It’s a common assumption that people in Japan don’t get fat. When we check a bit further, we can see that Japanese people don’t fancy sweet dessert, they cook gently, they don’t skip breakfast and they tend to eat small meals. Here are a few lifestyle changes that you can learn from Japanese people:
- Ask someone whether you appear to gain weight: A typical American cheeseburger will fatten you up. It packs so much calories and fat in a small size. An effective way for you to monitor your weight gain is by asking the opinions of others. In Japan, there’s no fat-blind politeness. People in Japan don’t mind noticing and acknowledging whether their friends are getting fat. It’s not considered impolite. This could cause a big peer pressure for you to remain slim. It’s one of the reasons why people in Japan don’t get fat easily. In the United States and many other countries, it’s considered rude to tell someone that he/she visibly gains weight. It may be considered taboo to comment about a person’s weight.
- Establish a small community that encourages ideal body weight: It’s clear that families and friends in Japan discourage people from becoming fat. On a bigger scale, there’s a more widespread expectation that someone shouldn’t get fat. As an example, many clothing stores in Japan don’t sell t-shirts with LL size. So, for people who live in Japan, it will be harder for them if they get overweight. It shouldn’t be considered as rudeness, but it’s better to think of it as tough love. It’s a good thing if we can live in a society that encourages us to stay slim and healthy. A healthier population also means that government spends less on health care. As comparison, in the United States, it’s easy to find even double XL clothing.
- Have an active lifestyle: Japanese people are always on the move. The concept of couch potato is quite foreign to the Japanese society. The life of Japanese people is often centered around; work, recreation and socializing. It’s clear that Japanese people are very committed to their work. Japanese people start their day in the early morning. Then they commute for long hours using public transportation. They would walk to the nearest bus or train station. When their work is completed, they will repeat the same routine again. On average, Japanese people walk about four kilometers when commuting. Socializing in Japan also contributes in making Japanese people slimmer. Apartment in Japan are small, so there’s not enough room to entertain a large group of relatives and friends at home. They will often go to public events, which encourage them to walk often. Recreational activities in Japan also promote slimmer physical condition. It’s quite common for them to go hiking and take trips to the lake. In Japan, cars are considered as luxury items and parking spaces in cities are expensive. Recreational activities in Japan are done on public transportation and foot, which encourage people to walk often.
