Summary

A new Lancet study reveals nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, a sharp rise from just over half in 1990.

Obesity among adults doubled to over 40%, while rates among girls and women aged 15–24 nearly tripled to 29%.

The study highlights significant health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and shortened life expectancy, alongside projected medical costs of up to $9.1 trillion over the next decade.

Experts stress obesity’s complex causes—genetic, environmental, and social—and call for structural reforms like food subsidies, taxes on sugary drinks, and expanded treatment access.

Non-paywall link

  • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    that’s the difference between primary and secondary causes, individual cases and epidemics.

    while you may be able to imagine an instance where food quality is a primary factor in an individual’s wellbeing doesn’t challenge the empirical evidence that overall the epidemic affecting massive swaths of people is borne primarily out of a context of low income, low education and urbanization.

    • SanitationStation@lemmy.world
      1·
      3 days ago

      Well, the smugness is impressive. I’ll have to give you that.

      You specifically said: “in other words, america could be totally healthy eating the exact same food if we built society around people living healthy lives, but that is far from the primary goal for a country living under capital.”

      I just disagree with this statement. I don’t think we could eat the exact same diet in a different society and expect food-related health issues to significantly improve.

      So where on the list of causes would you place calorie intake, food quality and inactivity? Secondary? Tertiary? Completely unrelated?

      • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        me: in other words, america could be totally healthy eating the exact same food

        you: I don’t think we could eat the exact same diet

        notice the key difference in language. makes 100% of the difference. i choose my words with care.

        • SanitationStation@lemmy.world
          1·
          3 days ago

          So, I’m I to assume that you wanted to say that calories are more important than food quality?

          Sure. I agree with that.

          Regarding your careful choice of words. If you wanted to make a convoluted post in order to smugly debate some random person on the internet, then you have done an excellent job and I congratulate you sir.

          If you are trying to actually communicate clearly then you have some improvements to make.

          • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
            1·
            3 days ago

            i’m sorry that you misunderstood my post. i’m blocking you because i don’t like to be told how to hang out and talk about topics when plenty of others got it without having to tell me how smug i am for correcting terminology errors.