Mexico: the world’s fattest country

Photo: SteveJohnson

Thanksgiving. A day of family, friends – and food. Indeed, the average American will be tucking into a giant feast of turkey and all the trimmings. In total, the amount consumed will total 4,500 calories, according to the Calorie Control Council.

The group’s research found that just a turkey dinner by itself can contain a belt-popping 3,000 calories – far ahead of the daily allowance for men and women, let alone children. Add in snacks such as chips and dips eaten throughout the rest of the holiday, plus a range of alcoholic drinks, and that figure jumps to an even higher 4,500 calories.

But while such national holidays almost dedicated to overeating only reinforce America’s reputation as the country with the biggest bellies, figures from the OECD reveal that the world has a new fattest nation: Mexico.

69.5 per cent of men and women in the country are classed as overweight or obese, just ahead of 69.2 per cent in the US. The top five most overweight and obese countries in the world is rounded off by New Zealand, where 64.7 per cent of adults are abnormally large, Chile (64.5 per cent) and the UK (62.8 per cent).

The top 10 most overweight and obese countries

Mexico                 69.5

United States       69.2

New Zealand       64.7

Chile                   64.5

United Kingdom   62.8

Hungary              61.6

Australia             61.2

Ireland               61

Canada              60

Finland               59.2

(Source: OECD)

Nonetheless, America remains a country on the grow. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Colorado had the lowest obesity rate of any US state last year: 20.5 per cent. Even there, one in five adults are obese. Rates riseup to 34.7 per cent in Louisiana, reports the Washington Post.

The figures offer a stark contrast to 2000, notes the CDC, when there was no state with an obesity rate over 30 per cent. In 2010, there were 12.

That dramatic shift in size has been captured by this animated GIF by the Washington Post, which charts the percentage of US adults who are classed as obese:



So if you are tucking into turkey today, give thanks that you are officially no longer the fattest country in the world. After you have finished, the Calorie Control suggests the following tips from the American Heart Association:

-          Eat lower-fat and reduced-calorie foods for days in advance of the holiday feast, and for days after.

-          Prepare for handling your worst temptations; if you want both pecan and pumpkin pie, take a tiny slice of each, instead of an average serving.

-          If cooking, provide low-fat foods, or ask if you can bring a low-fat dish.

-          After the meal, start a tradition -- a holiday walk, for instance.