AMERICA EATS by Athena Tacha

© 2009

In cultures where food is a luxury, being fat is a sign of

status.

The gratitude felt by America’s pioneers after good

harvests established the tradition of Thanksgiving,

celebrated by an abundant dinner with

indulgent eating.

After World War II, when cars dominated

life and “fast food” restaurants became

popular, younger generations of

Americans were fed junk food made with

meat products full of hormones

that create meatier animals – and larger

people.

Children brought up on fast food developed a liking for it and grew

increasingly bigger than their parents.

Moreover, with the advent of

multiculturalism and feminism, standards of

beauty and fashion loosened up

– and so did the clothes.

Sizes got larger and baggier, with extra-large dominating. Sizes 6 and 8 are now what 10 and

12 were a couple of decades ago.

A general gigantism and recklessness have taken over.

SUVs made for larger folks clutter city traffic (and increase pollution).

Restaurants encourage double portions with bargain prices.

Food is served on huge platters, rather than in normal dishes.

Butter is spread on bread with abandon, and desserts or drinks

are smothered with cream.

For women in the 1940s, slim figures

with tight belts were the rule.

Then, a fat woman would have been unthinkable as a fashion model.

At least now women have been freed from tight belts and bras…

Except for fashion models and dancers, nowadays fewer young women keep a trim

figure and, other than professional athletes, a

minority of men takes care of their bodies.

Increasingly, huge bellies and floppy bulges are becoming a

norm.

All seem happy with their choices. Will airplanes and theaters develop seats for “special size” people?

Food is generally permeating our entire culture. Even modern cosmology uses concepts such as

“black holes devouring galaxies”!

Having discarded religious codes that regulate fasting, perhaps humans are transmuting into

a new species of glutton giants.

Text by Athena Tacha© 2009

Images from Google

Fat kids eat, title page: www.StrangeCosmos.comMcDonald food: ©2006 HowStuffWorks

Fat model Beth Ditto: photo Robert MaxwellAthletic man: photo Athletic-Men.com