Here’s an interesting Wellington Grey visualization of global obesity, specifically the percentage of the population older than 15 with BMI (body-mass index) greater than 30.
Not to ruin the story, but it’s one most of us know already: America is the most obese country on the globe, thanks to the proliferation of processed foods and a nonexistent nutritional education curriculum that isn’t shrouded in politics. America, as a nation, is swimming in sugar. We’re literally a sick country because of the way we eat.
Note the thinnest five countries: Austria, Italy, Norway, Japan and Korea. These are countries that, by and large, adhere to cultural/traditional diets (read: whole foods), don’t have the “paradox of choice” confusing consumers in markets, and have little or no interest in processed foods.
6 responses so far ↓
grey // May 23, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Thank you for linking to my site.
-Grey
Jeff Ventura // May 23, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Grey: you’re welcome. Keep up the good work over there.
Peter Ayscough // May 23, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Not to mention the effect of exercise on BMI/obesity etc. We are evolved to support our food-gathering activities by moving … further than the front door to accept a pizza from the delivery guy.
Many people in the modern world have become accustomed to a sedate lifestyle, it’s a mindset that exercise is to be avoided. This mindset, like any, is addictive and therefore requires a conscious effort to escape from.
Steve P // May 24, 2007 at 12:22 am
I wonder if it was the pizza delivery guy that caused the fall of Rome, too!
gwhiz // May 24, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Another interesting factoid… for the first time in modern history… more than 50% of our intake of food is going to come from “eating out” as opposed to coming from the “grocery store”. OVER 50%!! Yowweee!
Why do I know this stuff?!
Kurazaybo // May 26, 2007 at 2:36 am
American fat people is famous here in Mexico, not because of quantity or fatness itself, but for living with it as if it were natural.
Interesting to see Mexico is second place!
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