Everyday Systems

The researchers found an association between BMI and wealth in every country. Globally, a 25% rise in wealth index was associated with a 54% spurt in BMI and a 33% increase in overweight. (This from an article that said that contrary to popular belief that Indian women are fat, their average BMI is well below even that of the lowest European countries: 21 compared to around 24 in Italy and France. Of course, this means the not-rich women are even thinner, though I can tell you from traveling there for 5 months in the late '70's, they aren't doing it for appearance's sake. I'm pretty sure the poor would choose to be heavier if they could.)

That's interesting because here in the States we're told that poorer people are more obese and the rich are healthier and slimmer. (Men's Health I think?)

Yes, it is true here. Processed food is very cheap. I think anywhere food is easily available and cheap, access to it loses its prestige. Wherever most people are poor and really can't afford extra food, plumpness means wealth, so in poor countries, as soon as people start earning more money, they aspire to be get fat like the wealthy in their environment.

In the States, the prestige is in the quality of the food one can afford, and, if just any low lifer can eat enough to get fat, the prestige will be in showing restraint. We're talking about the real wealthy here, not just those in middle class comfort.

In most parts of the world, food is very expensive. As you gain more wealth, you can buy more food, especially meat. I've just finished a book (which I will recommend here) that says contrary to what Gary Taubes has written, people who eat more meat are heavier than those who eat less meat.

It seems to work like this:

For the most part,

if you're really poor, you're starvation skinny.

if you're kinda rich (rich by global standards, poor by 1st world standards) you're fat.

if you're really rich, you're skinny.

Reinhard