Why Aren't The Swiss Fat?

I just got back from snowboarding in Switzerland over the holiday. My friends have a family chalet in Vercorin, a couple hours outside Geneva. The picturesque town is complete with a tiny grocery and bakery that rests 1300 vertical meters up a long windy road from the valley. The summit is another 1000 meters up from there. Their chalet couldn't have a more perfect location. It sits above the town giving breathtaking snowy rooftop views, and is conveniently steps away from the ski trail. So the last run of each day we boarded our way into their back yard, and headed into the house for some hot chocolate. Pretty awesome!

Our friend Alex met us at the train station in the valley and drove us up to town. We parked and grabbed our bags. I thought we had arrived, but not quite. In the winter the last stretch of road leading up to the chalet is covered with ice and snow and is not driveable. So here is where the hike begins.

Ah ha! That's when it dawned on me. The Swiss are in such great shape because they climb mountains just to get in their front door! In addition to snowboarding that week we snowshoed and hiked along some of the 250km of footpaths that this mountain area provides. It's not uncommon to spot a Swiss person randonnee skiing, otherwise known as ski touring, which is skiing up the mountain. Why pay for a lift ticket when you can go up on your own power? It's interesting to note here that the Swiss do this for fun. It's a respected activity that would call for the equivalent of the American high-five or "props," if you will.

The mountains serve equally as a playground for the Swiss in the summer, for hiking and mountaineering. Unlike American ski areas that turn into ghost towns when the spring snow retreats, the Swiss take full advantage of their mountains every month of the year.

Of course, food is a huge issue when it comes to weight/health management. Fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, wine. chocolate, and cheeses were all enjoyed at the chalet. The freshest water I ever tasted flowed right out of the kitchen faucet. Mireille Guiliano, bestselling author of French Women Don't Get Fat, emphasizes the enjoyment of food. She speaks of her own struggles with weight when she spent time in America as an exchange student, recalling eating while stressed, and on-the-go. She ate too many processed foods, larger portions than necessary, and as a result, gained a lot of weight.

The Journal of Physical Activity and Health released a study titled Walking, Cycling, and Obesity Rates in Europe, North America and Australia in 2008. The study examined the relationship between active transportation and obesity rates. The findings were that countries with more walking and cycling had lower obesity rates. Much lower. That makes sense. What I found shocking was the number of transport calories burned per day in the most active countries was surprisingly low. In 2000, Europeans expended between 48 and 83 calories per person per day in active transportation, compared with 20 calories per person per day in the United States. That's only a sliver of a cupcake! How could that difference possibly contribute to the 8% obesity rate in Switzerland, and the 34% obesity rate in the United States?

This is where it gets really interesting. The metabolic energy requirements for active transport in Europe are roughly equivalent to oxidation of 5 to 9lbs of fat per person per year, compared with only 2lbs in the United States. Weight gain is usually gradual, over time. We've all heard some version of the "5 pounds a year" gain. We aren't healthy one day then the next day obese. How does it happen? The frog in hot water theory comes to mind. If you place a frog in cold water and gradually raise the temperature, the frog won't jump out. It will cook. We are roasting too, just a small amount each day, and forgetting to save ourselves.

Interestingly the survey found that 78% of New Jersey train commuters meet the national recommendations for physical activity, compared with 45% of all U.S. adults. I imagine around 98% of New Yorkers meet the target as well, including our daily hikes all over the city to get everything done. Running to catch a cab should even count for something.

I say, the Swiss have it pretty good. It's their lifestyle. They have gorgeous mountains, fresh air and fresh foods to enjoy. Lucky them! They take mid-day naps and it's in their culture to move at a slower pace than us. Many Americans have 8-12 hour work days accompanied by long commutes, endless highways, strip malls, and bills. When is our time to enjoy life? No wonder we are so obsessed with celebrity culture. They seem to have an easier life and we desperately need an escape from ours. My Swiss friends surprisingly couldn't report any of the names of the Jolie-Pitt kids and weren't the least bit interested in the status of Jen's love life.

So what the heck are we supposed to do? I can't imagine rural Americans walking along the highway several miles to the grocery store to pick up some milk. The risk of getting run over outweighs the potential physical benefits. People get in their car and drive to work. Unless you live in a walking city that's just how it's done. We have to find exercise in other ways. My Dad still chops wood for the wood-burning stove and Mom walks down their long driveway in rural Illinois every day to get the mail. My parents have a lot of common sense when it comes to health. They are modern hippies like that. We have always had a garden that provided us with fresh fruits and vegetables and we've stayed away from junk food mostly, except ice cream which was to be enjoyed almost nightly in my house growing up. The key word again here is enjoyed, going back to Mireille Guiliano's theory. Food is to be enjoyed, not shoveled in.

When your system is clean and you give it the premium stuff like fresh vegetables, fruits and grains, it will perform efficiently. You'll have more energy and feel better than if you give your body the cheap processed stuff like the dollar menu meal at McDonalds. High levels of sodium, sugars, and fat may taste good for a moment, but when repeated daily you won't feel good at all. Fuzzy brain, sugar crashes, food addictions, weight gain, diabetes, vicious cycles, oh my! Give yourself the good stuff. You deserve it! Your health shouldn't be the last priority. It should be the first.

Bestselling author Michael Pollan tells us to maintain a garden if we can, and buy locally from farmers markets. Cook your own food so you know what you are eating. Stay away from eating fast food and processed food as a habit. Pollan said in an interview that going to McDonalds with the grandkids every once in a while isn't going to result in diabetes. It's what we make a habit of, what we do every day that shapes us, literally. He gives an easy-to-understand explanation of how subsidizing corn production for already highly-profitable farms is making high-fructose corn syrup extremely cheap, and therefore a major ingredient in thousands of food items and all fast food joints. So basically the government is subsidizing fast food. Pollan suggests you can vote with your fork. You can choose what you eat and what you feed your kids. Check out these interesting Bill Moyers talks with Michael Pollan for more information on food and agriculture.

We all have to find our own way to health, and use our creativity. Most of us don't have to climb a mountain to go to the grocery store. Take the stairs at work, leave the building and walk out to lunch if you can, eat fresh foods and cook more meals. Re-invent the in-home dinner party with friends. Take back control of your life. Enjoy!

Pollan and several other studies emphasize that food trumps exercise in matters of obesity and health. But how we live has a big impact too, a point made clear in European comparisons. I want to offer a health stimulus package, a bailout for all Americans: a regular yoga practice.

Yoga practice offers a physical release from the high levels of stress that most of us acquire daily. Imagine being able to shed your tension as easily as you take off your coat when you come home. Stress buildup at work and home erased, and replaced with feeling good. Say goodbye to unnecessary arguments and wrinkles.

A vigorous physical yoga practice fills our exercise needs, and leaves us feeling refreshed. Imagine being able to sleep better at night because your body has been efficiently expended during the day. Imagine waking up every morning excited for the day to come. Say goodbye to insomnia, depression, and fatigue.

A meditative yoga practice offers increased self-awareness and intuitive abilities that will aid in better decision making when it comes to all of life's activities, including food. Say goodbye to obesity.

Trip to Switzerland not required. America's health bailout plan is ready to go right here at home. Everything you need is right there within you.

We should celebrate rather than poke fun at the growing popularity of yoga in the America. It's silly to fight over what style of yoga is better, who is the best teacher, and who is the most advanced. We need to encourage and raise the level of teaching and practice in Americans. This sort of movement grows from person to person. If you know a great yoga teacher, share the class with friends. Bring co-workers to your yoga class. Ask around and learn how to cultivate a home practice that's both physical and meditative. Then share your knowledge and benefits with others.

Comments

[benne]

What is the average work-week for the Swiss? So many experts recommend more and more discipline, more and more healthy choices, but they don't mention that Americans have increased their work time exponentially in the last 20 years. Americans need time to spend on their health, including time to relax, and they need more access to health clubs, swimming pools, etc. Ever notice how much money we spend for competitive athletics even for kids, but we spend very little money for the poor, the working class, and even lower middle-class to have for rehabilitation and exercise.

[Anne Dunev - Huffpost Blogger]

Very good post. I have spent a lot of time in Europe and I can eat twice as much there without gaining weight. I walk much more, but I also suspect it is the fact that U.S. food has more chemical additives.
Even the organic standards in Europe are higher. I really like the fact that you emphasize the lifestyle differences. Post WWII the U.S. was built around the automobile. European towns were built for walking. Of course, it is all up to the individual how to live their life. I hope Obama's new health plan includes helping people make healthier choices. We may have the mostest, cheapest, fastest food in the U.S., but the long term payback is costly in so many ways.

[Ron Galloway - Huffpost Blogger]

This is my favorite HuffPo piece ever. Will some publisher step up and hire this woman to write a book right now?

[reader39]

I often wonder if obesity should be treated as an addiction instead of a lifestyle choice. As a former smoker, I considered cigarettes my "friends" even though I knew they were killing me. I had to reprogram my thoughts about smoking in order to successfully quit. So I think that until people can change their feelings about food, it will be impossible to make healthier choices.

[ndem]

we moved to the US for 6 months shopped at whole foods and my daughter ended up with pesticide poisining...headed straight back to Europe where she detoxed and got better

[WharfRat77ch]

Having moved to Switzerland 20 years ago, I found this article and most of the comments very interesting. It is true, the Swiss love their mountains - skiing in the winter, hiking throughout the year. More importantly however, the Swiss walk a lot. There are walking paths all over the country. In my little village on the lake of Zurich, there are paths along the lake and from the village through the forests and fields. Even with sub-freezing weather, people go for walks. On Sundays, when most of the stores in the country are closed, it seems like everybody is outside taking a leisurely stroll.

We also eat smaller portions. On my last visit to the States, I was traveling in the New York area and consequently ate out a lot. While I avoided the fast food joints (I enjoy the east coast diner culture for nostalgia reasons), I found the portions too much. For instance, once I bought a blueberry muffin at the Port Authority one morning that was larger than a softball. If you can find muffins in Switzerland, they are about the size of a tennis ball.

Without advocating a particular diet or exercise program, the key is to increase your level of physical activity while reducing your caloric intake. This can be done without greatly altering your normal routine.

[ailbhe]

In Switzerland (and France), people are very fussy about their food. They refuse to eat C R A P, and enjoy healthy steaks, cheese, fresh breads etc. They demand high quality and refuse foods overdosed in hormones, chemicals, additives etc...

If you go to Geneva, you can always spot the Swiss and French(Geneva border's France) by their slimness. The foreigners stand out for their MUCH larger girths!
The French are naturally smaller boned anyway but it is rare to see one with extra weight.

[mizerello]

The only point to this post is for Ms. Stiles to sell her videos. In addition, her comment that the Swiss are able to actually drink water directly from their taps...guess what Ms. Stiles...we can drink water directly from our tap as well and it's some of the best water in the world. The fact is that people like you have turned drinking bottled water into a fad that is killing our environment. Kids today don't believe they can drink tap water. NYC's water is some of the safest in the world. The problem is that "busy folks" like you continue to buy the bottled stuff while dumping your bottles into the landfills throughout this country. Buy a filter system if your pipes make your water taste terrible. Buy a Sigg water bottle (the Swiss make them so you'll appreciate them!) and fill it with your own water. Stop buying the bottled water that the multinationals are stealing from water systems all over the world. Finally, with regard to obesity levels in the U.S., if people here were willing to pay for substantial increases in public transportation and had to walk more from place to place, climb stairs to and from subway systems, etc., our obesity levels would decline.

[Waylon Lewis - Huffpost Blogger]

It's a great point, Mizerello"I wish you'd made it with less personal vehemence, which doesn't seem particularly warranted. Bottled water is, by and large, a scam"and tap water is, by and large, better than we think (though quality varies widely around the US). And what to do with all the plastic bottles is a huge problem that recycling alone can't, unfotunately, begin to handle. So amen: consume less overpriced less-than-pure bottled water, and bring your SIGG around town more!

On your second point, funding public transit: we here in Boulder, Colo have nearly unrivaled bike paths, a great bus system...and, day to day, a healthy (though still puny) percentage of citizens find it convenient to bike to work. Less money spent on making America car-compatible, and more money spent on making our cities human-compatible, and we'll all be healthier and happier.

And perhaps we'd even remember that good manners, Mr. or Ms. Mizerello, are not incompatible with differing points of view.

[jake106]

I have to smile. A great response and a civil "retort". Good job, Mr. Lewis.

[TheBaffler]

Rubbish. The tap water here in northeast PA reeks of rust, chlorine, and other chemicals. It's undrinkable.

[mjt96]

I agree with Waylon, your tone is confusing but your points about water (don't buy plastic bottles, get a filter) are on target. Did you really suggest here that people "like you" are the problem?? Tara seems to be pretty busy helping people think about and take some useful actions with their health!

As for your faith in the NYC water system . . . it has certainly been reported by the government as safe. But it wouldn't surprise me if current confidence continues to erode regarding the safety of chlorine and flouride in our water. Similar to past confidence in the safety of aluminum, among other things. Hopefully we won't be hearing 10 years from now about toxicity of the sealant used by Sigg to keep the aluminum from leaching through. I'm a Sigg user myself, but sometimes think we should all stick to glass.

[Erdgeist]

I learned a long time ago that portions of food count -- and count big. If I put a morbidly obese American into a prison cell, then fed them small portions of food, they would lose weight.

[Phoebe917]

fast food is horrible for anyone.. i was never a fan of fast food, so i ate very little in my adult years. once in a while when we are on a road trip and don't have time for a sit-down, we'll get fast food. i literally get ill afterwards. i feel like there is a huge rock in my stomach and it won't move. now, when i rarely eat fast food i will eat very slow over the course of an hour or so. this helps. there is something strangely toxic in fast food.

[Swerinjer4]

because they eat nutrient dense foods including raw dairy, meat, and saturated fat. We eat food that is basically plastic and it corrupts our genetics resulting in diabetes autism endocrine disorders, lowered immunity, rotten disposition, and obesity. "health food" and "organic food" is NOT eating healthy. Healthy eating is Atkins diet along with the Weston A Price foundation.

[forpeace]

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Swerinjer4
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Not to mention "sugar" in almost everything ....... even toothpaste!

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[hokulele]

gotta reply to this. Atkins is a dangerous "diet" to follow. Unless you live at the North Pole and schlog through ice and snow all day, and have the genetics for animal fat like and Inuit person, Atkins type high animal fat and cholesterol foods kill. Move around, don't worry, moderate a "diet" of foods that don't have animal origins. Vegan works for me. And a good cheese once in awhile, oh, and a glass or two of wine now and then.............. NO MEAT and foods with very little saturated fats......... drink water. works, for me.

[odyssey58]

Here we go again Swerinjer4. The Atkin's diet is NOT dangerous. It is quite healthy for those of us who are protein types. Saturated animal fat has never been proven to cause heart disease. Long before coronary artery disease (CAD) first appeared in the early 20th century, people got most of their fat from animal sources. What changed in the 20th century is that people increased their consumption of sugar, refined grains, hydrogenated fats, and vegetable oils. People also began to eat less animal fat because they were told it was unhealthy. Rates of CAD soared. How can you blame increasing rates of a disease on foods that people were eating in lesser amounts?
If being a vegan works for you and you feel fine, great. But it is not for every body. Atkin's isn't for every body, either.
BTW- I used to be vegetarian. Atkin's and the Zone diet saved me from type 2 diabetes. I was hypoglycemic on a whole grain/legume diet. I was fat, tired, hungry, and miserable.

[Phoebe917]

interesting post, odyssey58. i have never really been real overweight, but after menopause and not being able to exercise a lot because i blew my knee out skiing a few years ago, i gained a few pounds around the middle. so i decided to change my diet. a modified atkins works for me. i get carbs from vegetables and fruit. protein from meat, lots of fish. absolutely no concentrated sweets. i eat cheese, as much as i like, and i enjoy a fatty slab of steak once in a while. i have lost 15 pounds and have kept it off for nearly a year. there is no sacrifice in this diet. except i miss potatoes, but will eat one every once in a while. also, i probably do eat more fat than i should, but my cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol ratio are all excellent. i like this eating life style and it works.

[Swerinjer4]

what exactly gave you the impression Im against the Atkins diet? Read it again dude...did you think i was being sarcastic or something?

[hoodie]

Excellent! Would love to see the sweeping changes if we fed our kids real food in school. My kids drink raw whole milk by the gallon, loads of grass fed beef and tons of butter. They rarely get even a cold and the stomach flu always bypasses them. No meds, no behaviors....just great kids and we do this on one modest income. They will need to pay for their own higher ed someday but what a great foundation to build on. Weston A. Price saved our lives!!!

[ouroborous]

Interesting piece.

It's very interesting that despite a lot of theories, we still don't know *why* Americans are so much fatter than our European counterparts. Your anecdote about gradual weight gain/loss is important because it may hit closer to home: we're impatient.

We focus on shaming folks who are fat, rather than providing real healthy alternatives. We focus on going to the gym -- which, let's face it, is just godawful boring -- rather than on real-life alternatives like biking or walking to work. We focus on "getting into that swimsuit by summer" rather than on living a healthy, balanced life.

Ultimately, all "first world" citizens have the same conundrum: an abundance of calorie-dense food coupled with a decreasing need for movement. Your suggestions of incorporating small, common-sense movement increases and livable diet changes won't fit well with the conscience of most Americans, I bet, who want a "get thin quick" diet.

Interestingly, the way we can fix this is to stop focusing so much on obesity. We need to focus on the long-term. Let's see if we can *lose* five pounds per year instead of *gaining* it. It wouldn't be dramatic, but if we could just burn a hundred or so more calories per day, over the long run, we'd all be MUCH, much healthier.

But, I guess that doesn't make for attention-grabbing headlines...

[rini]

I think our economic system plays a role.

Diet companies make money promising quick, not gradual or lifelong, results. Junk food companies tempt us to do what we don't want to do because corn syrup is cheap and subsidized, but makes a lot of sales.

Our basest instincts are exploited because it is profitable.

[odyssey58]

There's a lot less profit in real food which is more perishable and harder to produce and distribute on a large scale.
Also, many of us are too busy making ends meet to have the time to properly prepare food. I choose to work less so that I have more time for food prep and exercise. My health is far more important that having a big house or more clothes or taking trips.