Cadaver747: You are quite right. My bad.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html

As we can see here USA is on 18th place, while China only on 152. Hooray! :)

ScotchMonkey: I'd guess way too much sugar and empty calories, also portions might play a bigger role than the food itself. Not really sure in the grand scheme of things.

Gnostic: Maybe size of one wallet matters too.

In other more thrifty country people have to eat less, cook own food because it is cheaper, eat less meat and processed food because vegetables are cheaper [...]

SalarShushan: Wheat Belly is another good book about some of the issues.

AlKim: EDIT: Mind you, the average Finn is getting fatter too. Too much sitting, both at home and at work.

SalarShushan: By now all the real reasons - and the usual unkind stereotypes - are already posted on this thread.

My contribution is basically to second a recommendation for these vids - Taubes' book - and the following books.

Also Jillian Michaels' Master Your Metabolism which is closer to Taubes' ideas than you'd think, given how they quarrel in public, except that Jillian believes in adding exercise to that improved diet, and I am sure she is right about that. Wheat Belly is another good book about some of the issues. The Omnivores Dilemma is decent overview of food supply issues. Add The Hundred Year Lie and you'll have a decent overview of what is sickening so many of us.

Taubes book was only one of several that I've read that completely changed my understanding of how our body uses foods and micro-nutrients. I've been losing weight steadily since following Michaels', Lustig's, & Taubes' advice.

TL:DR of all those books & vids = Yes, we could stand to walk more than most of us do, but the worst problems are caused by pesticides/chemicals in a food supply woefully deficient in proteins and many important nutrients/micro-nutrients. GMOs don't help either, though exactly how much it contributes to the problem ...? IThis impacts our bodies use of insulin specifically and creates thyroid & other hormonal imbalances. Unbalanced hormones + deficiencies ensures our bodies tend toward weight gain, no matter what else we do. This means you seriously have to change your diet and address deficiency issues before the exercise will help. Smoothies = awesome, but only as a supplement to a regularly healthy diet. Avoid processed foods. Buy organic when you can.

Way, way too many bad sweeteners in even the plainest prepared foods in the US, especiall6y HFCS which is banned in Europe already. I wish it was banned here! But no, instead they get to hide it under other names like fructose and modified corn starch :P

F1ach: Just perception, like "all you can eat" buffets https://www.furniturecart.com/dining-room-and-kitchen/dining-room-and-kitchen-furniture/buffets-sideboards-and-servers etc.

I remember a buddy of mine went to Florida, in a steak restaurant the steak dishes were huge and if you managed to eat it all, you didn't have to pay.

I think restaurants try to offer more product for less money to entice customers, which leads to over consumption.

*Note to self : Must watch that Supersize Me movie.

jefequeso: ...