Closing Reflections

It is hard to pinpoint the exact reason why some cultures are less obese than others. I looked at it through the lens of diet, which is only part of the picture. Obviously, other things such as exercise, education and general attitudes towards weight can have an effect on health. It is apparent Japanese people exercise a lot because, for the most part, the general population has to walk everywhere and rely on public transportation. There are many foods that are nutritional, filling, and cheap that are easily accessible. Perhaps embracing more Asia foods could help America fight its obesity problems. Throughout my Magellan Project I learned that I can survive and even thrive in a foreign environment. I am very capable of traveling on my own even when I do not know the language very well. It is a very brave thing to travel on one's own for the first time in a brand new setting. Going to Japan has truly broadened my perspective on eastern cultures. It was a very valuable experience, in which I learned more than I ever could just reading literature about the Japanese diet.

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