The Dark Reality of World's Fattest Country | Case Study | Dhruv Rathee
Summary
TLDRThis video script delves into the alarming issue of global obesity, highlighting Nauru as the world's most obese country with 61% of its population affected. It explores the historical and economic factors contributing to this crisis, including the exploitation of Nauru's phosphate resources and the subsequent reliance on imported, unhealthy foods. The script also examines the influence of junk food companies and the impact of sedentary lifestyles, urging viewers to consider the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise.
Takeaways
- đ The most obese country in the world is Nauru, a small island in the Pacific Ocean, with 61% of its population suffering from obesity and nearly 90% being overweight.
- đ Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common indicator used to distinguish between 'overweight' and 'obese', with a BMI of 30 or above categorizing an individual as obese.
- đ„ Obesity is linked to a higher risk of various health issues, including Type II diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain types of cancer, leading to its recognition as a disease by the American Medical Association in 2013.
- đïž The Top 10 Most Obese Countries are all small island nations in the Pacific Ocean, suggesting a commonality in their lifestyles or environmental factors.
- đ The history of Nauru includes exploitation by foreign powers and corporations for its phosphate resources, leading to environmental degradation and contributing to the current health crisis.
- đž Nauru's economy was once bolstered by phosphate mining, making it the second-richest country by GDP per capita in 1975, but the wealth was not equitably distributed among its citizens.
- đ The depletion of Nauru's phosphate resources and the failure of its investments led to an economic collapse, increasing reliance on imports of cheap, unhealthy food.
- đ The import of cheap, processed food high in salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients has contributed to the rise in obesity rates in Nauru and other Pacific island nations.
- đ The reliance on cars and urban planning that discourages walking or cycling in countries like the United States has also contributed to obesity by promoting a sedentary lifestyle.
- đŸ Nauru's land has been so degraded by phosphate mining that it can no longer support agriculture, forcing the population to rely entirely on imports for food and water.
- đ The influence of junk food companies and their marketing strategies have global implications, contributing to obesity rates not just in the Pacific islands but also in countries like Mexico and the United States.
Q & A
Which country is considered the most obese in the world according to the script?
-Nauru is considered the most obese country in the world, with 61% of its population suffering from obesity and almost 90% being overweight.
What is the Body Mass Index (BMI) and how is it calculated?
-The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common indicator used to determine a person's body fat based on their height and weight. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.
What are the BMI categories according to the script?
-Based on BMI, individuals are categorized as underweight (BMI less than 18.5), normal/healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9), overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9), and obese (BMI of 30 or above).
Why might a muscular person be categorized as overweight but still be healthy?
-A muscular person might be categorized as overweight based on BMI due to their muscle weight, but this does not necessarily mean they are unhealthy. Fitness is determined by other indicators such as muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and stamina.
What are some health risks associated with obesity as mentioned in the script?
-Health risks associated with obesity include a higher risk of Type II diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, heart disease, brain stroke, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, pregnancy problems, depression, and certain types of cancer.
Why did Nauru experience a significant increase in obesity?
-Nauru's obesity crisis is linked to factors such as the depletion of phosphate reserves, economic decline, reliance on imported processed and junk food, and a lack of access to clean drinking water and domestic food sources.
What role did phosphate mining play in Nauru's economic and health decline?
-Phosphate mining led to the depletion of Nauru's natural resources, environmental degradation, and contamination of groundwater with toxic heavy metals. The mining industry's collapse resulted in economic decline and increased reliance on unhealthy imported food, contributing to the rise in obesity.
What is the significance of the American Medical Association recognizing obesity as a disease in 2013?
-The recognition of obesity as a disease by the American Medical Association highlights the serious health implications of obesity and the need for medical interventions and public health strategies to address it.
How do the diets of people in Nauru and other Pacific Island nations contribute to high obesity rates?
-The diets of people in Nauru and other Pacific Island nations are often high in processed, canned, and junk food due to the reliance on imports. These foods are typically high in salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients, which contribute to obesity and related health issues.
What is the connection between crony capitalism and the spread of obesity in various countries?
-Crony capitalism involves corporations and governments prioritizing profits over public health, leading to the promotion and availability of unhealthy food options. This contributes to the spread of obesity as unhealthy foods are often cheaper and more accessible than healthier alternatives.
How does the script suggest addressing the issue of obesity and promoting a healthier lifestyle?
-The script implies that addressing obesity requires a multifaceted approach, including improving access to healthy food options, promoting physical activity, and challenging the influence of crony capitalism that prioritizes profits over public health.
Outlines
đ The Plight of Nauru: Obesity and Its Causes
This paragraph introduces the topic of global obesity, focusing on Nauru as the most obese country in the world. It explains how economic factors and corporate greed have contributed to this crisis. The paragraph outlines the process of calculating BMI to determine weight categories and the health risks associated with obesity, such as an increased risk of various diseases. It also touches on the deceptive nature of crony capitalism and its impact on the health of Nauru's population.
đïž Historical Injustices and the Downfall of Nauru
The second paragraph delves into the history of Nauru, detailing its exploitation by foreign powers for phosphate mining, which led to environmental devastation and the displacement of its people. It discusses the economic boom and subsequent crash following the depletion of phosphate reserves, the failed investments, and the government's misguided attempts at economic diversification. The paragraph also highlights the social welfare measures provided by the government in exchange for the public's silence on the environmental and health crisis.
đ Economic Collapse and the Rise of Obesity in Nauru
This paragraph examines the economic collapse of Nauru and its transition to reliance on processed and imported foods high in salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients. It describes how the lack of access to clean water and nutritious food, coupled with the importation of cheap, unhealthy food, has contributed to the skyrocketing obesity rates. The paragraph also discusses the case of American Samoa and the importation of 'Turkey Tails,' a discarded part of the turkey high in fat, which has become a dietary staple and a significant contributor to obesity.
đ The Global Impact of Unhealthy Food Imports
The fourth paragraph broadens the discussion to include other countries affected by the importation of unhealthy food products, such as Tonga's high rates of obesity and diabetes due to the consumption of mutton flaps. It explains how economic factors and trade policies have led to the consumption of nutrient-poor, high-calorie foods, which in turn has resulted in widespread health issues. The paragraph also touches on the influence of American junk food companies on global health and the role of advertising in promoting unhealthy eating habits.
đ The Spread of Obesity and the Role of Crony Capitalism
The final paragraph discusses the global spread of obesity, particularly in countries with a high consumption of soft drinks and processed foods. It criticizes the tactics used by large corporations to shift blame for obesity away from their products and onto individuals, promoting the idea that exercise can offset poor diet choices. The paragraph also contrasts the urban planning of countries like the U.S., which encourages car dependency and sedentary lifestyles, with that of countries with more walkable cities and better public transportation systems, suggesting that urban design plays a significant role in public health.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄObesity
đĄBody Mass Index (BMI)
đĄCrony Capitalism
đĄPhosphate Mining
đĄOverweight
đĄPacific Island Nations
đĄHealth Risks
đĄUnhealthy Diet
đĄSedentary Lifestyle
đĄUrbanization
đĄSoft Drinks
Highlights
Nauru, a small Pacific island nation, is the most obese country in the world with 61% of its population suffering from obesity.
Almost 90% of Nauru's population is overweight, illustrating a stark public health crisis.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common indicator used to categorize individuals as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.
A high BMI does not necessarily equate to poor health, as fitness involves other indicators such as muscle strength and flexibility.
Obesity increases the risk of various diseases, including Type II diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers.
The American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease in 2013, highlighting its severity.
The Top 10 Most Obese Countries are all small island nations in the Pacific Ocean, indicating a common link.
Nauru's history of phosphate mining and its consequences have significantly impacted the health and lifestyle of its citizens.
Economic exploitation and colonial history have played a role in the current health crisis in Pacific island nations.
The depletion of Nauru's phosphate reserves and subsequent economic collapse have led to a reliance on unhealthy imported foods.
Contaminated groundwater and the inability to grow fresh produce have exacerbated health issues in Nauru.
Imported cheap, processed foods high in salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients have become dietary staples in many Pacific islands.
The story of Nauru serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of economic policies and environmental degradation on public health.
The influence of American junk food companies extends beyond the U.S., affecting countries like Mexico with high soft drink consumption.
Crony capitalism and the prioritization of profit over health are identified as major contributors to the global obesity crisis.
The video emphasizes the need for time management and a balanced lifestyle to combat obesity and maintain health.
Urban planning that encourages car use over walking or cycling contributes to sedentary lifestyles and higher obesity rates.
A comparison is made between American cities and those in Europe, Japan, and South Korea, where public transportation and urban design promote physical activity.
Transcripts
These are the Top 10 Most Obese Countries.
How did all these countries fall victim to obesity?
Companies which do not care how healthy you are
as long as they are making money off of you.
The Most Obese Country In The World.
This is the story of the fattest country in the world.
Hello, friends!
Can you guess which is the most obese country in the world?
Which country has the largest population of obese people?
The first country youâd think of is America.
But thatâs the wrong answer.
The correct answer is a small country in the Pacific Ocean,
Nauru.
61% of the people residing here suffer from obesity.
And almost 90% of the population is overweight.
Can you imagine a country where 9 out of 10 people are overweight?
How could this be?
Thereâs a dreadful story behind it.
Of Crony Capitalism.
First of all, it is important to know the
Difference between the words âoverweightâ and âobeseâ in this context.
For this, we use a very common indicator
BMI or the Body Mass Index.
Calculating BMI is really simple.
You can calculate your BMI.
Step 1: Check your height.
If you know your height in terms of feet and inches,
Convert it into meters,
If itâs 5â8â itâll be 1.72m.
Step 2: Check your weight in kilograms.
Letâs suppose your weight is 74 kg.
Step 3: divide your weight by your height squared.
That will be 24.8, your BMI.
Based on BMI, there is a very simplified criteria.
If your BMI is less than 18.5 you are underweight.
If it is between 18.5 and 24.9 you have a normal, healthy weight.
And if it is between 25 and 29.9, you will be in the category of overweight.
And a BMI of 30 or above is the category for obesity.
So basically, obese people are more overweight than those in the overweight category.
If you fall in the Underweight, Overweight or Obese categories,
It might be a warning sign for you.
But if you are in the healthy category,
it doesnât mean that you should start rejoicing,
Because BMI isnât the only indicator of health.
Itâs possible that youâre in the healthy range and you look thin,
But you might not be fit.
Because to calculate fitness, several other indicators are used.
Such as muscle strength, muscle endurance,
Flexibility, stamina,
At the same time, it is possible that if you are a muscular person,
your muscle weight might put you into the overweight category based on BMI.
But it wouldnât mean that you are unhealthy.
Itâs possible to be healthy and overweight at the same time,
As long as you are a muscular person.
But generally, we can say that if you are in the obese category,
This can definitely be a problem.
Several research and studies show us that
Suffering from obesity means that you are at a higher risk of other diseases.
Such as Type II diabetes,
hypertension, high blood pressure,
heart disease, brain stroke, fatty liver disease,
kidney disease, pregnancy problems,
depression, and certain types of cancer.
This is why, in 2013,
the American Medical Association recognised obesity as a disease.
Nauruâs case isnât isolated.
If you look at the list of the Top 10 Most Obese Countries,
You might not have heard the names of the countries on this list.
Thereâs Nauru at #1 followed by Palau,
Cook Islands, Marshall Islands,
Tuvalu, Niue, Kiribati,
Tonga, Samoa, and Micronesia.
Do you know what these countries have in common?
All of these countries are situated in the Pacific Ocean
And are small island countries.
If you see the photos and videos of these islands,
youâll see how beautiful these places are.
Perfect beaches, coral reefs, tropical forests,
Itâll seem that any person living here must be super healthy and fit.
Theyâll have fresh coconuts right from the trees,
And theyâll fish every day for their meals.
So how could these countries fall victim to obesity?
Come, letâs understand with the help of Nauruâs example.
This is a tiny country.
In fact, the third smallest country in the world.
Thereâs only 1 island of about 21 kmÂČ.
Only 12,500 people live on this island.
Worldâs smallest island nation.
Once, this used to be a beautiful untouched island.
In 1798, it was discovered by the rest of the world.
When a British ship docked here.
The captain of the ship, John Fearn,
was so captivated by the beauty of this island that he named it
the Pleasant Islands.
The name of the British Ship was Hunter.
And for the next 100 years, the destiny of the island was to be hunted.
Around the 1830s, several European ships came here for trading.
They would take clean drinking water,
coconut, fruits, and local palm oil from these islands.
And in exchange, they would give them alcohol and guns.
Back then, there were 12 native tribes living on these islands.
Due to the alcohol and guns,
in 1878, there was a 10-year-long civil war on this island.
The population of the people living reduced by half due to this.
Later, the German Empire occupied this island and confiscated all weapons.
Moving on, in 1900, a man from New Zealand, Albert Ellis,
Discovered phosphate on this island.
Phosphate is a mineral that can be used as an artificial fertilizer for farming.
An important resource back then.
This led to an agreement with Germany in 1906
Which allowed the Pacific Phosphate Company to mine phosphate here.
And then began the First World War.
Germany lost the war.
And according to the mandate of the League of Nations
The country of Nauru went into the joint trusteeship
of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Subsequently, the Nauru Island Agreement was signed
And the phosphate reserves on this island went to the British.
To the British Phosphate Commissioners.
In simple words, the British ravaged Nauru.
Their phosphate reserves were sold to the farmers in Australia and New Zealand
at dirt-cheap prices.
And what were the people of Nauru given in return?
They were given half a penny per tonne of phosphate.
A few years later, the amount was increased
to 2 pence per tonne of phosphate.
But the British Phosphate Commissioners
were selling it at 200 times the price in Australia.
ÂŁ4.52 per tonne.
The British company stole most of the money.
Similar to what the East India Company did to the rest of the countries.
But in 1942, Nauru was captured by the Japanese Empire.
And now, the people living here had to face atrocities.
Forced labour camps, mass drownings, killings,
You might remember my video on Singapore,
They faced a similar fate.
The Japanese Empire was very cruel to the Singaporeans as well.
But we know the story of World War II.
The Axis Powers Germany, Italy, and Japan lost the war.
And the country was back under
the administration of the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The phosphate industry was revived.
Exports increased,
But even in 1968, people in Nauru were given very little money
compared to the money earned by the companies
by exporting the resources of the country.
In 1964, the Australian government offered
To shift the people living in Nauru to a nearby island
And to give them Australian citizenship.
But they didnât want to lose their unique identity.
They wanted sovereignty.
This is why, in January 1968,
they finally won their independence.
Nauru became an independent country.
After the independence, the politicians in Nauru
continued with the business of phosphate mining,
Ignoring the negative impact it had on their country.
More than half of the land on this small island
was reserved for phosphate mining.
Residential land kept shrinking.
But to escape from this greed for money
proved to be very difficult for these politicians.
Mining continued.
Their GDP per capita increased.
In 1975, Nauru became the second richest country in the world
based on the GDP per capita.
Back then, only Saudi Arabia was richer.
Obviously, it is important to note that this didnât mean
That every person living here was suddenly rich and living a luxurious life.
GDP per capita is a hypothetical number which shows
That if the total GDP is equally distributed among all citizens,
How much would each citizen have?
But in a world where the top 26% of the population
hold as much wealth as the bottom 50%,
How can one expect that there would have been equal distribution here?
But it was raining money on the government.
The government successfully convinced the governments of
Australia, New Zealand, and Britain,
To give them some monetary compensation for looting Nauruâs resources.
So those countries paid Nauru.
The profits earned by phosphate mining
went to the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust.
With all this money, Nauru developed a shipping line.
They established their airline, Air Nauru.
International investments were made.
They bought securities on Wall Street.
They build a 52 stories high skyscraper in Melbourne
and named it Nauru House.
They built a $7 million office building
with a revolving restaurant on top of it.
On Marshall Island, they built a $3 million hotel,
And spend $400,000 on building a floating cocktail lounge.
They built hotels and bought properties on several nearby islands.
And some people living in Nauru bought luxury sports cars for themselves.
As Iâve told you, this country is so small
That you can walk from one end to the other in 40-45 minutes.
Did it make sense to buy luxury cars on this small island?
In the midst of all this, the people residing here were offered
a repeal of taxes and free goods
if they agreed to not question the activities of the people at the top.
Your children could study in Australian universities and
at the government's expense.
You got medical, dental care, everything.
Bus transportation was free,
you got government newspapers,
Most people were employed in a government job or in the phosphate industry.
Everything was going quite well.
For some people, it was the same as living in heaven.
That was in 1982.
The same year, an article was published in the New York Times.
The author of the article predicted that
The phosphate in the country was limited.
And within 10 years, the phosphate would be depleted.
How would they mine phosphate then?
How would they earn then?
How would they continue their lifestyle?
Back then, Nauruâs Finance Minister James Bop
replied to this article by saying that
âTomorrow will take care of itself.â
They had no future plans.
But the future couldnât be delayed.
By the 1990s,
The depletion of phosphate reserves began.
Many of their international investments crashed.
Airlines were incurring heavy losses.
Tourism never really took off.
The economy of the country was on the verge of crashing.
Nauruâs government looked for more ways to make money.
In 2001, Australia established a detention centre in Nauru
for processing refugees.
Several Afghans, Sri Lankans, Iranis,
Iraqis, Pakistanis etc.
who tried to get to Australia by boats,
Were temporarily housed in
muddy tents in the middle of this island.
Australia promised to pay a fee to Nauru for every detainee housed there.
But this detention centre was heavily criticised,
Due to the outrageously bad living conditions.
By 2010, the phosphate was completely depleted.
Unemployment rates were at a record high.
The negative effects of climate change could be seen in Nauru.
Threats of coastal erosion, frequent flooding,
and acidification of the ocean were everywhere.
But more than climate change, the blame fell on the phosphate mining.
Look at Nauruâs map,
Today, 90% of the land in the country is useless.
It was destroyed due to mining.
The middle of the island is uninhabitable.
It cannot be farmed.
People live only on the edge of the island.
In February 2017, the Australian Lawyers Alliance
wrote a letter to the Australian government telling them
that due to the phosphate mining,
the groundwater of the country
was contaminated by a highly toxic heavy-metal Cadmium.
Due to this, the residents of this nation
are at a higher risk of irreversible kidney damage,
lung damage, bone damage and cancer.
This means that this country
doesnât even have access to clean drinking water.
Once, you could fish in the natural coral reefs around the island,
But not any longer.
This toxic heavy metal would be present in the fish too.
200-300 years ago, fruits and vegetables were grown here
When European traders came to trade,
But according to the United Nationâs FAO report,
Fruits, vegetables, and other nutritional foodstuffs
cannot be grown here now.
An anthropologist Amy McLennan, of the University of Oxford,
spent 11 months living on this island recently.
She said that on this island, finding even 1 vegetable in a week is a matter of luck.
The people living here do not have clean drinking water,
They have to rely on imported water.
No domestic food, no domestic water.
Everything needs to be imported from other countries.
Mainly from Australia and New Zealand because they are the closest.
But the most shocking part is the type of food imported.
Cheap, processed, canned food.
Food with high levels of salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients.
White rice, instant noodles, soda, etc.
Since people do not have a lot of money, this junk food is the most viable option.
So itâs not surprising if people living on this island eat only such junk food.
And that the obesity rate on this island shot up so rapidly that today,
it is the Worldâs Most Obese Country.
Thereâs another island nearby, called American Samoa.
That country imports a particular food item a lot.
Turkey Tails.
You would have heard about the bird turkey.
In America, on Thanksgiving, many people eat turkey.
But thereâs one part of turkey which no one wants to eat.
Thatâs the turkey butt.
Itâs the gland connecting the turkeyâs feathers to its body.
This gland is filled with oil.
75% of the calories consumed by eating this gland are from fat.
This is actually a waste product.
When Americans eat turkey, they throw away this part.
Because it is extremely unhealthy.
But some companies decided that instead of wasting this part,
It could be sold for cheap to some poor countries.
This turkey tail is sold in Samoa.
Today, Samoans consider this a national delicacy.
There, this became a major contributor to high obesity.
"-What are you making? -Turkey tails.
-Turkey tails? -Yes.
Turkey tails are the fattiest part of the bird.
A gland that produces oil for feathers.
They're imported from America
and are a fan-favourite in this family."
In 2007, Samoa tried to ban the import of turkey tails.
But they had to take back the ban in 2013
Because the World Trade Organisation said that
if Samoa wanted to join WTO,
They need to allow free trade.
That they would need to allow it being imported into their country.
Friends, thereâs a similar story with mutton flaps.
Another country from this area, Tonga,
Sees high rates of obesity and diabetes.
In 2016, the Tongan Health Ministry revealed that
the rate of diabetes in Tonga was 34%.
And the reason for this was mutton flaps.
When lamb is eaten for its meat,
Thereâs a part that is thrown away as a waste product.
That is known as a mutton flap.
100g of mutton flap consists of 40g of fat.
And 420 calories.
This is thrown away in New Zealand and sold to Tonga.
In fact, the rich people in New Zealand and Australia,
Often feed mutton flaps and lamb flaps to their pets.
In a country like Tonga, where the nearby water bodies arenât polluted
Fishing is possible.
But the fish caught here are so valuable
That it is more profitable to sell them abroad.
They ship off the healthy fish
And import cheap mutton flaps from abroad to feed the citizens.
All of it comes down to economics and money.
In a country like Tonga, you can still see biodiversity.
People go there to experience their wildlife and plant life,
But in a country like Nauru, this isnât an option any more.
This is why, today, Nauru tops the list of countries least visited.
There are almost zero tourists visiting Nauru.
Imagine a country which was the second richest in the world 35 years ago,
And today, it is the least visited country.
No one wants to live in this country.
No one wants to visit the country.
If you happen to go to this island now, the view would be like this.
Obese people everywhere.
High rate of obesity even in children.
The government tries to introduce campaigns to motivate people to walk more.
But even on this small island,
Instead of walking people use scooters to go from one place to another.
Recently there was a case of a person ordering a luxury Ferrari car in Nauru,
By the time the car reached there,
The person was so fat, that he couldnât get into the car.
Iâm not kidding.
This is an actual news article.
The funda to be healthy and fit is quite simple.
You simply need to eat healthily
and exercise timely and regularly.
These are 2 easy steps
but the challenge faced by most people is that
they do not have the time for these two basic things.
Since you do not have the time to eat healthy food,
you eat the readily available junk food or fast food.
And while studying or working the entire day,
you do not have the time to exercise.
This is why, friends, I'd like to tell you
about my time management and productivity course.
With my experience and knowledge
I've created a detailed time management course,
in it, I tell you the strategies and techniques that I use all the time,
to remain productive.
In the midst of travelling so much and creating so many videos
the way I get the time to exercise and stay fit?
The students and employees who have taken the course have reported
how much their lives have changed after taking this course.
You can read some reviews on the screen.
This happened because I laid out a step-by-step plan
of what you should be doing to make time in your life.
Those of you who are ready for this change
can use the coupon code FIT50
to get 50% off for buying this course
you can use the link given in the description
but the code will be valid for the first 500 people only.
Click on the link and check it out for yourself.
There are more payment options for buying this course now.
Do try it out.
And let's return to the topic.
This story isnât restricted to the Pacific islands only.
The impact of American junk food companies
can be seen in several countries around America.
For example, Mexico.
In 2019, Mexico was a country with
The highest consumption of carbonated soft drinks.
630 8-ounce servings per capita per year.
Due to this, around 29% of the Mexican population is obese.
And 65% of the population is overweight.
This might make you furious about American companies.
But keep this anger directed towards the companies and governments only.
Because it's not like the common citizens in America are living an extremely healthy life.
An average American has not destroyed Nauru.
A common Australian farmer has not destroyed these Pacific Island nations.
This was done by some crony capitalists and these giant corporations.
The companies who do not care how healthy you are,
or if youâre getting healthy food,
or how much junk you consume,
As long as they are making money.
The rate of obesity among American and Australian citizens is very high.
The people at the top of the Mexican administration
Have also benefited from the poor lifestyle of the Mexicans.
As per a 2016 report by Economist.com,
Mexico is one of the worst countries in terms of the crony capitalism index.
On top of it, Mexico is one of the most unequal countries in the world.
In every country, these corrupt politicians and their crony capitalist friends
can stoop to any level to make profits.
No crony capitalist has ever said that
they wouldnât sell their unhealthy sugary soda,
or processed meat or junk food to their fellow Americans.
They harbour no patriotic notions.
According to a report, Coca-Cola funded scientists
to shift the blame of obesity from Coca-Cola to bad diets.
Similar to our biased media,
they use some illogical manipulation to claim that
people simply need to exercise more.
Instead of thinking about cutting calories,
they want you to believe that you can happily consume junk food
as long as you exercise.
Such advertising campaigns have been so successful in their homecountry
That America has one of the highest rates of soft drink consumption.
America is at the 12th spot on the list of obese countries.
36% of the adult population is obese.
And 68% are overweight or obese
according to data from 2016.
Canada, New Zealand, and Australia are also among the Top 30.
And these countries have high rates of soft drink consumption.
This phenomenon can be seen spreading across several other countries.
Such as in the Middle East and North Africa.
And to some extent, in countries like India as well.
Processed unhealthy food,
consuming more added sugar,
Lack of physical activity, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Even cars should be given a credit for that.
When urbanisation is carried out with car-centric infrastructure.
Highways at every crossroads,
parking space in every building to accommodate everyoneâs car,
and buildings being so distant from each other that
cars become the default form of transportation,
Naturally, people will stop walking or cycling.
This is seen a lot in America.
It is nearly impossible to survive in American cities without a car.
Whatever chores you have in your day-to-day life,
Buying groceries, going to restaurants, or to gyms,
or movie theatres, you need a car for everything.
Compare this to European developed countries,
Japan, or South Korea,
where the public transportation system is properly developed.
And urbanisation happened in a way that
people carry out these day-to-day tasks by walking or cycling.
Naturally, in those countries, people would be healthier,
and the obesity rates lower.
There are many lessons to be learnt.
If you liked this topic, you can comment below
which related topics would you want to see a video on?
If you havenât watched the video on soft drinks,
click here to watch it
before the companies start exerting pressure to get that removed.
And Iâll see you in the next video.
Thank you very much!
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)