Just as in so many other places around the world,
obesity is on the rise in Japan. While some
nutritionists are advocating that people follow a Japanese diet to lose weight, many in Japan
are eating more foods more of the time, including traditional foods in addition to junk foods. 24% of Japanese over the
age of 15 are overweight or obese and the number is rising. The same pattern can be seen in children, where 10% are
obese or at risk for becoming obese. Children are more likely than their parents and grandparents to indulge in a diet
of hamburgers and french fries on a regular basis, though the highest obesity statistics are seen among middle-aged
men.
The Japanese government and health ministry are sinking money into new programs to help raise awareness of healthy eating and encourage weight loss and avoid diets like the one 10-year old Sayaka Oyama had before embarking on a weight loss program: spaghetti and meat sauce for lunch, chocolates and cookies for a snack, rice balls for dinner and sandwiches at nighttime classes, followed by more noodles before going to bed. Sayaka was 50 pounds over her ideal weight and is now in a sports program for overweight children. Hopefully the Japanese government will not push dieting programs too hard at children, concentrating on the parents instead because in the notoriously weight-conscious country, young women are more likely to be underweight than not.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-09-2006 @ 3:02PM
Julie Hamina said...
The Japanese are proving western culture is spreading.
Americans are overweight simply because we EAT. We have a whole tv network dedicated to FOOD. 30 Minute Meals, Iron Chef America, Paula Deen (I love her and her southern cooking)
Every 7 minutes or so we are inundated with food commercials, no matter what channel we're watching (except premium channels hbo ect)
Nothing like seeing a Burger King commercial at 10PM and thinking, "Boy that looks good!" and off you go to the local Burger King (or wherever)
You scarf your BK and go to bed...where your bacon double cheese turns to cellulite overnight.
Our idea of exercise is walking to our cars in most cases or walking to the fax machine at work.
We're so busy we don't have time for breakfast so we stop at Mc Donalds on the way to work (or wherever) for an Egg McMuffin, hashbrowns and a large coffee with extra cream.
You didn't have time to eat breakfast so it goes without saying you didn't pack a lunch.....off to Wendys for lunch.
After a long day at work you sure don't feel like coming home and standing in the kitchen to make dinner so you get home and order Pizza from Pizza Hut (or wherever)
You munch your pizza sitting in front of the tv until that Burger King commercial comes on at 10PM....only to repeat the whole cycle all over again.
Japan was bound to adopt our eating habits...luckily it seems the Japanese Health Ministry has been alerted to the problem and is trying to take action. (unlike the USA who is just now 'aware' of a problem)
I wonder if they have commercials for Kung Pao Chicken at 10PM?? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........
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3-09-2006 @ 3:04PM
Finished.Law.School said...
I was given the nickname tabe hodai (all you can eat) when I was in Japan and I still lost weight. I had come off of heavy weight training just before going to Japan and I was doing my best to maintain the training and high metabolism while I was there. My eating habits were entertainment for many of the people sitting next to me in restaurants as well as people who were hosting me for dining. It was definitely some of the best food I have EVER had.
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3-09-2006 @ 3:35PM
Biotrex said...
We are what we eat.
I am a blood donor. More specifically I donate platelets on a regular basis. I was blessed with an overabundance so I donate them for people who need them for surgery or medical treatment.
When you are on the machine, your plasma goes into one bag, platelets go into a pouch attached to a spinner. I am amused when I look at the plasma bag.
Your plasma's supposed to be 'straw-colored' and transparent. Eat Chinese food the night before and your plasma becomes harder to see through.
Go on a binge of Pizza, Chinese Food and McDonalds for a week and you can see how it affects your plasma by how opaque it becomes.
Eat sensibly for a week and your plasma becomes transparent again. Our bodies just can't deal with all the fat we eat - no wonder it clogs up our arteries.
Eat sensibly, America!
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