Thais Who Are Shockingly Skinny -- The Flip Side Of Obesity

[Jingthing]

Not talking about starvation per se, as I don't get the impression there is a high rate of actual starvation in Thailand among Thais.

But amid the growing rates of obesity among Thais, especially the younger people, there still seems to me to be an awful lot of shockingly skinny Thais as well.

As "they" say: you can't be too rich or too thin, but that really isn't the truth.

You CAN be too thin.

According to the British medically oriented t.v. show, Supersize vs Superskinny, those who are very thin are at high risk of death from a simple common case of diarrhea There are other health risks as well. Basically, they've got no reserves, and SOME reserves are needed.

Just some attention to the flip side of obesity.

Are there Thais in your life who are just too bloody skinny?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZrFsOsJX04

Edited March 24, 2013 by Jingthing

[monty]

Not really that much actually.

Obesity seems to be a bigger problem.

The few I met who were shockingly skinny unfortunately were terminally ill (two had a form of liver cancer caused by liver flukes present in raw fermented fish products).

Unhealthy anorexia I seldom see over here.

[Travel2003]

Interesting subject.

I asked my local friends that, and the vast majority of my friends here prefer a lady so skinny you see the hip bones and the skinny shoulders.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

I think a lot more Thai's are falling to the heavy side

50 years ago in the US the avg male was 5'9" and 153# (~180cm and ~70kg)

That's about low 20's BMI (Body Mass Index)

It's a lot more calories for cheap and less activity.

Thai's for the most part seem to be following that same script toward heavier.

Eventually they will stop seeing higher weights as a sign of prosperity and sign of poor health and adjust.

That could take a while to reverse.

Is it possible these really skinny ones are Meth (Ya Ba) users?

[Travel2003]

Nothing to do with drugs.

Have a look at the so called celebrities or the wannabe stars.

Most of the ladies are extremely skinny.

Their arms are 2 match sticks.

[Jingthing]

Interesting subject.

I asked my local friends that, and the vast majority of my friends here prefer a lady so skinny you see the hip bones and the skinny shoulders.

I have noticed in the gay world, a tendency for foreigners to be attracted to super skinny Thai men. I don't get that at all although I do understand attraction to the fit and/or the not fat. To me, being very thin with bones showing is a sign of sickness even if not sick. I have sympathy for the ill, but not attraction.

On obesity, yes it's growing here, but we talk about that all the time! I don't recall the super skinny being discussed here and those people do certainly exist.

Referring to the British show (which I watch and really enjoy) certainly not all of their super skinny patients have actual eating disorders like anorexia. In other words you can be super skinny without anorexia and without actually starving to death (but it ain't healthy either).

Edited March 24, 2013 by Jingthing

[poanoi]

40-43 kg is common on the girls i had, sorta like it, they are really very picky about their appearance,

must have quite some willpower too to keep up the fight, it helps they like eating green stuff

Edited March 24, 2013 by poanoi

[FunFon]

There is definitely still some malnutrition (by modern standards) among the rural poor, young people reaching adolescence with underdeveloped bone structures, IMO from lower than optimum levels of protein in the diet. The fact that lots of money is spent distributing UHT milk boxes to students rather than spending that money on books or getting better teachers in is an indication of how diet issues for young people remain, even in Bangkok.

It's also an education issue, as I know many families that spend a shockingly high proportion of their income on empty-calorie "khanom" rather than fish chicken pork etc.

My personal preference in a TG is 37-42kg, and that's pretty common here, while Southeast Asians growing up back home are almost never that small anymore, even when they're pretty slim.

[Travel2003]

Interesting subject.

I asked my local friends that, and the vast majority of my friends here prefer a lady so skinny you see the hip bones and the skinny shoulders.

I have noticed in the gay world, a tendency for foreigners to be attracted to super skinny Thai men. I don't get that at all although I do understand attraction to the fit and/or the not fat. To me, being very thin with bones showing is a sign of sickness even if not sick. I have sympathy for the ill, but not attraction.

On obesity, yes it's growing here, but we talk about that all the time! I don't recall the super skinny being discussed here and those people do certainly exist.

Seems like the beauty ideal is the skinny ones, and yes agree, obesity is on the rise.

Normally, in the west, obesity start with the poorer communities.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

40-43 kg is common on the girls i had, sorta like it, they are really very picky about their appearance,

must have quite some willpower too to keep up the fight, it helps they like eating green stuff

in a strange way the plight of women in Thailand having incentive to be attractive to men probably does instill a lot of discipline to stay slim and desirable.

Notice how a lot Thai women bulk up when the marry a foreigner or get a good job?

[Jingthing]

There really are a lot of cultural differences in sexual attraction although I'm not sure how that plays into the psychology of Thais who are super skinny. That might be more of a factor with super thin women and gay men. For example, in the U.S., African Americans as a generality are much more tolerant and even into the so called thick people (baby got back and all that).

Edited March 24, 2013 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

I think the point about their still being mass malnutrition here is very true. That makes Thailand quite different than the UK. Being in Pattaya, many villagers migrate here from Isaan and I can imagine many didn't get proper nutrition growing up, and that obviously has unfortunate lifetime consequences in so many ways.

For example shorter than they should be. Optimal brain development that never happened. Etc.

I don't see developmental malnutrition as exactly the same thing as starving to death, Biafra style, though, which I don't think has been a big problem in Thailand.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Jingthing

[FunFon]

There really are a lot of cultural differences in sexual attraction although I'm not sure how that plays into the psychology of Thais who are super skinny. That might be more of a factor with super thin women and gay men. For example, in the U.S., African Americans as a generality are much more tolerant and even into the so called thick people (baby got back and all that).

-

I've heard Thai men expressing a preference for tall girls, and normal "womanly curves", and of course white skin, but so far haven't come across anyone talking about being attracted to big butts like blacks.

[robblok]

I don't like super skinny but slim sure i like that.

I seen some super skinny ones that were fat.. meaning no muscle at all and the legs like jelly.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

I don't like super skinny but slim sure i like that.

I seen some super skinny ones that were fat.. meaning no muscle at all and the legs like jelly.

that's the worst. They look just right in their clothes and they are like jello to the touch.

[poanoi]

I can close my hands around a girls waist so only 1 inch is left,

on my leg its 4 inches left

pretty hilarious

[Beetlejuice]

Good post. Something I`ve always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask.

Down my way there are an awful lot of local skinny's, of all ages and sexes. I`m not talking about slim here, I really mean thin where the actual bones can be seen in the frames of these people almost like walking skeletons in some cases.

I mentioned this to my wife, who said; this is just normal, many of the upcountry people are like this, because they work hard and are poor.

I am wondering if it`s something to do with they`re diets, perhaps low nutrition in the food that they eat or maybe they don`t eat enough, plus many of them drink the local Thai gut rot whiskeys and brews. could that have something to do with it?

I have noticed this in people of other third world countries, especially India and Burma.

I`m no medical expert and haven`t got a clue, but many of these skinny`s are around, no need to look far.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Beetlejuice

[monty]

I also think, especially for women, not sure for men though, that the bone structure of Asians is markedly different compared to caucasians.

Especially the width of the hips, which gives them a much slimmer look without being skinny!

You even have the same difference between caucasians and African or South American people. In the two latter area's being slender is the total opposite of being attractive.

You also notice for example that foreigners from the Middle East are attracted to the more "rotund" body shape!

Basically what would be considered "shockingly skinny" to Western standards would just be regular skinny when you take the different bone structure into consideration.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Down my way there are an awful lot of local skinny's, of all ages and sexes. I`m not talking about slim here, I really mean thin where the actual bones can be seen in the frames of these people almost like walking skeletons in some cases.

I mentioned this to my wife, who said; this is just normal, many of the upcountry people are like this, because they work hard and are poor.

I am wondering if it`s something to do with they`re diets, perhaps low nutrition in the food that they eat or maybe they don`t eat enough, plus many of them drink the local Thai gut rot whiskeys and brews. could that have something to do with it?

I have noticed this in people of other third world countries, especially India and Burma.

I`m no medical expert and haven`t got a clue, but many of these skinny`s are around, no need to look far.

I think so yes.

They are eating a lot of white rice and noodles which are nutritionally empty calories.

As FonFon mentioned above low protein and I would add general low quality of their fats.

Just a few KM's out of Chiang Mai I ride thru villages and some of the older people look like walking skeletons. Really bad dental health also.

Lack of any real exercise also prevents any stimulus to maintain muscle mass even if one is eating higher quality foods.

I see so many Thai people just sitting around in wasting state. They are so lacking energy they just sit.

[andrew]

I think the point about their still being mass malnutrition here is very true. That makes Thailand quite different than the UK. Being in Pattaya, many villagers migrate here from Isaan and I can imagine many didn't get proper nutrition growing up, and that obviously has unfortunate lifetime consequences in so many ways.

For example shorter than they should be. Optimal brain development that never happened. Etc.

I don't see developmental malnutrition as exactly the same thing as starving to death, Biafra style, though, which I don't think has been a big problem in Thailand.

Great thread, JT.

This part is so true .............

For example shorter than they should be. Optimal brain development that never happened. Etc.

Depending on who you believe, the average IQ of a Thai is 89 or 90 or 91.

[robblok]

I don't like super skinny but slim sure i like that.

I seen some super skinny ones that were fat.. meaning no muscle at all and the legs like jelly.

that's the worst. They look just right in their clothes and they are like jello to the touch.

I really like slim and such but if they are jello to the touch.. not nice. A friend brought one of those super skinny ones.. no muscle nothing we went to play bowling somewhere. Guess what could not handle it, might be nice if you just want a bed companion but if they cant do much else because they are too fragile its not much fun either. But seen ones that were slim and firm.. that is nice. Dont misunderstand me I dont like big or muscular at all but do like it if a girl can do stuff like diving swimming, and active sports.

[Thongkorn]

I can only speak about why my wife who was very thin when i met her, She was poor and could only buy two eggs a week to eat with her rice. Like many Thai people who live on the outskirts of City's. Its different if you live in villages because there are things that grow that you can get to eat, apart from that health has a lot to do with people being thin < The thing is a lot of Thai people think that because there children are fat they are healthy.

[Potosi]

There is an anorexic girl up in Khon Kaen, so this thread is not entirely useless. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23086258

[rene123]

40-43 kg is common on the girls i had, sorta like it, they are really very picky about their appearance,

must have quite some willpower too to keep up the fight, it helps they like eating green stuff

in a strange way the plight of women in Thailand having incentive to be attractive to men probably does instill a lot of discipline to stay slim and desirable.

Notice how a lot Thai women bulk up when the marry a foreigner or get a good job?

I've noticed exactly the same thing. And, it increases as they get older. When shopping at the Big C, Tesco or Rimping I see older couples all the time and the Thai women are invariably overweight. I'm at a point (38) where I have to constantly watch what I eat and how much I exercise. Fortunately, I come from a slim and trim family and we've always had outdoor activities that has kept us fit.

[harryfrompattaya]

There really are a lot of cultural differences in sexual attraction although I'm not sure how that plays into the psychology of Thais who are super skinny. That might be more of a factor with super thin women and gay men. For example, in the U.S., African Americans as a generality are much more tolerant and even into the so called thick people (baby got back and all that).

No Way Man

As a black you learn to take what you can get and love white liberials telling me about my feeling.

[Jingthing]

There really are a lot of cultural differences in sexual attraction although I'm not sure how that plays into the psychology of Thais who are super skinny. That might be more of a factor with super thin women and gay men. For example, in the U.S., African Americans as a generality are much more tolerant and even into the so called thick people (baby got back and all that).

No Way Man

As a black you learn to take what you can get and love white liberials telling me about my feeling.

Happy to oblige. Obviously I was speaking in generalities and such generalities are bound to offend some.

[transam]

I can close my hands around a girls waist so only 1 inch is left,

on my leg its 4 inches left

pretty hilarious

Nooo, pretty 'orrible.

[FunFon]

Nooo, pretty 'orrible.

-

One of my ex's was a very accomplished athlete, competitive gymnast in high school, now works as a yoga instructor. Doesn't weigh much more than my 7-year-old boy does now, but then he's a bit of a bruiser, towers over the other kids in his class the same age.

Bottom line is if she's strong, fit and healthy, not some arbitrary measurement.

But I agree I thought "hilarious" to not quite be appropriate if he was describing the effects of malnutrition.

[JimmyTheMook]

#4 will make u skinny , if you don't like or have the money for sweets

[pattayadingo]

Legs like toothpicks seem abundant even if the rest of the body looks OK in clothes.

Plenty of jelly waddling about too.

I feel there are too many schoolkids overweight here, never a good thing, I feel.

Out in the country they seem to be slimmer and maybe that is because of exercise whereas in the towns and cities there is a great reluctance to walk anywhere.

I prefer under 5' 4" and about 43 kg. luckily still plenty of those about.