In the 1960s the word obesity was almost unknown, which sounds strange today as the rates of people with increased weight rise.

For the truth in 2024, 43% of Americans were considered obese, compared to the 1960s when the corresponding rate was only 13%.

The main cause of experts is the increased intake of over-processed foods and meals with more calories, leading to obesity and a number of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease and hypnosis.

Nutritionist Autumn Bates from California, speaking to the Daily Mail, has found, as she claims, the reason for the obesity epidemic, analyzing four reasons why people were weaker in previous decades despite being practiced less or had no access to fittings.

Nutritionist Autumn Bates

As she explains, she decided to investigate this phenomenon when she watched a short film on Youtube asking the question why we were so weak in the 1960s.

“Since 2025, we have a percentage of obesity approaching 43% and all of them are somewhat outrageous, because people were not known in the 1960s for their healthy dietary choices.”

“So why did we have so much lower body fat rates in the 1960s?”

In summary the reasons:

  1. Reduction of homemade meals
  2. Increase Fast Food
  3. Children at school ate meals more balanced than today.
  4. Increase in portions of food.

The diet in the 1960s, according to Ms Bates, included roasted chicken, minced meat, veal stew, steak and potatoes.

There was little reference to fast food, which has seen an increase in portions – with the number of calories reaching almost 2,000 for a portion of potato burgers.

The benefits of meals made at home include lower sugar intake, extra protein and increased amount of vegetables.

A previous study by university Johns Hopkins He found that people who often cook their meals at home tend to consume less carbohydrates, less sugar and fat compared to those who do not cook so often.

Ms. Bates then says that another reason why today’s society is thicker than ever is the explosion of over -food food.

Highly processed foods, or upfs, is a generic term used to cover anything that has a long list of ingredients or is made with artificial additives such as pigments, sweeteners and preservatives that extend the life span.

Ready meals, ice cream and ketchup are some of the products that fall into the term UPF, which is now synonymous with foods that offer little nutritional value.

They differ from processed foods, which have been modified to last longer or improve their taste, such as sausage, cheese and fresh bread.

Explaining the nutritionist why the upfs are bad, he stresses: ‘The extremely processed food reduces satiety and makes us eat even more

What do Americans eat

Ms. Bates notes that 70% of Americans’ diet today consists of UPFs and “some studies have found that these extremely processed foods can make us eat about 800 calories more a day because they are much less filling”.

She advises to avoid these foods and be replaced by healthier alternatives – packaged snacks with additives can be replaced by fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

The third thing that contributed to a weaker society in the 1960s, says Ms Bates, is that people had more demanding physical work.

Ms. Bates notes that with the rise of technology, people are stuck on their screens, resulting in less physical activity.

In addition, it recommends three to four days of structured exercise per week, such as strength training.

Finally, Ms Bates highlights the lack of sleep as another problem that leads to the obesity epidemic in America.

Today, the average American adult sleeps about 7 hours and 10 minutes every night and successful people of modern times, such as Twitter co -founder Jack Dorsey, and President Donald Trump, claim that 4 hours are the optimum amount of sleep.

This is compared to the 1960s, when studies show that the average was closer to 8.5 hours.

Commenting on this change in sleep standards, Ms. Bates says: “Less sleep is significantly associated with obesity and weight gain.”

“Little sleep causes increased hunger hormones, so you will feel much more hungry the next day.”

“It also increases our sweet food preferences and increases our preferences for larger portions.”

“We have to put a program on ourselves, as there are so many different temptations to stay awake until late, whether it is to watch a series on Netflix or just cramming on our phone.”