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My point was that it was not a pandemic level problem up until recently. Of course rich people with access to an abundance of highly palatable foods can become fat. Those aristocrats of old are suffering the same thing many people suffer today.

Edit: I suppose people don't see the connection between over consumption, availability, palatability, and processing.



You just did an about-face. In your first comment, you stress "processed foods"; here you put the emphasis on greater availability.

I think potatolicious makes an excellent point- "processing" (the popular demon today) cannot be pointed to as the sole cause. It is probably part of the problem, but probably not the root.


No I didn't. You missed or ignored the 'highly palatable' part.

Fruit tastes good, and rich people could get as much as they want, but they generally don't get fat on fruit. Confectionery items on the other hand...

What I'm saying is that over-consumption and processing drive each other.


So when you say "processed", you're actually referring to plain old food preparation?

Well, I suppose confectioneries in particular with confectioner's sugar could be considered "refined"...


Processing takes many forms.

Removing of fiber, adding of sugar, etc.

The end result of many types of processing is a food which is both more nutrient dense and less filling.


Fruit comes with fiber, which has suppressing effect on appetite, whereas confectionery items are usually made with pure white flour, which due to insulin spikes actually leads to an increased appetite.




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