Anyway, my point being that I'm big enough as it is, if I lived in a country where the average portion size was 150% bigger than what we're used to, then it goes without saying I would be MASSIVE. The Americans just love everything big. Bigger is better, and why give you one quarter pounder, when a half pounder burger is better.
There's a show on cable called Man Vs Food, which basically shows this guy going round the US trying out loads of food challenges. Most of them include him eating what amounts to a whole cow, sheep or pig in cooked meat form. The food eating contest scene is so popular in America that they're actually canvassing it to be included as an Olympic sport. If you don't belive me go and have a look at The International Federation of Competitive Eating or Major League Eating as they like to be called for short.
| Believe it or not, she could eat you under the table |
So they actually class overeating as a competitive sport. If you fancy yourself a bit of a competitive food eater, then you're living in the wrong country. What is quite funny though, is that a lot of the competitors in the eating contests are actually rather skinny. Including this lovely lass Sonya Thomas, she ate 11lbs of Cheesecake in 10 minutes. Wow. I mean I love cheesecake, but eating more than a 1lb a minute..
Unfortunately as well we know the US is far and away the most obese nation in the world, and although not everyone takes part in competitive eating, the fact that they watch it as a sport, pretty much sums up one of the main problems with the country. And sadly, we're now not too far behind at all. As a country, we may be lacking in some sports, just see our dismal World Cup display. But we can now proudly boast that we're the most obese country in the whole of Europe. How about that for some top bragging rights.
I must stop at this moment to post this clip, which has to be one of the funniest and most bizarre things you will EVER see in your life. One of the all time great competitive eaters Kobayashi (not the one from The Usual Suspects) faces off against a Giant Bear. Not a man called a giant bear. Literally a GIANT BEAR. I tip my hat to you people. Genius.
So we now know we're the most obese nation in Europe, and that's not going to suddenly get better. Our current overstretched NHS spends more than £4.2 billion on obesity per year, and this is increasing at a rate that we can't afford. So when we wonder why the NHS is in such a state, it's because of all those fatties and Vanessa Feltz having gastric bypass surgery.
You're probably thinking 'OK Mr. Cleverclogs, what's the solution?'. Well obviously there is no real easy solution, but I would say that one of the main factors is how children are being raised, which is a start. You only need to look around at how much food is available for kids at such a young age, and how so little of it is actually good for them. A 3yr old is more likely to recognise the Maccy D's and Disney logo, more than any other.
I think that we're probably fcuked. To be honest. It's all down to the individuals, and at the moment people seem more interested in surgery or the latest diet pill, rather than the seemingly harder job of stopping eating crap and exercising.
Did you know that the healthiest people in the whole world live in Okinawa, an island near Japan. How are they so healthy? Well they believe in Hari Hachi Bu, which simply translates as eating till your 80% full. On Okinawa island, they have more people who live older than 100 than anywhere else in the world. They also have the longest life expectancy than anywhere else in the world. It's no coincidence, that they live on a diet of whole foods, seeds, grains, vegetables and fish, along with a daily exercise routine. Just read this to be amazed. They also manage their intake of calories, so they only ever eat till they're 80% full. I'm not saying we should all practice that, but it does make you think. I'm sure some people would say that they'd prefer to live to 65 and be able to eat chocolate and processed crap till they couldn't eat any more. But personally I'd like to live till at least 100, well I would imagine that by then my time machine will finally be working, and I can take over the world. MWAAHH MWAAAAHHH.
So the next time you want go large in Maccy D's, think about Hari Hachi Bu.
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