East Asia - hamburgers, Kripsy Kreme, and type 2 diabetes

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

To balance my posts on today's China, here's a rather depressing story from Britain's Observer newspaper on Japan's changing diet. Of course, hamburgers and donuts are also making significant landfall in China - as my morbidly overweight and diabetic 15-year-old nephew amply demonstrates.

Health fears as Japan falls for fast food

Japan, the home of sushi, seaweed cuisine and the world's longest life expectancy, is rearing a generation of young sugar addicts who are destined to spend their adolescence fighting obesity and acne, according to a report that paints a devastating picture of the country's health crisis.

In Tokyo, the fast food of choice is a towering concoction of four hamburger patties, with all the trimmings, crammed into a single bun and children happily line-up around the block for a calorie-laden doughnut.

But while the queues outside the Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the Shinjuku area of the capital, which opened recently, point to an extraordinary Japanese success story for the fast-food industry, they also symbolise a health disaster in the making for consumers.">But while the queues outside the Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the Shinjuku area of the capital, which opened recently, point to an extraordinary Japanese success story for the fast-food industry, they also symbolise a health disaster in the making for consumers.

Up to a fifth of Japanese children aged from five to 12 who are overweight suffer, or are at risk of developing, metabolic syndrome, a range of symptoms including high cholesterol and large waistlines, according to a study released last week. Left untreated, it can lead to serious illnesses such as strokes and heart disease. Nationwide, the condition afflicts an estimated 23 million Japanese, the health ministry warns.

Although middle-aged 'salarymen' are at greatest risk, children as young as nine are now suffering from type-2 diabetes, a phenomenon unheard of in Japan only a few years ago. Experts say the looming health crisis is being fomented by a surge in demand for highly calorific food sold by the top US food chains.

When Krispy Kreme opened people waited more than an hour to sample its doughnuts - some of which pack several hundred calories each. An estimated 10,000 people visited the restaurant in the first three days.

Cold Stone Creamery, which serves up portions of ice cream mixed with fruit, nuts and biscuits, opened three new outlets in Japan last month and plans to open two more this month, while Burger King is about to launch its second assault on the Japanese market. Last week McDonald's in Japan reported monthly sales of just over 43bn yen (about £183m), the highest in its 36 years in the country. The US chain sold 1.7 million Mega Macs - four burger patties in a bun - in four days in Japan, as outlets struggled to keep up with demand.

Experts blame adults for setting a poor example. 'Ultimately it is up to parents to take greater responsibility for what their children eat,' says Fumi Hayashi, a researcher at the National Institute of Health and Nutrition.

'The problem is that they are just as guilty of bad habits rather than eating a balanced diet.'

Now diseases associated with obesity will strike Japan faster, and with greater ferocity, than anything seen in the West. 'When you have rapid transformations in lifestyles, that's when you see the worst health outcomes,' says Tim Gill, Asia-Pacific regional co-ordinator for the International Obesity Task Force.

The rapid changes taking place in the Japanese diet, combined with a greater susceptibility to metabolic illness, will lead to dramatic rises in strokes, diabetes and hypertension, he warned. 'The potential is there for a disaster.'

In the absence of government intervention - limiting TV advertising aimed at children, or banning special promotions - the fast-food industry is enjoying unprecedented success in Japan. Held responsible for contributing to health problems of American and British children, the same firms are setting their sights on a lucrative market in Asia, the world's most populous region.

Krispy Kreme's marketing machine, combined with the mouth-watering sight of freshly made doughnuts emerging on a conveyor belt, is proving irresistible to Japanese teens. 'Krispy Kreme is the epitome of how to cram maximum calories into the smallest amount of food,' Gill says. 'All you can do with doughnuts is to point out what crap they are.'

More than 1,300 people across the region have had weight reduction surgery since the beginning of last year, according to the Asia Pacific Bariatric [Obesity] Surgical Society.

[Edit by="rrobinson on Apr 8, 8:31:22 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Here is the line in Shinjuku, Tokyo, last week for Krispy Kreme. The "a-la-Disneyland" wait-sign show how long queuers will have to stand for their seats in KK.

My friend and I could not believe it.

But Japan is not prone to keep the trend long. Starbucks a hundred yards away had normal attendance. As I recall, we had the same craze for KK here in LA and now the stores are quite vacant.

Japan is not innocent with fast food: They have had Mr. Donut (much better than Krispy Kreme, and they sell my favorite, curry pan); Mos Burger; McDonald's; Denny's; and such since I lived there from 1988 to 1990.

bon apetit!

[Anonymous]

try again

[Anonymous]

I agree with vortiz. The craze will stop once everyone or at least almost everyone in the city and nearby villages/towns gets a first taste of the infamous Krispy Kreme doughnut. Personally I don't see what all the hype is about, and yes I have tried the doughnut when it's hot and I really didn't taste anything special in it. The worst part of all is not making the long line or having to dish out hard earned money but the long term effects that eating "a" doughnut has on yur health. Diabetes is a dangerous illness that is incurable and followed by a live long of testing, medication and special diets. Unfortunately I believe this is an effect of globalization which in turn means the determent of many people.

[Anonymous]

It's not only an effect of globalization but of wealth. The richer a country is, the more money is available and expendable on "entertainment" items, and Krispy Creme is just that - not used for nurishment but for entertaining our tastebuds.

It would be interesting to research more into the increasing cases of obesity and diabetes in Japan, and see if it really does relate to the insurgence of fast food chains. I always thought that the real reason Americans are so fat is because our portion sizes are ridiculously too large. Japanese cuisine on the other hand is portioned much smaller. Is that changing as well?

The spread of American fast food chains is rampant and I understand why people dislike it, but I had an experience that will stay with me forever:

I was in Toledo Spain, a medievil town encapsulated by an ancient wall and characterized by tiny cobble-stoned streets. To be there was to feel like you were living 500 years ago. BUT when we went searching for lunch, every single store was closed for siesta, and we were stuck there starving for hours. All seemed lost until we turned a corner and there it was... those lovely golden arches glowing like the sun itself, and OPEN! Even though it looked awkward nestled in between 500 (or more) year old stones, at that point McDonalds looked more beautiful to me then Toledo itself. I will never knock it again.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't agree with you more....it definately is our portions that are truly killing us. Europeans eat small portions, multiple times a day and consume wine with almost all meals.

I had a similar experience to Sarnoff's. I visit Spain a couple times a year and during my first few visits I too was in the same predicament. I had completely forgotten that they close all businesses during lunch so we had to eat at Pans & Company, which is a sandwich place, not the best to eat because they only have one fast food restaurant (Burger King) located in the outskirts of the city, too far to walk and my stomach was demanding I feed it ASAP. As of that day I learned that if I wanted to eat descent food I had to feed myself around 2:30 pm or buy cold cuts and purchase my bread no later than 1:30pm, bread is purchased on a daily basis for lunch & dinner (that is a drag), to make myself a quick sandwich. Sadly enough I can honestly tell you that when I go I anxiously await our trip to Madrid where I can have Venti Caramel Macchiato & a Big Mac with fries.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE Pans & Company! The tortilla bocadillo and the jamon y queso were the best! Saved me on many desperate occasions when I had no money or was starving to death.

[Anonymous]

I agree it's good the first few times but after going there time after time it gets to be too much.....My favorite is the mushroom bread with the chicken and the stinky cheese. Chinese food also for some reason is more flavorable there than here in the U.S. While there my eating habits change as well as my sleep pattern.

[Anonymous]

I was in China in January....

McDonalds, KFCs, PizzaHuts: the lines were long and people were eating everything up.
Chinese are forgoing their rice and vegetable diet and replacing it with American diet.
Some positive might be that they are getting protien that they were not getting before. But, they are also getting alot of fats....

[Anonymous]

Sadly, Chinese, while eating all those American fast foods are most likely eating all those very dangerous chemicals their animal food companies have been putting in livestock feed.....the same compounds that were put in dog food and has laid down many pets in North America. Since the compounds have been fed to our pork and beef as well.....jeez, what a mess for the bottom dollar.....er, yuan.

Bon Apetit! And pray.[Edit by="vortiz on May 23, 9:37:24 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Funny that we should be talking about how there is an increase in diabetes and obesity... In the la times yesterday May 19th it discused how both Japanese men and women have the highest life-expectancy in the world, behind a small island around Italy called San Marino. So is there really a problem with fast food in Japan? Perhaps the repercussions of the vast abundance of fast food chains will not be felt for years. It takes awhile for those arteries to clog!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Japan, San Marino top longevity lists
From the Associated Press
May 19, 2007

GENEVA — Boys born in San Marino, a tiny republic surrounded by Italy, are expected to live to age 80, the world's longest male life expectancy at birth, but newborn girls in 31 other countries have even better prospects, the World Health Organization said Friday.

Sierra Leone registered the shortest male life expectancy at birth, 37 years — the same as that of girls in Swaziland, who were at the bottom of the female list — in WHO's "World Health Statistics 2007."

Females in Japan, who continue to lead the world tables, have a life expectancy at birth of 86 years, the same as last year's statistics. San Marino men, who tied with Japanese men last year at 79, added a year to get ahead.

Newborn boys in the U.S. have a 75-year life expectancy, U.S. newborn girls 80 — 33rd and 32nd place, respectively.

The life expectancy figures were based on 2005, the latest year available.

Besides Japan, following San Marino on the male side were Australia, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland at 79 years. Cuba was among the countries that tied the U.S.

Countries with long female life expectancies include Monaco at 85 years. Costa Rica and Denmark tied the United States.

Afghanistan and Sierra Leone are the toughest places for babies, with an infant mortality rate of 165 in 1,000 live births, compared with the two babies who die per 1,000 born in Singapore or Iceland, which shared first place. In the U.S., seven babies die per 1,000, the same rate as in Belarus, Slovakia and Lithuania — a tie for 38th place.

Sierra Leone is worse than Afghanistan for mothers' survival, with the worst maternal mortality rate: 2,000 per 100,000 live births in 2000, the latest year for which statistics were available. The rate for Afghanistan, second-worst, was 1,900. Ireland did best at four deaths. The U.S. was in 29th place with 14 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births

[Anonymous]

Fast Food has always been a problem where ever it lands, but today's fast food I don't believe is entirely the problem, since more and more are trying to bring "healthy options." Like one of you said, the chemicals in the meat may become more of the problem than the fat and carbs.

I also believe, although the East Asian culture may be taking in the fast food industry, it has a very strong cultural cuisine that tends to be healthier than any other cultural diet. This cuisine is fast becoming a world recognized cuisine and being fuzed into our own now. Not to mention a strong Green Tea and tea culture, which more and more studies have shown really helps the human body (green tea and white tea especially). But I do agree any true effects of the fast food there will take time to show.

How odd that we are now influencing a countries that are influencing us.

[Anonymous]

ASarnoff's article says something quite clearly. It is not the type of food one eats, but how much and how often.

Japan's big problem is with salt. It is in everything. shoyu, tsukemono, miso, dried fish, most of the basics. Many people die from stomach related issues. Japanese do not like heavy food. There are no lines in front of the fast food places any more than here. I see longer lines at udon and ramen shops (very old food venues, broths based on salt/shoyu), than I see at Western fastfood places. Another reassuring thought is that Japanese are not into the mega-size platters we are. Our diabetes and other fat related issues stem from our wanting two or three times the food at one sitting (comfort food, we call it?). Guilty!

Japanese eat to eat, look cool, or celebrate. They don't eat for solace. I don't really think there is a problem for Japanese having our food there, no more than there is a problem from Americans getting increased epidemics of cancer from the high levels of salt and aji-no-moto (monosodium glutamate) used in Japanese restaurants here.

I hope the same is true in China, and the lines are just temporary. How could Chinese give up the marvelous diversity of textures and tastes that is Chinese cooking?

Bon Apetit![Edit by="vortiz on May 23, 9:32:48 PM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="vortiz on May 23, 9:36:28 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Asians for years have always been fascinated by the fast food craves of the west.
During high school my family would house Japanese students; they would always request to eat at their favorite place "Mikey D's".
Ironically as westerners attempt to adopt their cuisine, they neglect to take note of the hidden ingredians which are not so healthy for our diets: ajinomoto, sugar, salt, and corn starch.
Majority of Japanese dishes have sugar and use ajinomoto to enhance the flavor.
But for most Asian cuisine, Chinese and Thai they use ajinomoto, which is why at some eateries you will see a sign "no MSG".
Consequently Asian meals always include white rice, which is very high in starch.
Therefore, as healthy as one might believe the Asian diet is, one needs to be aware of the necessary substitutions to eat healthy, which is to eliminate the white sugar, ajinomoto, limit the salt and find a substitute for the corn starch as well as attempting to switch white rice for brown rice.
Studies have also shown that Japanese women have a lower rate of breast cancer. The contribution to this is related to their consumption of fish, as it is high in Omegas.
There are also studies relating drinking of green tea to decrease heart disease.
Like anything else eating in moderation and keeping active is the key....
An added note, can you imagine there once was a commercial advertisement for AJINOMOTO? It is soo ironic... the commercial would be something like this... Aji...Aji...
A ji no moto...Ajinomoto...too Funny...
[Edit by="cori on Jun 18, 10:44:04 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Although the fast food industry is joining the band wagon following the advertisements of Sub Way.They still have a long way to go, the ideal for the fast food industry would be to be completely health conscious by going organic, using whole grain wheat instead of processed wheat flour or white bread, as well as free range chickens...giving a new look and meaning to "fast foods."

As far as the Asian diet being the heathiest, minus the use of sugar and ajinomoto...the Middle East and India have healthier diets, as their meals use pure spices, lentils, vegetables and olive oil.

I wonder if the factors of having ajinomoto and sugar in their diets, as well as smoking contribute to Asians having poor teeth?

[Author]

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