Asian Diet = Slender?

#1

It’s my understanding that the Asian diet is high in grains, breads and vegetables - all the things we try to avoid. However, most of the Asians I’ve met (traveling abroad), are quite slender. Is there some sort of genetic answer at play? Perhaps the foods they eat are less refined. Although, I did read that their weights are on the increase - due to increased food processing?

(Running from stupidity) #2

That’s the key, right there, along with portion sizes.

(Adam Kirby) #3

More unrefined carbs, and certain Asian diets tends to be quite low in fat.

Also, Asians tend to not accumulate subcutaneous fat. This sounds nice but it actually makes them very susceptible to diabetes.

(Ken) #4

Asian genetics can be very different. One dominant trait appears to be that many individuals do not experience rapidly rising leptin resistance when following a carb based nutritional pattern. The paradox, of course, is that they can still have rising insulin resistance, which is why Diabetes rates ate skyrocketing. It’s much the same for other warm climate genetic groups, with the result being becoming diabetic without being overweight.

Extra body fat, especially when carried subcutaneously rather than internally, was a positive survival trait for Temperate Zone dwelling humans. The humans in the Tropics didn’t need it.

(Omar) #5

my son noticed that the Philippinos in Philippine do not have tummies.

but the ones living in Saudi Arabia have tummies.

you figure it out

(Doug) #6

I do think a higher amount of processed food plays a part, as well as a somewhat overall “westernization.”

Dr. Fung had some general comments - that in some areas of the world people had a high percentage of carbohydrates in their diets, yet tended not to have metabolic/hormonal problems or much obesity. They aren’t “constant grazers” - no snacking between meals, and it is also common to have one big meal of the day, without much else eating, thus limiting the insulin response over a 24 hour period and keeping their overall insulin levels in a healthy range.

(Vladaar Malane) #7

If I could eat Japanese and get skinny I’d be very happy. I love their steakhouse food, of course it’s probably Americanized to not be what they are actually eating.

(Alex ) #8

This highlights the obesity comparison worldwide, pretty sure whilst Asia is at the bottom, the line trend shows it’s due to catch up at some point…?

adultobesitybyregion
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(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #9

As Gary Taubes points out, when Japanese consumption of refined sugar was at the level American was in the 1860’s, their diabetes rate was the same as America’s at that time—that is to say, almost completely non-existent. The diabetes rate in the U.S. began to climb after the consumption of refined sugar began to rise. (Remember that the candy, soda-pop, and ice cream industries were all founded after the American Civil War.) Now that Japanese consumption of refined sugar has climbed to the same level as America’s, so has their rate of diabetes. And Dr. Lustig points out that there is just a much bariatric sugery per capita in Japan these days as there is in the United States.