Why is Belgium so Skinny?
jgnatca
Posts: 14,464 Member
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.
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.
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.
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Replies
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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.0
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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!)0 -
With a mere 10% obesity rate, I'd say a good part of the country is doing things "right".0
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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.0 -
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.0 -
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.0
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Great anecdotal observations.0
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3000 grams?
3000kcal?0 -
I visited Belgium last year. There were lots of salads and fresh fruits and vegetables available everywhere, even in fast food establishments.0
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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.0 -
I'm Dutch and didn't believe those figures so I checked and while the obesity figure is correct, about 48 % is overweight...0
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@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 30.0 -
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.0
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If only American schools dedicated to the education of physical fitness like Belgium! I would have loved to do horseback riding!0
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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.pdf0 -
keithmustloseweight wrote: »3000 grams?
3000kcal?
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weavingtheweb wrote: »I'm Dutch and didn't believe those figures so I checked and while the obesity figure is correct, about 48 % is overweight...
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keithmustloseweight wrote: »3000 grams?
3000kcal?
Of what? Water?
Because 3000g of carbs is 12,000 calories. And 3000g of fat is 27,000 calories.
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keithmustloseweight wrote: »3000 grams?
3000kcal?
3000 grams of carbs? That's 12,000 Calories.0 -
@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
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@Mr_Knight , these grams do indeed also include consumption of liquids.0
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I'm Belgian. We might not have an obesity problem yet, but almost 50% of our population is overweight...0
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@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.
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@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.0 -
@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.0 -
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.)0
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