Half of Taiwanese are over weight - really?

[Mother Theresa]

BMI can be a poor indicator for how fat a person is. When I started school here my health check said I was moderately obese. After that i gained a couple of kilos and found out I had 11% body fat. Not exactly impressive, but far from obese.

I agree. I had similar experiences. BMI does not equal body fat. Not at all.

[finley]

But let's be honest and admit there aren't too many Taiwanese that look like the left!

Actually you do ... but only at the gym. There are probably more guys at my gym who look muscular and/or cut than I ever saw back in the UK. OTOH there are many, many more flabby individuals who think a workout means sitting on a machine and playing with their iPhone for 15 minutes Or possibly a little nap on one of the ab benches.

[Icon]

But let's be honest and admit there aren't too many Taiwanese that look like the left!

Actually you do ... but only at the gym. There are probably more guys at my gym who look muscular and/or cut than I ever saw back in the UK. OTOH there are many, many more flabby individuals who think a workout means sitting on a machine and playing with their iPhone for 15 minutes Or possibly a little nap on one of the ab benches.

Actually, I am blessed as every morning I have to walk through the ranks of army and navy guys they send here to get/pick up gong wen, the bodygurads in their short sleeve guayaberas, plus our handsome cops doing the patrol of the premises. Boy, oh, boy. They are not that He-man/Hulk beasties as you see in US ROTC, but have these well built chest and square shoulders, flat bellies, well shaved and carefully cut hair and an overall pleasant friendly manner... *sigh* A smile every morning.

Then in the afternoon they start running around the compound...

[Formosa Fitness]

Something that was mentioned but needs to be highlighted again is the fact that the usual Taiwanese diet is mostly carbs. Protein is scarce in most local diets and the importance of eating protein is largely unknown. What's considered a high protein diet here is usually not even adequate, let alone high.

[Blaquesmith]

Something that was mentioned but needs to be highlighted again is the fact that the usual Taiwanese diet is mostly carbs. Protein is scarce in most local diets and the importance of eating protein is largely unknown. What's considered a high protein diet here is usually not even adequate, let alone high.

So, any suggestions about how to remedy that?

[GC Rider]

Something that was mentioned but needs to be highlighted again is the fact that the usual Taiwanese diet is mostly carbs. Protein is scarce in most local diets and the importance of eating protein is largely unknown. What's considered a high protein diet here is usually not even adequate, let alone high.

So, any suggestions about how to remedy that?

Probably adopt the American diet. It's the most protein-rich, so it must be the best.

[Belgian Pie]

Lot's of protein is good when your on a muscle building path ... people sitting on desk should adopt a lots of veggies diet, protein-carb balanced ... low fat, not no fat!
Around Sanxia you see plenty of pot/rice belly types ...

[Blaquesmith]

Something that was mentioned but needs to be highlighted again is the fact that the usual Taiwanese diet is mostly carbs. Protein is scarce in most local diets and the importance of eating protein is largely unknown. What's considered a high protein diet here is usually not even adequate, let alone high.

So, any suggestions about how to remedy that?

Probably adopt the American diet. It's the most protein-rich, so it must be the best.

I'm trying to get rid of my "lard", not the opposite! Besides, I don't like Bacon, so the American diet is not for me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xqmjZhqwt4

[Belgian Pie]

Something that was mentioned but needs to be highlighted again is the fact that the usual Taiwanese diet is mostly carbs. Protein is scarce in most local diets and the importance of eating protein is largely unknown. What's considered a high protein diet here is usually not even adequate, let alone high.

So, any suggestions about how to remedy that?

Probably adopt the American diet. It's the most protein-rich, so it must be the best.

I'm trying to get rid of my "lard", not the opposite! Besides, I don't like Bacon, so the American diet is not for me

Restrict your caloric intake ... 1,800 Kcal/day would be ok if you have low exercise regimen, no exercise would be 1,500 kcal/day ... low fat, protein-carbs balanced (or maybe slightly more protein) ... lots of veggies
Preferable, chicken/fish, lean beef or even lean pork. Omelets, (soy)milk(low fat), nuts
But, nothing beats exercise!

[Blaquesmith]

Something that was mentioned but needs to be highlighted again is the fact that the usual Taiwanese diet is mostly carbs. Protein is scarce in most local diets and the importance of eating protein is largely unknown. What's considered a high protein diet here is usually not even adequate, let alone high.

So, any suggestions about how to remedy that?

Probably adopt the American diet. It's the most protein-rich, so it must be the best.

I'm trying to get rid of my "lard", not the opposite! Besides, I don't like Bacon, so the American diet is not for me

Restrict your caloric intake ... 1,800 Kcal/day would be ok if you have low exercise regimen, no exercise would be 1,500 kcal/day ... low fat, protein-carbs balanced (or maybe slightly more protein) ... lots of veggies
Preferable, chicken/fish, lean beef or even lean pork. Omelets, (soy)milk(low fat), nuts
But, nothing beats exercise!

uhm... My doctor in Barcelona told me that I should be on the 1000-1200 Kcal/day range... plus moderate exercise

Besides, I tend to avoid pork... it's bad for my triglyceride count. I usually eat chicken, beef or fish if I can find it. I think the usual diet here in Taiwan depends too much on rice/noodles/various sauces. As it has been said before, too much carbs.