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Even Cubans Are Overweight
 Cubans are no strangers to the battle of the bulge. Waistlines have expanded since the economic crisis of the early 1990s eased on the communist-run island - so much so that 30 percent of adults are now overweight, a newly released government study reveals.Some people outside Cuba hold on to a stereotype of malnourished Cubans waiting in lines for a few potatoes, but there's ample evidence to the contrary in Havana, where bulging waistlines are stuffed into snug skirts or peek through too-tight guayabera shirts. "People eat lots of things like pizza and bread that fill you up, but put on a lot of weight," said Lucia, a plump housewife who didn't want her last name used, saying she was embarrassed about her weight and uncomfortable talking publicly about something as political as food. "If you want to go on a diet it's hard because vegetables and fruits cost a lot," she said. I can afford fruits and vegetables, Lucia, and it's still tough! In Cuba, as elsewhere, "obesity and excess weight represent a serious public health problem," causing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart troubles, said the study by Cuba's Nutrition and Food Safety Institute. Released by state media this month, the 2004 study focused on urban areas, where three-quarters of Cubans live. The study said 30 percent of Cuba's men and 31 percent of its women are overweight, and that about a fourth of the island's 11.2 million people have a tendency toward obesity. Those most likely to be overweight are in their 50s, it added. An estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, according to U.S. federal statistics. So we're winning the battle of the bulge. More at link. Posted by: Bobby 2007-06-18 |
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