Friday, July 1, 2011

Switzerland: Obesity and Life Expectancy

It is excellent. The Swiss have the best of both worlds. Delicious, fat-filled foods and fit bodies. Cheese, wine, beer, chocolate, pastries. Nice abs, slim figures, small rounded butts. Even Grandma looks good! There goes 80-year-old Grandma eating a chocolate croissant and drinking beer, all while maintaining her 40-year-old figure by biking up that mountain.

I noticed the lack of obese (and especially morbidly obese) people during my first week in Switzerland. To verify my observations, I did a quick search of obesity prevalence in the US vs. Switzerland. In the United States, 30.6% of people are obese. In Switzerland it’s 7.7%. It is more common here to find people outside walking around, riding a bike, rollerblading, hiking etc. Even the elderly really get after it.The nation as a whole looks more fit, less sloppy, and overall healthier. Consequently, the Swiss also lead a longer life. The life expectancy at birth in Switzerland is 82 years old (Ranked 4th). In the United States, it’s 78 years old (Ranked 36th). We really need to take a few steps back and learn a little something from the Hottttt Swiss Grandmas.

Obesity around the world (We win!)