Why is Belgium so Skinny?

jgnatca
jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
edited November 18 in Food and Nutrition
I've been analysing cluster diet data published by the WHO, comparing against a world obesity map, and I'm finding unusual results. Belgium and the Netherlands do not have an obesity problem (less than 10% of the population), even though they consume almost 3,000 grams a day; higher than North America's diet of just over 2,000.

BelgiumHighCalLowObesity.jpg

Not only that, they're carb-high! How does one explain this? My working theory is that this is a happy country, with possibly a more active population. Do they walk to work?

This does seem to fly in the face of the CICO model, and the theory that weight loss starts in the kitchen.

Puzzling.
«13456

Replies

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Why would it fly in the face of the CICO model? If they are active they would need more calories. Football (soccer for Americans) is huge over there as is cycling.
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    It's probably not that the whole population actively exercises, but I bet they are more active in general. Walk more, take the stairs, active job, hobbies after work.

    Yes, your calories in take priority when you are only active an hour a day at the gym. You simply won't burn off those 3000 calories by sitting at a desk all day and then taking a 60 minute spin class. But being more active all day is a much easier, more sustainable way to increase your TDEE. This concept does support CICO. You can just afford more calories in when you're not a lazy American (such as myself!)
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I can't confirm that the Belgians are that much more active, @usmcmp. If they are, then CICO still works.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    With a mere 10% obesity rate, I'd say a good part of the country is doing things "right".
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    From a friend who lives in Belgium
    Sports are a big factor in Belgian life. Primary and Secondary school students have Wednesday afternoon off to dedicate to extra-curricular activities such as sports and hobbies. Traditional sports include football, basketball, tennis, cycling, gymnastics, swimming, horse riding and athletics. Various competitions, leagues and open meets usually draw a good crowd. This might play some part in the very low obesity level in Belgium.
  • jmooose
    jmooose Posts: 15 Member
    I'm live in the U.S and visited the Netherlands this spring break, at the time I was 5"9 205lbs.
    they're biking population is huge! people bike casually to friends house, or bike to work in suits. Haha everyone does it, and they all seem so healthy. It was super motivational and I think I saw less than 10 fat people my whole 10 days there hahah.
    I've lost 30lbs and am now 175 after visiting Europe. It was amazing.
  • Robertus
    Robertus Posts: 558 Member
    edited May 2015
    I've lived in Belgium for over 7 years. Up through the age of university, the kids all seem to be very fit. No childhood obesity epidemic as there is here. Up through university, they all ride bikes year-round as there is rarely snow. Good youthful habits surely impact positively later adulthood obesity statistics. Some adults also ride bikes, but there are also quite a few adults who are significantly overweight, not as bad as here, of course, but they do indeed eat very, very well in my experience. Are there figures on average weight? Not just obesity, but overweight statistics? In my experience Belgians are not happier than other people.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Great anecdotal observations.
  • keithmustloseweight
    keithmustloseweight Posts: 309 Member
    3000 grams?
    3000kcal?
  • greco16
    greco16 Posts: 465 Member
    I visited Belgium last year. There were lots of salads and fresh fruits and vegetables available everywhere, even in fast food establishments.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    greco16 wrote: »
    I visited Belgium last year. There were lots of salads and fresh fruits and vegetables available everywhere, even in fast food establishments.

    My friend said this as well. They generally eat one "hot meal" per day and the rest of the time it is light salads and sandwiches.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited May 2015
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I've been analysing cluster diet data published by the WHO, comparing against a world obesity map, and I'm finding unusual results. Belgium and the Netherlands do not have an obesity problem (less than 10% of the population), even though they consume almost 3,000 grams a day; higher than North America's diet of just over 2,000.

    The US diet is higher than 2000 cal/day, you're using bad data for the CI side.

    This does seem to fly in the face of the CICO model, and the theory that weight loss starts in the kitchen.

    I don't see how you come to such a conclusion without understanding the CO side of it.
  • weavingtheweb
    weavingtheweb Posts: 135 Member
    I'm Dutch and didn't believe those figures so I checked and while the obesity figure is correct, about 48 % is overweight...
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    @Robertus, I refer to a happiness index when I speak of one country being happier than another. Belgium is indeed "happier" or at least has a lot less to worry about than say, Egypt or Saudi Arabia. These two countries rate very high on the obesity map (greater than 35%), eat fewer calories (average 1,664 grams daily) than the Belgians, but also rate as not very "happy". Their macro ratios by the way, are almost the same as Belgium's.

    The obesity rating is based on having a BMI greater than 30.
  • slucki01
    slucki01 Posts: 284 Member
    I've worked in both Belgium and The Netherlands. Both country have lots of healthy food, they're big on sports and people bike a lot -- especial in The Netherlands.
  • vixtris
    vixtris Posts: 688 Member
    If only American schools dedicated to the education of physical fitness like Belgium! I would have loved to do horseback riding! :D
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    The US spends more per child on schooling than Belgium does, but they are both in the top 5.

    http://www.oecd.org/education/skills-beyond-school/48630868.pdf
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    3000 grams?
    3000kcal?
    3000 grams
  • Robertus
    Robertus Posts: 558 Member
    I'm Dutch and didn't believe those figures so I checked and while the obesity figure is correct, about 48 % is overweight...
    That's what I suspected.

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    3000 grams?
    3000kcal?
    3000 grams

    Of what? Water?

    Because 3000g of carbs is 12,000 calories. And 3000g of fat is 27,000 calories.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    3000 grams?
    3000kcal?
    3000 grams

    3000 grams of carbs? That's 12,000 Calories.
  • janjunie
    janjunie Posts: 1,200 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    @Robertus, I refer to a happiness index when I speak of one country being happier than another. Belgium is indeed "happier" or at least has a lot less to worry about than say, Egypt or Saudi Arabia. These two countries rate very high on the obesity map (greater than 35%), eat fewer calories (average 1,664 grams daily) than the Belgians, but also rate as not very "happy". Their macro ratios by the way, are almost the same as Belgium's.

    The obesity rating is based on having a BMI greater than 30.

    I've been to Saudi Arabia and Saudis are fat for the same reasons American's are fat. There are way to many fast food places and everyone drives or is driven somewhere. I highly doubt Saudis eat less than 2000 calories on average the country is rich, full of food and doesn't have much to worry about. Just a little education
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    @Mr_Knight , these grams do indeed also include consumption of liquids.
  • Iri_2
    Iri_2 Posts: 349 Member
    I'm Belgian. We might not have an obesity problem yet, but almost 50% of our population is overweight...
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Plump and happy then, @Iri_2 ?
  • Robertus
    Robertus Posts: 558 Member
    edited May 2015
    jgnatca wrote: »
    @Robertus, I refer to a happiness index when I speak of one country being happier than another. Belgium is indeed "happier" or at least has a lot less to worry about than say, Egypt or Saudi Arabia. These two countries rate very high on the obesity map (greater than 35%), eat fewer calories (average 1,664 grams daily) than the Belgians, but also rate as not very "happy". Their macro ratios by the way, are almost the same as Belgium's.

    The obesity rating is based on having a BMI greater than 30.
    Oh, OK. They do have less to worry about than here. Healthcare and higher education (through doctorate) are paid for by taxes/government so these two stressors are much less than in the US. What I was asking about was not the cut-off for obesity, but rather the percentage of people overweight, ie, overweight but not necessarily obese. Weavingtheweb quoted a 48% overweight figure for Holland. How does that compare with other countries.

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    @Mr_Knight , these grams do indeed also include consumption of liquids.

    Where are you getting that they eat 12,000 calories worth of carbs per day? Show us a link.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    @Mr_Knight , these grams do indeed also include consumption of liquids.

    This makes zero sense. Either you are reading a totally whack study, or you are very confused.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    @Mr_Knight , these grams do indeed also include consumption of liquids.

    Where are you getting that they eat 12,000 calories worth of carbs per day? Show us a link.
    In to learn where 3000 grams comes from.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I do not mean to quibble....But I believe the obesity rate in the Netherlands is about 12 percent. That is the rate quoted most frequently, anyway. It has increased in the last 20 years or so, too. But, it is true that the obesity rate there remains much lower than in most other European countries, where the rate has been increasing a lot more.
    The Dutch decided to encourage cycling in the 1970s. There were a lot of road deaths of cyclists hit by cars, and then there was the oil crisis of 1973, and so the government made efforts to make cycling more safe and to promote it as transportation.
    The central train station in the city of Groningen has underground parking for 10,000 bikes, and I have read that in Amsterdam commuting by bicycle has become so popular that people have trouble finding places to park them all!
    It is estimated that 38 percent of all trips in Amsterdam are made by bicycle. (By comparison, 2 percent of trips in London are bike trips.)
This discussion has been closed.