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So, is the answer in our diet? Our types of jobs? This is an interesting phenomenon, and I wonder the cause.

Diet, sedentary jobs, lack of walkable cities, and (for better or worse) removal of shame culture. If you’ve spent any time in east Asia, you’ll notice that being overweight is strongly looked down upon by society at large. This shaming doesn’t exist in America.

As to shaming, I suspect causation goes the other direction, fat shaming has decreased because the number of fat people has increased.

Looking at the time frame, I don’t think the other things you mention fit either. They just haven’t changed that much since the 70s. And they don’t explain wild and lab animals also being fatter now.

I think you’re right. What about general propensity to obesity (as in genetically, or whatever) being more prevalent? I know people that eat far worse than me, and do far less than me, but are still far skinnier than me.

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