culturally ingrained insensitivity to weight & general observations

So this year I moved halfway around the world to an area that is the basically the opposite of America health-wise (S.Korea). With the USA having about 40% of the population being overweight or obese and where I live now having -5%, the difference is noticable. I went from being "slightly larger" or even "Average" in the West to being "obese" over here. I even turned my head when I saw a much larger Korean, which I would never do back home... it was just strange to see it. I did lose 16-18lbs since joining a gym, but as the "look" that people go for is slim and "not too fit" (muscles can often be viewed similarly as fat here)... it's hard to keep positive. The population's diet is traditionally non-processed (even with a rise in chicken & beer, and pizza popularity), so besides all the white rice it's easy to eat whole foods and vegetables (all the side dishes). I wear one of the largest sizes in the dept. store...don't even bother going to the small shops without sizes.... and the kids continue to poke my stomach and call be "big" and make a circle with their hands. Although the lunch lady did call me "slim" when I chose to eat only a child's size portion of rice (they consider it fine to eat as much as you want of it on a diet)... it's hard for me to believe that they really think that when my co-worker holds up a pair of jeans (size 8, but fit like a 6) that used to not fit me and exclaims "Big size!'. They also assumed that I would be slower climbing mount Halla in Jeju island...when in reality I came in fourth...I was told how fast I was by the people who beat me up there. lol My friend struggles even more being VERY tall for a girl and being over 200lbs (she is a giant here) but can run circles around me and probably most people here. Being larger foreigners, in general we are both underestimated and treated like we can't do much on our own. Also...my gym gives out rice cakes and pepero (on a holiday) which are nothing but carbs and sugar (but admittingly, don't have THAT many calories unless you eat the whole box www.cuteinkorea.com/pepero-day/) ... but roasted chicken is a no-no...ffffuuu... they are actually obsessed with eating here (someone just handed me a sweet potato from the garden a minute ago) ... they just eat...well better, mostly everything is still local farm produced. They have packaged food.... most of it is strange or "Foreign" and soft drinks and "fast food" is a special occurance. Lots of candy for the kiddies and cookies (and other junk) in the breakroom though.