1. Vietnam
Vietnam — is a country where only 2.1% of the population suffers from obesity. So why are the Vietnamese so thin? Like any developing country, Vietnam struggles with a high level of poverty. According to UN data, almost 10% of the population lives in poverty, so it is not surprising that many Vietnamese struggle to feed themselves. But poverty — is not the only reason the Vietnamese are thin. Vietnamese cuisine consists mainly of rice, vegetables, and fish. Why isn't that proper nutrition?
2. Bangladesh
The high level of poverty in Bangladesh leads to hunger and malnutrition. The country is second in the ranking of the thinnest. Here the obesity rate is only 3.6%. About 40% of the population experiences a shortage of food, and children suffer especially severely from hunger.
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3. East Timor
Another country where hunger is a serious problem. One of the reasons is the inability to produce enough food domestically, which is aggravated by the consequences of climate change. Only 3.8% of the population suffers from obesity.
4. India
Only 3.9% of India's population suffers from obesity. Unlike East Timor, India produces enough food domestically to feed its population. Nevertheless, a large number of Indians still do not have sufficient access to food. According to UN data, about 189.2 million people in India are undernourished.
5. Cambodia
Cambodia has the same obesity rate as India — 3.9%. The country simply cannot feed everyone. Its natural resources were depleted as a result of armed conflict. Agriculture and food production are also damaged by frequent natural disasters. About 40% of Cambodian children are chronically undernourished, which often leads to stunted growth.
6. Nepal
Only 4.1% of people in Nepal suffer from obesity. Nepal — is one of the poorest countries in Asia. About 39% of the population lives in poverty, and 8% — in extreme destitution. As in other poor countries, the productivity of Nepal's agriculture is too low to feed the population. At the same time, the situation has improved over the past 20 years. While in 2000 the global hunger index in Nepal stood at 37.4%, by now it has dropped to 19.5%.
7. Japan
Unlike the aforementioned countries of the world, Japan is not a poor country. Quite the opposite, it is one of the richest and most developed countries in the world. So why do only 4.3% of Japanese suffer from obesity? The thing is that the Japanese do not eat food high in saturated fats, salt, and sugar. They try to abstain from processed foods, such as those you would find at McDonald's. The Japanese also eat in small portions and do not snack between main meals. The basics of proper nutrition are instilled in Japanese children as early as elementary school.
8. Ethiopia
Only 4.5% of Ethiopians suffer from obesity, while at the same time almost 8 million people experience a shortage of food. The country's agriculture is heavily dependent on rainfall, which is often insufficient. Ethiopia recently endured a series of droughts, the consequences of which are aggravated by other natural disasters, armed conflicts, and extreme destitution.
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9. South Korea
Like Japan, South Korea is a developed country. At the same time, only 4.7% of South Korea's residents suffer from obesity. The diet of South Korea's population does not include fatty or processed foods. Instead, they consume a lot of vegetables and seafood. Like the Japanese, South Koreans eat in small portions and include physical exercise in their daily routine.
10. Eritrea
The East African country of Eritrea — is yet another territory gripped by hunger. Therefore it is not surprising that only 5% of its residents suffer from obesity. At present the country can provide food for only a third of its population. The rest must rely on foreign aid. An interesting fact is that the government of Eritrea has repeatedly denied the existence of any food crisis in the country.
