USA and Italy vs food

[Foxy]

This thread means to explain (or make you think) why two well being countries differ so much in terms of obesity.
What I show here is the result of studies, documentaries, lessons about nutririon (offered in Italian public school) and what I personally saw in Australia (ok Australia is not America, but they still share very similar habits and problems: Australia is the second most obese country in the world).

Food advertisement, USA
American/Australian advertisement focuses on big portions at cheap costs. It means that they stress how much you can eat with few money. Their motto is "bigger is better" and it is parts of the mythe of gigantism lanced by the USA since the 50s.
Here examples of popular American foods and their advertisements.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/07/article-1264166-0908E34A000005DC-307_468x331.jpg
http://mylifeinvacationland.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/screen-shot-2014-04-09-at-10-18-54-am.png?w=500&h=229
http://i2.wp.com/www.sopitas.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/PIZZAHUTOH.png?w=640

Food advertisement, Italy
Italian publicity focuses instead on quality. TV encourages people to spend a bit more buying biological food. Higher costs are justified because agricultures actually produce less quantity using less pesticides, their products are uglier but they are healthier. Also Italian TV advertisement often depict a whole family that eats slowly around a table. They stress the importance of healthy, natural and home-made products.

(Where is Barilla is your home)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SZhQjVH8dQs/TOI7FV-n_yI/AAAAAAAABCY/_l5f9_0xzK4/s1600/SughiBarilla.jpg

(Eat healthy, return to nature)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDaxKxBkKvg/VEo94T3UUHI/AAAAAAAALuI/AqFPLfDL5ko/s1600/1987-Mulino-Bianco-Ritornelli.jpg

(Only fresh sauces have a fresh taste. They are so fresh that you find them only in the fridge)
http://www.uominiedonnecomunicazione.com/thumbImage.php?foto=FCKFiles/allegati_articoli/2003_fotogrande1_carciofi_(1).jpg&w=250

What they serve in schools, USA
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pKQ1z_RVKk8/UNGXClkZiqI/AAAAAAAACiM/Tnm4Pv3o84g/s400/IMG_2700.jpg

What they serve in schools, Italy
http://www.romagnanoi.it/resizer/670/-1/true/evBuoKUANzXtgLfdX/Etqc+2egL+GKRA/SzCiq3gtelL8hBDQQB005QCJgpVhXXb5bYyza6lej604qw6uAt qUTYyehrhTKIBgPUY07fBJjEn6J29jdSK5GIhPJwSO+RQuvYx+ vkW2VU=--.jpg

Food topping, USA
http://www.trendsmagazine.eu/trends/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/V2-Heinz-Foodservice-Gamme-SNACK-SAUCE-875ml.jpg

Food topping, Italy
http://immagini.webmobili.it/ImmaginiProdotti/Olio_e_aceto/Medium/1680-OLIO_ACETO-31903-M-1.jpg
http://www.bacissimi.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/succo-di-limone.jpeg

What people drink during meals, USA
http://i0.wp.com/www.banglamail24.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/i4iapqrb.jpg?resize=700%2C394

What people drink during meals, Italy
http://www.italiapost.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/acqua_bicchiere.jpg
http://notizie.tiscali.it/media/12/11/vino-rosso.jpeg_415368877.jpeg

What they mean by sandwich, USA
http://www.landolakes.com/assets/images/recipe/custom/all-american-deli-club-sandwich-12177.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNjCLFiv2hA/TrCPSiMOLmI/AAAAAAAAM70/EeRU8oOb980/s800/The%2BPerfect%2BGrilled%2BCheese%2BSandwich%2B500% 2B4401.jpg

What they mean by sandwich, Italy
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtRqcXjL8cQ/URLTNFyppEI/AAAAAAAACpk/usmwNvQMzhk/s400/rosetta.jpg

[Smaug]

In Brazil is the same as Italy.

[Foxy]

In Brazil is the same as Italy.

It is visible
http://www.lovelljohns.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/obesity-world-map-global-580x319.png

[Linebacker]

Both have shit unhealthy food.

[Foxy]

Other causes that lead Americans to obesity:

Huger portions
Many Americans seem to ignore that your stomach can't be bigger than your fist, hence most of the food you eat is not necessary.



Large consumption of processed food
Processed food is less nourishing, it often contains extra fats. Low fat foods contains less fat but more sugar, so they are even less nourishing. It means that you will return hungry faster.

Sugar addiction
Sugar gives dipendence. When they are not accompanied by the right dose of fibers they go directly to the liver. Liver is unable to digest all this sugar so it transforms soon sugar in body fat.

Sugar is omnipresent in American diet: it exists in cereals (Kellog's, Cheerios...), sauces, fizzy drinks, beer and alcool in general. You may eat little but gain extra mass easier.

What Americans serve as side dish

http://www.enkicharity.com/s/upload/images/2014/11/886fb10920383215f8d0c0ec685440ba.jpg

What Italians serve as side dish
The right role of the side dish is to fill a part of your stomach with vegetables, so that you will eat less other foods.

http://cdn-1.guidecucina.it/o/orig/come-preparare-linsalata-mista-con-uova-di-quaglia-e-crostini_4ced7151b4a9e22c40aeabf371629a3e.jpg

What Americans eat for breakfast
http://www.buzzle.com/images/food/breakfast/thumbnails/american-breakfast.jpg

What Italians eat for breakfast
http://d3oiytnf1iaxz3.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/panemarm.jpg
OR
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/biscotti-del-cereale-e-una-tazza-di-latte-830842.jpg

What Americans call snack
http://www.pepsico.com/MultiMedia/MapImage?imgPath=global-unit-chips.jpg

What Italians call snack
http://www.mammacosacucini.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Pane-e-pomodoro-1024x677.jpg
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130318225705/theflophouse/images/0/05/Yogurt.jpg

[Foxy]

Both have shit unhealthy food.

Italian food is condiered one of the healthiest and most balanced in the world.

[Casandrinos]

I prefer the barbarized Murican pizza than the original :redface_002:

[Longbowman]

As if Italians don't also eat junk food.

But it's rarer that they do, and often their sweets are Italian delicacies, pastries and such, and not supermarket variety things. Their dietary culture is much healthier, both physically and I believe psychologically.

[Foxy]

I prefer the barbarized Murican pizza than the original :redface_002:

Then this for you
http://cdn.themetapicture.com/media/funny-hamburger-pizza-bacon-murica.jpg

This for me
http://www.scattidigusto.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/pizza-margherita-Fratelli-Salvo-600x400.jpg

This for you
https://s3.amazonaws.com/external_clips/200301/stringio_article.jpeg?1359399959

This for me :D

http://www.weightlosshelpandtips.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/firm-butt-360x240.jpg