• Technological progress has reduced the relative price of food and has contributed to the increase in obesity all over the world. Increase availability of food has overstrained the will-power of people to resist the temptations of cheap food and has led to suboptimal consumption decisions relative to people’s own standards. The suboptimal consumption led to a reduction of subjective well-being, or happiness

• In simpler terms:

Since food is easy to get, people eat a lot of it. These people then admit feeling bad about eating a lot, so, by their own standards, they feel less happy.

• Two observations were made on food in industrialized countries:

First, an abundance of food is available, and second, food and drink are within close reach most of the time.

• Two views on the immediate availability of food were also made:

First, that is was a benefit of economic progress and has allowed people to satisfy their food preferences at lower costs than in the past, and second, the negative possibilities for immediately gratifying appetites and desires can be seen as a hindrance to pursuing a happy life and healthy diet.

• Obese people are less satisfied with work, family-relationships, partner-relationships, and social-activities, but not satisfaction with friendships.