In fact, when people think of the word “obese,” the number one country that comes to mind is the US. Widely reported statistics show that at least 33% of Americans are obese.
Why is obesity such a significant problem in the U.S.? There are many factors to consider, but a major reason is the foods that many Americans consume, which often contain a high number of empty calories. Many say part of the problem is because of the way food is marketed, where natural and healthy foods can cost more than three times as much as cheaper processed foods. Thus, for many people, healthy food may seem beyond their budget.
For those who want to make healthy changes in their diet, here is our list of the four most common foods that cause obesity.
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1. Sugar
Topping our list is something that most fitness buffs consider ‘poison.’
Multiple studies cite sugar consumption as the number one cause of unhealthy weight gain. Sugar is a staple ingredient in most processed foods, which means you’re often consuming more than your recommended share but you may not be aware of it. Sugar-rich foods contain many empty calories, and many of the most readily accessible (and cheap) food items in the grocery store have a large serving of sugar. Solution: Avoid items that are heavy on sugar. Most people are getting too much and there’s every reason to stop adding it to foods that you eat every day.
2. White Bread
White bread is a staple food for many. It can be made cheaply and is filling, but it has a high number of calories in relation to the nutrients it contains.
There are few nutritional benefits from eating white bread, and at 80 calories per slice, it’s a bad deal for maintaining a healthy weight.
Solution: If you can’t resist eating bread, try whole-grain breads with few ingredients. Not only will this bread be devoid of most additives, but you’ll also be getting more nutrients and fiber.
3. Margarine
Margarine is made with hydrogenated fat, which is highly toxic and is associated with heart disease.
On a 100-gram base, margarine has around 15g of trans-fat, while butter only has about 3g, which effectively makes margarine more dangerous than butter, health-wise. Solution: Stick to butter.
Butter, especially grass-fed butter, has a lot more to give you than margarine, and they are similar when it comes to calories.
4. Potato Chips
Potato chips are highly popular for their taste, variety, and their portability as a snack while on the go.
They’re also infamous for causing weight gain. Most people assume that eating potato chips will give them the same nutritional benefits of eating potatoes, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth.
For the most part, the only thing potato chips (and other ‘junk foods’) have done to the world is make people aware of the healthier and more natural alternatives around them – a.k.a. real, whole foods.
Solution: Eat real potatoes instead, or if you really want chips, you can bake your own or cut them in thin slices and fry them.
At least then you will know exactly what’s in your food (i.e., no preservatives).
Conclusion
Obesity is no laughing matter. With the way that common foods are processed and marketed, the world could soon be filled with people suffering from unhealthy weight.
The common foods listed above are only a few of the many foods that cause obesity, so it’s wise to carefully consider what you purchase the next time you buy groceries.
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