New Study: Koreans and Japanese Ranked World's Slimmest People

Chosun Ilbo (Conservative Daily in Korea) ^ | 5 April 2007 | Chosun Ilbo (Conservative Daily in Korea)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Koreans and Japanese Ranked World's Slimmest People

Koreans, many of whom are experiencing a sweeping zeal for losing weight, count with the Japanese as among the slimmest people in the developed world, a study shows. According to PopNews, a study on body mass index (BMI) released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2005 shows that only 3.2 percent of Koreans and Japanese have a BMI higher than 30.

A person with a BMI figure higher than 25 is considered overweight, while a reading above 30 means obesity.

The U.S. is the fattest of the OECD member nations with 30.6 percent of its population having a BMI higher than 30. It is followed by Mexico, Britain and Slovakia.

Towards the bottom of the list are Italy where 8.5 percent of the population is obese, Norway with 8.3 percent and Switzerland with 7.7 percent.

The OECD used data compiled in 2002 for Australia, Austria and Portugal, and statistics from 2003 for the rest, PopNews said.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

[AmericanInTokyo]

For general comment and discussion. Personal vignettes, etc. etc.

In addition to the obvious fish, vegetables, and tofu/tubu, EVERYONE walks EVERYWHERE!

Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk.

Climb. Climb. Climb. Climb.

Run. Run. Run. Run. (to catch trains).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping

[AmericanInTokyo]

here you go

[Lizavetta]

They also have interesting body types.

Flat.....everywhere. Flat abdomens, flat chests, flat faces, flat butts. I was recently in Hawaii where apparently a lot of Japanese vacation, and the sameness of them all was noteworthy.

[monkapotamus]

[GATOR NAVY]

Guess I’ll have to start to start smoking again. The BMI calculator says I’m 25.6 (overweight). My weight 2 years ago put me at 22.5 (normal).

[AmericanInTokyo]

LOL.

Well it is going in that direction. Ive seen actually more (of what one might call) "obese" Asian people in Tokyo and Seoul; although it is rare, it is more than in the past.

[AmericanInTokyo]

There certainly is no shortage of smoking in Tokyo and Seoul (and China for that matter)!

[YellowRoseofTx]

They also don’t cook their food to death. The Japanese eat mostly fish and chicken, blanched or fresh veggies and little to no breads. Basically no deserts after meals either. Green salads are the usual breakfast.

[wtc911]

Flat? Visit Korea and change your mind.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Generally speaking, yes.

But that sure is changing at least for the women folk in East Asia compared to say 20-30 years ago (i.e. what a lot of old timer U.S. GIs in Asia might recall).

Some of the (Japanese/Korean)international models, Olympic figure skaters (like Shizuka Arakawa), etc. could put any Western, well-built woman to shame. (i.e. good proportion)

[Cowboy Bob]

Weren’t the Ethiopians considered the Slimmest people back in the mid-80s? :0)

[Oztrich Boy]

I'll go with "interesting" for the little velveteen robot

[Mr. Jeeves]

Thanks for posting Grace Park and not Margaret Cho, who doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo. ;)

[sam_paine]

Used to be true. Chinese and Japanese chicks are definitely getting some kind of boobalicious genes from somewhere.

Lookin good.

[BallyBill]

I thought the headline read “slimmiest”. Time for new glasses.

[expatpat]

Of course the N Koreans are very slim — they don’t exactly get the chance to eat much.....

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #1

No wonder. Cities are too congested. Walking is the best way to get around. Naturally, many places people need to frequent are located within waling distance.

[Charles Henrickson]

I was over in Korea for a study program back in 1988. Lost 15 pounds in four months without even trying. Went from 208 to 193, my lightest as an adult (at 6'2"). The Korean diet was very low-fat and healthy and even tasted good: rice, kim chee, seafood, soup, etc. No fattening desserts.

Now I need to lose about 20 pounds. Maybe I should go back to Korea for a while.

[ezsmoke]