You know I find deeply frustrating? This attitude that obesity is only a problem in the USA. It's happening everywhere, and there are a lot of factors that weigh into it. The USA isn't the most obese country in the world, Mexico is slight fatter, UK Scotland is just as bad, and a handful of European countries are as well. What states has your new co-worker lived in? Because just like everywhere else in the world there's a wide variance from place to place.

Then, you mention that she talked about going to Wal-Mart to do people watching, how is that a fair place to go to assess what people are like? Did she go to any of the farmer's markets that are just as crowded and full of clean farm grown local foods? Did she check out any of the co-ops that people take part in? Did she check out any of the gyms full of people in phenomenal shape? Or go watch a Marathon with hundreds if not more people, all normal, everyday, average citizens, in good shape who take care of themselves?

Of course there are a lot of sweet foods, the USA, just like most of the rest of the world enjoy sweet foods. We certainly have a huge problem with GMO (Genetically Modified Organic) produce, and that's a conversation worth having, but a lot of vegetables are sweet when grown naturally or prepared in such a way.

Your last point about your co-worker needing to lose weight for the first time sounds like an attempt to blame her surroundings on her weight gain. That's sort of a no-no. If she grew up eating right then she should know how to eat right to maintain, it sounds to me like she just got lax in her eating habits which happens. I don't think it's fair to blame where she was given that a considerable number of ketoers are in the US and losing weight.

I don't think I would say that this adds any perspective to anything. It sounds like someone complaining about and trying to pile onto a well known stereotype. It's no different than saying the English are rude, Italians can't drive, and the French are snobs and cowards.