[MsVickie]

You live in Japan. Do yall have obesity like we do here? Silly question I know but even here in the states its very odd to see a obese Asian. I wonder why. I know they claim the USA is lazy but to me it would have to be more than just that.

[DocSanae]

The official obesity rate (BMI over 30) in Japan is 3%. I think it was around 4 or 5% for Korea, though I may have it wrong and it's about the same as us. It's rising in China, but I think it stil was under 10%.

Part of it is due the diet--the types of food we eat, and also, not many people graze. Our standard eating habit are 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks, around 10:00AM and 3:00PM.
I definitely see more overweight people than before, and our eating habits have changed a lot over the past 30 years. More fast foods, 'burgers, fries, junk snack, soda pops. However, we still have our traditional food that is somewhat high in sodium, but other than that, low in fat, and lots of veggies, both cooked and fresh. Carbs are our staples, so our balance in the total is high with carbs, around 60% or a bit higher. However, genetically, the Asian ethincity is better at metabolizing carbs than European ancestry people are. The opposite goes for protein and fat-- European ancestry people are better at metabolizing them than the Asians are. I am of the belief that the traditional foods develops over centuries and centuries are what are the best for each ethnicity.

Instead of bottled or canned soda pops, a lot of people will stock up on bottled tea--oolong (Chinese), green, or English tea. I think the total sales of bottled tea is higher than soda pops from what I see people carry around.
Also, the standard portions in restaurants, even fast food places, are smaller than the US. In some cases, probably half the US portions.

Public transportation in the cities are very good too, and in the suburban areas as well, that are within commuting distance of the cities. You can get practically anywhere on trains. If you are willing to walk 20-30 minutes, then you don't even need the bus, there is always a train station within that distance.

In the US, a lot of the Asians live in their own communities, and keep at least part of their culture--the food, the life style--from their home country. That means they keep the eating habits that are best fit for them genetically, which helps in keeping them fit. I'm sure, are the generations go on, and the US born. US grown population increases, so will the rate of obesity as the amount of traditional food they eat decreases, and the dependence on fast foods and products increase. However, if they keep moderation in practice, the effect should be small. If they did get in 4000, 5000, 6000 kcals daily, they will be sure to balloon up. If they stick to 2000-2500 kcals at most, they'll be safe.
Something else. Asians are more family oriented than the average American. That probably helps with security/insecurity issues and body image. If some one close to you is a role model to you, you are more likely to follow their life styles in general--eating patterns, coping mechanisms. This can be very important when you are an immigrant, especially first generation, and are not adept with the language of the country, and unfamiliar with the US society in general.

There are cultures in the world where an abundant body is symbolic of wealth and fertility. These cultures now are finding that they need to change some of that so that the abundant body is within the health danger limits. As far as I know that kind of body image is non-existent in Asian cultures, so that may be another reason.

So, moderation and exercise is the key in keeping yourself healthy. Also, I do think body image/psychology comes into play here. If you are comfortable in your own skin, you'll rely less on food to alleviate your worries.

[LadyLisa]

It is very interesting to see how people live in other countries. I visit Canada often and at least in Montreal there are very few overweight people there. I always feel out of sorts there. And like you said about portion control it is smaller up there in most of the places I have gone to. Now I think it is higher in Toronto and when I lived in Mississagua for a year I remember seeing some heavy people but I wasnt really heavy then so it may have just been me.

[MsVickie]

Thanks for the input. I have always wondered why and this sheds a new light on it for me. Very educational acutally. Thanks again.