Overweight Brits abroad

[Artyfart]

I know this will upset people but it’s time to face facts and I’m talking about myself here too. Just got back from second holiday abroad this year when once again it was painfully noticeable how overweight British people are compared to our European neighbours. We stand out a mile! Every time I saw someone fat I’d wait for it and…. British accent. We look a state and it’s time to do something about it. No wonder the NHS is on its knees. I came back more determined than ever to lose weight.

I am from another, poorer country, originally. I have been told on other threads I don't understand British society, so I best not comment on obesity in the UK. So I don't. I focus on keeping my own weight off, and I have been successful in my fifties with a slowing metabolism. DH slightly less so, but he tries very hard. Eat less, move more has worked for us ( yes, won't for many but it does for most).

Sometimes though, I find the endless excuses annoying. Other countries also work long hours, have worse cooking facilities, terrible healthcare systems, little outdoor space... Other countries also have people on medications or with MH problems. And no, they don't all smoke to keep the weight down ( straw man).

Not that a thread will help, I guess. But the defensiveness is telling.

I just want to see more social support for people to lose weight and maintain it (ideally not get fat to start with!) I take issue on these threads with people saying it's solely down to individuals and nothing in society needs to change at all. I think modern lifestyles make it very easy to get fat and very hard to lose fat and that it's not just the case that everyone overweight is lazy and greedy and stupid.

Plus children are often let down by adults. It’s very hard to shift if obese in childhood. I find the trends more concerning than the social norm to look after your body.

‘Terrifying’ - I’d use that for the general direction of where we are going.

I was just in the Canaries at a Golf resort and there were a lot of fat German and Spanish blokes too, just saying ... Plus the Spanish still smoke like chimneys. So it's not all us anymore I don't think.

Its money making though and add in a failing NHS which could easily be privatised and - make more money

Why should government regulate food industries that are donating money to the political parties and why should they keep the NHS when there is money to be made

Look at USA they have a much bigger problem with obesity and they don't have an NHS - then look at Europe where healthcare isn't a money making exercise and the obesity rates are far lower by getting on for 25%

I have an American friend who visited England and Germany and couldn't believe how many fat people he saw. He thought Americans were "the fat ones". I also cringe to my core whenever anyone English stereotypes the Americans as "dumb" ... we are quickly catching up in every way. Doesn't help that MSM constantly advertise fatness as beautiful. Lizzo is obese and yet we're all supposed to pretend that obesity is strong and beautiful..... madness

Nobody has said that everybody smokes in other European countries but it is a fact that they smoke a lot more in general and that will also have had an impact on people's weight/health. I have always been slim (and sometimes underweight) so I'm certainly not defensive but I do find the way some people demonise those who are overweight quite nasty and unnecessary. Threads like this are not going to make people thin.

I couldn’t agree more but we are, as a society, going further and further down the road of abdicating all personal responsibility for anything in our lives and expecting the Govt to always intervene.

There are huge profits to be made in getting people fatter and sicker and then selling them medication for it. It is in corporate interests that obesity keeps rising.

It's true! (And you're rude)

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/why-being-overweight-means-you-live-longer-the-way-scientists-twist-the-facts-10158229.html?r=34306

I live abroad and have noticed the same thing. As a size 12 I’m bigger than most of the foreign people I meet but much smaller than most of the British people I meet. It’s noticeable when I’m together with other British people and makes me feel self conscious.

Fatter and poorer than ever. IQ falling across England too. The West is in a state of decay.

It’s quite an effort staying in your healthy bmi over 45 and our accepted lifestyle doesn’t make it easy. I used to be naturally slim but now late 40s and can only maintain bmi 21 /22 by lots of exercise and intermittent fasting - forever basically. Can see why people can’t be arsed. Agree UPF much to blame.

Just came back from a cycling holiday in the Alps, saw no fat people!

That is mental. BMI is a blunt tool. 😂 I’m still not going to be aiming for the ‘overweight’ bracket. I’ve have to stack on 18kg and I would look absolutely fucking awful.

Surely some degree of personal responsibility has to be acknowledged as well as all the other issues surrounding being overweight. Something has changed over the last couple of decades at least, and it is not going in a good direction. Look at all the adverts on tv, so many urging people to pick up the phone to order in what is essentially crap food. It is too easy to eat badly I think. On the other hand most people do know this, but will still eat poorly for whatever reasons.

Depends what you mean and which culture you are referring to.

We had strong messages around looking after weight and it’s reinforced throughout peer group and society. It worked.

I don’t mean the British way which is to what shame someone by harassing them or whatever. But social norms to look good and just be direct. It’s not a British trait so many won’t have experienced it.

I know what the convenience feeds consisted of. As I said I grew up in the 60s and 70s. Whilst there were obviously no microwave meals, we did have frozen pizzas and crisps. There were lots of nice desserts too such as angel delight, ice cream, and very calorific puddings.

Going off topic...global warming are you not worried more about that on your two holiday in 7 months than what size other people are? Don't judge.

🙄

The thing about business, is to mind your own.