Democracy Dies in Darkness
Unearthed

Why aren’t Italians as obese as Americans? It’s not really what they eat.

There’s a much lower obesity rate in Italy than in the U.S., even though Italians enjoy multicourse meals. Here’s why.

7 min
(Cece Pascual/The Washington Post; iStock)
Column by

I had the great good fortune to spend the entire month of May in Italy.

And if you’ve heard the reports of people going there on vacation, eating their way through the country, and miraculously coming home a few pounds lighter, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t always work out that way.

What readers are saying

The comments highlight several key reasons for the difference in obesity rates between Italy and the United States. A predominant theme is the higher level of physical activity in Italy, where walking is a common part of daily life due to walkable cities and less reliance on... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
By
Tamar Haspel is the author of "To Boldly Grow: Finding Joy, Adventure, and Dinner in Your Own Backyard." An oyster farmer on Cape Cod, she writes Unearthed, a monthly commentary in pursuit of a more constructive conversation on divisive food-policy issues.@TamarHaspel
NewsletterThursdays for 12 weeks
Voraciously: Meal Plan of Action
Dinner needs a game plan. Menus and meal prep guides for the week ahead — every Thursday for 12 weeks.
Already have an account?

Two ways to read this article:

Create an account
Free
  • Access this article
Enter email address
By selecting "Start reading," you agree to The Washington Post's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
SALE
Subscribe
$2 USDevery 4 weeks for the first year
  • Unlimited access to all articles
  • 24/7 live news updates