sugar, oh lordy, lordy

[syngirl]

Obesity here, like other countries, hits the poor the hardest.

lately I've seen a lot of overweight/obese body types that signal insulin resistance (often people become insulin resistant before they get diabetes, also can be diagnosed as pre-diabetes) -- IR body types are often small legs / bum and then carry the weight out front and for women, in their boobs -- the body shape is an upside-down pear -- this is usual signal of IR / hormone imbalances etc, also higher risk for cardiac problems etc.

 

[citygirl]

And obesity here is a laugh compared to the US. The amount of obese people here wouldn't even constitute a snack for the number of obese people in just one of the great southern states.

Numbers aren't exactly accurate since population size is in no ways comparable.40MM in Argentina, 315MM in the US. Percentage of obesity would be more accurate and I don't know the answer to that. It's still certainly much lower than the US for example but observationally, I seem to see more overweight people than in the past.

 

[MizzMarr]

Things are changing here and in the US, as well as globally. I think that the US tends to be 10-20 years ahead in a lot of respects, and as we were the front-runners of the obesity epidemic (and sure, yes, it definitely still exists in the States but has since spread to the rest of the world) we were also the first ones to really examine it and begin to explore solutions. The locavore and organic movements (in general this means healthy eating!) are gaining major (!) momentum in the States.

Here... well, when I arrived nearly 5 years ago I almost NEVER saw anybody who was fat, much less obese, and when I did that person was a foreigner. In those five years I have seen the body composition of the youth change especially, and you see a lot more fat children and teenagers (usually munching on pastries, packages of cookies, drinking coke) and obese adults. It's amazing how quickly the "landscape" has changed!

 

[jazrgz]

Here... well, when I arrived nearly 5 years ago I almost NEVER saw anybody who was fat, much less obese, and when I did that person was a foreigner. In those five years I have seen the body composition of the youth change especially, and you see a lot more fat children and teenagers (usually munching on pastries, packages of cookies, drinking coke) and obese adults. It's amazing how quickly the "landscape" has changed!

You´re absolutaly right, im local and im noticing fat/obese kids everywhere, it really amazes me, when i was a kid i remember eating as much junk as i possibly could (me and every other average kid out there) but at the same time i was always doing something, playing some sport or wrestling/boxing/racing/ with my brothers and friends.
Anyways we ate lots of junk but at the same time were always outside doing some sport or getting in trouble. Kids nowadays (luckily still not most of kids, but a large number compared with before) look fat, inactive, spoiled....such a shame, i hope it doesnt get worse over the next years

 

[Uncle Dermot]

I haven't seen many fat people around, if you actually consider the huge portions they eat when they go to the restaurant and the over-refined/over-processed food they sell everywhere it is a miracle they are not all obese! I don't drink coke too often (thank god we haven't been brainwashed too much by Coca Cola in Europe...), but when I do I notice that it is a bit sweater than it is in Europe (but that's also true for other Latin American countries.) I still think that dulce de leche cannot be compared to Nutella, but I have learnt how to appreciate it at small doses (it is very addictive!), in my opinion dulce de leche could never be successful in Europe as it is way too sweat for our taste buds. Last thing: this is the only country I have been so far where they put grains of sugar in ground coffee: it is virtually impossible to find ground coffee in supermarkets or coffee shops without sugar and the only Italian brands you come across here (the ones without sugar) are actually more expensive than in countries like Ireland (where they drink way much more tea than coffee!)...another crazy thing about Argentina!

 

[starlucia]

One interesting trend I've recently noticed is the super-sizing of ice cream treats. No matter what Freddo I'm in, I'm always amazed by how many people are polishing off 1/4 kilo of ice cream (sometimes shared, but often alone.) I wonder if the reason for this is that it's a better "value" compared to a one- or two-scoop cone, but dang, that is a LOT of ice cream to shovel in your mouth in one sitting. The size I order (the 5-peso bocha, just one little scoop in a little cone) isn't even on the menu!

And more dangerous than the sugary food in this country are the sugary drinks/lack of water intake. Argentines consider Americans extremist with our giant water bottles and goal to drink 8 glasses a day, but I'm astonished by how many locals have told me they "hate" the taste of water and only get it through tea, coffee, and soft drinks. In turn, they seem to be passing down the habit to their kids -- with the blistering heat over the past few weeks, I've seen plenty of adults and children chugging ice-cold Fanta, Ser, and Coke, but very few carrying around bottles of plain mineral water. Frankly, it'd be better to inject the sugar directly into their veins; at least then it wouldn't constantly wash over their teeth.

 

[fifs2]

Sugar traffickers I call them..but I hate to judge the Argentineans for their sweet teeth when we have aisles in any US or UK store filled with any amount of breakfast cereals that are chocolate coated, marshmallow filled gunk so I think the difference lies only in the amnesty that is afforded most US/UK kids where sugar is avoided for the first 2-3 years and thereafter anything is fair game. My 1st son, very swedish looking, is adored in our neighbourhood and could literally count on 4 or so kioskos in the 11 block walk to our house from kindergarten, who freely offered him sweets or worse lollipops every single day on the walk home..theres also a lovely old lady in a habderdashery who gives him unlimited toys and sweets..I started avoiding these places out of sheer guilt for either accepting the candy, or rejecting it and looking mean spirited. They love kids here, most working to middle class have impeccable teeth and good figures and low diabetes amongst my circle of friends and their families....I have learnt to see this candy and golosina offering as yet another act of pure kindness and love of kids..and learnt that the only way to control it is to ensure the kids never eat sweets or golosinas with the family so they may have some leeway when outside the home..just wait until birthday parties when you are trying to insist on your kids drinking milk or water when the 30 or other kids are getting high on Coke...one day I saw my 4 year old drinking the dregs of other's cups and I realised it was me with the problem not the Argentineans and as a result of less stressing the sugar trafficking is under control...

 

[fred mertz]

Always look for alernatives. Breakfast doesn't have to include dry cereal. How about oatmeal, eggs and fruit? Explain that you're trying not to give your child sugary foods. They may think that you're a freak; so what? I'd never ever think of calling you a "health nut". No one who drinks diet Coke would be considered health conscious. If you think sugar is bad, Google "fruitose" and then salt.
A su salud.

 

[cafeconleche]

Well, portion sizes here are smaller in general, and people dine out less frequently. But I sure see Argentines consuming McDonald's at a rate pretty much on par with the U.S. Whether in Capital or the provincias, I have NEVER seen lines so long for McDonald's.

Back to the original topic: I don't touch alfajores because they're made with grasa bovina, but dulce de leche makes my teeth ache. When I need my sweet fix, I'm willing to pay 3 times as much for the tiny jar of Nutella on the shelf next to 40 different brands of DDL.

I never knew alfajores contained beef fat! I'm horrified as I'm vegetarian and loved them

 

[Holden]

Sometimes I wonder if I am in the same city as you people?! Argentinos are not fat. By default most people I meet and see on the streets here are skinny and/or have 6 pack abs. In the US everyone is fat. If you take 10 random people from the US and pick 10 random people from Argentina you are going to have 9 fatties in the US and maybe 1 here and that one is going to be some chubby Bolivian or something. What city are you guys living in? Argentinos are skinny and hot!