On every trip to Tokyo for the past 25 years, since global obesity has been an issue, I have counted the number of people on a full subway car who are clearly obese.
The number has barely changed over the 25 year period. There can be roughly 60 people in a subway car at any time of day, any day of the week. My count has gone from barely one to slightly more than one per 60 people. In the U.S. the number would be 1 in three.
So how do I account for this startling discrepancy?
It can’t be food because the Japanese have changed much of their diet over the 25 years. There is plenty of fast food and younger people eat a lot of it. The Japanese always eat plenty of food at any meal. No change in exercise, they walk plenty. No change in traditional food which they eat when not eating fast food. A slight decrease in smoking.
I can only conclude a rather horrifying explanation: the potential for obesity is in our genes.
Good lord. How can this be?