Did anyone else experience body type culture shock leaving America?

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Dude32

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I'm an American, and I've always known people from other countries stereotyped Americans for being overweight... BUT JEEZ!!!! THEY WERE RIGHT!! Growing up, I'm so used to seeing so many overweight people I never thought much of it. Seeing someone in America who was truly healthy and fit was pretty rare. I've recently moved to Australia and I SWEAR, EVERYONE here is so fit and good looking. I feel like i'm living in a country of fashion models. Everyone here in Australia i've seen so far is thin, tan, and they all seem to take a lot of pride in their appearance, styled hair, respectable clothes, etc.. I'm still in shock. I've never seen such a culture of health and well being. Has anyone else ever experienced this sort of culture shock?
 
That's total BS. I think the other way. Yeah, we may have a weight problem in the US, but other countries the people are underweight. Go to some of these central america countries. The men look like little boys. Smaller bodies, heads, smaller everything. They are not eating the right nutrients. They seemed miserable, to me. Look like they eat 1 meal a day. If that's what you call health you can have it.
 
Yes and no. I was born overseas, spent a good bit of my childhood in various countries, then went and made a career out of the Navy. Consequently, I have been in many countries, on every continent except Antarctica. For many reasons, my physique allowed me to fit in quite readily in the local populations. Added to that, I've never acquired a taste for t-shirts and blue jeans. Black slacks, good shoes, a white shirt and a leather jacket are a post-modern uniform good for almost anywhere, especially when you throw in the dark glasses.
But even as I fit in, I was acutely conscious of how many of my 'fellow' Americans stood out, not just by dress, but by physique. And that was in the Navy, when the majority of us were in fairly good shape when compared to the general population!
 
I've experienced the same, but in reverse. I'm an Aussie who now lives in the States. I'm quite shocked at how little pride most people put in to their appearance here. It's kind of refreshing because I can go out looking like crap and no one cares, but at the same time I kind of liked growing up around beautiful, glamorous people.
 
Yes, kind of, people in other countries are slimmer, and make sure their outfits are coordinated. But many americans look good and lead a healthy lifestyle, comparing to many people in asia.
 
lol Yeah, I've been through this. I was born in the U.S. but my parents are from China. Whenever they took me and my brother to China, we felt like overgrown giants. When I went shopping for clothes, the sales girls always brought me large sizes which confused me. My parents' friends always asked them what kind of food they feed children in America to make us grow so big. In the U.S, I'm still seen as a "petite Asian," but over there I feel like an "obese American."

I can't say it's because all the children in China are malnourished. Most (if not all) of the children in the urban areas lead pretty good lives. With our quality of life, you would think Americans would have better diets. Unfortunately, a lot of our foods are pumped full of preservatives and hormones.
 
no, because i'm not american. i've experienced that shock after arriving America though.
 
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