The+Internationalists

The Internationalists: Group leader: Sam Partington Group members: Zack Andrews, Megan McAlister, Mikey Poloard

1. Why does Mexico have the highest obesity rate in the world? By: Sam Partington __**Mexico's other enemy: Obesity rates triple in last 3 decades.**__ If you just look at Mexico’s clothing manufacture companies you can see how obesity problems are growing in Mexico. Mexican retailers are basically getting rid of small and medium sizes and are being replaced by large and extra large sizes. In the last three years the growth of sales in large and extra large shirts has grown fifty percent. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 69.5 percent of Mexico’s children fifteen and older are either overweight or obese. The obesity rate in Mexico is the highest rate in the world, even higher than the United States, and the United Kingdom. The Mexican government has launched a campaign last year to help encourage people to exercise, drink more water, and eat fruits and vegetables.

2. Do diets actually have a main factor in weight issues? By: Sam Partington Extreme changes in diets in Mexico have come through in the last decade leading to an explosion of obesity. Mexico has been devouring process food, hamburgers, and French fries. They have gained an extreme amount of weight and now have become one of the fattest nations on the planet. Sixty eight percent of Mexican adults are over weight and twenty nine percent are obese. Thirty five percent of the children in Mexico are considered to be overweight. A child’s mom said it is easier to feed their child potato chips, noodle soups, and fizzy drinks when she comes home after a long day of work; instead of making the a traditional Mexican meal such as tortillas and beans. Since the North American Free trade Agreement was enacted the imports of processed food ad drinks have soared. The nation now consumes more Coca Cola products per capita than anywhere else in the world.
 * __Mexico's growing obesity problem__**

3. What are programs doing to help the obesity problems in their country? __**Joint U.S.-Mexico Workshop on Preventing Obesity in Children and Youth of Mexican Origin**__ By: Sam Partington Over the pas two decades there has been a huge growth in obesity. The increase has raised world wide awareness and concern. The institute of Medicine report Preventing Childhood obesity: health in the balance found that Mexican American children have the highest rates of obesity. This epidemic has been recognized in Mexico, the public health community has increased their attention to survey data indicating the growing obesity problems. 1. Do diets actually have a main factor in weight issues? By: Mikey Pollard Japans diet consists of fish, vegetables, and fruit. They say you should serve smaller portions, eat mindfully, and slowly. They also add healthy options like tofu and rice. Since they eat healthier, Japanese men and women live longer and healthier than everyone else in the world. they think you should “eat with your eyes” by enjoying the beauty of your food. The average Japanese person eats about 25% fewer calories per day than the average American.
 * __Diets of the world: the Japanese diet__**

2. Why do Asian countries have lower obesity rates? By: Mikey Pollard __**Fat in Japan?**__ You’re breaking the law.Japan is the slimmest industrialized nation. The metabolic syndrome is all combined with stomach flab, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Japanese lawmakers made it a law that men over the age of 40 cant have a waistline over 85 centimeters. People of Japan take no chances of getting heavy. Companies offer discounted gym memberships and developed special diet plans for employees. Because of Japans health care, companies administrator check-ups to employees once a year. People in Japan on average have gotten heavier in the past three decades.

3. What is the Japanese government doing to help the situation? By: Mikey Pollard __**Japan’s obesity association may revise controversial metabolic gauge**__ The Japan society sets the benchmark waist size at 85 centimeters for men and 90 for women. Some people say it is getting unfair because Japanese civilians have gotten heavier over the past three decades. At JASSO a team of experts are trying to set the new and fair waist sizes. They used data and tested on over 10,000 people. They tested to see how much fat they had in the abdomen, what there waist size is, and any related diseases. They also acquired there age and there gender.

4. How dose obesity affect health care in Canada? By: Mikey Pollard Canada is also having their share of obesity problems. 26% of Canadians at the age of two to seventeen, more than one in four are overweight are obese. Obesity cost Canada 1.6 billion dollars in health care. Health care in Canada pays for everyone that lives in Canada. All the health care plans in Canada are health Canada, public health agency of Canada, Indian and northern affairs, sport Canada, and the Canadian food inspection agency. At least 60% of Ontario’s health care costs are due to chronic diseases.
 * __ Obesity in Canada, the health ezine-weight issues __**



1. What is the government doing to help with the growing obesity? By: Zack Andrews Since one third of children in Italy are technically obese the government is helping out by building new parks. The park cost 250,000 to build, and was designed by scientists at the university of Verona to help keep obesity at bay. The park is divided into different zones. First zone is a miniature assault course for kids. The course is about 50 meters long. It was partially funded by the government and is a gym disguised as a play ground. The children are completely unaware that they’re exercising because they are having fun.
 * __ New park opens as Italy wrestles with record obesity __**



2. What is the obesity rate in Italy? By: Zack Andrews The data on the height and weight in 15 year old high school students is scary. 17 percent boys and 7 percent of girls are nearing the obesity standard. 3 percent boys and 1 percent girls are labeled obese. Even the data on adults are surprising. 48 percent of mean and 34 percent of woman are overweight. 10 percent of male and female are obese. This is unheard of because Italy is usually known for their fresh green food. Even though their food is healthy it doesn’t help much that we live in a technological society. People are now starting to stay at home and watch TV instead of going outside.
 * __ Obesity issues for Italians __**



3. What makes Italian food healthier than American food? By: Zack Andrews France and Italy have a 9 percent obesity rate compared to the 30 percent that we Americans have. There are many contributing factors to why this is so. The food prepared in Italy has way less saturated fat than the food prepared on America. They are heavy on the fresh vegetables, and less red meat than we have, also most of their meals are served with wine which is antioxidant. Their portions are also much smaller than ours. Their philosoph y is to savor the food not to devour it. This means people tend to eat their food slower and they actually enjoy it. The Europeans also walk so much than we do so that’s why they aren’t fat.
 * __Buon Appetito! What We Can Learn From the Italians About Healthful Eating__**

1. What is the Chinese diet? By: Megan McAlister This article is talking about how healthy the Chinese diet really is and how effective it could be if you just follow certain steps. First thing is to stop counting calories. They don’t see it as potential weight gain, but as nourishing the body. You should also think as vegetables as dishes. Vegetables should make up half of what's on your plate in any given meal, so this fits perfectly with the Chinese diet. Always eat until you’re full. The Chinese eat until they are full, and then stop. Westerners often take a feast-and-famine approach to eating that is ridden with guilt – purging during the week and binging over the weekend, or skipping lunch to make room for cake, The Chinese tend to eat three good meals every day. Another change to make is to take liquid as food. Soup, or a soup-based dish, is present at every Chinese meal, often in the form of a watery porridge, Zhou. Western diets can be very dry, and nutritionists compensate by urging us to drink more water, which the Chinese would never do with a meal. Instead, they make a nourishing liquid food part of the meal. And it's a great way of using up leftovers. Something the Chinese do all the time is drink green tea. Green tea eliminates toxins, aids digestion and allays hunger. Scientists have found that it also fights free radicals, which cause cancer and heart disease. Not only does your diet effects your weight, but so does exercise. Trying regular, gentle exercise such as tai chi will help keep weight off of your body. A sweaty workout might shed fat, but it is stressful for your body. These are just some of the fast life style changes you could make to benefit from the Chinese diet.
 * __Use Your Noodle Summary__**

2. How is Chinese obesity rate growing? By: Megan McAlister This article is about how obese China is becoming.China's first official nutrition and health survey shows that between 1992 and 2002 more than 60 million people became obese. The rate of obesity in China has increased by 97% in 10 years, according to a government report. "The Chinese population does not have enough awareness and lacks knowledge of what is a reasonable nutrition and diet," AFP news agency quoted Vice Health Minister Wang Longde as saying. The percentage of overweight people in the cities rose to 30%, and the Beijing Morning Post published results of separate city survey indicating that in the capital the figure was as high as 60%. Health officials have been blaming diets too high in fat and a decrease in physical exercise. They warn that obesity is likely to increase even further.
 * __Chinese concern at obesity surge summary__**

3. How are the Chinese trying to prevent obesity?By: Megan McAlister Let's be clear, the Chinese obesity problem is not anything like that in Western countries, especially the United States. There are some 19 million people in China clinically determined to be obese. Millions more are overweight but this is a country of just over 1.3 billion people. The obese are roughly one out of 70 people in China, as opposed to one out of three in America. The Chinese have been able to add a lot of meat to their diets, made milk a more common feature of their diet, and there's no limit to the amount of oil you can use in your cooking. Sweets can move from an occasional treat to a daily indulgence. Portion sizes are getting bigger, Western-style food is widely available in the urban areas, and people are eating out more often.
 * __Reporter's Notebook: Obesity on the Rise in China Summary__**



One of the main focuses in society is the problem of obesity. Certain countries are trying to tackle this ongoing issue by changing health care, diets, and involving exercise more. We've looked at five countries to determine what they were each doing to eliminate or lessen obesity. Through our research we discovered that Mexico has one of the highest obesity rates due to eating processed food because it's cheaper and easier to prepare. Mexico is trying to make a dent in their obesity rates by launching a campaign last year to help encourage people to exercise, drink more water, and eat fruits and vegetables. We also found out Japanese people eat about 25% fewer calories per day than the average American. Although some people say Japan has gotten heavier over the past three decades, Japan is still has one of the lowest obesity rates in the world. A positive thing about Canada is that their government pays for everyone that lives there. Even though they have obese people in their country, they are pretty good at staying healthy. Italy's government realizes they have an obesity problem because 1/3 children are obese in their country. They have been building new parks for kids to play even though it's costing them $250,000 to build. Italy's food is known for being healthy, but they still do have a problem, like every country. People are starting to stay home and watch T.V. instead of go outside due to technology. Europeans walk around way more than Americans so that's what set them apart from us. Italian food also has way smaller portions than Americans do. China has a very low obesity rate because of their diets and exercise. The obesity rate is roughly one to seventy people are obese in China, whereas in America it's one out of every three are clinically determined overweight. We've learned that all countries besides Mexico are pretty much on top of eliminating their obesity rates by a healthier diet and more exercise.
 * Analysis:**