Japanese survey: Okinawa, the holy land of longevity, ranks first in obesity rate

However, data from a national health survey recently released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan showed that nearly 30% of Japanese people over the age of 20 are obese (BMI ≥ 25), with the obesity rate for men reaching 30.4% and 21.1% for women. What is even more intriguing is that in the ranking of counties and districts, Okinawa Prefecture, the holy land of longevity, has the highest obesity rate in Japan, with the proportion of obese people as high as 45.2%.

Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's holy land of longevity, has the highest proportion of obese people in Japan! (Photo/Source: Japan National Tourism Organization)

Why is the proportion of obese people in Okinawa Prefecture, a holy land of longevity, getting higher and higher? Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare stated that this was mainly due to the presence of US military bases here, which had a huge impact on local food culture. The survey found that local residents in Okinawa often overeat after midnight, and American food culture such as barbecue, luncheon meat, and fast food has long been deeply rooted in the local area. In Yamaguchi Prefecture, which has the lowest obesity rate, the diet is mainly based on fish and shellfish.

In addition, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also found that among the younger generation, represented by women aged 20 to 30, the obesity rate is growing even faster. In 2008, it was hovering around 23%, but in less than three years, it quickly climbed to 29% in 2010. In view of the growing number of "obese women" in Japan, the Japanese Society of Obesity is even considering lowering the waist circumference standard to include more people in health checks. This will help prevent chronic diseases caused by obesity early and even prevent it from becoming a burden on the country's medical care in the future.

In contrast, in Taiwan, according to the Taiwan Obesity Map data from the National Health Administration's "National Health Interview" in 2009, the overweight and obesity rates of people in rural counties and cities are more serious than those in urban areas, whether they are children or adults. Among them, Chiayi County has the highest obesity rate among children in the country; among adults, Taitung County ranks first, followed by Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County.

Chiu Shu-ti, director of the National Health Administration, pointed out that Taiwan's definition of "overweight" is a BMI value between 24 and 27, and "obesity" is defined as a BMI value above 27. The latest survey results show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased sharply compared with the past. Currently, 51% of adult males and 36% of adult females have overweight and obesity problems; nearly 30% of boys aged 6 to 12 are overweight and obese, and one in four girls has obesity problems.

Obesity is related to "eating more and exercising less", especially modern people who eat a lot and eat unhealthily. In addition to the increase in sweets, they are also easily attracted by junk food advertisements. However, a survey by the National Health Administration found that the obesity rates of people in the two major metropolitan areas of Taipei and Taichung are the lowest. The top three counties with the highest rates of childhood obesity are Chiayi County, Tainan County, and Hsinchu County.