Consumerist mindset. There's never any thought to removing items of consumption, only adding. brantgoose does note it is possible to be not obese:  Your best bet at avoiding obesity is to be a rich old white widow and "lady who lunches" or a young black male "gangbanger" with an income of $3.50 an hour   Rich people tend not to be obese but why? They certainly have means. I saved this from a Sunday Times (UK) article but I can't find an non-paywall copy now:  Class is about more than money, though. The real difference between an upper- and a working-class diet is the ability to say yes or no. Those who can’t resist treats and fear wastage go into the mass-market category, those able to rise above food and demonstrate denial are at the top. “Fasting is in,” Raymond [Martin Raymond, a trend forecaster] says. “It’s the top of the food chain of diets — it’s about the right to refuse. Mainstream diets are aimed at people with low willpower who need rewards.”