Life expectancy of a moderately obese person is shortened by 5 years, but if you are morbidly obese you can lose up to 20 years of life. That’s not all. The incidence of diabetes, hypertension and many other health complications will greatly reduce the quality of life. Before you know it, you will become a spectator rather than a participant in life.
Recent statistics tell us that the U.S. is the most obese country in the world with 30.6 percent of residents being obese. Mexico is the second most obese country at 24.2% followed by the U.K. with 23%. Japan is at the lowest with only 3.2%.
Cultural acceptance, or lack of it, can greatly affect a county’s population regarding obesity. Recently, I hosted Miles, a live-in weight loss client coming to my program on a fitness holiday with a 3-month visa. Miles claimed to be overweight from adolescence well into his teens growing up in New Zealand- currently ranked 20.9% in obesity. His weight topped out at 425.lbs during a recent 6-year work assignment in Amsterdam. The Netherlands boasts a mere 10% obesity rate. Apparently, he felt the social pressure that prompted his decision to take a fitness holiday and seek a long-term weight loss camp.
Miles felt that his obesity caused him to stand out above the rest of the crowd. He was sure that he never went unnoticed in New Zealand and especially the Netherlands. Meanwhile, upon arriving in the U.S., he claimed that he blended in with the crowd. Everywhere he looked, there were other morbidly obese Americans from 300-400 pounds and above. Being surrounded by other obese people could easily create a comfort level. Being surrounded by fit people can create positive pressure. Conversely, in an obese culture one can easily become complacent with an obesity problem.
Regardless of where a person resides and what the obesity averages are, health concerns are the same all around the globe. Make sure that you are not among the ranks of these high-risk obesity statistics by taking a fitness holiday soon.
Cultural Influence on Obesity- 
