4 Japanese Eating Habits That Can Solve Our Obesity

Obesity is a national epidemic in the United States, with about 30 percent of the population medically classified as obese. Researchers in the United States have studied the problem extensively to determine why obesity has become such a public health crisis, looking to other countries for clues.

One such country where obesity is rare is Japan. Obesity is practically unheard of in Japan, with only about 3.5% percent of the population suffering from the condition. Researchers have discovered key differences in the diet and eating habits between Americans and Japanese people that account for the dramatic differences in obesity rates in the two countries. These lifestyle differences contribute to the low obesity rate among the Japanese, as well as their longer lifespans when compared to Americans. In Japan, Japanese women live to age 86 on average and Japanese men live to age 79, compared to age 80 and 75 respectively for the average American woman and man.

1.The Japanese Eat Smaller Portions Than Americans

One reason for the low obesity rates among Japanese citizens is very obvious: portion sizes. The typical Japanese meal contains much smaller amounts than would be found in the standard American diet. The Japanese also snack less between meals than their American counterparts.

By contrast, the typical American diet is strikingly similar to that of Japanese sumo wrestlers, who typical skip breakfast and then consume two super-sized, calorie-laden meals during the day. Thus, cutting portion sizes is critical in helping Americans combat obesity.