In partnership with

Hey fitness nerds!

Thank you all 92,120 of you!

This isn't my ordinary posting day, but I'm currently travelling through Japan and couldn't help noticing something fascinating.

The contrast between Japanese and American body compositions is striking despite both cultures enjoying rich foods.

I had to share these observations with you immediately!

Read 🔽 below! 

🍙 

IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES WE WILL COVER:

• Feasting in the Land of the Slim - Japan

Feasting in the Land of the Slim - Japan

I'm currently traveling through Japan, surrounded by restaurants serving calorie-dense ramen bowls swimming in pork fat, crispy deep-fried tonkatsu cutlets, and tempura dripping with oil. Yet almost everyone around me is remarkably slim.

This isn't just my observation – Japan has one of the lowest obesity rates among developed nations at just 4.3%, compared to 36.2% in the United States. Their rate of severe obesity is less than 1%.

Why Japanese Stay Slim Despite Rich Food:

1. Portion Control Is King – Japanese meals are precisely measured and served in small, manageable portions. Even at all-you-can-eat restaurants, food comes in small servings rather than American-sized platters.

2. Built-In Daily Movement – The Japanese lifestyle naturally incorporates walking. Urban planning and excellent public transportation create environments where the average person walks 6,500 steps daily without trying, compared to 4,000 steps for Americans.

3. Balanced Meal Structure – Traditional Japanese meals follow "ichiju-sansai" (one soup, three sides, plus rice), ensuring vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates in balanced proportions. Even indulgent meals typically include vegetable sides for nutritional balance.

4. Mindful Eating Practices – The Japanese have elevated eating to an art form. Meals begin with "itadakimasu" and end with "gochisousama deshita" – verbal cues that encourage mindfulness. Food is served in beautiful, small dishes, and eating slowly while appreciating each bite is culturally ingrained.

5. Limited Snacking Culture – Unlike in America, where constant snacking is normalized, traditional Japanese eating patterns center around three defined meals with minimal snacking between.

Why Americans Struggle Despite Similar Rich Foods:

1. Supersized Everything – American portion sizes have grown dramatically over the past 50 years, with restaurant servings often containing enough calories for an entire day.

2. Car-Centric Culture – The American lifestyle is built around driving, with minimal daily walking incorporated into regular routines.

3. Ultra-Processed Foods Dominate – While both countries enjoy rich foods, Americans consume significantly more ultra-processed foods (73% of the American diet vs. about 38% in Japan).

4. Constant Snacking – American culture normalizes eating throughout the day, with meals often becoming continuous grazing sessions rather than defined eating occasions.

5. High Sugar Consumption – The average American consumes twice as much added sugar as the average Japanese person. Even savory American foods often contain hidden sugars.

As I navigate Japan's incredible food landscape, I'm struck by how their cultural practices create a sustainable approach to eating that doesn't require restriction. The lesson isn't about eliminating fat or flavor, but creating a lifestyle where movement is inevitable, portions are appropriate, and meals are balanced and deeply satisfying.

Fitness and health enthusiasts - We have a lot of things in store for you!

Check out busybody.io - and join the waitlist for our brand-new AI health app.

Make your dream of working online a reality and start a newsletter - join beehiiv for free and don’t pay any renewal until you grow your subscriber base >2500 subscribers.

I’ve personally tried plenty of other platforms and Beehiiv is hands down the best and easiest to use.