Summary of Why is it so Easy to be Thin in Japan?

00:00:00 - 00:05:00

The presenter discusses how the food environment in Japan makes it easier to be thin than in the United States. There are fewer fast food restaurants and more healthy food options available, and people are less likely to drink soda from vending machines.

• 00:00:00 In Japan, obesity rates are much lower than in the United States, and this is likely due to the food environment. There are over 243,000 fast food restaurants in America, but only 6,169 in Japan, meaning per person, there is about 15 times more fast food restaurants in America. Japanese convenience stores offer a variety of reasonably healthy food options, and there are also healthy non-chain restaurants. In America, replacing fast food with alcohol is not a good strategy, but in Japan this is not the case. Most Japanese people would not think of these places as "healthy", but this is not about optimal health.
• 00:05:00 In this video, the presenter discusses how easy it is to be thin in Japan, due in part to the country's high level of convenience and variety when it comes to food. Additionally, the lack of unhealthy options available in vending machines helps to keep people's soda intake low.