These days, when walking the streets of America, you often see people and wonder, "Is it really okay to be this big?"

The obesity rate in America began to rise sharply from the 1980s.

It's not just a simple reason of "eating a lot and not moving"; rather, it is the result of a series of structural changes that began during that time.

The Emergence of High Fructose Corn Syrup
HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) subtly infiltrated American food culture in the late 1970s. It was cheaper and sweeter than sugar, starting to appear in soft drinks, cookies, ketchup, yogurt, and even bread. The problem is that when it is absorbed by the body, it disrupts the balance of sugar metabolism. It was the silent culprit that significantly increased calorie intake.

The Rise of Ultra-Processed Foods
With the spread of microwaves, frozen foods, instant rice, cup noodles, snacks, and fast food began to proliferate. The mindset of "I don't have time to cook, so let's just eat this" led to a daily diet consisting of foods high in fat and sodium but lacking in fiber. The packaging may be flashy, but the nutrition was a skewed balance.

'Big Size' and Fast Food Addiction
As fast food chains like McDonald's and Burger King expanded nationwide, 'super sizing' became the trend. Refills for drinks became standard, and 'large' fries became the default. Because they are cheap and plentiful, people started eating them more often, and the calorie content is much higher than home-cooked meals. Thus, 'value for money excessive consumption' became entrenched in American food culture.

The Culture of Sitting
Most jobs are office-based, and when people get home, they sit on the couch watching TV, playing computer games, or surfing the internet. Then came smartphones. Most of the day is spent sitting down. The pattern of burning calories by walking around the neighborhood or doing housework has disappeared, and the body is unable to use calories, only accumulating them.

Many neighborhoods in America are too far to walk, cycling is dangerous, and public transportation is inconvenient. Naturally, all movement revolves around cars. Shopping is done by car, kids are dropped off at school by car, and commuting is also by car. As a result, there are many days when people can't even walk 1,000 steps, let alone the recommended 10,000. Instead, drive-thru fast food restaurants are everywhere nearby.

These five factors have been working together, causing the weight of Americans to steadily increase since the mid to late 1980s.

The problem is that it doesn't just end with "gaining weight." Obesity is the root of many diverse diseases.

The American society we live in is fundamentally an 'environment conducive to gaining weight.' Therefore, the mindset of 'I take care of my health' is even more important.