out. In the 70's we just did not snack that much. We had our 3 meals a day and that was IT. FF to the 80's when holy hell we as a society were snacking a LOT because of how much more ultra-processed foods were available (including all the vending machines) AND all the advertising for that crap.

[@richardlawson6787]

Its the sugar

[@lf7065]

I grew up in Germany and lived there until the mid 1980's. Yes, there were some overweight people, but I never encountered an obese person. Unless perhaps they were housebound for some reason, it was not something you ever saw.

[@jennyh4025]

There are now some obese people in Germany, but you see very few. Quite a few are overweight, but most not (visibly) obese.

[@burymebelowawillowtree9243]

My daughter went to Europe some weeks ago for a five days and when she came back she was slimmer and glowing. She told me she didn’t feel tired or bloated. She was amazed, she thought it was normal to feel bloated after eating. That experience opened up her eyes to be very mindful about her diet.

[@pwnUgood]

I had an American friend who married an Englishman and went to live with him in London and they both came back fat. I worked in Edinburgh for a year and there was nothing to eat but bangers and mash, fish and chips and Indian food. I gained 20 lbs.

[@Counter-Intuitive]

We need Universal Healthcare

[@Jennifer_Lewis_Beach_Living]

I can believe it. Every time I come back from Europe for business, I’ve lost weight, even though I did eat some “junk” food. I NEVER got heartburn or bloated from eating food in Europe.

[@S9999Frank]

Maybe she walked more as well ? It is hard to lose much weight over 5 days, but if you are usually sedentary, walking and moving around for five days might get some of the "stored" trash out of your intestines. It is said that it is pretty common to have as much as 5 kilo of half-processed stuff just sittingh half-stuck in your system. If you lose that, proper intestine function wiill be back, and obviously putting food into the system will give a better feeling if the system is not plugged :-)

[@a5cent]

​​@@pwnUgoodThat's not the food 😂 Their mutual weight gain is a result of getting married and no longer trying as hard to be attractive. Happens to many couples everywhere.

[@mountaingoattaichi]

Dude, you nailed this topic. I wasn’t sure how you would do. I got my masters degree in public health in 2011. I focused on the intersection of chronic disease and food mostly looking into the social factors. Good job!

[@NisseHult101]

A really good video! Ultra-processed foods are real health-killers, and it is important to make people aware of this so they can make better food choices. Also a good reminder to simply walk around more in your every-day life, too many people just take the car everywhere, even if it is to go just around the corner.

[@ynotttt]

You start eating like he described…..you won’t have ANY desire or cravings for processed food. It’s that simple. It takes a little effort to start but then it’s easy.

[@brambledemon1232]

I lost 7 pounds in five days while in Dublin. I would eat in the morning and not be hungry until around 3, and then I’d eat and not eat again. I also drank pretty heavily and still lost weight. We are being poisoned by our food. I came back and ate a meatball sub and spit it out. I could taste the sugar and it was gross.

[@krystelhardesty9960]

I bet you were having a good time and not board or overly stressed. Some people are stress/board/sad eaters if you have more fun or just joy in your life you will most likely eat less. I think a lot of the issues we have in the US is that a lot of people just aren't happy and are lost about what to do about it.

[@brambledemon1232]

@@krystelhardesty9960 I'm sure I did less grazing, but I don't think that's it. Go ahead and try to find bread that's not loaded with sugar at your supermarket. Subway bread has so much sugar in it that it's taxed as a pastry in Ireland.

[@Draggonny]

There was a news story a while back that said Subway had to change its bread recipe for the EU because the sugar content was so high that the EU wanted to classify it as cake instead.

[@Developer888]

Definitely something in the food, we're being poisoned

[@Hiram1000]

And you felt safe. Even our police do not carry weapons.

[@RichieBeaumont]

Great video Thomas thanks. After living and working in the city for years in Europe, I finally moved to the country thinking that people would be healthier. Wrong!!!!! Most people here take a car even to cross the road. Even though country food is healthier, I was surprised to see just how much obesity exists here.

[@NightFlight1973]

ATVs, Golf carts, etc.

[@frostflower5555]

Stress can cause a lot of health problems. There is a reason why work hours are less and there are siestas in many countries.

[@icysurfer1]

My Old friend used to tell me that in the NL, if He lost His job he was covered for MUCH more than I ever would be in the USA in similar circumstances. His housing and other things were supplemented. Plus, Health Care NOT Tied to ones' job.. Hence, He was much more relaxed.

[@tempestsonata1102]

Please note that despite the popular image, a lot of Europeans work their butts off. I'm a married, working mother of three in Eastern Europe. I have a nice career, cook from scratch every day and the house will not clean itself either. When I read or hear about Europeans "working less hours", I'd like to laugh and cry at the same time.

[@richardedwards7780]

I live in Italy and it has a serious problem with smoking, even among young people. Sadly, it's not dying out, they still think it's cool to smoke. I was stunned when I went to the US at the size of people. The UK is quickly catching up.. Great video!

[@gioiazucchero]

In America we are setting up our children for a lifetime of nutritional failure. 😖

[@khamen723]

I have a friend in Canada that send me stuff like ketchup and bbq sauce. They don’t use high fructose corn syrup up there, typically cane sugar

[@Aivlyss]

Excellent video! It is hard to live healthy in the US anymore, but it is possible!!

[@alcogito8287]

It is definitely possible. Avoid what you know is bad for you, learn to read labels, choose wisely, and keep moving.

[@valerietaylor9615]

It’s not hard if you cook your own food, and don’t own a car ( which forces you to walk everywhere.)

[@valdius85]

Many of the things Americans eat is not called food in Europe and some of the items are illegal for human consumption.

[@lazvt8469]

I live in an fairly affluent (college town) but rural part of USA (Appalachia) with two great hospitals within 1 mile from each other. A few months ago, sitting in the waiting area assessing obesity...and found that 80% of everyone, patients and staff, were noticeably overweight...half of those morbidly obese. Congress/BigFood and USDA is killing us!

[@bartdoo5757]

Their body, their choice.

[@andyharpist2938]

This is true. I sat in a hospital here in UK last week and counted 20\25 staff overweight( 80%). Some morbidly . Only the unpaid volunteers were fit and normal sized.

[@alcogito8287]

My doctor says that if everyone in the US were lean, normal weight for height, we would cut our national medical costs in half. (But there are a lot of industries which wouldn't like that!)

[@colinmacdonald5732]

It never ceases to amaze me how fat and unhealthy health care workers are. Crazy number of smokers too.

[@bartdoo5757]

@@colinmacdonald5732 Their body, their choice.

[@LeeLeeMarie222]

Europe doesn't allow the chemical additives as are in cigarettes purchased here in the states. So, this risk factor measurement isn't as significant as you'll imagine. People smoke clean cigarettes well into their eighties and never experience what an American smoker experiences.

[@barexampasser]

this is cope and you’re still going to get lung cancer

[@kevinlindsay5255]

Here in the UK we are rapidly catching up with the USA in terms of obesity and metabolic syndrome. When i'm out and about i see so many young people (late teens-early 20's) who are clearly obese. The availability of highly processed foods are everywhere and fast food stores are now in every high street and our TV's are full of commercial's for junk food. We are becoming Fat and Lazy here in the UK. I recently came back from a Holiday in Sardinia where people ate really good food even though some of it was High carb i never noticed any fat people as most of them walked everywhere. All the foods were home made and the restaurants served traditional Italian dishes home cooked. Give it another ten years here in the UK and we will be up there with USA in terms of % obesity. I am 65 years old and have reversed my metabolic syndrome condition from just Walking every day and eating a Mediterranean influenced diet with Keto principle applied over the top of it. Lost 75LB and crucially have kept the weight off for over a year. I am steady 190Lb at 6' 4" and a body fat % of 17%. At the end of the day we are all responsible for what we eat and how much exercise. If we show restraint and purchase wholesome foods it will force the manufactures to move towards a much healthier food products, We need better Education and lest advertising for junk foods.

[@AnneMB955]

The 6 times I’ve visited the US I agree that the obesity is obvious especially in the south. In the supermarkets there is so much choice however there’s a prevalence of processed food. There is too in my country. My observations are that many Americans favour pre-packed food and take away. Where I lived many cook food from scratch and have fast food as a treat. This is my opinion only. Well done with this vid. This needs to be discussed and alleviated for our nations’ health.

[@wayward03]

Very much true for the vast majority of the US. There was a low fat scam push by government and food companies in the 70s ans 80s. This resulted in more sugar into almost everything. including fake foods like margarine and high fructose corn syrup. It is actually difficult to find sandwich meat or sausage without sugar. We have "healthfoods" with over 20g of sugar per serving.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

American here....I have been trying to get .y grandfather to stop eating horrible. He only eats ore packaged microwave meals, and food in cans and jars....and he sees nothing wrong with it....and he only drinks like 100-300ml of water a day (not counting coffee) I feel like everyone is insane....one my my friends recently got diabetes because he drinks literally no water at all EVER! He drinks 2 liters of soda a day. He will be dead by 50 I think, he is 24 now.

[@valerietaylor9615]

Your grandfather is twenty-four?

[@ms.rivera7898]

This is how it should be. Fast food is an occasional “treat.”

[@barbaralong8665]

Portion size is big factor. Even with three meals and snacks I lost a couple of pounds. I even indulged and ate in restaurants and had occasional drink.

[@Kumulmeskis]

Junk food is so nicely packed in the US and the variety is so great. Here in Europe we will never have so many different flavours of candies, chocolate, cake, muffins, cereals, yoghurts, cokes. Our portions are smaller, we are not offered free coke refills. Even the sweeteners are not that popular here in Europe. But the paradox is that it’s a good thing in this case. It’s good we have an access to less than the Americans. It’s in our favour this time.

[@larry6597]

What would be an example for you when an abundance is better in the U.S. compared to Western Europe?

[@ederofempires8793]

@@larry6597 Your potential access to global food products. You can get all kinds of east asian/south american sauces, veggies etc. Also since most of NA gets flooded with unregulated crappy food a small niche bloomed, that focuses on healthy foodoptions. i think, since european food is overall good, the incentive to look outside of europe for good food products isn't as developed. This point of course comes with the caviat of global fooditems often leaving heavy carbon footprints.

[@larry6597]

@@ederofempires8793 interesting point. I had the feeling we also just have a big option of products from other continents in Europe, but I guess I could only be certain of that if I would have seen what is to offer in the US as well.

[@Kumulmeskis]

@@larry6597 what I meant was there are more things on offer in the US to encourage sales. There will be more flavours of Philadelphia cheese, Oreos, Coke, Iced coffee etc, more fast food restaurants, if you go to Costco your head just spins, everything is packed in bulk, which looks like novelty to us once we get there, therefore makes you curious. You just want to try this, and this, and this, and if you’re not mindful…

[@kennixox262]

In the United States we have sick care, not health care and so much of our money is spent on administration and shareholder profits. We agreee on everything that you are saying about the ultra processed foods - it's horrible, shameful. The individual thankfully now has access to better information such as your channel and others out there so that we all may learn more and what foods to avoid. The obesity epidemic is way out of control and in the next couple of decades will crash the health care system.

[@malwads1836]

At the rate we're going in 🇺🇸...It's going to get really ugly by around 2035 or so, there's just going to be so many people with serious long-term medical issues that won't be easily reversible even with top-notch medical care😮‍💨.

[@jennyh4025]

I‘m from the European Union and I wonder what freedoms I should be envious of. Could you please elaborate? And for the regulations it’s (very simplified) „prove that it’s safe before you bring it on the market, and if we find out it isn’t later on, we will ban it anyway“ in the EU and „bring it on the market, we‘ll see, if it’s too dangerous (and ends in very expensive lawsuits) later on“ in the USA.

[@ninjatall15]

Summary for ADHD folks - [00:00] 🌍 Americans are generally larger than Europeans with a higher prevalence of obesity. - [00:29]🍔 Environmental, food, advertising, and availability factors influence the health differences between Europeans and Americans. - [00:56] 💵 There are significant socioeconomic differences between the US and some European countries based on GDP per capita. - [01:22] 📊 A study in Social Science and Medicine shows a higher instance of disease and risk factors in the US than in Europe. - [02:17]⏳ In 1975, Americans had a longer life expectancy than Europeans, but this trend reversed by 2005. - [03:29] 📈 While life expectancy might be increasing, it doesn't necessarily correlate with a better quality of life. - [03:57] 🍩 Obesity rates in America have risen sharply since 1975, while European rates have increased more slowly. - [04:50] 🏥 The US has a lower life expectancy compared to its high healthcare spending, indicating inefficiency. - [06:01]🍟 Ultra-processed foods, which are prevalent in the US, contribute to obesity and health issues. - [07:11] 💵 Consumer purchasing behavior, influenced by advertising, impacts the availability and popularity of unhealthy foods. - [08:31] 🍅 Advocating for more wholesome food purchases can drive positive change in the food industry. - [09:29]🚫 The European Union has stricter food regulations and bans many ingredients considered unhealthy, unlike the US. - [10:10] 💼 Challenges in banning products can arise due to potential financial backlash and bureaucracy. - [10:52] 🚫 The European Union bans advertising of certain foods on children's networks due to the impressionability of young minds. - [11:20] 🍔 In the US, most advertisements on kids' channels promote ultra-processed foods. - [11:44] 🍩 Celebrity endorsements of food products can increase a child's appetite even in the absence of the product. - [12:13] 📉 Childhood obesity in the US is 15% higher than in Europe. - [12:38] 🥫 26% of dietary intake in 19 European countries comes from ultra-processed foods, with the UK having the highest levels at 50%. - [13:36] 🍟 Over 57% of calories consumed in the US come from ultra-processed foods. - [14:14] 🚶‍♂ European cities, being older, are more walkable and cyclable, resulting in more daily physical activity. - [14:56] 🏙 Walkable cities have a 43% incidence of obesity compared to 53% in non-walkable cities. - [15:23] 🍬 Non-walkable cities have a 30-50% increased risk of diabetes. - [15:50]👣 Emphasizing non-exercise activities, like walking more, can help in living a healthier lifestyle similar to many Europeans. - [16:18]🍖 Increasing protein intake can improve health span and reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods.

[@stanksalvala]

Hero

[@LoyaFrostwind]

Most of the US is non-walkable.

[@alcogito8287]

@@LoyaFrostwind You mean that many people don't have food & other shops or libraries within walking distance, so they drive there. But most people are not prevented from walking. It's a matter of choice.

[@Hiram1000]

Thank you! You read my....oh look, a squirrel!

[@catalinforcos232]

I think Singapore was the country with the longest life expectancy and laso the highest consumer of meat per capita

[@monnoo8221]

those who nw eat a lot of meat are not at the end of their life which is when they contribute to the life expectancy index. Singapore is far from a well established country with a stable culture. Founded in 1962 as a result because malaysia did not want that island full of mess in their state. They were very poor. Nowadays they are very small, very rich, very educated. And very planned

[@thatfuzzypotato1877]

Most important skill I learned: how to read a nutrition label and ingredients liat including sneaky names for sugars and processes oils

[@HurricaneIrene07]

I just got back from England and didn't notice much of a difference in weight/health between countries but I know that is what we're told. Everyone needs to make good choices; it's each individuals responsibility.

[@happyappy19931]

This.

[@pureblood1978x]

It's true. We've got lots of fat, ugly people here in England.

[@suekaiser4163]

Kids can't make these choices on their own. That is where it all starts.

[@Olivia-W]

If it was just personal responsibility, there wouldn't be an epidemic. Environment makes a huge difference. A walkable city with good transit encourages every day movement. A good food environement makes choosing good food far easier. I avoid something like 90% of food on the shelves of US supermarkets, because it's sugar/HFCS, seed oil, additive ridden garbage. Say, I don't even have to think about doing 10k steps in a place like NYC, or running up and down several floors. Just use the subway.

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

"Europeans are jealous of our freedoms"-Uh, no. Most have more freedoms than Americans. This is mainly poor food regulation, lack of workers rights (too many in America work overtime and have too much stress in their lives), and as you pointed out, more casual exercise done in Europe.

[@SenorJuan2023]

I hate the fact that we can't legally drink alcohol in public in the USA and I don't even drink much any more.

[@RachelRichards]

Don't many European countries prosecute people over online "hate speech"?

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

@@RachelRichards You think hate is good then?

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

@@RachelRichards We're so free not to be getting hate thrown at us all the time! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_by_country

[@RachelRichards]

@@charlotteinnocent8752 - Supporting freedom of speech isn't supporting hate. It's supporting everyone's right to express what they want to say. It's a very dangerous precedent to take away freedom of speech because of what a government decides is hateful.

[@louspi]

Yes Europe banned TiO2 but only in food, when (french) medications are loaded with titanium and nothing can be done to change it (there are strong lobbies here too). Also, allulose isn't allowed to consumption, when aspartame and sucralose are used everywhere..for example

[@Powderfinger07]

I wrote a college paper on target marketing to children and childhood obesity. The FCC fully caved in 1984 to let marketers go after children. This partially due to the farm bill passage in the late 70s, providing mass subsidies to corn farmers leading to the high fructose corn syrup industrial behemoth and into the kids’ bodies. Think of growth of convenience stores since the 70s as well, and the biggie size drinks, vending machines as well. Anyway, when consumer advocacy groups tried to fight back, they lost in court, due to something called “rational choice theory.” They argued that children had the capacity to make rational choices in the marketplace.

[@suekaiser4163]

This is why our young people are getting colon cancer. As a 71 year old retired RN, this was always an (old person's disease).. never seen in young people until the last 20 years. 😢😢😢😢.

[@valerietaylor9615]

As Jed Clampett would say, “Pitiful. Just pitiful”. ☹️

[@TheAvailable43]

I'm a farmer in America and most people aren't healthy.

[@monnoo8221]

are you?

[@TheAvailable43]

@@monnoo8221 Yes I'm healthy.

[@Trad6166]

Most farmers in American are not healthy at all. Usually extremely overweight

[@TheAvailable43]

I'm 5' 11" and 190 lbs.

[@monnoo8221]

@@TheAvailable43 LOOOOL

[@AB-jk7tw]

Absolutely true. We regularly travel to Europe to visit family and we can’t believe the almost complete lack of “real food” when we come home to the US.

[@GugelHupf55]

I am German and when I tell my American friends that I never eat highly processed foods and hardly any sugar, they don't believe me. They claim it's not possible 😀

[@robplazzman6049]

Mind you…….. Currywurst, food of the gods !

[@commonenglishmistakes4360]

Be thankful they actually know where Germany is. American education has to be amongst the worst in the developed world. I've seen so many social media comments that they state you can't live without credit cards, car loans and other high interest credit. There are some that have common sense, but the majority clearly can't think for themselves.

[@frijofroisdeern3783]

Jumbo Erdnuss Flips (von Lorenz?) enthalten Puderzucker. Ich glaube mir war noch nie so übel beim Lesen einer Inhaltsliste. Wer nimmt denn eine Tüte Chips oder so....und denkt sich: "weißt du was da fehlt?" Und streut dann Puderzucker drüber?! Ich fürchte wenn wir nicht stark anziehen beim Verbraucherschutz kriegen wir Amerikanische Verhältnisse. Trader Joe's Gewürzgurken: 27g Zucker pro 100g. Das ist fast so süß wie Vollmilch-Schokolade. Malzers Quarkkuchen hat im Vergleich "nur" 14g Zucker. Und das ist eine Süßigkeit! 2 ganze Tafeln 85% ReweBio Schokolade enthalten zusammen nur 26g. Eine ganze Tüte Salmiak Pastillen von rheila hat nur 12g. Uninformierte Verbraucher können an ihrem Gesundheitstag ruckzuck das zehnfache an Zucker konsumieren wie informierte an ihrem Zuckerflash-Tag. Seit ich meiner Mutter damit in den Ohren liege hat sie viel mehr Quarkkuchen gegessen....und trotzdem abgenommen.

[@commonenglishmistakes4360]

@@frijofroisdeern3783 No idea what that means

[@richardlawson6787]

Just like when you tell a smoker you dont smoke... they see it as impossible

[@TA-vj8ex]

So true Thomas really makes you think!!!

[@jbertucci]

Everything in the US is loaded with sugar, and I was dismayed at the amount of cancer patients I saw almost everyday when visiting.

[@SenorJuan2023]

uh, where did you see them?

[@jbertucci]

@@SenorJuan2023 Mainly Miami

[@SenorJuan2023]

@@jbertucciHow did you know they were cancer patients? via conversation?

[@jbertucci]

@@SenorJuan2023 Encountering almost every day bald (no hair no eyebrows) yellow skinned, inflamed people, with obvious chemo side effects.

[@zemm9003]

​@@SenorJuan2023chemotherapy side effects. He brings up a good point. It's rare in Europe to see obvious cancer patients on the streets but it's unfortunately a regular occurrence in the US and it must have to do with a lower quality of food and water.

[@Randomnamegoeshere]

12:10 that B-roll is hilarious, ngl.

[@keja0]

I can give you a little insight into this since I moved from a poorer Eastern European country to the UK and see the differences between the two ends of the continent. The US is just a supercharged UK in this sense. It's not the ads and not the EU regulations that makes the difference but the attitude towards food preparation and consumption. Poorer countries buy more fresh products (almost all actually) and cook the food they eat themselves. Richer countries, especially the Anglosphere countries consume more processed food. Consider the most basic example: look at the fats, trans fats, carbs and sugar content in a generic McDonald's meal. That is not food. You bring in thousands of calories and are already hungry in the next hour. Live on it long and you'll get overweight very quickly. Drop in a few additional ultra-processed foods (full of sugar, additives and/or salt) and you'll quickly get to the state of health in the West (obesity, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure). I went through all of it. A fast-food diet drove me to 110 Kg. I switched to home-prepared cooked meals and I went down to 77 Kg. It's not super science, but a cultural/behavioural change, a change of attitude towards food, a commitment. And that is really hard.

[@tempestsonata1102]

Your last sentences melted my heart. Too many of our men in Eastern Europe take their mother's or wife's cooking (freshly cooked from scratch, steaming and delicious, put on the table right in front of them) for granted.

[@alicesuperpower]

this is 100

[@minakatahizuru]

90%, things I buy are fresh and cook at home

[@Vincentorix]

Education is the key weapon to use to combat this problem in North America. Thank you sir for fighting the good fight.

[@mjpthetrucker9485]

Yep. Lack of education and too much propaganda.

[@steven_dekok]

Just got back from Eastern Europe. Saw a lot of fat people there too but it was a different kind of fat. It was more of a sturdiness, if that makes any sense. Having said that, I spent 3 weeks of eating and drinking EVERYTHING in sight and didn't gain a pound. Everything tasted amazing, so fresh, organic, everything tasted real. A simple tomato was the best thing I've ever tasted in my life! You don't have the selection of Doritos there like you do in the states because certain chemicals are banned that are needed to get that specific flavor. I had to try McDonalds once. Yes, it tasted "fake" but nothing like in the US. When I got back to the US I gained 10 pounds in a matter of weeks and my appetite was ferocious! All I could taste was chemicals in everything. It took me a solid week to get my eating under control. I can't wait to go back next March and I certainly am going to have a hard time being patient until we can move there full-time in 4 years. Great video, btw.

[@vivien7586]

Have a great stay! It would be also nice to inform and influence people in this matter everywhere, where you can, cause the west is influencing us, some people still looks to the west as having a cool lifestyle and we need help from every front, I see some obese kids these days, "influencers" also not to mention lgbtq ideologies, apps and stuff like that, it's sad... brains of children/students are vulnerable and should focus on important stuff

[@dylanadams1455]

New Zealand Potato Chip: Potato, vegetable oil (unfortunately), salt, antioxidant. Pringles: reconstituted potato flakes, vegetable oil, corn starch, rice flour, wheat starch, salt, MSG, sugar (!?!), god knows what else.

[@davidfraatz3024]

If you compar regular table sugar and HFCS 90, which has 90% fructose, regular sugar would be far more desirable, as excessive consumption of fructose can be very harmful. Europe rarely uses HFCS 90. Could be related.

[@urbanbengtsson2500]

W.T.F Thomas talked about the sponsor - no prosessed food and shows a ingredient list full of processed stuff . Allulose - mct powder - lecithin - monk fruit extrakt -what is that ??? A video about were that comes from would be interesting.

[@CatsLilaSalem]

I did not need America to become overweight 😅. In general lots of (the really bad) added things are banned in Europe, at the same time a lot of bad things are still allowed and hidden under numbers even (like MSG is E621 and Aspartame is E951 here) and the MSG one can fall under lots of different words beside that. Aspartame and MSG are also banned in some countries tho I did note that when i was an kid overweight was very rare in children (i was the only one in my school even) and in general and it has risen a lot in recent years

[@allengaible6436]

Scary good video. Keep doing your thing!

[@larschristianalm]

I've lived in Norway most of my life, and in 2004 I moved to Orlando, Florida to work in EPCOT, Disney World for a year. I was schocked at the extreme level of obesity I saw in many americans there. The american fast food culture is very detrimental to health. A lot of bad food. I went on trips to N.Y., Boston and Minneapolis, and it wasn't quite as bad there. There are some fat people in Norway, but in the US it's on a whole 'nother level. It's off the charts.

[@BL-no7jp]

Eating right or don’t eat worked for me. I went from 189 down to my young adult weight of 122. When my thyroid had a set back, my weight went back up. With an increase of thyroid dosage, the weight is slowly coming off., 25 lbs per year. The thyroid disease caused elevated blood sugar extremely elevated Triglycerides of 640 and Cholesterol at 300. This problem went away with Fibrozil for Triglycerides and Lipitor for Cholesterol. I take low doses for life with no issues. I’m 66 and now my blood chemistry profile is normal. My health, my life depends on eating the healthy right foods. I eat grapes for candy and I love it!

[@wzupppp]

Why is processed food cheaper than whole foods?

[@Maisiewuppp]

The ingredients are inferior not fresh , also chemicals, stuff that wouldn’t pass for food on its own and its mass produced. That’s why.

[@85jongo]

Great information. Thank you Thomas.

[@Victor-779]

Really good video, you hit on a lot of good points. I put most of the blame on how sugar has been used to make foods hyper-palatable or in other words, how it's been used as the cocaine of the food world. I've been addicted to it practically my whole life, ever since the Halloween days.

[@kathleenking47]

We've akwayschad candy, at Halloween and the other holidays. This weird stuff if eating too much sugar, also connects with people staying up past a certain hour as well..even children, post 1980

[@Victor-779]

@@kathleenking47 At Halloween, back in my days, you filled up a grocery bag full of sugar and you polished all of it off in 2-3 weeks. You realize how bad that is? It gets kids addicted to sugar at an early age and ruins your gut microbiome. When it comes to other holidays, kids are not eating a big bag of sugar in such a short period of time.

[@whowhy9023]

High Fructose Corn syrup was introduced in 1975. It’s now everywhere. Much more common in the US.

[@MichaelTheoret]

I work at a School as a janitor ( USA ) and the Staff and Studends had cookies but I didn't . Not because I got left out, but because I read the ingredients . You almost have to be a top rate Chemist to be able to read labels in the US . One of the ingredients was Sodium Aluminum Sulfate. I literally said out loud, and people were around , " ALUMINUM ?! GROSS, I don't want to eat anything with ALUMINUM in it !" Unfortunately people had already eaten those cookies . The ones that were left for me are still sitting on the table, in their plastic container , in the Staff Lounge . Hopefully the damned things get tossed out .

[@sta090806]

Yes, I am a teacher and there's a lot of crappy food that passes the lips of the staff - on offer in the staff lounge. I never partake.

[@Indy29045]

Sodium aluminum sulfate is the main ingredient of baking powder

[@MichaelTheoret]

@@Indy29045 Yes,I know that but that can't be good !

[@ezekieloruven]

​@@MichaelTheoret Don't eat "salt" then. It's Sodium Chloride and I wouldn't want you to eat chlorine.

[@jennyh4025]

@@Indy29045not in Germany, here baking powder contains Na, C, O, H, Ca, P, K (I can‘t look up all English names right now, so I just take the abbreviations and hope I didn’t forget anything).

[@margrose5]

Yes, Thomas! Kids minds are malleable! They should not be bombarded with ads for junk foods OR with a lot of other ideas!

[@rafaiwanczyk9239]

Well Europe ban stuff that you don't so yea

[@NeraCicero]

I am german and I was actually horrified when I saw Mountain Dew in my supermarket for the first time. That crap is toxic waste and I dont know how they sneaked that stuff into our market. They also had pop tarts a while ago...they vanished real quick cause nobody touched this nonsense.

[@fr0zen540]

Great video, thank you.

[@dennisb7930]

Wow very interesting info. On this Thomas most Americans have no idea how bad the things they eat are it’s a shame they are doomed ! Great video thank you

[@giaatta9303]

I enjoyed this episode. Thank you

[@larry6597]

I keep hearing the argument for freedom we are lacking in Europe compared to the US. Could someone give an example of this as I am not really aware of the laws in the US?

[@asciblue]

This is too long a discussion for KZbin.

[@michaelandrews4783]

They mean freedom for the rich to take away all your employment rights and conditions (pay you less for working) and create food and products with no regard for public health and saftey. It's not freedom it's tyrany by Captialists who want access to tax money and workers wages and sell prodcuts that make people sick for profit. Propaganda in the USA demonizes universal healthcare (like all of the 1st world now has) and basic consumer protections and rights for workers as terrible oppression that is somehow "socialism" which is ment to automatically assumed to be "bad".

[@larry6597]

@@asciblue I just asked for some examples, not an essay

[@CristinaMistwalker]

None, we aren't lacking any freedom 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@djune286]

The freedom to pay 30K a year for university? The freedom of going bankrupt if you get cancer for a second time? The freedom to re-elect Trump? The freedom to have only 5-6 vacation days each year? @@larry6597 Honestly, I have no idea why anyone would think European (EU) countries are sad because they don't have the "freedoms" America has. Probably only passportless Americans who watched too much Jerry Springer during their High School years think this is a thing.

[@karld1791]

In America the government subsidizes crop insurance for corn which is used to make high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS is added to around 80% of items, the processed ones, in grocery stores. We need to at least stop subsidizing processed foods from our taxes.

[@marktapley7571]

Life expectancies are not going up but rather have gone down a lot in all developed countries after the “just trust the science” initiatives. Allopathic medicine is not responsible for improved health but rather it is. the result of better nutrition and sanitation.

[@Masfugo]

The first thing I noticed when visited America like 11 years ago was The portion size was HUGEEE also unlimited soda fountain with gigantic cup as a 20 years old I was happy back then But again it should be big warning sign if I think about it

[@heathrunyon4036]

I’m in Krakow, Poland and people are much healthier here because they walk. Also the food is much better quality then US food. Since i been here I average over 30,000 steps.

[@monnoo8221]

you should buy another steps counter. 30k steps daily is unrealistic. No-one is waking 18+km a day these days.

[@Kumulmeskis]

@@monnoo8221 realistic, if you want it. It takes about 5 h for me to make 30000

[@Neophema]

@@monnoo8221 I can easily walk more than 30k steps a day. I've even walked 50-60k some days.

[@monnoo8221]

@@Neophema then you belong to a happy minority, do you? Or do you HAVE to walk, given your job? likewise, perhaps you are retired or unemployed. I do not know a single employed person who would have 4h+ spare time for walking every day. really, you must be a happy person. On free days I also can easily walk 25km, no issue. but that is not compatible with employment

[@galgalore]

FDA can be bought and lobbied..the EU not so much

[@barbaralong8665]

Sadly very true.Also poverty and food deserts make it even harder.

[@chariotsoffire2714]

Blue light exposure. Fat cells have light sensitive proteins that impact circadian rhythm. All the blue light on the skin and eyes from indoor lighting and screens has more of an impact than people recognize.

[@lisabeck5582]

❤ the Michael Jordan analogy and I’m not surprised. When I was younger and more disciplined, I made a habit of turning the channel whenever a food commercial came on. Instinctively, I felt that this was helpful. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve kind of gotten away from that and am now just starting to bring back that habit. It is amazing at how helpful this one small habit can be. I find that it frees me from thinking about food as much, especially when fasting or simply riding out the times between meals. It’s good to know that science backs it up!

[@pjaworek6793]

Best episode, good job!!! I work in food development/testing in Canada, you're 100% right.

[@chargermopar]

I hate exercise and it is too hot here to do it anyway. My diet is high calorie high fat. Yet I am thin and 55 years old. The secret? Never eating manufactured foods.

[@L.HighVibrationalLiving]

I Love Europe, travelled all around many moon again, so good to get the latest comparison, & so true, ps: Excellent Content!! THANK You as ALWAYS! 😊

[@AncientLemomTree]

I moved back to my village in rural Greece for 2 years when I was 23. I lost 20 pounds while I was there. I adopted the typical diet and started running up mountains. I also worked in olive farms in the winter. In greece it is not normal to eat snacks. They eat 2-3 meals a day and that’s it. You’ll never find chips or candy in peoples’ homes. They eat slow, and eat very late in the summer, and have huge feasts with family on occasion. There is no fast food in the area where I’m from. Most of the produce and meat is local. And everyone lives at a much slower pace, with little stress, with little hurrying to get here or there. There are some obese people, but you’ll also see some of the most naturally fit and healthy elderly people.

[@yessumify]

Very well informed video 👌

[@SmokesDankInACave]

Thrive is supposed to be this fancy grocery store but everything in it has the same oils and lecithins we should avoid. If only it was legit😢

[@moldyketchuphead]

Totally agree. Thrive is just Whole Foods without physical stores and with lower prices. Local, local, local.

[@sta090806]

Same with Whole Food

[@strider2929]

Yep you hit it. Thrive is just a rip off. Still outing all the unhealthy stuff in the food

[@leezap]

lol. Yep. Just more expensive junk.

[@davidj7201]

The creator literally even shows the UPF ingredients list a moment after saying "no ultra processes stuff". Wtf?

[@klauslispector]

When I did a student exchange in the US I noticed that people were snacking in school. They weren't only eating at lunch but were also eating random convenience foods between (and sometimes in) classes. You would never see that here in Sweden.