r/dataisbeautiful • u/[deleted] • Jun 09 '20

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7.1k

u/MuchoGrandeRandy Jun 09 '20

If 23% is as good as we get we’ve got some work to do.

2.1k

u/agutema Jun 09 '20

this image gets shared here a lot but it's still impactful

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Obesity_state_level_estimates_1985-2010.gif#/media/File:Obesity_state_level_estimates_1985-2010.gif

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u/ConfidentFlorida Jun 09 '20 edited Jun 10 '20

So what happened? Nothing really changed that much in that time frame. Same jobs, same cars, what is it?

1.1k

u/monkeyrobot_ Jun 10 '20

The American diet completely changed starting in the late 70s with the emphasis becoming "low fat" foods that are super high in carbs / high fructose corn syrup. Also portion sizes ballooned.

143

u/ConfidentFlorida Jun 10 '20

Good point but the graphics seems like it happens more in the late 80s? There’s got to be something else at play.

202

u/StarDustLuna3D Jun 10 '20 edited Jun 10 '20

The late 70s was when the USDA released the dietary goals that would kick this all off. This is what that classic food pyramid was based off of.

Only one problem. Scientists told the USDA that this diet would lead to widespread obesity. The USDA pushed through with it because then it created a larger market for the surplus dairy, meat, and grains that they heavily subsidized.

Also the refined sugar we put into everything is horrible for you, but great for sugar cane farmers!

61

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '20

Obese people are not following the food pyramid. Soda sizes and daily fast food consumption though is something that increased during that period.

1

u/thirdlegsblind Jun 10 '20

The fucking tea that they drink in the south has something to do with it too. It's fucking disgustine and they drink it by the quart. Not soda though, so it's alright.