I know I have been lazy and cheap with my diet in the past, however, for most Americans, eating food is a cultural activity. As our culture moved from the survival type of period, in which the body was seen more of a tool to accomplish work, and more to period where survival is now not the prime imperative, but quality of life, through technology... well, diet has become more about, well taste, immediacy, reward, and less about survival. My point is that, it's been more of a commodity to make you 'feel good'. As a result of capitalistic nature in accord with technology, the govenrment in accord with industries have, specifically under the Bush administration have bioengineered food to be well... addictive and nutrient depleted.
I think that this is changing for the better somewhat with more awareness. All of us want comfort, however, when the education improves that you are killing yourself daily and a commodified pawn being marketed, too... well, comfort level changes.
Here is an article by Harvard Magazine, Titled 'What we Eat'.
Personal responsibility surely does play a role, but we also live in a "toxic environment" that in many ways discourages healthy eating, says Ludwig. "There’s the incessant advertising and marketing of the poorest quality foods imaginable. To address this epidemic, you’d want to make healthful foods widely available, inexpensive, and convenient, and unhealthful foods relatively less so. Instead, we’ve done the opposite."
Never in human experience has food been available in the staggering profusion seen in North America today. We are awash in edibles shipped in from around the planet; seasonality has largely disappeared. Food obtrudes itself constantly, seductively, into our lives—on sidewalks, in airplanes, at gas stations and movie theaters. "Caloric intake is directly related to gross national product per capita," says Moore professor of biological anthropology Richard Wrangham. "It’s very difficult to resist the temptation to take in more calories if they are available. People keep regarding it as an American problem, but it’s a global problem as countries get richer." Still, the lavish banquet’s first seating is right here in the United States of America.