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More= Uk.
Less= Not sure, probably Spain or Italy.
On a general rule, British are larger and heavier. People on Northern Spain are larger and heavier than southeners, so it mut be related to weather (just a theory) and food. In the south, they have "Med food", more vegetables, more produce, more outdoor activities.
English food and food eaten in Northen Spain is not healthy, a lot of fat, heavy stews. For example, here we have many places that sell "English breakfast", eggs, bacon, pork and beans, Scot eat Scotch pies...Traditional foods here are very similar, but in most Spain (except Northen Spain) such breakfasts and such foods are considered "cholesterol bombs" and people are very health conscious.
I believe that the only real healthy food in western Europe are Mediterranean and Scandimavian food.
German food is also very unhealthy and basic, but delicious.
Problem is that a lot of traditional food was OK when the level of activity was ten times more.,,,Before people used to eat a lot of pork, cook with lard, drink 5 times more wine and brandy, but not anymore...
Apart from lacking salt, I can't really see that much healthy food (at least) in Finland. Cream-based sauces, meat, ... But yeah, they are sporty here.
Menu for tomorrow at our university cafeteria:
Salmon nuggets, mustard relish sauce
Creamy ham & potato casserole
Bean tacos with sour cream
Pureed creamy potato and leek soup
Shrimp and coconut curry Thai-style, Jasmine rice
Pork sirloin Black & White, roasted potatoes
Quite good, but you should definitely exercise a bit. Otherwise...
Not at all, Scandinavians are fitness nuts and their food is very healthy.
Interesting that you say that; I remember this Danish girl I knew who ate potatoes all the time, and she and her family were all thin. Take that, anti-carb people
Also, looking at the WHO link, it seems people in the German-speaking region of Europe are some of the heavier people of Europe, and from the German people I've known (surprisingly many, actually, but that's another story), they seem like naturally big people, not necessarily fat, but with broader shoulders, heavier frame, etc. How would you rate Germany/Austria/Switzerland in terms of the perceived normalcy/stigmatization of being fat? And again, we're not talking about bejarano's sheet people, just your everyday pot-bellied person.
I think he's saying that Americans are so fat they wear sheets cause they can't find clothes to fit.
Just to throw in my 2 cents. I was born in Europe and lived there off and on throughout my young life. Yes, there are some overweight people but you never see these cinnamon roll looking people like you do here at Costco or wal Mart for exmaple. Where the rolls just layer down the body so they look like walking rolls. The best example is to think of what the dough looks like in one of those pressurized cinnamon roll packages at the store.
We always say...in America, you turn your head to look at an attractive woman, in Europe, you turn your head to look at an obese person. It's very true.
And again, we're not talking about bejarano's sheet people, just your everyday pot-bellied person.
lol! "Sheet people"! Thanks for clarifying ^_^ .
I think you're right about the Germans, and I think that because they're stockier (with a strong tendency toward overweight after 40), being overweight isn't stigmatized, it's normal. But my info could be out of date. Anyway, for further clarification, are we talking about overweight among younger people (under 40-ish), or the population as a whole? I've read that recently young German women are tending toward overweight, whereas that wasn't common before. I would guess that there would be more pressure on young people to stay thin, than there would on older people.
I wonder what people have in mind when they say that Scandinavian food is healthy. The standard diet I observed in Sweden was bread, cheese, butter, and cucumbers. Daily. 2-3 times daily, in fact. Occasionally some meat or fish. Potatoes, for variety, in place of bread. Green veggies and fruit are very expensive, so they're a luxury, a rarity. So I'm wondering what the definition of "healthy" food is. Young people weren't physically active, but the men stayed thin, some young women were a little heavier, but not fat.
I think you're right about the Germans, and I think that because they're stockier (with a strong tendency toward overweight after 40), being overweight isn't stigmatized, it's normal. But my info could be out of date. Anyway, for further clarification, are we talking about overweight among younger people (under 40-ish), or the population as a whole? I've read that recently young German women are tending toward overweight, whereas that wasn't common before. I would guess that there would be more pressure on young people to stay thin, than there would on older people.
I wonder what people have in mind when they say that Scandinavian food is healthy. The standard diet I observed in Sweden was bread, cheese, butter, and cucumbers. Daily. 2-3 times daily, in fact. Occasionally some meat or fish. Potatoes, for variety, in place of bread. Green veggies and fruit are very expensive, so they're a luxury, a rarity. So I'm wondering what the definition of "healthy" food is. Young people weren't physically active, but the men stayed thin, some young women were a little heavier, but not fat.
How did you observe this? I'm born in Sweden and have lived there off and on for six years and a typical family doesn't eat what you described. On occasion yes but mainly home cooked meals. No hot pockets.
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What?
. But yes I think it's true. It's genes.
