Re: Why we are fat

September 22, 2003

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Good article. I lived in Switzerland for 6 months or

so, and during that time they had their bi-annual

" Volksmarch " where the WHOLE TOWN traipsed

15 miles or so around the countryside. I asked why.

" Because it is healthy " they said. Also fun. At the

midpoint we got a nice bowl of kraut and wurst and

an oompahpah band, at a farm where you could go

visit the cows in their barns chewing cud.

The towns REALLY ARE built for walking, and it is

easy and fun to walk. Also hard to drive, the streets

are narrow and cobbly.

However, what the article leaves out is that the Europeans

haven't taken up " snacking " yet. A TV article

talked about this potato chip company and their quest

to market to Finland. Problem is, Finnish have never

snacked, it isn't part of their culture. So they are trying

to push the concept of EATING while relaxing watching TV.

The interviewer said, well, won't that make them fat? and

the potato chip people said, " that isn't our problem " .

So whose problem is it? Can a TV ad really disrupt hundreds

of years of culture?

-- Heidi

September 22, 2003

Heidi-

Exactly. All these different factors are interrelated and

interdependent. I'm willing to bet that as Europe becomes Americanized in

its eating habits (which is bound to happen at least to some degree) other

seemingly American traits will follow too, like an avoidance of

walking. It's harder to walk when you're fat and tired and hungry all the

time.

>However, what the article leaves out is that the Europeans

>haven't taken up " snacking " yet.

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