Hi, I'm Earl. Product Manager at Curious case of weight gain in China
Here’s a fascinating article by the Wall Street Journal. As China becomes more industrialized like the U.S., the obesity rate of its population has risen also. However, while it is clear that obesity correlates with poverty in the U.S., obesity seems to be most prevalent amongst those who are more wealthy in China. In the U.S., lack of fresh, natural foods and an overabundance of cheap, unhealthy, processed foods drive children and youth to eat unhealthy and gain weight. In China, overeating of quality food in addition to the consumption of less healthy foods contribute to obesity. Sugar calories from fruits add up and become stored as fat, and the benefits of a diet high in fresh foods become negated by overconsumption.
From such “inverse” phenomenon, a few assumptions can be established about the state of eating in China and in the U.S. China must have smaller availability of cheap, unhealthy foods such as fast food restaurants and packaged foods compared to the U.S. Otherwise, obesity would likely correlate with poverty in China as it does in the U.S. This assumes that the poor would be able to afford the supply of cheap, unhealthy foods, thus sending obesity spiraling upwards for the lowest-class population. Furthermore, the fact that people who can afford healthy foods seem to become overweight reveals that the Chinese public lack general health awareness and education that the U.S. has become exceedingly successful in disseminating. In the U.S., the public becomes constantly inundated with the urgency of taking control of one’s own health. T.V. shows such as Biggest Loser portray weight loss as a game where the winners are those who lose the most weight, and as a result, the audience feel compelled to lose weight. After all, we all want to be winners? Furthermore, U.S. figureheads have often dabbled in charitable work regarding health and fitness, including First Lady Michelle Obama, and publications routinely publish stories regarding health and nutrition.
Now, China’s dilemma also provides a takeaway message for everyone who wants to live a healthier lifestyle. Everything is good in moderation, even fruits and vegetables, and don’t let a few servings of vegetable serve as reason to indulge in other less healthy foods because every bite counts. Remember, eating healthy foods does not necessarily mean that you are eating healthy.
EDIT: This The Atlantic article makes the reasonable suggestion that in China, diets high in vegetables may correlate with high consumption of fats, since Chinese cuisine comprises heavily of stir fries.
