Thirty-six percent of Americans are obese, which is much higher than most other countries around the world. In France, the obesity rate is less than half of what it is in America, and in Italy the obesity rate is just 20 percent, despite all the pasta and pizza they’re eating over there. Spain’s rate is just 23 percent, and they’re all sitting down to multi-course dinners at 11 pm!
You also won’t see a gym or weight loss center on every street corner like you do in America. The weight loss market is a $60 billion industry, with children as young as six years old worrying about being fat. So what gives? What are we doing wrong?
Unfortunately, there’s no black and white answer. But there are some tips and tricks we can take away from cultures around the glove, and enjoy the same shrinking effects! Here are the top weight-loss secrets from the world’s thinnest nations according to Men’s Health.
Spain
In Spain, they eat slowly and appreciate what they’re eating. They eat small dishes, taking breaks in between bites, instead of just shoveling it in their mouth. Recent research has found that this is an effective way to lose weight – the average BMI of slow eaters is markedly lower than that of fast eaters. Remember, you’re stomach needs time to get the message to your brain that you’re full!
Italy
It Italy, it’s all about quality. They don’t eat a lot of processed crap, opting for natural, high-quality ingredients instead. When you eat the good stuff, you need a whole lot less of it to be satisfied. So skip the diet cookies and desserts and eat a piece of rich, dark chocolate instead.
Greece
It’s all about produce in the Greek diet. Vegetables dominate the diet, with plenty of legumes, whole grains and healthy fats, too. Vegetables are not only full of nutritional benefits, they also help you lose weight because they fill you up without a lot of calories. Penn State researchers found that people who have high-produce diets eat more food, but weigh less. Aim for at least 5 servings of vegetables a day!
France
In France, they say no to distractions! You won’t see them sitting in front of a TV eating their dinner; the meal is the event! Munching in front of the TV is one of the easiest ways to overeat. In a study published in Physiology and Behavior, subjects consumed 71 percent more mac and cheese when they ate in front of the TV. It’s time to bring back the family dinner at the kitchen table!
