Those of you who have lived in more than one country, did it affect your weight?

I've lived in the UK for ten years (first in Scotland, then in Wales, now in England) and as others have said, I walk tons more than I ever did in the US because it's easier to get where you're going on public transport or on foot than to drive (especially in London). Just going back and forth to work is about 7,000 steps. This is significant in terms of how active I am on a daily basis because I do at least an hour of walking every single day, including tons of stairs, so I burn more calories just going about my life than I did in the US. Secondly, the food portions are massive in the US, and not just in restaurants. My mom actually got upset at me and my husband at Christmas for not eating all of the massive portions she would serve, and considered us antisocial for going on a couple of hikes on our own (she and my stepdad are unable to do this kind of physical activity, largely because they are both obese and have all the predictable health problems associated with that). We ate what we consider normal sized portions, plus a few normal seasonal treats, and still gained a stone between us in two weeks.

I lived in India for 6 months. Everyone says you lose weight in India, and I lost a lot, but I also put it all back on while I was still there.

I moved to South Africa for a few months and gained about a stone; a combination of drinking loads of whisky which seems to be standard out there, and being very restrictive on where i could go; wasn't allowed out by myself so couldn't go for a run or go and find a gym (and i was very often living in places where there were no gyms). Didn't help that the people i was working for ran a coke producing company and a biltong factory, so always lots of yummy things to eat!

I haven't lived in more than one country, but I have lived in more than one state. I've spent more time at a healthy weight while in Texas than while in Missouri. Texas potluck dinners tend to have more salads than what I remember seeing in Missouri. There is a bigger Mexican influence in Texas. In Missouri, you're almost guaranteed to have chicken and dumplings at a potluck, but it is rare in Texas. Ham seems to be more common in Missouri. While those differences could effect my weight, it still comes down to personal choice. The changes in my lifestyle at home that had nothing to do with which state I was in had more influence on my weight.

I'm from Canada (Ontario) and live in the UK. I find that a lot of the healthier options that are reasonably priced here are more expensive in Canada. Then again, last time I was back, I was shocked at how much grocery prices had gone up in general. I do think the UK is generally really good at having more foods with less additives and preservatives than N.America, and so that helps. I think the style of food shopping here is very different as well. Because our fridge is tiny (bar fridge) and our flat's kitchen is fairly small, we tend to go and pick things up every day or couple days, instead of a large shop once a week. I think that helps us keep fresh fruit and veg easier which is nice.

Either way though, it is just about making wise choices and no matter where you are you make good or bad choices.

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

You gain weight from eating too much. Doesn't matter where you eat it.

+1

I lived in the U.S. for 32 years and was fat.
I lived in Canada for 13 years and was fat.

Losing weight is a mental change. Where I live has very little impact.

I live in Germany and have and still frequently do spent long stretches of time on the US East Coast.

While weight gain and loss is indeed mostly influenced by lifestyle and personal resolve, environmental and social factors definitely have an impact.

Overeating isn't difficult in either country, but, boy, does the US make it easy and convenient. High caloric food is cheap, ubiquitous and comes in absurd portion sizes. While your average German eats out maybe once or twice per week and cooks the rest of their meals at home, it's the other way around for many Americans, and I can see why: It's cheap and socially acceptable.

Actually being obese is also a whole lot easier on a day to day basis in the US. Got a BMI of over 35 and need clothes in Germany? Tough luck, the nearest Big & Tall store is a 45 minute drive away and absurdly expensive. Your regular clothing store rarely carries anything larger than XXL. In the US you can't throw a brick without hitting a Walmart with a wide selection of dirt cheap clothes all the way up to 8XL.

Walmart has other perks as well. Feeling a bit down because of your weight and recent overeating? Just head over to Walmart: No matter how obese you are, chances are, you'll find plenty of people there who are at least twice as large to make you feel better. Hey, you can still walk through the store on your own two feet, if that isn't worth celebrating with some donuts and a large milk shake on your way out, then what is?

But just like the US gives you all the tools you need to eventually gain enough mass to trap a small moon in your orbit it also has a much larger variety of tools to lose all that weight: There is ready made food for just about any diet that's in style right now. There is always a low calorie option and just about any fad diet can be shopped for with ease. Germany's selection of those food items is a lot smaller, at least if you don't want to cook them from scratch. Where it shines is fresh food: Vegetables, meat and fruit are cheap and often of excellent quality, you can make a ton of delicious and healthy meals from scratch a a much lower cost than what your local fast food place offers. Eating healthy is cheaper but requires more effort.

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

Jmgkamp wrote: »

My husband, from Europe, was and is amazed at the number of buffet/all u can eat places here. Amazed and horrified.

That's funny...I grew up in the US and have been to buffet/all-you-can-eat meals maybe 5 times in my entire life. All of these were at the urging of someone who was NOT from the US.

Maybe it is one of those things that people either tend to do a lot or not at all.

Yeah, I never go and I live in the US. I always associated it with something my grandparents did. I wouldn't be surprised if it's more regional than generational, though.

I have lived in 3 foreign countries but it was all as a child and was very active. I did a lot of walking and just playing outside. I did notice that the eating patterns of most Europeans is very different. In the UK and Germany they tend to have a substantial breakfast and their main meal in the middle of the day. The evening meal is usually lighter. They also tend to be a lot less dependent upon driving everywhere, many bicycles and lots of walking.

I'm from the Netherlands but living in the US.

My weight gain was of course me, but the move didn't help.

US: Easy to eat out, high calorie food is cheaper/convenient compared to low calorie. Have to drive every where.

Netherlands: Eating out is expensive compared to cooking. Fresh vegetables are not as expensive. Rode my bike or walked everywhere.

I would probably still have gained weight in the Netherlands, I have a horrible sweet tooth. I don't think it would have been as much and as fast.

You're still responsible for your own choices, but build in exercise and less eating out, sure does make a difference.