Obesity and the American Diet

Story at-a-glance

• Two-thirds of Americans are now overweight, and five percent of American children can now be considered “severely obese,” which puts their health at grave risk
• Carb-rich processed foods are a primary driver of these statistics; while many blame Americans’ overindulgence of processed junk foods on lack of self control, scientists are now starting to reveal the truly addictive nature of such foods
• The obesity rate among Swedish and Japanese women is between five and six percent, compared to almost 40 percent for American women, suggesting there’s something in the American diet that is different from other affluent nations
• At the heart of the problem is the issue of toxic food—foods that are heavily processed and purposely designed for maximum “craveability”
• Nutrition is paramount for health and normal weight; a healthy diet equates to fresh whole, preferably organic foods, and foods that have been minimally processed

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/09/26/obesity-overeating.aspx