"asian thin" vs. "american thin"?

umachanxo

This topic title made me think immediately of an article about a South Korean girl band called SNSD that I read once. It was saying one of the members was "Fat" at like 95lbs.



The culture surrounding weight is different in Korea at least than it is in Canada, that's for certain. But you need to look at your own health and not that of everyone else. Make sure -you- have a healthy body weight and work out regularly. Make sure -you- get the proper nutrients that your body needs. Don't be concerned with anyone else.

ShreddedTweet

Totally get it, in America my sister-in-law's family spent the whole time saying how skinny my three sisters and I were when in actual fact one was totally overweight after just having had a baby a month previous. I mean she was at least 20lbs to 30lbs overweight, not just 7 or 10. They were all lovely people but massive and we saw some genuinely huge people the like of which you would honestly never see here...

acogg

This settles it. I'm moving to Samoa.

pullipgirl

I know Japanese women are getting slimmer than they were 15 or 20 years ago

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030401436.html

Rocbola

This settles it. I'm moving to Samoa.

You and me both. I lived there for a couple years back in the 90's. I miss the climate and the fresh fruit!

crystalflame

I went to high school in Singapore. Most of my friends were Asian. I was 5'5", 125-130lbs, and a size 6. Most of my friends were 5'2", 100-110lbs, and size 0/2. I would say we all looked fine - the genetics are different. The body shapes are different, the frame size is different, the height is different. I had D-cups, while most of my friends could barely fill out an A. My hips were a lot wider set than theirs. I never got comments about needing to be thinner over there, but my size 6 Chinese friend did because her weight wasn't distributed the same way mine was.

Compare Angelina Jolie to Zhang Ziyi - both are thin, just with very different body types.

ihateroses

I teach in Korea (I feel like I open with this a lot, my badddd) and at 113lbs, 5ft I am overweight by Korean standards. If you are above a size 4 U.S. you are pretty much stuck shopping online here.

At school teachers openly talk about each others weight and comment on what they eat. I think standards here are absolutely different. Korean women also prefer more feminine "pretty" men, and Korean men (from observation only) seem to prefer slim/petite women.

I think some of it has to do with food but genetics seems to be the main factor. With the amounts of rice consumed on a daily basis I'm surprised everyone's not walking around with a protruding belly! (not hatin' haha).

My point: Just get to a place where you are comfortable. Make your own standards. Just don't do it the wrong way (e.g eating 800 cals a day )

WVmom24

Asians are definitely smaller as a whole, so I can see where you wouldn't feel 'thin' around your relatives or in Asia, but if you're at a healthy weight, you're at a healthy weight.

ninerbuff

I'm not sure if it is cultural or if it is physiological, but lately i've been having the conflict between what "thin" means in america vs. asia.

According to my non-asian friends, I am thin, and should be happy with my weight. however, when I compare to my naturally thin asian relatives and friends, I definitely need to lose weight. Especially when I visit asia, I feel huge over there!

I am all for being happy with who you are no matter what and just choosing to better yourself, but it doesn't help my motivation when I live in the US and am surrounded by people who make me feel thin, when in all actuality, I am 9 lbs above a healthy bmi and even when I was in the healthy bmi range a few months ago, I still was too heavy.

does anyone else identify with this?

It is a cultural thing. Unfortunately so many Asians that do come to America end up gaining quite a bit of weight because of factors like, work, commuting (eating because bored or stressed), and basically portions compared to that of how food is here compared to Asia.
But all in all it's controllable.

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crimsoncat

I've always heard in Japan that women aim to be less than 100lbs no matter their height. If that is the case, then the standards for "thin" over there may be unrealistic for some women.

acogg

Doesn't the Asian culture treasure smallness in women? Feet binding comes to mind. So, it would make sense genetically that the people are small.

SummerMarieM

I can understand what your saying. I am from Nebraska and when I was in the UK I felt like Fiona, the Ogre compared to the majority of British women I saw over there, even though I was in great shape at a size 11 at 5'6". Even their dress size UK 12/14 is compared to US size 14/16. I was considered "hefty". There are alot of cultural differences involved though. I did notice there is much more malnurishment and everyone walks EVERYWHERE there.

itstimetoeat

I'm Asian and I absolutely relate to what you mean about "thin" and comparing yourself to other Asians. Every person's body is different. I've been chunky all my life and that's not acceptable in our culture because most Asian females are VERY petite. It's horrible to hear someone call you fat or overweight but if you let others' dictate how you should look/think you should look, you will never be happy.

I believe that each person should find what makes them happy and follow through. If you know and feel that losing X amt of lbs will make you happy, do whatever it takes to get there. If you want it bad enough, you can achieve it. The process can be slow but you do eventually get there. I was never able to lose weight ever but since I've joined MFP and followed a workout regimen, cut carbs, really pay attention to what I eat and how much calories I intake/burn, it has helped me A LOT. I was able to lose weight.

The worse thing is PLATEAU'ing. It is like the devil of weightloss. Your worse enemy. I am stuck there.

I've done the eat much less cals that what MFP recommends and that's a bad idea. I started plateauing and have been since I did that. I've gone back to the 1200 cals plus the 6 days a week workout. My progress is extremely SLOW. Don't let that defeat you though.

Suni3276

Welcome to my world.. Lived in India for 6 years.. people out right come up to me and say I have a pretty face but my body is too fat for its own good.. Not to mention being 5 ft 9 inches... that didn't help at all since just about everyone (including the guys ..) are short also... ugh.. Anyways you have to do what you want and what is good for your body and well learn to ignore.. that is the best thing I can tell you...

Rockmyskinnyjeans

Just a couple of things:

I think you appear to be pretty proportionate from what I could tell from your profile picture, but you should NOT have your calories set to 800 a day. That isn't healthy at all and I'm not sure what the motivation is behind you doing that.

Also, yes, we as Americans are seen as bigger people than those in the Asian culture. That Hong Kong BMI chart shocked me when it listed a 25 BMI as obese! That's considered BARELY overweight or right on the cusp of a normal weight in the US.

yeshualovesme

I have a friend that is 1/2 Filipino and half African American. She can look either depending on styling. She is 5'8" and 120 pounds - moved to New York to be in Miss Saigon. She had to loose down to 108 pounds to blend in with the other girls in the show that were Asian. We went to see her and on stage she looked totally normal (aka not too thin). We went back stage and I hardly recognized her - RAIL thin. I was 120 lbs 5'7" back then and was marveling how one of my butt cheeks was the size of her whole back end. Blew me away, but she had to do it to be on par with the rest of the girls that were Asian.

yeshualovesme

I have a friend that is 1/2 Filipino and half African American. She can look either depending on styling. She is 5'8" and 120 pounds - moved to New York to be in Miss Saigon. She had to loose down to 108 pounds to blend in with the other girls in the show that were Asian. We went to see her and on stage she looked totally normal (aka not too thin). We went back stage and I hardly recognized her - RAIL thin. I was 120 lbs 5'7" and was marveling how one of my butt cheeks was the size of her whole back end. Blew me away, but she had to do it to be on par with the rest of the girls that were Asian.

horseplaypen

I wish someone would tell my Taiwanese grandma that Asian people are supposed to see North Americans as fat... then maybe she'd stop shovelling rice and chicken drumsticks in my bowl and telling me to "eating more, eating more"...

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

I'm not sure if it is cultural or if it is physiological, but lately i've been having the conflict between what "thin" means in america vs. asia.

According to my non-asian friends, I am thin, and should be happy with my weight. however, when I compare to my naturally thin asian relatives and friends, I definitely need to lose weight. Especially when I visit asia, I feel huge over there!

I am all for being happy with who you are no matter what and just choosing to better yourself, but it doesn't help my motivation when I live in the US and am surrounded by people who make me feel thin, when in all actuality, I am 9 lbs above a healthy bmi and even when I was in the healthy bmi range a few months ago, I still was too heavy.

does anyone else identify with this?

I totally understand how you feel. I'm half-Filipino half-Mexican but I mostly inherited the Hispanic/Euro side & I live in the Philippines. Even at US size 2/UK size 6/Euro 36/XS and 19% body fat, I still look huge here & the smallest that I can fit in will be a M (sometimes even L). However I don't give it a damn & in fact I find it quite entertaining whenever I go to European clothing stores & see those little Filipina ladies piling up at the kid's section of the store with the look of frustration & embarrassment on their faces. Well that's the 'price' you get for being thin, its payback time little gals :laugh::devil:

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

You don't look massively thin to me (sorry!)

I think perceptions are skewed by context. Many, many Americans are grossly overweight, in comparison to the average American you are thin.

Asians (I think) currently have less of an obesity issue, and average a more normal healthy weight.

They may not look obese but more than 90% of them are skinny-fat which is equally unhealthy & are metabolically obese. In the Philippines where I am, everyday I see stick thin men & women with bulging bellies and arms, thighs & legs that jiggle like a Jell-O. Not attractive at all.

acogg

There are alot of cultural differences involved though. I did notice there is much more malnurishment and everyone walks EVERYWHERE there.

That's the truth. They think nothing of walking four miles to get to the pub. They think Americans are silly because we will drive if it's four blocks. lol

purpleipod

Have you ever looked at the average Asian woman's body structure? They are naturally tiny. I usually look big beside them and I'm only 5'3. Their version of thin vs. a Caucasian's version of thin is always going to be different.

Erisad

I totally understand this. When I was younger, I used to pray that I would turn into an Asian girl so I would be tiny and pretty forever...yeah that didn't happen. Oh well, life goes on. :laugh:

Noflexing

if you keep trying to compare yourself to others your never going to get anywhere. "you can't get ahead when you're trying to get even." you're not getting fit to be classified as 'thin' by the world, you're getting fit for your own personal goals and that's all that matters.

Lalouse

Did you know that the BMI doesn't work for most asians who live in Asia? BMI is unreliable when you go across cultures and should not be used for comparison purposes. You're right; most Asians, men and women, are thin and have a very low BMI, making many of them categorized as underweight by Western standards.. when many are actually perfectly healthy.

BMI also doesn't work for muscular people (my doctor joked to my husband that he is obese, but actually he is extremely fit), and other cultures.

A better measure for your health is waist circumference (under 35 for women) and body fat %.

That said, most Americans are overweight or obese and so you also shouldn't compare yourself to them. Figure out how much body fat you have to lose and go for that. You'll lose the appropriate weight accordingly.

briannadunn

I have Asian friends and I would say they all have tiny bones and tiny bone structures and unless you fall into that category then you are not going to be as thin as them, even at your lightest. I think that American people are so used to being fat and seeing fat people that they have a screwed sense of what healthy is and what thin is and I for one am going to fight the same battle when I reach my goal weight. I am 5'5'' (give or take) and I know at 132 pounds (which is my ultimate goal) I will look to thin to many but according to all of my charts and the doctors I should be there, I will be nothing but muscle but that is ok.

Back to you, if you are happy at your weight then stick to it, don't worry about your Asian friends, you aren't them and we don't live in Asia. They have a different eating structure and some of them don't get all of the nutrients. I feel sorry for anyone who gets turned away for not being a size 0. My Cousin lives in Japan and feels that she is fat too..She is by their standards and has to import her clothes.

wolfchild59

I admittedly haven't read this entire thread, but I understand the OP's point of view. I have one particular Asian friend that is one of the skinniest of the girls in her group of friends and in the circle of friends that I'm a part of with her as well. But whenever she goes home her aunt and grandmother are constantly telling her how fat being in the US has made her and she has a horrible body image because all of her relatives that are still at home are way skinnier than she is and always point it out.

It's really sad because she's got a really nice shape/figure, is thin but healthy (not just skinny/skinny fat), she runs 5Ks on a fairly regular basis and clocks good times, and she's able to maintain that along with mostly eating what she wants (not that she binges, she's just a foodie that enjoys eating good stuff). But she's always upset and often beats herself up when she does eat because she thinks she's fat and worries about what her family will say to her the next time she takes a trip home.

portwein

American culture, too much cheap available food, lack of exercise, sedentary jobs, stress and on and on. And still many people still want to come to the states. Look at pictures of Americans one generation ago. We know look huge to them. Take a look at Asians a generation ago, and you will see little difference.

BinaryPulsar

I'm reading some of these comments and just want to chime in and say that not all small people are skinny fat or unhealthy. Some people do have a small bone structure (and not just Asian women). It's not good, bad, better, worse. It's just one of the ways that we are not all carbon copies of one another.

Rocbola

It is a cultural thing. Unfortunately so many Asians that do come to America end up gaining quite a bit of weight because of factors like, work, commuting (eating because bored or stressed), and basically portions compared to that of how food is here compared to Asia.
But all in all it's controllable.

It's a food thing. When they come to America, they drop their native high carb/low fat, real food diet and get onto a high fat, highly processed, calorie dense American diet.