Why are there so many overweight and obese British women?

[EvaHara]

Genuine post and I promise I am not a weight troll. Recently I was on a cruise and couldn't help but notice that many other British women onboard - especially younger women - were considerably overweight or obese. Some were in fact huge and easily as big as some women I saw in the US when there a few years ago.

What has caused this rise in overweight people, particularly younger women? I don't remember there being this many overweight/obese people even 10 years ago.

I am not judging, just curious.

Definitely just as many fat men. Processed convenience foods. Simple as that.

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I don't think anyone is saying government policy is a singular cause. It can be a contributing factor. If there weren't so much crap food available, or if we all were able to work shorter hours (to enable time to cook and look after ourselves socially/emotionally) or earn more money to enable healthier habits, it could potentially have a positive impact for many.

Are there really people out there who place all the blame squarely on the government?

Absolutely this !! Of course you know why people are overweight,you really are unpleasant!

I’m actually staggered by the amount of junk food some people eat. I used to work with someone who was super morbidly obese that ordered takeaways 5 days a week because she could not be bothered to cook. Her partner was the same the pair of them were terrible combination. When she split with him the weight started to come off.

I don’t order 5 takeaways in 6 months never mind a week.

Well the ship didn't sink so its not your problem if they're all fat.

Also, the plethora of Deliveroo drivers, so you don't even have to go out to get any type if food delivered. We have a massive snacking culture which they don't have as much of in Europe. The proportion of UPF must be higher due to this. I'm guilty of the same. I live a takeaway, and am overweight. I have recently started an exercise regime but it doesn't shift the weight because I love eating too much.

"jobs, kids, caring responsibilities. Then when not doing this we are knackered and spend time with your phone."

@Elephantswillnever Speak for yourself - I do not spend time with OP's phone!

Might just be the demographic of people who go on a cruise. Most of the women I know in my life are not obese.

You’re right, we can’t blame the government for everything. You are what you eat unfortunately. Unless of course your medication is causing weight problems, which unfortunately for my daughter is the case.

I'm obese. It's a combination of things: disability, a very demanding but sedentary job, lots of delicious and calorie dense foods easily obtainable.

The OP has made an observation. There are fat people in society, in the same way there are people with green hair, people who are tattooed, people who are bald, etc.. to observe, and quart on what you see, is neither judgy, or wrong.
And even so, as human beings, I do not believe we be single person, who has not 'judged' another at some point on their life. It's how we weigh ourselves up by observing what goes on around us. It's not a crime.

There are more overweight men than women, and that has been the case in Britain for at least the last 3 decades. And yet it's almost always the women people focus on and feel the need to be rude about. I wonder why.

I didn't say it was the sole cause but yeah wanting to blame even a kilo of it on someone else is a cop out.

So all of us have to drink shit ribena because some people can't hold it together?

Convenience food - take aways.

Consumerism: Christmas starts in November now (parties, roses, mince pies). Chocolate for every occasion

Inactivity

I think there really is a simple answer. It's UPF. Wherever it is replaces traditional home cooked food as the main source of calories, the population gets fat. It's happening everywhere in the world that there is UPF, even remote rural communities in developing countries who get plenty of exercise.

In the UK we eat a high proportion of UPF now, that's why we're getting fatter. The US was way ahead of the UK/rest of the developed world on UPF, which is even less regulated there, and that's why they got fat first. It isn't to do with a decline in willpower or exercise, or body positivity, or some fundamental change in human nature that's only take place in the last 30 or so years. It's to do with this particular novel type of food that interferes with our ability to regulate how many calories we consume to maintain a healthy weight. And is addictive.

The government IS responsible because they allow lobbying by the manufacturers of this type of food to override any kind of meaningful warnings or education about what this food is doing to us or any policy change that would curtail its consumption or make it safer. And yes, the poorest in society are the most affected by this type of food, because it is cheap and convenient and massively marketed to them.

If you want to hear a very thorough breakdown of the evidence that leads to this take, read ultra processed people by Chris Van Tulleken. I've been convinced as you can probably tell.

Why bother posting this?

For me (very large) it was childhood trauma where I hid food and ate in secret to make myself happy, 15 years of single parenting, terrible anxiety, working a 60 hour week and alcohol. No excuses here but the menopause has certainly added to the mix. I never went out so evenings were ‘me’ time and I stupidly rewarded myself with crap food and wine. I never put myself and my health first and despite doing upwards of 12k steps a day, it is bloody hard to shift weight. My self esteem was so low that I never really looked in the mirror or treated myself to nice clothes. Undoing that negativity and establishing good habits is hard work but is now my priority. I’ve always cooked from scratch for my children and ensured they are healthy- now I do that for myself too but I have a long way to go. Absolute solidarity to others in the same position- no one will ever judge me as harshly as I judge myself!

Quite right! We've lost sight of how to judge and quart people properly in this country

Yes to snacking culture being an issue.

UK. Snacks constantly. We eat alone or in front of the TV. Schools designate snacks so we learn this from school. Eat on the move.
France. Meals are family or social time. If you eat on the move you get rude remarks or stares. Long meal times mean time to digest and snacks frowned on.

Availability of snacks is hugely different too.

Our food culture is part of the problem not just the food.

I have always had weight issues- I can be relatively slim for a period of 2-3 years then gain 3 stone and have to lose it again.

I work with young people aged 11-18 yrs mainly and obesity is definitely more common now amongst girls and boys. They tend to have parents who also have weight issues.

As a society we cater in every way for obese people much more than we did when I was in my teens and 20s. Many clothes ranges go up to 5xxl for men and size 26-30 or more even for women. Seats in modern cinemas are wider, car seats are wider, obesity is seen as a medical issue, help is available, there are a wider range of weigh-loss clubs, gym programmes. We have 'normalised' it to an extent- overweight influencers/models/people in clothes adverts/celebs/tv presenters.

It is often publicised as a health risk. However, the issue is increasing and not only in the UK. It's much worse in the US but is also on the increase in Europe.

It is often linked to poverty and social class- cheap crap food is cheaper eg bag of 50 sausages for £3, small container of raspberries £3.50. 4 apples £2 , large pizza in supermarket £2.

According to my mother it's the amount of Costa/Starbucks/etc drinks people are consuming. Sometimes I suggest we go just so I can see her face when she sees people ordering the ones full of syrups and cream 😂

I think being overweight is just normalised now. People are in real denial at the effect being obese can have on their health - friends who for the last 20 years never cared about how their bodies looked are now worrying bad joints, diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. It's scary. Other people's bodies are not your business but at the same time you want the people you love to be well and happy!

It really isn't.

Obesity is so normalised in this country now.

My children are in primary school and there are so many children who are overweight but nobody bats an eyelid anymore.

It’s all promoting body confidence whatever size you are etc etc

Yes. ‘Activewear’. This gives me the ability to put on 1.5 stone and stay in the same size. And in the summer ‘one size fits all’ dresses. Wafty tent dresses. Gives me no accountability

My BMI has crept up to 40 now I'm nearly 52. It's awful and I really do try, but food is comforting and reliable and trustworthy and sugar gives me a dopamine hit that cannot be replicated - exactly the hit we need when horrified by what we see in the mirror. If weight loss were totally uncomplicated and easy, nobody would be fat.

Wouldnt ever go on a cruise though, floating petri dish.

Edit - it struck me recently that my weight has crept up since WFH full time - I only have to show my face on camera, and if I only ever peer into the bathroom mirror I can pretend I can't see the extra chins (and ignore that my clothes are very slightly tighter).