
Tainan ranked most overweight city in Taiwan for second year in a row
Tainan is a paradise for foodies – and the top city in Taiwan for packing on the pounds. According to the Sports Administration, Tainan was the most overweight special municipality in 2022. More than 43% of the city’s population was overweight, with a body mass index of 25 or higher. Responding to the top ranking, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che rallied the city to slim down together.
Steaming hot rice is covered in a thick layer of braised meat. Inside the pot, meatballs are cooked on rolling boil. Of course it all goes on the table with a side dish or two. Tainan’s hearty breakfasts are famous islandwide.
Member of public
I think there are tons of great food and snacks at cheap prices for everyone to enjoy.
A savory rice pudding is served up with a bowl of piping-hot soup. As any Tainan native will tell you, the city’s food tends to run sweet, due to its history of sugarcane production. That makes it all the more delectable.
Member of public
We love sugar. This is where sugarcane grows, after all. It’s been this way since very early on.
Member of public
There are a lot of deep-fried foods here and sugary drinks. There are lots of beverage shops here.
With indulgent breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks, the calories pile up fast.
Food vendor
There’s tasty food and sweets. Sometimes I go out to buy something and don’t feel like walking, so I ride my scooter instead.
Tempting food and too little exercise could be behind the latest overweight ranking. According to the Sports Administration, Tainan was the most overweight special municipality in 2022. More than 43% of the population was overweight, with a BMI of 25 or more. Tainan is followed by Taichung, with 42.3%, Taoyuan with 41.7%, Kaohsiung with 40.3%, New Taipei with 38.9%, and Taipei with 35.6%. Tainan has topped the list four times in the last five years. Even Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che is battling the bulge.
Huang Wei-che
Tainan mayor
All these years since I became mayor, I’ve gained a lot of weight. So I, the mayor, will lead the city in losing weight together. Perhaps we can start with education at schools. Let’s start in the schools, get students to lose weight, and then find ways to reduce the number of overweight people in society as a whole.
The mayor stresses that food is not the villain. He says he’ll ramp up efforts to instill good habits from childhood, so that everyone can lead healthier lives.
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2023-11-02