[brohoolio]

I'd argue the way American culture is constructed (drive everywhere, less opportunities to walk, folks are socially isolated) in a way that actually puts people in a situation where they are much more likely to be overweight.

So the costs are ones we as a society are putting on individuals are coming back to bite everyone in the ass.

[HDThoreaun]

Of course there are tons of other ways that Japanese society makes it easier to be skinny than American society does. Im just saying that some portion is the shame culture, not sure how much and not sure if its possible to figure that out, but I do know that Im not interested in trying that method.