After I first got here to stay in Vietnam over 12 years in the past, I assumed I used to be going to undertake the Vietnamese food plan and way of life and by no means have to fret about being chubby and unhealthy once more.
What I didn’t know, nevertheless, was that I used to be strolling right into a looming public well being disaster amongst a nation of those who I assumed ate wholesome meals on a regular basis.
A decade on, virtually 20% of younger folks between the ages of 5 and 19 are both chubby or overweight, whereas the prevalence of diabetes within the 10 years previous to 2016 had virtually doubled already, leaving an estimated 1 in 20 Vietnamese with the illness.
Who is aware of what that determine is at the moment [*new update here].
Now, UNICEF has predicted that by 2030, virtually 2 million Vietnamese kids might be overweight if nothing is completed instantly.
And so as to add to that, it’s estimated that greater than 50% of individuals with diabetes in Vietnam don’t know they’ve it.
That’s a proverbial time bomb ticking proper there.
How did this nation identified for its seemingly wholesome delicacies discover itself within the midst of such an alarming public well being problem?
Be a part of me on this first episode of my podcast collection during which I try to search out out issues I ought to have identified years in the past in regards to the nation I now name dwelling.
Observe Matt on Instagram at @mattcowansaigon
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