Asians and their svelte physiques are often a source of fascination for Westerners — and a target of ridicule. From pop culture figures like the ninja sidekick from “TheEND” to more serious analyses like from New York magazine, Asians are often portrayed as underweight and unhealthy. Why? Perhaps it’s because Asians have the highest body fat percentage among all races in the world. The average Asian adult is about 20 percent smaller than the average Caucasian. How can this be? Let’s deconstruct this widely held belief that Asians are skinny so we can understand why this isn’t true. Are Asians really on the skinnier end of the spectrum? It definitely seems that way when you look around at your friends, family members, or classmates at school.
Why Are Asians So Skinny?
Asians are generally skinny because they have a lower body fat composition compared to non-Asians. For instance, one study found that Asian Americans had a body fat percentage of 21.4%, while whites had a percentage of 25.9%. Additionally, most Asians are not overweight or obese, which leads to overall lower body weight.
What Is The Reason Asians Are So Skinny?
1. Lower Body Fat Percentage
Asians have a lower body fat percentage than non-Asians. This is because Asians tend to be smaller than Whites and other races, which means that they have less body fat. Additionally, Asians are often smaller in stature as well due to their low body weight.
2. Smaller Stature
Because of their small stature and low body weight, Asians tend to be shorter than Whites and other races. Therefore they have less muscle mass and more bone mass (i.e., less fat).
3. Higher Activity Levels
Another reason that Asians tend to be skinny is that they are physically active throughout their lives compared to non-Asians who are more sedentary throughout their lives. This active lifestyle leads to a lower amount of body fat for the Asian population as well compared to the rest of the world.
4. Lifestyle Factors
The nature of Asian culture also plays a role in their low body fat percentage. Asians tend to be more conscious of their health and take overall better care of themselves. They are more likely to eat well, exercise regularly, and not drink to excess.
5. Genetic Factors
Because of the manner in which they were raised as well as their specific genetic makeup which occurs through evolution over time, Asians have lower body fat percentages than other races because they are less likely to overeat or overemphasize food in general.
6. Lack Of Exposure To Western Lifestyles
Although people from Asian countries are now exposed to Western lifestyles and food in their countries, they are less likely to adopt these habits because of the way that they were raised.
7. Male Vs Female Body Size
Asians tend to have a higher percentage of males than females because males tend to be taller and have more muscle mass compared to females. This means that more males are involved in sports and activities that require strength, which leads them to become leaner as opposed to females who tend to be more sedentary during their younger years due to their size and activity levels.
8. Lack Of Obesity
A final reason that Asians are skinny is that they have a lower body weight compared to non-Asians. This is because Asians tend to be smaller in stature and have a higher amount of muscle mass, which means less fat.
Problems Caused By Being Skinny
1. Health Risks
Although Asians are known for being skinny, not all skinny people are healthy. There are some health risks associated with being skinny.
2. Skin Cancer
Asians who have a high percentage of body fat, especially the female population, have a higher risk of developing skin cancer due to the number of UV rays that they receive in their daily lives. This is because Asians are more likely to be exposed to the sun and sit outside longer than non-Asians, who don’t have to worry about this as much.
3. Depression And Mental Health Issues
Although Asian cultures tend to be very positive and happy, there can be some negative side effects as well such as depression and mental health issues which can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle overall.
4. Lifestyle Changes Needed For Healthy Eating Habits
Although Asians tend to eat healthier foods than other races or ethnicities, they still need to make changes in order for them to be healthier.
5. Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are becoming more prevalent in the Asian community causing a higher percentage of skinny people who have eating disorders.
6. Self-Harm And Suicide Rates
Self-harm and suicide rates are higher amongst Asian populations as well due to the fact that there is a higher risk of developing an eating disorder, especially in females.
7. Eating Patterns Unhealthy For Lifestyle Changes Needed To Be Healthy
Although Asians tend to eat healthier foods than other races or ethnicities, they still need to make changes in order for them to be healthier. These healthy changes include eating less processed foods, exercising, and being more active overall so that they can lead a healthy lifestyle as opposed to one that leads to health problems down the road such as obesity and other diseases.
8. Body Image Issues
Some Asian females struggle with body image issues because their body size doesn’t match up with their culture’s ideals of beauty.
9. Depressive Disorders
Depressive disorders are becoming more prevalent in Asian communities due to the fact that there is a higher risk of developing an eating disorder, especially in females.
10. Inactivity
Although Asians tend to be very active, they still need to make changes in order for them to be healthier such as being more active and exercising more than non-Asians since they don’t have to worry about sitting inside all day and getting less sunlight exposure than other races or ethnicities.
How To Stay Healthy While Being Vegetarian
1. Eat Healthy Foods
Asians should eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as opposed to processed foods and fast foods. They should also consume less meat and dairy products in order for them to be healthier.
2. Drink Water
Asians should drink at least eight glasses of water every day since it helps with digestion, weight loss, and regulating the body’s temperature.
3. Exercise Regularly
Asians should exercise at least three times a week for at least thirty minutes. When they exercise, they should increase their heart rate in order to burn more calories and fat as well as increase their endurance so that they can carry out daily activities without getting tired quickly or feeling exhausted after exercising for 30 minutes or less.
4. Eat Healthy Meals On A Daily Basis
Asians should not skip meals because this is when our bodies have the most energy so if they skip meals then they will have no energy throughout the day which is dangerous if they are driving, walking, or doing other tasks that require a lot of energy.
5. Take Vitamins
Asians should take a multivitamin every day in order to make sure that they are getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals.
6. Make A Plan For Food Diets
Asians should plan out their food diets so that they don’t eat unhealthy foods such as processed foods, fast foods, and junk food since they are very easy to come by.
7. Limit Alcohol Consumption
Asians should limit their alcohol consumption because it makes them feel sick and can cause them to lose focus on their daily activities which can lead to an eating disorder or other health problems down the road such as cancer or other diseases.
Conclusion
Asians are slimmer than people of other races because they have less muscle mass on average. However, this doesn’t mean they are unhealthy. In fact, Asians actually have the highest body fat percentage among all races in the world. What’s important to remember is that you can’t tell someone’s health by their weight alone. You also have to look at their body fat percentage.
