Why do you think a larger percentage of Americans eat wrong compared to the rest of the Western world?

My understanding is take out and eating out in general is cheaper over there than buying food to prepare yourself. Factor in laziness, people who just can't or won't cook etc You have an obesity epidemic.

Crap food is designed to be addictive.

I don't really have to think about these types of things. The only reason that I would concern me about other people's eating habits is if I am forced to eat whatever the majority eat. Which is basically the way it is. Oftentimes I crave a meal that combines protein, veggies, carbs and exotic spices together. I get tired of the same basic American cuisine.

Where I live in the U.S in Illinois a value meal at McDonald's is $14. Frankly you could buy fresh chicken and a can of greenbeans from the grocery store for less than that. So eating unhealthy isn't cheaper. Not only that but you could buy a green belle pepper for less than a candy bar. A candy bar if it's on sale is $1.25 plus 15 cents of tax. And I don't always eat healthy.

It's rising fast in Britain too. Processed frozen food and meals are half the price of fresh whole veggies and raw meat.

Over the past decade, people have had less money to spend year on year. So naturally they look to spend less but get the same amount of food.

Also, the whole of human history, children played outside and people walked everywhere. The last 30 years or so has seen such a huge increase in technology that kids are not as active as they were and adults drive everywhere. I'm guilty of this too, my local shop is about a 10 minute walk, but I still drive there instead of walking. It's just laziness 😒

I think it simply boils down to more choices in the U.S, more fast food drive thru than on the Western side

U.S. nutritional guidance started off wrong. I have a 1960s encyclopedia which promotes eating meat at every meal. Only bread I saw in stores growing up was white Wonderbread.

Then, TV dinners, fast-food and processed foods were heavily promoted when women began to work outside the home in large numbers during the late 60s and early 70s.

Finally, food corporations replaced food with chemicals and preservatives since it was cheaper. Sugar, salt and fat added to entice people.

Small farming isn't promoted here like it is in other countries. I was confused when an African told me he never had canned food. I learned that they freshly prepare all their meals.

Meanwhile, kids like me who played outdoors with other kids were replaced by indoors videogaming. And parents in the suburbs drove everywhere instead of walking.

In some parts, unhealthy is the culture. Eating veggies is frowned upon. Processed food the norm. Some neighborhoods don't sell fresh, healthy food especially in poorer areas.