Why the U.S. Has One of the World’s Worst Diets And What Other Countries Think

It's no surprise that the United States has one of the worst diets in the world. It's high in sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and preservatives.

Diet is tied to health. Don't take it from just us. According to Healthline, about 42% of adults in the United States and 20% of adolescents from 2 to 19 are obese. This rate is expected to rise as more people rely on fast food and quick options that aren't the healthiest. From 2013 to 2016, over 30% of U.S. adults consumed fast food daily.

Although obesity isn't limited to the United States, there are countries with a lot lower numbers. For instance, only 17% of adults in France were considered obese in 2020. Still, this is an increase as only about 9% of adults were considered obese in France from 2000 to 2003.

So, knowing that the U.S. is considered one of the countries with the worst diets and highest obesity rates (10th in the world), what do other countries think?

For this article, 24/7 Tempo looked at health and government websites and statistics, along with online forums where citizens of other countries discuss their thoughts on the American diet.

Is there such a thing as an American diet? Eh, sorta. It's important to note that the United States is massive. It's home to 50 states and countless territories with a total surface area of around 3.8 million square miles. The food Americans eat entirely depends on their region, how they grew up, and what is readily available. What someone eats in LA with a high budget and plenty of healthy resources is going to be different from what someone living in a small town in Mississippi, in a food desert, eats.

Before we dive into people's thoughts on the American diet, let's see what they consider typical American food.

Cereal is eaten in other countries, but not at the rate of the United States. This sugary breakfast is a staple in many households, but it isn't the most nutritious thing to eat. About 70% of households in the United States regularly consume cereal (at least a few times each month).

Don't let the name confuse you. French fries aren't French, although they may have originated from there. However, this is debated fiercely by historians, and the fried chips consumed in other parts of the world aren't the same fries you see in the U.S. Interestingly, the Washington State University Potato Research Lab reports that the average American eats about 34 pounds of fries each year.

We aren't saying no other countries eat pancakes, just that people abroad associate pancakes, waffles, and other sugary breakfast items with the U.S. Can you blame them? So many fast casual restaurants, like IHOP and Waffle House, serve these sweet dishes.

Another very American dish is cheeseburgers, with yellow cheese (likely Kraft). This is something most countries associate with the United States, and it makes sense considering most of our fast food chains offer this quick meal.

If we are going to mention cheeseburgers, we also have to include hot dogs. They are also very American foods (and also super processed). While other countries eat sausages in bread, the quality is not the same.

Deep-fried foods aren't limited to the U.S., but they are super common here, especially in fairs and carnivals. We've got deep-fried cheesecake, Oreos, pickles, and more!

Now that we've seen some examples of what other countries think the average American eats, let's see what they think of the overall diet.

A big thing that other countries notice about the American diet is how everything has so much sugar in it. If it isn't real sugar, then it's corn syrup, which is even worse for our health.

If you try to order a small coffee in a different country, like Greece, you'll get a cup of only about 2 to 6 ounces. A small coffee in the United States, however, starts at 12 ounces. The portion sizes in the U.S. are huge compared to those in other countries. While you get more bang for your buck, it may come at a cost to your health.

People from other countries seem to assume that the food in the United States is almost always fried. Although typical American food is fried, not everyone consumes it. Plus, the U.S. is a melting pot, meaning you can find food from all around the world, much of which is healthy.

Quite a few people from other countries complain that the food in the U.S. is too seasoned or salty. Try a meat dish in the United States and another in Scotland. The flavors will be completely different!