Are fat people (generally) to blame for being fat?

[John Dibble]

It's complicated and isn't quite a yes or no answer. Some people are more predisposed than others to being fat. I've known people who eat rather normally who are large, and others who have metabolisms such that they can eat an entire box of Eggo waffles every morning and barely have any fat on their body. It doesn't help that it's in our nature to eat what's in front of us - we evolved in an environment where food was not nearly as plentiful as it is today. Modern technology also lets us be much more sedentary, and it's again in our nature to not engage in strenuous activity without need as it burns what would normally have been our limited nutritional resources.

Still, I can't help but sigh to myself every time I see a morbidly obese person chowing down at an all you can eat buffet.

[John Dibble]

It is in many ways a class issue. A Big Mac (for example) is generally cheaper than a salad.

McDonald's sells salads now. They aren't that much more expensive. (it's $1 to $2 difference, depending on where you are) However, $1 double cheeseburgers are definitely cheaper and the only thing that might qualify as a vegetable on it are pickles.

However, I think that even if the salads were sold for $1 most people would rather have the double cheeseburger.

[John Dibble]

It is in many ways a class issue. A Big Mac (for example) is generally cheaper than a salad.

McDonald's sells salads now. They aren't that much more expensive. (it's $1 to $2 difference, depending on where you are) However, $1 double cheeseburgers are definitely cheaper and the only thing that might qualify as a vegetable on it are pickles.

However, I think that even if the salads were sold for $1 most people would rather have the double cheeseburger.

People can't live on salads alone, there is very little food value in a salad.

I'm not implying the can or should. (though McDonald's salads usually have chicken or some other protein thrown in) I'm simply pointing out what people generally prefer. We're wired to like high-calorie foods.