For those that live in or travel to Europe and Japan

[Coyote Chris]

It strikes me that in the US, at Walmart and other supermarkets, and on cruise ships, People bring or demand the assess to mobility scooters/wheel chairs. There are obviously Army vets, and people afflicted with old age and other terrible deseases, and accident victums, who need them. But when I was growing up in the 50s-60s, even though we had polio victums and WWII vets and Korean war vets, there didnt seem to be as many people in public in scooters/chairs.
If I were going to Europe or Japan, would I see as many people in public in wheel chairs? When I travel on a cruise ship that is full of old people, there are many of course but also people who are just huge. Watching vids on the web of Japan, for instance, I dont see many if any at all?

 

[mikesim]

Sad to say, at our Wal-Mart the predominant users of the mobility scooters are the morbidly obese. Also, a good many of these folks have a bad attitude and will run you over without a second thought. They seem to think that because of their handicap, they have the right of way.

Mike

 

[Coyote Chris]

Sad to say, at our Wal-Mart the predominant users of the mobility scooters are the morbidly obese. Also, a good many of these folks have a bad attitude and will run you over without a second thought. They seem to think that because of their handicap, they have the right of way.

Mike

That is my belief too. And yes, many morbidly obese people sadly do have this attitude that it "isnt their fault" and they are "entitled" to being compensated by society with bigger airline seats, and scooters. I have no idea how some of them get into airliner rest rooms. I still wonder what things are like in Europe and Japan for accomodations, and the populace attitudes as to whose fault what is. I will stay out of the arena of US politics and what the parents, media , business, and politicians are doing to deal with this crisis.

 

[JQL]

Yes, you will see mobility scooters and wheelchairs in Europe but, not as often as I saw when I visited the US.

Some Supermarkets in the UK offer mobility scooters for disabled customers to use. I haven't seen this is France. In fact, unless it's senior citizens, in my experience, it's rare to see mobility scooters in France. You do, though, especially as we live near a sanitarium, occasionally see wheelchairs usually in parks & gardens or down by the river.

There are, I believe, a few reasons for this:

• Less obesity (main reason), though morbid obesity is, sadly, increasing
• Medical services and corrective surgery, often free or highly subsidised, for joint replacement etc.
• More, often free or highly subsidised, Social Services
• Home shopping delivery
• (not so tongue in check) "The stiff upper lip." We tend to try to make do. There are a couple of senior citizens with limited mobility, who live on our road, and they make do with a cane or walking sticks.
• More (suitable) exercise. Some, well into retirement, (slow) jog or walk 5 km (just over 3 miles) everyday - I see two or three (older) people early in the morning during my walk. In our apartment block we have an 87 year old who has had both knees replaced and a hip replacement and he cycles everyday to get the bread etc. He's usually gone for about an hour on his bicycle.
• Most of our roads in town (and some out of town) have pavements (sidewalks) and the distance to amenities is much shorter.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Yes, you will see mobility scooters and wheelchairs in Europe but, not as often as I saw when I visited the US.

Some Supermarkets in the UK offer mobility scooters for disabled customers to use. I haven't seen this is France. In fact, unless it's senior citizens, in my experience, it's rare to see mobility scooters in France. You do, though, especially as we live near a sanitarium, occasionally see wheelchairs usually in parks & gardens or down by the river.

There are, I believe, a few reasons for this:

• Less obesity (main reason), though morbid obesity is, sadly, increasing
• Medical services and corrective surgery, often free or highly subsidised, for joint replacement etc.
• More, often free or highly subsidised, Social Services
• Home shopping delivery
• (not so tongue in check) "The stiff upper lip." We tend to try to make do. There are a couple of senior citizens with limited mobility, who live on our road, and they make do with a cane or walking sticks.
• More (suitable) exercise. Some, well into retirement, (slow) jog or walk 5 km (just over 3 miles) everyday - I see two or three (older) people early in the morning during my walk. In our apartment block we have an 87 year old who has had both knees replaced and a hip replacement and he cycles everyday to get the bread etc. He's usually gone for about an hour on his bicycle.
• Most of our roads in town (and some out of town) have pavements (sidewalks) and the distance to amenities is much shorter.

Thanks for your input! Very interesting. I found this interesting (Obesity costs the US 50 billion dollars a year. )
(As an aside, Finland IIRC has a very student friendly sports program for its kids...non competitive at first...just get the kids out there and being involved)

Japan has one of the lowest obesity rates in the world, with only about 4.5% of its population classified as obese (BMI

30), compared to over 40% in the US. This is maintained through a combination of healthy dietary habits, active lifestyles (walking/cycling), and cultural norms such as hara hachi bu (eating to 80% fullness).

Key Aspects of Obesity in Japan

• Low Prevalence: Obesity rates are very low (roughly 4.5% of the population). However, about 4.3% of women and 6.0% of men are considered to have obesity, with rates rising in younger men.
• Preventative Focus:Japan prioritizes public health through school nutritionists and national campaigns, focusing on preventing weight gain early rather than just treating it later
  .
• • Government Action: The "Metabo Law" requires companies and local governments to measure the waistlines of citizens aged 40 to 74 during annual checkups to fight metabolic syndrome.
  • Lifestyle Factors: Active transportation is common, with highly walk-able, transit-oriented urban planning.
  • Health Impact: Although obesity rates are low, obesity-related diseases like diabetes and hypertension are still managed, with increasing access to treatments such as Wegovy.
  • Economic Impact: The economic cost of overweight/obesity was estimated to be USD 50.81 billion in 2019, expected to rise in coming decades.
    

Why Japan’s Rate is Low

• Diet: The traditional diet is high in fish, soy, and vegetables, with lower consumption of processed foods compared to many Western countries.
• Education: School lunches are carefully managed by qualified nutritionists, teaching healthy habits from a young age.
• Culture: A cultural emphasis on moderation in eating, known as hara hachi bu, contributes to lower calorie consumption.
  

The Land That Doesn't Need Ozempic - Time Magazine
In March 2023, the Japanese medical authorities announced that the new weight loss drug Wegovy—which was in staggering demand acro...


Time Magazine

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[ST1100Y]

... it's rare to see mobility scooters in France.

Ditto in my area, you see elderly people on walkers or canes, true Methuselah in wheelchairs... and they mostly very skinny...
You rarely see people as enormous as in the US over here... (at least not autochthones...)

Yeah, we do have those "frustration eating" thus overweight (young) moms of all nationalities though... a matter of personal discipline, or lack of...
And due this, also overweight (school)kids... the "BigDonald's generation" that get's pacified/distracted with food as the parents lack interest, attention and care...

Public health service runs pretty much like in France, and they don't classify obesity as a "disease", because its simply a 'prosperity effect'...
And due this they have a way lower limit, you exceed the BMI oh so slightly and they admonish you to change your diet, do sports, etc...
At the end it comes down to the avail food and its (closely monitored by authorities) ingredients...
We focus on bio, natural, local grown/bred, and simply despise anything artificial flavored, artificial colored, artificial sweetened...
Even our soda pops (Coke, etc...) are made with natural beet sugar, and not that awful corn syrup...

 

[Coyote Chris]

Ditto in my area, you see elderly people on walkers or canes, true Methuselah in wheelchairs... and they mostly very skinny...
You rarely see people as enormous as in the US over here... (at least not autochthones...)

Yeah, we do have those "frustration eating" thus overweight (young) moms of all nationalities though... a matter of personal discipline, or lack of...
And due this, also overweight (school)kids... the "BigDonald's generation" that get's pacified/distracted with food as the parents lack interest, attention and care...

Public health service runs pretty much like in France, and they don't classify obesity as a "disease", because its simply a 'prosperity effect'...
And due this they have a way lower limit, you exceed the BMI oh so slightly and they admonish you to change your diet, make sports, etc...
At the end it comes down to the avail food and its (closely monitored by authorities) ingredients...
We focus on bio, natural, local grown/bred, and simply despise anything artificial flavored, artificial colored, artificial sweetened...
Even our soda pops (Coke, etc...) are made with natural beet sugar, and not that awful corn syrup...

Thanks for your very informative reply. Very forward thinking. (corn syrup is also an environmental disaster , BTW)
Its sad to see the US kids.....as well as the adults......I wont go into the political reasons for this in the US....
There are many factors other than politics due to our new society. The "I am a victum" society in the US.
One in four kids in the US dont even have some sort of father at home.

 

[ST1100Y]

One in four kids in the US dont even have some sort of father at home.

Ah, same here...
The system enables them, be it a father having to support them, or the state/social security system has to jump in... giving birth equals "someone" will take care of them, so they don't have to work... ever...

And the apple never falls far...
once raised in 'welfare culture' such kids rarely end up employed either... an endless circle... highly attractive to immigrants BTW... straining the system massively...

 

[Coyote Chris]

Ah, same here...
The system enables them, be it a father having to support them, or the state/social security system has to jump in... giving birth equals "someone" will take care of them, so they don't have to work... ever...

And the apple never fall far...
once raised in 'welfare culture' such kids rarely end up employed either... an endless circle... highly attractive to immigrants BTW... straining the system massively...

We just had an incident where a father shot and killed his 7 young children and attempted to shoot and kill his wife. He had no job and she was going to divorce him. The state pays people to have kids. I am mildly surprised that Austria isnt smarter than this.

 

[ST1100Y]

The state pays people to have kids.

Kinda... with the ever ongoing justification that those are "the future taxpayers/pension financiers"... pfffff... yeah, right...

Like all those rocket scientists, astrophysicist, neurosurgeons, heart specialists they're 'importing' since that 2015 "wir schaffen das!" campaign...

 

[Coyote Chris]

Kinda... with the ever ongoing justification that those are "the future taxpayers/pension financiers"... pfffff... yeah, right...

Like all those rocket scientists, astrophysicist, neurosurgeons, heart specialists they're 'importing' since that 2015 "wir schaffen das!" campaign...

In the US, they do have a legal program to import, temporary or long term, very hard working intelligent needed people. They seem to cause very few problems. My country just threw out the Commercial drivers licenses for 90,000 trouble puppies. They can regain them if they are willing to jump threw the correct hoops. In Germany, for instance, you dont get citizenship unless you can speak German fluently...Duh! Hello! This is a job for "ObviousMan!

 

[ST1100Y]

... you dont get citizenship unless you can speak German fluently...

... are you insane?! Why on earth should they, whilst getting e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. for free?!
Lodging, cash, healthcare, child support, daycare, schooling...

Know what else they get free?
A 'pass' for committing any imaginable offense:
vandalism, graffiti marks everywhere, robbery, burglary, grand theft auto, mass brawl, stabbings, rioting, abusing their/our wives & children, etc...
Indeed a true cultural enrichment...

 

[ST1100Y]

The "I am a victum" society in the US.

Looping back to the original topic:

food prices are most certainly a factor...
over here the "junk food" (BigDonald, BurgerQueen, etc...) aren't low price at all... (i.e. Big Mac Menu: € 12.00,- in my area...)
and they also don't do that 'supersize me' thing here...

for € 10.00~12.00,- you get as well a decent dish at a pub that actually satisfies your hunger, or grab some at a food store with rich nutrition content...

and of course the constant propaganda hammering:
- we eat too much meat
- go vegan
- etc...

 

[Coyote Chris]

Looping back to the original topic:

food prices are most certainly a factor...
over here the "junk food" (BigDonald, BurgerQueen, etc...) aren't low price at all... (i.e. Big Mac Menu: € 12.00,- in my area...)
and they also don't do that 'supersize me' thing here...

for € 10.00~12.00,- you get as well a decent dish at a pub that actually satisfies your hunger, or grab some at a food store with rich nutrition content...

and of course the constant propaganda hammering:
- we eat too much meat
- go vegan
- etc...

Very interesting. Here, some people are revolting over the high cost of fast food, so value meals are making a comeback. But this doesnt stop lazy/dumb America from visiting fast food places anytime during the day. I use them when I travel as they are quick and you know what you are getting...but they are certainly not nutricious. We still have obscene cereals that some people actually eat for breakfast. I am not a vegan, but I understand purportion. Cruise ships offer disgusting sized meals....imagine a 15 oz piece of meat istead of a 5 oz. There are people who litterally camp out all day in the lido buffet and graze....it is an interesting experiment in seeing what happens to people when unlimited food is supplied.

 

[ST1100Y]

....it is an interesting experiment in seeing what happens to people when unlimited food is supplied.

considering the medical costs, actually an expensive one... or maybe even a marketing scheme...

 

[Coyote Chris]

considering the medical costs, actually an expensive one... or maybe even a marketing scheme...

These are not rational people with an analitical thought process. I suspect many are unhappy, due to the US society telling and showing them on TV what misarable people they are compared to normal people like Taylor Swift. On a boat, i have a big breakfast, small lunch, and medium dinner. And I walk the promenade deck five miles a day. I cant use the treadmill in the gym anymore due to neuropathy. I dont understand grazing for pleasure and I have no issues cutting back calorie intake if need be. One thing we didnt know when I was growing up was that new fat cells are forever and scream "feed me!"

• Production:New fat cells can be created if weight gain is sustained, increasing the overall number, but losing weight does not eliminate these new cells
  .