"It's smoking, obesity and access to health care," say the Ministry of the Bleedin' Obvious.
QuoteWhy do Americans die younger than Britons?
New life expectancy figures show Americans some way behind countries like Canada, the UK and Australia. Why?
Living in the world's richest country comes at a price, and it's measured in life years.
Men in the US are on average aged 75 when they die. That is 1.5 years younger than men in the UK and 3.5 years younger than men in Australia, says a new study.
American women live on average to just under 81 - about three years younger than the average Australian woman.
While life expectancy in the US continues to improve, says the report by researchers at University of Washington in Seattle and Imperial College, London, it is not increasing as quickly as in other Western countries, so the gap is widening.
"The researchers suggest that the relatively low life expectancies in the US cannot be explained by the size of the nation, racial diversity, or economics," says the document, which ranks the US 38th in the world for life expectancy overall.
"Instead, the authors point to high rates of obesity, tobacco use and other preventable risk factors for an early death as the leading drivers of the gap between the US and other nations."
"We weren't surprised that we had lower life expectancies than other countries, but we were surprised by the fact that we were falling further behind," says Dr Ali Mokdad, professor of global health at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
Take a country like Australia, he says. "It also has a nation of immigrants. It also is a relatively young country. It has similar socioeconomic characteristics.
"It has an obesity problem, and yet it has continued to improve in life expectancy and remains one of the healthiest nations in the world."
So how should the US address these risk factors?
Smoking alone is responsible for one out of every five deaths in the US, the professor says, yet the US has not been as tough as Australia in restricting tobacco advertising and public smoking.
Australia also has a greater focus on primary care - which helps with health education, and early treatment of any problems - and it has done a good job reducing the number of road traffic accidents, he adds.
The US could also save 100,000 lives a year by reducing salt in people's diets, since high blood pressure kills one in six people, Dr Mokdad says.
"We have high rates of poverty and high rates of uninsured or people lacking access to care. We have fewer primary care providers and fewer physicians per person than most states. And high rates of low education.
"We have the highest rate of obesity in the country and therefore one of the highest rates of diabetes. A relatively high rate of tobacco use and high rates of cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer.
Then there's the big issue - about one in three adults is classified as obese. That's about 10 times as many as in long-living countries like Japan, according to OECD figures.
But the US is a big country, and while parts of Mississippi have a male life expectancy of 67, behind nations like the Philippines, women in areas of Florida live as long, on average, as the Japanese, who top the longevity rankings.
It is precisely this kind of inequality that goes some way to explain why the US - and the UK to a lesser degree - lag behind other countries, according to Danny Dorling, a professor of human geography at the University of Sheffield in the UK.
He believes a more even distribution of wealth, even if the average were lower, could mean longer lives for everyone.
"I think stress is a part of it - this is the key thesis of Michael Marmot and his book on the status syndrome. People get worn out faster with greater inequality.
"However there is much more. If you have most health spending just going on a few people who have the best health to begin with - [as in] the US system - that is hardly efficient.
"In a more unequal rich country more doctors are working on things like plastic surgery. More dentists whiten teeth than fix bad teeth and so on."
While it is not surprising that poor Americans lose out from inequality, Prof Dorling argues that the rich may suffer too.
Yukichi Chuganji, former world's oldest man Several of the world's oldest people have been from Japan
"Top income groups are badly affected because their doctors are not necessarily mainly interested in their health but work for organisations that have to make an income," he says.
"I am not suggesting it is deliberate but you make more money out of a patient who spends more on many drugs and investigatory operations than one who lives longer with less intervention.
"In a more equal system the rich who are well get less intervention - and they live longer in the UK than the US."
Growing income inequality in the UK, since the 1970s, has has helped to push it down the European life expectancy rankings, says Mr Dorling.
However, life expectancy is not just about forecasts made for newborn babies.
When you look at life expectancy at 65, the US does perform well, says Svetlana Ukraintseva, research scientist at the Center for Population Health and Aging (CPHA) at Duke University in North Carolina.
Elderly Americans have a higher chance of surviving heart disease and many cancers than their counterparts in other rich countries, she says. Where the US lags behind is what happens at a much younger age. Infant mortality rates are high, she points out.
"So it's not the medical system itself that is the problem but access to it," she says.
"Medical insurance for all might help."
This is one goal of the healthcare reform signed into law in March 2010, which will oblige American adults to have health insurance when it comes into force in 2014.
However, this remains a controversial idea in the US and the legislation could yet come unstuck.
Challenges to the constitutionality of the law are working their way through the courts, and fierce opponents in the Republican Party make no secret of their desire to repeal the legislation if the opportunity arises.
QuoteRisk factors
* smoking
* obesity
* high blood pressure
* high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
* high dietary trans fatty acids
* high salt intake
* low dietary omega 3 fatty acids
* high blood glucose
* low intake of fruits and vegetables
* alcohol abuse
* physical inactivity
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14070090 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14070090)
I don't know about the other factors but Americans smoke way less than the Brits
Quote"I think stress is a part of it -"
Goddamned right it is.
Quote from: Gups on July 11, 2011, 04:15:32 AM
I don't know about the other factors but Americans smoke way less than the Brits
According to this 2009 survey, the US ranks much higher in this table of average number of cigarettes smoked per adult per year. http://markosun.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/smoking-rates-by-country/ (http://markosun.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/smoking-rates-by-country/)
The most recent statistics I can find have the percentage of UK adults who smoke at 21% (2009) and US adults at 20% (2010) so barely different, but it seems those who smoke in the US, smoke more.
Dying younger is a good thing. Remember, anything past 65 are the useless years.
I feel like I'm being nagged at.
Having recently been to Disneyland there are two observations:
1) There are a lot of really really fat people at Disneyland. It may be that Disneyland is a magnet for fat people. I hope that is true. I would hate to think the American public has the same percentage of really fat people.
2) Serving sizes. I know we have gone over this before but wow are the serving sizes at restaurants around the Disney are large. Now it may be that portions have to be large because a lot of fat people go to Disneyland.
Americans are just fat all around, CC.
Take a trip to Burger King in Washington state, if its anything like New York State, the amount of food you can get for 20$ is staggering.
We die happier.
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 11, 2011, 12:24:17 PM
Americans are just fat all around, CC.
Take a trip to Burger King in Washington state, if its anything like New York State, the amount of food you can get for 20$ is staggering.
They have food at Burger King? :huh:
Quote from: Jacob on July 11, 2011, 12:28:09 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 11, 2011, 12:24:17 PM
Americans are just fat all around, CC.
Take a trip to Burger King in Washington state, if its anything like New York State, the amount of food you can get for 20$ is staggering.
They have food at Burger King? :huh:
Yes, Mostly Bread.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 11, 2011, 12:28:02 PM
We die happier.
Relieved at being released from your earthly suffering?
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 12:06:09 PM
It may be that Disneyland is a magnet for fat people.
Nah, fat people don't typically like to spend their days walking around.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 11, 2011, 12:38:42 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 12:06:09 PM
It may be that Disneyland is a magnet for fat people.
Nah, fat people don't typically like to spend their days walking around.
There was a lot of fat people taking scooters around. Sad sight seeing obese parents on scooters with their young kids (on the way to becoming really fat) trailing behing them.
Person years is not a great metric. Pound years makes more sense I think. Americans may die earlier but there's more of a typical American than a typical anything else. So what if a Japanese woman gets to 95 if she's just 50 lbs?
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 12:43:30 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 11, 2011, 12:38:42 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 12:06:09 PM
It may be that Disneyland is a magnet for fat people.
Nah, fat people don't typically like to spend their days walking around.
There was a lot of fat people taking scooters around. Sad sight seeing obese parents on scooters with their young kids (on the way to becoming really fat) trailing behing them.
Fat people are amusing IMHO.
Quote from: The Brain on July 11, 2011, 12:44:25 PM
Person years is not a great metric. Pound years makes more sense I think. Americans may die earlier but there's more of a typical American than a typical anything else. So what if a Japanese woman gets to 95 if she's just 50 lbs?
:lol:
Quote from: The Brain on July 11, 2011, 12:44:25 PM
Person years is not a great metric. Pound years makes more sense I think.
Andre the Giant lived a full life. :yes:
QuoteDying younger is a good thing. Remember, anything past 65 are the useless years.
I trust you plan to take a visit to Switzerland on your 65th birthday?
Quote from: Jacob on July 11, 2011, 12:28:09 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 11, 2011, 12:24:17 PM
Americans are just fat all around, CC.
Take a trip to Burger King in Washington state, if its anything like New York State, the amount of food you can get for 20$ is staggering.
They have food at Burger King? :huh:
:huh: BK is pretty good.
Especially compared to most fast food places.
Sadly expensive however.
Quote from: Tyr on July 11, 2011, 01:50:36 PM
Quote from: Jacob on July 11, 2011, 12:28:09 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 11, 2011, 12:24:17 PM
Americans are just fat all around, CC.
Take a trip to Burger King in Washington state, if its anything like New York State, the amount of food you can get for 20$ is staggering.
They have food at Burger King? :huh:
:huh: BK is pretty good.
Especially compared to most fast food places.
Sadly expensive however.
Brits are weird.
You can get double cheeseburgers for a buck at BK here.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 12:06:09 PM
Having recently been to Disneyland there are two observations:
1) There are a lot of really really fat people at Disneyland. It may be that Disneyland is a magnet for fat people. I hope that is true. I would hate to think the American public has the same percentage of really fat people.
they're all Canadian tourists.
Quote
2) Serving sizes. I know we have gone over this before but wow are the serving sizes at restaurants around the Disney are large. Now it may be that portions have to be large because a lot of fat people go to Disneyland.
Never seen...
Supersize me?
Quote from: Jacob on July 11, 2011, 12:28:09 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 11, 2011, 12:24:17 PM
Americans are just fat all around, CC.
Take a trip to Burger King in Washington state, if its anything like New York State, the amount of food you can get for 20$ is staggering.
They have food at Burger King? :huh:
They have triple stackers. :)
Quote from: The Brain on July 11, 2011, 12:44:25 PM
Person years is not a great metric. Pound years makes more sense I think. Americans may die earlier but there's more of a typical American than a typical anything else. So what if a Japanese woman gets to 95 if she's just 50 lbs?
:lmfao:
Quote from: viper37 on July 11, 2011, 02:21:53 PM
they're all Canadian tourists.
I guess they were using an American twang so as not to be targeted as "other".
Quote
Never seen... Supersize me?
These were real restaurants. I knew fast food joints do that but the portion sizes of restaurants serving real food suprised me.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:32:28 PM
These were real restaurants. I knew fast food joints do that but the portion sizes of restaurants serving real food suprised me.
While I wouldn't base my opinions on the Anaheim area, it is true that our portions are fairly large. Want small portions? Head to an upscale establishment.
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2011, 02:36:57 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:32:28 PM
These were real restaurants. I knew fast food joints do that but the portion sizes of restaurants serving real food suprised me.
While I wouldn't base my opinions on the Anaheim area, it is true that our portions are fairly large. Want small portions? Head to an upscale establishment.
Really expensive steak houses also serve enormous portions. I think by upscale you mean fine dining where portions are small even in the US.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:45:47 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2011, 02:36:57 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:32:28 PM
These were real restaurants. I knew fast food joints do that but the portion sizes of restaurants serving real food suprised me.
While I wouldn't base my opinions on the Anaheim area, it is true that our portions are fairly large. Want small portions? Head to an upscale establishment.
Really expensive steak houses also serve enormous portions. I think by upscale you mean fine dining where portions are small even in the US.
Isnt that a rather common complaint from US tourists when they are abroad. That the portion sizes are tiny?
"No you fatass thats the amount of calories you actually need".
To be serious though when I have done the touristy thing in the US I tend to notice that the number that are overweight seems to be not that much higher than over here but the ones that are overwight are merely overweight here and morbidly obese there. I suspect my observational capabilities are wrong though because every statistic I read show that the percentage of fat people in the US is much higher.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:45:47 PM
Really expensive steak houses also serve enormous portions. I think by upscale you mean fine dining where portions are small even in the US.
Yes that is what I meant by fine dining. Places where most of the plate is empty but costly.
Quote from: Cecil on July 11, 2011, 02:52:37 PM
Isnt that a rather common complaint from US tourists when they are abroad. That the portion sizes are tiny?
"No you fatass thats the amount of calories you actually need".
To be serious though when I have done the touristy thing in the US I tend to notice that the number that are overweight seems to be not that much higher than over here but the ones that are overwight are merely overweight here and morbidly obese there. I suspect my observational capabilities are wrong though because every statistic I read show that the percentage of fat people in the US is much higher.
I don't think tourists are generally watching their calorie counts. If their stomach is still growling after a meal, they are probably somewhat justified in being annoyed.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 12:43:30 PM
There was a lot of fat people taking scooters around. Sad sight seeing obese parents on scooters with their young kids (on the way to becoming really fat) trailing behing them.
Is that how Disney is these days? Sounds pretty much like Wal-Mart in that regard. Nothing like seeing a morbidly obese mom or grandma screaming at her kids & trying to chase them down on her scooter.
I'm sure the gay days are different.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:45:47 PM
Really expensive steak houses also serve enormous portions.
They still taste good when heated up in the microwave the next day.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 11, 2011, 03:51:34 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:45:47 PM
Really expensive steak houses also serve enormous portions.
They still taste good when heated up in the microwave the next day.
:yuk:
at the very least heat left over meat over a grill
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 04:14:22 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 11, 2011, 03:51:34 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:45:47 PM
Really expensive steak houses also serve enormous portions.
They still taste good when heated up in the microwave the next day.
:yuk:
at the very least heat left over meat over a grill
I don't own a microwave. ^_^
Quote from: Cecil on July 11, 2011, 02:52:37 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:45:47 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2011, 02:36:57 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 02:32:28 PM
These were real restaurants. I knew fast food joints do that but the portion sizes of restaurants serving real food suprised me.
While I wouldn't base my opinions on the Anaheim area, it is true that our portions are fairly large. Want small portions? Head to an upscale establishment.
Really expensive steak houses also serve enormous portions. I think by upscale you mean fine dining where portions are small even in the US.
Isnt that a rather common complaint from US tourists when they are abroad. That the portion sizes are tiny?
"No you fatass thats the amount of calories you actually need".
To be serious though when I have done the touristy thing in the US I tend to notice that the number that are overweight seems to be not that much higher than over here but the ones that are overwight are merely overweight here and morbidly obese there. I suspect my observational capabilities are wrong though because every statistic I read show that the percentage of fat people in the US is much higher.
Many people you think of as normal when you're in America would be considered fat if they walked down a street in Sweden.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 04:14:22 PM
:yuk:
:mellow:
You can split a meal if that's not satisfactory.
Restaurants serve large portions because they sell more food that way while keeping overhead and labor costs relatively stable. If they just raise the prices while still serving small portions, many customers don't feel they're getting their money's worth and go elsewhere.
Quote from: The Brain on July 11, 2011, 04:19:43 PM
Many people you think of as normal when you're in America would be considered fat if they walked down a street in Sweden.
That's a purely hypothetical assertion. In reality, no American would ever walk down a street.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 11, 2011, 04:47:32 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 04:14:22 PM
:yuk:
:mellow:
You can split a meal if that's not satisfactory.
Restaurants serve large portions because they sell more food that way while keeping overhead and labor costs relatively stable. If they just raise the prices while still serving small portions, many customers don't feel they're getting their money's worth and go elsewhere.
It is odd that this same economic concern doesn't occur outside of the US.
I remember watching some show that featured a famous deli in New York. They served pastrami sandwiches there, which looked way too oversized. The place's manager was talking about his sandwiches, and said that if his cutomer ever managed to finish their pastrami sandwich, then they feel like they made a mistake. :blink:
No further logic was offered to explain why they think that way. I love pastrami sandwiches, but I resolved to never eat in that deli after seeing that piece (of course, I forgot what that deli was, so I'll never eat pastrami sandwiches anywhere in Manhattan, just to be safe). Being boastful of both gluttony and waste of food seems very degenerate to me.
Quote from: DGuller on July 11, 2011, 04:49:40 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 11, 2011, 04:19:43 PM
Many people you think of as normal when you're in America would be considered fat if they walked down a street in Sweden.
That's a purely hypothetical assertion. In reality, no American would ever walk down a street.
It's easy to laugh at Americans. I do it myself most of my waking hours.
Quote from: Malthus on July 11, 2011, 04:50:01 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 11, 2011, 04:47:32 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 04:14:22 PM
:yuk:
:mellow:
You can split a meal if that's not satisfactory.
Restaurants serve large portions because they sell more food that way while keeping overhead and labor costs relatively stable. If they just raise the prices while still serving small portions, many customers don't feel they're getting their money's worth and go elsewhere.
It is odd that this same economic concern doesn't occur outside of the US.
This is generalizing of course, but food tends to be cheap in the US in comparison to Europe (I think we are probably comparing the US to Europe). The result of that is American restaurants may be a bit wasteful on the portion side to make sure that the customer doesn't leave hungry.
QuoteI remember watching some show that featured a famous deli in New York. They served pastrami sandwiches there, which looked way too oversized. The place's manager was talking about his sandwiches, and said that if his cutomer ever managed to finish their pastrami sandwich, then they feel like they made a mistake.
Manhattan may be an extreme example: the land is extremely expensive, so the incremental food costs are rather negligible. Also, you are probably aiming for the tourist market, and are going to charge an arm and a leg anyway. Those arms and legs can be turned into pastrami substitutes, keeping food costs even lower.
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:16:14 PM
This is generalizing of course, but food tends to be cheap in the US in comparison to Europe (I think we are probably comparing the US to Europe). The result of that is American restaurants may be a bit wasteful on the portion side to make sure that the customer doesn't leave hungry.
Actually, the comparison here is with Canada. Dunno if food is cheaper in the US vs. Canada. I assume not, or not very.
I think the explaination is more likely cultural than economic.
Quote from: DGuller on July 11, 2011, 04:55:37 PM
I remember watching some show that featured a famous deli in New York. They served pastrami sandwiches there, which looked way too oversized. The place's manager was talking about his sandwiches, and said that if his cutomer ever managed to finish their pastrami sandwich, then they feel like they made a mistake. :blink:
No further logic was offered to explain why they think that way. I love pastrami sandwiches, but I resolved to never eat in that deli after seeing that piece (of course, I forgot what that deli was, so I'll never eat pastrami sandwiches anywhere in Manhattan, just to be safe). Being boastful of both gluttony and waste of food seems very degenerate to me.
I think I know the place you are talking about. Great sandwiches. They are always on the travel channel.
Wish I could remember the name. dammit.
Quote from: Malthus on July 11, 2011, 05:25:39 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:16:14 PM
This is generalizing of course, but food tends to be cheap in the US in comparison to Europe (I think we are probably comparing the US to Europe). The result of that is American restaurants may be a bit wasteful on the portion side to make sure that the customer doesn't leave hungry.
Actually, the comparison here is with Canada. Dunno if food is cheaper in the US vs. Canada. I assume not, or not very.
I think the explaination is more likely cultural than economic.
Is America really so different than Canada? If CC was to compare Vancouver to Seattle or San Fransisco, would there be a difference? I don't know if there is a Canadian counterpart to Orlando, but your national dish is poutine, isn't it?
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 05:28:40 PM
Quote from: DGuller on July 11, 2011, 04:55:37 PM
I remember watching some show that featured a famous deli in New York. They served pastrami sandwiches there, which looked way too oversized. The place's manager was talking about his sandwiches, and said that if his cutomer ever managed to finish their pastrami sandwich, then they feel like they made a mistake. :blink:
No further logic was offered to explain why they think that way. I love pastrami sandwiches, but I resolved to never eat in that deli after seeing that piece (of course, I forgot what that deli was, so I'll never eat pastrami sandwiches anywhere in Manhattan, just to be safe). Being boastful of both gluttony and waste of food seems very degenerate to me.
I think I know the place you are talking about. Great sandwiches. They are always on the travel channel.
Wish I could remember the name. dammit.
I think there are several that are exactly like that. I know I was at one of them. Giant sandwich the size of your head.
Quote"Medical insurance for all might help."
Not damn likely. People are out of shape because they don't take care of themselves--we eat too much (and often the wrong foods), we drink too much, we smoke (and any tobacco is probably too much) and we don't get enough exercise. And we know this without having to go to the doctor to find it out. More affordable health care isn't going to help us or force us to practice preventative medicine when we could pretty much do that for free anyway if we wanted to.
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
Quote from: Malthus on July 11, 2011, 05:25:39 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:16:14 PM
This is generalizing of course, but food tends to be cheap in the US in comparison to Europe (I think we are probably comparing the US to Europe). The result of that is American restaurants may be a bit wasteful on the portion side to make sure that the customer doesn't leave hungry.
Actually, the comparison here is with Canada. Dunno if food is cheaper in the US vs. Canada. I assume not, or not very.
I think the explaination is more likely cultural than economic.
Is America really so different than Canada? If CC was to compare Vancouver to Seattle or San Fransisco, would there be a difference? I don't know if there is a Canadian counterpart to Orlando, but your national dish is poutine, isn't it?
It's a question of portion sizes, not content.
Many Canadian travellers to the US comment on this - the portions just seem bigger in restaurants. Noticably so.
This is purely anecdotal - I dunno if anyone has actually done any research on relative portion sizes across the border. But it is certainly a common perception.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 05:28:40 PM
I think I know the place you are talking about. Great sandwiches.
Better than Triple Stacker? :huh:
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 05:28:40 PM
Quote from: DGuller on July 11, 2011, 04:55:37 PM
I remember watching some show that featured a famous deli in New York. They served pastrami sandwiches there, which looked way too oversized. The place's manager was talking about his sandwiches, and said that if his cutomer ever managed to finish their pastrami sandwich, then they feel like they made a mistake. :blink:
No further logic was offered to explain why they think that way. I love pastrami sandwiches, but I resolved to never eat in that deli after seeing that piece (of course, I forgot what that deli was, so I'll never eat pastrami sandwiches anywhere in Manhattan, just to be safe). Being boastful of both gluttony and waste of food seems very degenerate to me.
I think I know the place you are talking about. Great sandwiches. They are always on the travel channel.
Wish I could remember the name. dammit.
Katz's is the most famous one I remember having gone to off the top of my head (though I don't remember the sandwiches being too massive... :ph34r:) -- I think they are more memorable for the somewhat complex and merciless ordering system, and for the pickles. :mmm:
Carnegie Deli is the place I had my giant sandwich. Pure tourist trap, but fun.
Quote from: DGuller on July 11, 2011, 05:53:15 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 05:28:40 PM
I think I know the place you are talking about. Great sandwiches.
Better than Triple Stacker? :huh:
OH MY GOD YES.
:lol:
Quote from: dps on July 11, 2011, 05:47:14 PM
Quote"Medical insurance for all might help."
Not damn likely. People are out of shape because they don't take care of themselves--we eat too much (and often the wrong foods), we drink too much, we smoke (and any tobacco is probably too much) and we don't get enough exercise. And we know this without having to go to the doctor to find it out. More affordable health care isn't going to help us or force us to practice preventative medicine when we could pretty much do that for free anyway if we wanted to.
But more affordable health care might make people say "Hmm, this pre-diabetic numbness in my feet has been going on for a while, maybe I should get it checked out" rather than "Hmm, I'll put this out of my mind until I have full-blown diabetes and require wildly expensive treatment for it." :hmm:
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
Is America really so different than Canada? If CC was to compare Vancouver to Seattle or San Fransisco, would there be a difference? I don't know if there is a Canadian counterpart to Orlando, but your national dish is poutine, isn't it?
My observation is that the average body type in Vancouver is very different from the average body type I saw in Disneyland - Southern California. I spent a weekend in SF years ago but I dont remember enough to make a comparison. It has been a few years since I was In Washington State (I really hate crossing the border now) but I dont recall that great of a difference in body type.
One big difference I have always noticed in all American cities is portion size which is why I commented on it again.
edit: there are places in Canada that are known for large portion size - the Memphis Grill here in Vancouver comes to mind for that. That is the reason they stand out from the crowd.
I kinda liked Juniors, in Manhatten. Nice place, enormous portions. Tasty cheesecake (though again, in amounts normal folks can't actually eat).
Our visit was made memorable by the woman-mountain sitting next to us. Way she was seated, waitstaff was supposed to get in behind her to serve us, but she was so huge they couldn't actually do that.
She was very nice about it and moved when necessary. But damn, she was enormous - must have weighed 400 or 500 pounds. And if she ate there regularly, you could see why.
You foriegners would love the Cheesecake Factory.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 06:00:36 PM
You foriegners would love the Cheesecake Factory.
We have that here. It would be interesting to compare portion sizes.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 05:57:46 PM
edit: there are places in Canada that are known for large portion size - the Memphis Grill here in Vancouver comes to mind for that. That is the reason they stand out from the crowd.
Same in Ontario. Amusingly (though I guess understandably), they always seem to have US -type names - two chains I associate with big sizes are Montana's and Boston Pizza - both are, despite their names, Canadian-based chains.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 06:00:36 PM
You foriegners would love the Cheesecake Factory.
A factory that takes raw cheesecake and processes it into obesity? Genius.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 05:56:27 PM
Quote from: DGuller on July 11, 2011, 05:53:15 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 05:28:40 PM
I think I know the place you are talking about. Great sandwiches.
Better than Triple Stacker? :huh:
OH MY GOD YES.
:lol:
That there's some big talking, pilgrim. It is a
Triple Stacker.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 06:00:36 PM
You foriegners would love the Cheesecake Factory.
I love Cheesecake. :cry: But every time I eat it, I get sick.
Quote from: Razgovory on July 11, 2011, 06:21:11 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2011, 06:00:36 PM
You foriegners would love the Cheesecake Factory.
I love Cheesecake. :cry: But every time I eat it, I get sick.
:console: Reminds me of a great Ramones song though.
She had a very bad affair
with some cat from Hiroshima
She turned into a head of lettuce
She eats Thorazine in her farina
But they took her away
tossed her in the bin
Now she's hanging out
in East Berlin, ow-ooo
And everytime I eat vegetables
it makes me think of you
And everytime I eat vegetables
I don't know what to do, to do ow-ooo
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 11, 2011, 05:57:46 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
Is America really so different than Canada? If CC was to compare Vancouver to Seattle or San Fransisco, would there be a difference? I don't know if there is a Canadian counterpart to Orlando, but your national dish is poutine, isn't it?
My observation is that the average body type in Vancouver is very different from the average body type I saw in Disneyland - Southern California. I spent a weekend in SF years ago but I dont remember enough to make a comparison. It has been a few years since I was In Washington State (I really hate crossing the border now) but I dont recall that great of a difference in body type.
One big difference I have always noticed in all American cities is portion size which is why I commented on it again.
edit: there are places in Canada that are known for large portion size - the Memphis Grill here in Vancouver comes to mind for that. That is the reason they stand out from the crowd.
Southern California has another problem--close proximity to Mexico, which has passed us for the most obese nation on earth.
When I'm traveling--and it really doesn't matter where-the portion sizes and general healthiness of the food are out of control and I feel disgusting after a few days. If I can find a place like a subway, I tend to eat a lot of meals there.
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
national dish is poutine, isn't it?
No. It's not yet common outside of Quebec.
Quote from: alfred russel on July 12, 2011, 09:11:45 AM
If I can find a place like a subway, I tend to eat a lot of meals there.
You're the reason public transportation sucks.
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 12, 2011, 09:23:16 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
national dish is poutine, isn't it?
No. It's not yet common outside of Quebec.
you can get the fake stuff in most of canada (processed chedder instead of curds)
Quote from: The Brain on July 12, 2011, 09:54:19 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 12, 2011, 09:11:45 AM
If I can find a place like a subway, I tend to eat a lot of meals there.
You're the reason public transportation sucks.
The sights and smells of the subway do keep you from overeating though.
Quote from: HVC on July 12, 2011, 10:33:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 12, 2011, 09:23:16 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
national dish is poutine, isn't it?
No. It's not yet common outside of Quebec.
you can get the fake stuff in most of canada (processed chedder instead of curds)
Even in bumfuck Manitoba?
Quote from: HVC on July 12, 2011, 10:33:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 12, 2011, 09:23:16 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
national dish is poutine, isn't it?
No. It's not yet common outside of Quebec.
you can get the fake stuff in most of canada (processed chedder instead of curds)
You can, at least in Toronto. Though I must say, I don't recall actually seeing anyone order it. :lol:
Quote from: The Brain on July 12, 2011, 09:54:19 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 12, 2011, 09:11:45 AM
If I can find a place like a subway, I tend to eat a lot of meals there.
You're the reason public transportation sucks.
:lmfao:
When I was in France, portion sizes didn't seem smaller to me than in restaurants I eat in stateside. People in general seemed much less likely to be overweight, but pretty much everyone operating a food stand seemed overweight!
I ate mostly at bistros, so that may have effected the serving sizes I saw. More upscale places may have had smaller portions.
Isin't salt necesary to function?
We get salt tablets in Iraq.
I always add salt to my food, despite my wife's screams.
Quote from: Siege on July 12, 2011, 11:48:24 AM
Isin't salt necesary to function?
yes, but it is found in most prepared meals already, or added during home cooking, or found elsewhere in other foods, so it is not necessary to add salt.
Quote
We get salt tablets in Iraq.
salt helps water retention. I guess it's useful in a desert.
A Gatorade is mostly fruit juice with salt and sugar, for the water retention and the energy boost.
It's cheaper to give you salt tablets than a dozen of Gatorade bottles.
Quote from: grumbler on July 12, 2011, 11:43:31 AM
I ate mostly at bistros, so that may have effected the serving sizes I saw. More upscale places may have had smaller portions.
isn't it typical of most upscale places, anywhere in the world? pay more for less?
Quote from: viper37 on July 12, 2011, 11:53:55 AM
Quote from: Siege on July 12, 2011, 11:48:24 AM
Isin't salt necesary to function?
yes, but it is found in most prepared meals already, or added during home cooking, or found elsewhere in other foods, so it is not necessary to add salt.
Quote
We get salt tablets in Iraq.
salt helps water retention. I guess it's useful in a desert.
A Gatorade is mostly fruit juice with salt and sugar, for the water retention and the energy boost.
It's cheaper to give you salt tablets than a dozen of Gatorade bottles.
But we get both the gatorade and the salt tablets.
Unlimited and expected to drink both with water, of course.
Gatorade alone does not hydrate.
You need two bottles of water per each bottle of gatorade.
Quote from: viper37 on July 12, 2011, 11:53:55 AM
salt helps water retention. I guess it's useful in a desert.
A Gatorade is mostly fruit juice with salt and sugar, for the water retention and the energy boost.
It's cheaper to give you salt tablets than a dozen of Gatorade bottles.
In hot weather where you sweat a lot you lose electrolytes that you need to replace.
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2011, 03:23:22 PM
I don't think tourists are generally watching their calorie counts. If their stomach is still growling after a meal, they are probably somewhat justified in being annoyed.
Not at all. Stomachs are as big as one trains them to be. Or small. Even though a couple years have passed since my worst flare ups and surgery, I still feel full after eating half what anyone else around me.
Quote from: Iormlund on July 12, 2011, 02:33:00 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2011, 03:23:22 PM
I don't think tourists are generally watching their calorie counts. If their stomach is still growling after a meal, they are probably somewhat justified in being annoyed.
Not at all. Stomachs are as big as one trains them to be. Or small. Even though a couple years have passed since my worst flare ups and surgery, I still feel full after eating half what anyone else around me.
Except that many people don't sit around training their stomach. So again what I said holds true.
Quote from: Iormlund on July 12, 2011, 02:33:00 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2011, 03:23:22 PM
I don't think tourists are generally watching their calorie counts. If their stomach is still growling after a meal, they are probably somewhat justified in being annoyed.
Not at all. Stomachs are as big as one trains them to be. Or small. Even though a couple years have passed since my worst flare ups and surgery, I still feel full after eating half what anyone else around me.
I heard that was a myth - that short of surgery, your stomach is always the same size.
Quote from: Barrister on July 12, 2011, 05:42:48 PMI heard that was a myth - that short of surgery, your stomach is always the same size.
I imagine that's true, but I expect that the amount you have to eat to feel full varies depending on your habits.
Quote from: Malthus on July 12, 2011, 10:48:11 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 12, 2011, 10:33:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 12, 2011, 09:23:16 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 11, 2011, 05:29:52 PM
national dish is poutine, isn't it?
No. It's not yet common outside of Quebec.
you can get the fake stuff in most of canada (processed chedder instead of curds)
You can, at least in Toronto. Though I must say, I don't recall actually seeing anyone order it. :lol:
I know some Nova Scotians that are a fan.
Quote from: garbon on July 12, 2011, 02:41:38 PM
Except that many people don't sit around training their stomach. So again what I said holds true.
I'm not talking about apropos exercising here. Put it simply, you eat a lot, you'll need to eat a lot to get satiated. You spend some time eating less, you'll get satiated much faster.
It is not the restaurant's fault if the body of your regular American fattie is used to gargantuan meals just as it not their fault that I can barely eat half a menu.
Quote from: Barrister on July 12, 2011, 05:42:48 PM
I heard that was a myth - that short of surgery, your stomach is always the same size.
I imagine what varies in these cases is wall pressure needed for the brain to receive appropriate feedback.
Quote from: Iormlund on July 13, 2011, 07:22:04 AM
I'm not talking about apropos exercising here. Put it simply, you eat a lot, you'll need to eat a lot to get satiated. You spend some time eating less, you'll get satiated much faster.
It is not the restaurant's fault if the body of your regular American fattie is used to gargantuan meals just as it not their fault that I can barely eat half a menu.
I'm glad then that I never said any of those things.
It's mainly tolerance to leptin, the satiety hormone, that enables people to eat more and not feel full, which happens through regular overating.
Though they "train up" for hot dog eating events and the like, competitive eaters feel as full we the rest of us eating normal meals the rest of the time, despite the fact they can stretch their stomachs to the size of a beach ball.
Quote from: Iormlund on July 12, 2011, 02:33:00 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2011, 03:23:22 PM
I don't think tourists are generally watching their calorie counts. If their stomach is still growling after a meal, they are probably somewhat justified in being annoyed.
Not at all. Stomachs are as big as one trains them to be. Or small. Even though a couple years have passed since my worst flare ups and surgery, I still feel full after eating half what anyone else around me.
What surgery is that?
Quote from: Malthus on July 11, 2011, 05:58:43 PM
I kinda liked Juniors, in Manhatten. Nice place, enormous portions. Tasty cheesecake (though again, in amounts normal folks can't actually eat).
I'll take your bet, Malthus. :hmm:
Quote from: Siege on July 12, 2011, 11:56:35 AM
Quote from: viper37 on July 12, 2011, 11:53:55 AM
Quote from: Siege on July 12, 2011, 11:48:24 AM
Isin't salt necesary to function?
yes, but it is found in most prepared meals already, or added during home cooking, or found elsewhere in other foods, so it is not necessary to add salt.
Quote
We get salt tablets in Iraq.
salt helps water retention. I guess it's useful in a desert.
A Gatorade is mostly fruit juice with salt and sugar, for the water retention and the energy boost.
It's cheaper to give you salt tablets than a dozen of Gatorade bottles.
But we get both the gatorade and the salt tablets.
Unlimited and expected to drink both with water, of course.
Gatorade alone does not hydrate.
You need two bottles of water per each bottle of gatorade.
I dunno. People say that soda alone can't hydrate you, but if that were the case, I'd have died about ten years ago.
Quote from: Ideologue on July 13, 2011, 05:20:21 PM
I'll take your bet, Malthus. :hmm:
I'll need proof that you are "normal" first. :hmm:
Oh wait:
QuoteI dunno. People say that soda alone can't hydrate you, but if that were the case, I'd have died about ten years ago.
Well, that tears it. :lol:
I'm of normal weight.
Quote from: Ideologue on July 13, 2011, 05:25:16 PM
I'm of normal weight.
Well, you wouldn't be, if you made a habit of eating at Junior's. ;)
Seriously though - it's a great deli, but the portions are gluttonous.
Speaking of portions, I took my nephews to Pizza Hut today. 2 kids, aged 12 and 9 and me scarfed down a large pizza, a personal meat lovers(for me),an order of breadsticks, drinks and an order of of cinnamon sticks. 25 bucks total.
And after that, i still won't gain any weight. :(
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 13, 2011, 05:54:01 PM
Speaking of portions, I took my nephews to Pizza Hut today. 2 kids, aged 12 and 9 and me scarfed down a large pizza, a personal meat lovers(for me), and order of breadsticks, drinks and an order of of cinnamon sticks. 25 bucks total.
And after that, i still won't gain any weight. :(
25 bucks for all three ? That's not bad.
Pizza hut is one of the only fast food places I'll eat at in an emergency; my assumption is the pizza are hot enough, that any bugs/risk of food poisoning is killed.
Your superhuman sperm is sucking up all the calories. Like tapeworm.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 13, 2011, 06:16:57 PM
Your superhuman sperm is sucking up all the calories. Like tapeworm.
I think I may have impregnated the girl serving the pizza with mere eye contact.
:scratches head:
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 13, 2011, 06:44:38 PM
Try Pert or Head and Shoulders.
Mongers did another drive by that didn't make any sense.
Quote from: mongers on July 13, 2011, 06:16:41 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 13, 2011, 05:54:01 PM
Speaking of portions, I took my nephews to Pizza Hut today. 2 kids, aged 12 and 9 and me scarfed down a large pizza, a personal meat lovers(for me), and order of breadsticks, drinks and an order of of cinnamon sticks. 25 bucks total.
And after that, i still won't gain any weight. :(
25 bucks for all three ? That's not bad.
Pizza hut is one of the only fast food places I'll eat at in an emergency; my assumption is the pizza are hot enough, that any bugs/risk of food poisoning is killed.
You count that as fast food?
Its more...of a very low end chain restaurant...thingy...surely there's a proper term for it.
For me its not fast food if its not fast.
Quote from: Tyr on July 13, 2011, 06:47:34 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 13, 2011, 06:16:41 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 13, 2011, 05:54:01 PM
Speaking of portions, I took my nephews to Pizza Hut today. 2 kids, aged 12 and 9 and me scarfed down a large pizza, a personal meat lovers(for me), and order of breadsticks, drinks and an order of of cinnamon sticks. 25 bucks total.
And after that, i still won't gain any weight. :(
25 bucks for all three ? That's not bad.
Pizza hut is one of the only fast food places I'll eat at in an emergency; my assumption is the pizza are hot enough, that any bugs/risk of food poisoning is killed.
You count that as fast food?
Its more...of a very low end chain restaurant...thingy...surely there's a proper term for it.
For me its not fast food if its not fast.
Well sort of, in the sense of somewhere I wouldn't arrange to meet someone, but were I in a strange town and hungry I'd probably go there as it's unlikely to be terrible, which is the risk in any British restaurant one is unfamiliar with.
Put it another way Americans can do mass market food, the Brits generally don't and can sometime pull off some shocking results.
I don't know what part of Britain you live in, but the parts I've seen had no shortage of mass market fast food places. Plenty of which I know are home-grown and not American. I call bullshit.
I was on the verge of posting that I've never seen a British movie scene shot in a chain fast food joint--always the same crappy fish and chips joint with the ugly formica tables--but then I remembered Eastern Promises.
Eastern Promises was good stuff and a movie that recognized who the most evil are : the gays.
I think we just have more successful and full filling lives and hence can die sooner.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 13, 2011, 07:09:47 PM
I don't know what part of Britain you live in, but the parts I've seen had no shortage of mass market fast food places. Plenty of which I know are home-grown and not American. I call bullshit.
There are loads of one off fast food places, usually owned by some sort of muslim.
Not very many home-grown chains though. Chicken cottage and Harry Ramsdens is all that comes right to mind since Wimpy is dead (is it? I sure haven't seen one for years but who knows)