IS THIS RACIST?

No, you were not racist. The word 'racist' is over-used and often misunderstood.

I was in much a similar situation a while ago, only it was face-to-face. Luckily for me the Jamaican person I was with told the others to stop being ridiculous, and actually got quite angry about it.

You were not being racist. I think what people were picking up, and confusing for racism was your generalisations. But since the generalisations weren't of a negative stereotype, and in context to an observation. I can't see how they were offensive. I think in general there is a lot of ignorance abound these days regarding issues of race, that any comment can and will be used against you. This doesn't help race relations. I have white colleagues who deliberately Feign faux outrage when observations of race are discussed, no matter the context. This does more harm than good. I believe it stems from resentment and ignorance. How many times have you heard "we'll if 'they' can say it/make jokes about race, then why can't we?". My answer is that you can, but context is key.

Well one way in which I could see why this comment could be seen as "negative" is that Asian women can feel under a lot of pressure from people who have such beliefs, who tell them "they're naturally skinny", when in fact they have to struggle maintaining their weights as well. It creates false expectations that can affect their self-esteem, or at least frustrate them.

Clutching at straws much?

Silly me for empathizing. I'm pretty sure if you lived among them you wouldn't feel it's a "stretch":)

I do not think stating genetic differences is racist - and some of these differences do relate to health and diet- Asian people are more likely to be lactose intolerant, thalesaemia is a genetic disease usually of people of Mediterranean descent, indigenous Australians are at higher risk of diabetes.....

I don't think any of these could be taken as rascist, not sure how what you stated could either OP. even if it is factually untrue ( I don't know if it is or not)

You were not being racist. I think what people were picking up, and confusing for racism was your generalisations. But since the generalisations weren't of a negative stereotype, and in context to an observation. I can't see how they were offensive. I think in general there is a lot of ignorance abound these days regarding issues of race, that any comment can and will be used against you. This doesn't help race relations. I have white colleagues who deliberately Feign faux outrage when observations of race are discussed, no matter the context. This does more harm than good. I believe it stems from resentment and ignorance. How many times have you heard "we'll if 'they' can say it/make jokes about race, then why can't we?". My answer is that you can, but context is key.

Well one way in which I could see why this comment could be seen as "negative" is that Asian women can feel under a lot of pressure from people who have such beliefs, who tell them "they're naturally skinny", when in fact they have to struggle maintaining their weights as well. It creates false expectations that can affect their self-esteem, or at least frustrate them.

Clutching at straws much?

Silly me for empathizing. I'm pretty sure if you lived among them you wouldn't feel it's a "stretch":)

If I lived among 'them'? Lol
Maybe I should set up a support group for Oriental mums who can't cope with the pressure of people thinking they are naturally thin, so turn to alcohol and subsequently walk around with red faces

A lot of people need to look up the definition of racist.

People are different, culturally and physically. Discussing these differences in a constructive way - as you appear to have done - is not racist. It only becomes so when the comments become derogatory towards the race. It's too easy a card to play simply because some people don't like or agree with the comments you are making (and this applies to other differences as well, not just race)

What makes multi-culturalism is discussing and embracing the differences. Not discussing them is what breeds the hatred and distrust of someone who is different and that's when the racism begins.

Just so you know, you're exactly right about the Asian population and drinking! I'm a Public Health student and I had to take a class discussing drug use and abuse. We talk every chapter about the racial disparities in drug use. When we talked about alcohol, it came up that nearly 50% of the Asian population have decreased levels of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase which is responsible for breaking down alcohol derivatives. The absence of these will causes someone to get drunk faster.

Any time a pale complected person make any comment about a person of another color, race or ethnicity it can be construed as a racist comment. It is ridiculous.

Saw in the news the other day that a person was called racist for wearing a sombrero as part of his halloween costume. Might have to throw away all my Hawaiian shirts before I offend someone.

I never owned a slave, nor did anyone in past generations of my family. I never employed an illegal alien, nor has anyone in my family.

I find the word racist offensive and I believe we will never end racism until we stop talking about it. Eliminate checking off your ethnicity when you fill out forms. We are all the same. Dealing with all the same problems. Start looking out for others. Stop singling people out based on their differences.

I am a South Asian, engaged to an English bloke, and no, you were not racist or offensive in any way. I keep telling my fiance that I need to lose weight before visiting family back home because I am considered 'fat' for Sri Lankan standards (I am considered small in the UK) and everyone comments on it. (Telling someone 'OMG, you have gained so much' and feeling their bingo wings is not considered rude there. Gets friggin annoying! lol)

What I do find offensive is when people shout 'racist' when it isn't. Had a friend who once asked me if I knew about a certain Bollywood director who had retired and another friend go 'that is racist. she is not Indian. Why would you assume she knew about the director just because she is brown skinned'. I was happy to just say 'not heard of him' to the first friend, but the second comment made me feel really uncomfortable and a little offended.

PC gone crazy!

Sumo wrestlers are also Asian.

thats not racist.