"There were no fat kids in Japanese schools"
Dec 04, 2024
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According to foreign media such as NewsCom, Johan Hari, a Scottish journalist and author, appeared on a popular podcast 'CEO's Diary' to explain why Japan is the world's best life expectancy country.
He, who is also a well-being expert, told of his experience visiting a school in Koenji, western Tokyo.
He recalled that the school, which has 1,000 children between the ages of 5 and 18, was "completely fascinating".
According to him, school nutritionists are required to hire professional nutritionists in all Japanese schools under the law"and "Doesn't serve processed food as meals" he said.
He also explained that meals are not only healthy and nutritious, but also consist of menus that are faithful to well-being practices.
Johan Hari introduced "In Japan, there is a dining culture that fills up to 80% of the stomach."
He then said "The Japanese often eat soybean paste soup and white fish, but what's unique is that they eat slowly." he said. He was shocked the moment he realized that there was not a single fat child at Goenge School," he added.
When Hari asked some children about their favorite foods, the answer came back "It's broccoli, seaweed, and rice" and argued that there was a reason for the low rate of childhood obesity.
Meanwhile, Japan's life expectancy is 84.67 years old (81.5 years for men and 87.7 years for women), the highest in the world.
A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2021 compared recent mortality statistics from G7 countries and found that Japan had significantly lower mortality rates from heart disease and cancer.
In response, the study reported that the low prevalence of obesity, low intake of red meat, especially saturated fatty acids, and high intake of plant-based foods such as beans and sugar-free beverages such as green tea appear to be the reasons.
bellho@sportschosun.com
