A new study has indicated that the South Pacific Island, Nauru, is the fattest country in the world with 93% of women, and 97% of men being overweight or obese. This wasn’t the case a decade ago when the tiny island country’s diet consisted predominantly of raw or grilled fish. However, in the recent years Nauru began importing western food, and the result has been type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease of epidemic proportions, not to mention a passion for the French fry.
So it's not quite as bad as the diseases brought to Native Americans from Europe & Africa huh? :(
ReplyDeleteThere may be more to the story than a change of diet tho. Why have they started importing more western food? Are we talking groceries or fast food restaurants? A culture that supports such fast food eateries as you describe has many health issues of which diet is only one factor.
Likewise, the obesity in such cultures is being augmented by cortisol as well as bloating related to stress-induced IBS.
I've noticed that just standing in line in some fast food places, after negotiating lunchtime traffic, can be more stressful than any healthy food one finds at such eateries can mitigate.
Maybe it's an entire lifestyle that's in need of overhaul, rather than just diet & exercise?