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Just back from three weeks in Northern Italy. As I love to watch people, wanted to share that we saw very, very few overweight people in Italy. The few we saw turned out to be American and Russian tourists!
Despite the fact Italians eat a lot of pasta and baked goods, they just weren't heavy.
What does it mean?
I dunno.
Go figure.
We did see lots of older folks out walking and grocery shopping and carrying their groceries home with them. and portion sizes in restaursnts were less than half of what restaurants serve in the States. No doggy bags of leftover food in Italy!
I was in Paris last year and I saw locals eating croissants, sandwiches on baguettes, and other pastries, and I did not see any obese people. Zero.
We have a different relationship with food in this country. We are sedentary and we eat huge portions of food. We do not value fresh foods, or taking the time to cook. Quick, easy, satisfying, and lots of it. Supersize! We serve sodas in buckets.
In general, I think you see less obesity in cities, no matter what country. The reason is very simple -- you don't need a car in most cities, and you have to walk to public transportation. In the suburbs, you need a car. So people drive even if they're only going one mile.
This epidemic here is way outta control. When people can choose a burger for a buck versus a ten dollar salad. The ones on a budget will chose the burger over the healthier salad choice.
In general, I think you see less obesity in cities, no matter what country. The reason is very simple -- you don't need a car in most cities, and you have to walk to public transportation. In the suburbs, you need a car. So people drive even if they're only going one mile.
I am fairly certain that the United States has the fattest cities world wide with the exception of Kuwait, and possibly some island nations.
It could be our suburban lifestyle. If you go to Europe, it seems that people are living in areas that are walkable. Even the towns will have a grocery store and stores that suit the other day to day needs. Here, we have the suburbs with house after house after house after house. Usually there's nothing within walking distance except more houses.
Gone are the days when we had small towns and village where people could walk to the stores and walk back home again. Now you get into your car and drive to some strip mall where the big box stores are, do your shopping and pile it into the car and drive home again. The big chain stores put our little mom and pop stores out of business so there's nothing to walk to.
Despite the fact Italians eat a lot of pasta and baked goods, they just weren't heavy.
/[quote]
No, they don't eat a lot of anything. Food is much more expensive there and they eat small portions. Snacks, like potato chips, Yo-Ho's or DingDongs are unheard of and a gelato is 2 stinky little tbsp or so of ice cream.
When they move here, they all become regular Mamma Faccialata's over night. It's like pulling the rip cord on an inflatable raft.
Despite the fact Italians eat a lot of pasta and baked goods, they just weren't heavy.
/
Quote:
No, they don't eat a lot of anything. Food is much more expensive there and they eat small portions. Snacks, like potato chips, Yo-Ho's or DingDongs are unheard of and a gelato is 2 stinky little tbsp or so of ice cream.
I think she meant the frequency because she noted the portions were small.
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Despite the fact Italians eat a lot of pasta and baked goods, they just weren't heavy.
What does it mean?
It means you don't have to buy into the American propaganda fad that whole wheat is bad, and that portion sizes and lots of walking (calories in </= calories out) means good weight control.
And when did "baked goods" become a bad word in the American propaganda fad machine?
I bake goods all the time, including whole wheat (no sugar).
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