Friday 4 July 2003

Pic of the day: For myself, I tend to walk approximately one hour and a half outdoors most days. So each added pound means more exercize. (Picture from real life, strangely enough.)

Slim Norwegians

In many ways, Norway is the most Americanized country outside the Americas. Culturally we feel at least as close to the USA as to the EU, and American goods and brands enjoy a good reputation. We like to read American magazines and surf American web sites, and most of us have either friends or relatives in the USA, often both. In a way, we are like a bridge between Europe and America. With one very visible exception.

I heard on the news last week that Norwegians were the least overweight among all the rich nations. That surprised me, because I had expected Japan to fill that place. After all, the Japanese I see in anime are quite slender. Perhaps the sumo wrestlers are pulling the average higher?

But it is quite obvious that we are slimmer than Danes and Germans. We see them often enough, and being fat and flabby seems to be the norm there. I suspect the beer is to blame. But perhaps not, for Americans also tend toward the overly round. And they don't have much to talk about when it comes to beer. I mean, just look at the American "Budweiser". You don't even need to drink it to realize that there is something seriously wrong with it. It is not a Budweiser, and it's anybody's guess whether it is beer at all or something less sanitary...

Anyway: The average American is quite heavyset compared to us Norwegians. Why haven't we grown similarly voluminous, with our adoration for the American way of life?

In all fairness, we are moving that way. The 40 year old today are not just heavier than they used to be at 30; they are also heavier than those who were 40 ten years ago. The men in particular. So perhaps we are going to catch up with our American cousins. Well, unless they keep growing too. They were, last time I heard.

***

I have thought about a couple explanations for the difference. One that springs to mind is the distribution of wealth. In modern societies, the underclass is more likely to grow obese than the upper classes. In Norway, we don't have much of either. Most people are middle class and reasonably well educated; there is a strong correlation between education and a slim, healthy lifestyle. Intriguingly, Norwegian women are more likely to have university-level education, and are also generally less overweight.

Another possible explanation is the Norwegian love for rural cabins. Norway consists largely of wilderness, more so than other rich countries with the possible exception for Canada. The cabins, "hytte" in Norwegian, may lie at the coast or in the mountains, occasionally the forest. In addition, many Norwegians have converted old farms to leisure residences. Here they live under more primitive conditions than in the city or suburb. They cut their own wood, and often have to carry goods on foot for a while from the road to the cabin. In winter, it is customary to go skiing; in summer, swimming. Life at the cabin is healthier and more old-fashioned than everyday life. Or at least this was so until recently. I notice that it is becoming more and more common to have cabins that are like small houses, with electricity, road to the door, even TV.

The time you spend in front of the TV probably has something to say. I don't have statistics on how much times Danes and Germans spend staring at the box, but I know Americans do this to excess. While only a few Norwegians skip television altogether, the way I do, we are less addicted than our American friends. Then again, we have fewer channels.

I am sure there are or will be scientific studies of why some people are slimmer than others. I just wanted to mention this because I have been thinking a bit about it lately.

Of course, the fact that I seem to have gained a few pounds the last year has very little to do with anything ... ^_^*