Is It Really the Food? Looking at US vs EU Lifestyles and Health
Is It Really the Food? Looking at US vs EU Lifestyles and Health
Over the years, I’ve seen numerous claims about how “Europe is so much healthier” than the U.S., with the food supply being cited as the reason. Sure, it makes for a catchy headline or viral meme. But let’s back up a bit and look at what’s really going on.
When people say “Europe,” what do they mean? The European Union (EU) comprises 27 member countries. However, even outside the EU, countries such as the UK, Switzerland, and Norway are often included in these comparisons. So let’s be clear — these sweeping comparisons about “Europe vs the U.S.” cover a wide range of cultures, policies, and habits. And environments. Consider comparing Hawaii with Maine, Alaska with Florida — that’s just silly. They are different even though they are all part of the U.S.
Now, is health better across the board in these countries? It depends on how you define “better.” One common stat people point to is obesity. The adult obesity rate in the U.S. is currently around 42.9% Compare that to:
Hungary 36.4%
Greece 33.7%
Slovakia 30.3%
United Kingdom 28.7%
Portugal 27.1%
Germany: 24.2%
Italy: 21.6%
Spain: 19.2%
Netherlands: 16.9%
France: 10.9%
(Source: List of countries by obesity rate with WHO data as of 2024)
The numbers are different, yes. But to suggest that obesity is virtually non-existent in the EU is also ridiculous.. But before we assume it’s all about the food ingredients, let’s talk about something just as important — lifestyle.
There’s a huge difference between living in the EU and vacationing there. I’ve had clients tell me how they felt so much healthier after a few weeks in Europe. Of course they did. On vacation, they walked everywhere, had long meals, and took time to enjoy themselves. That’s the point of a vacation — less stress, more movement, better sleep, and time away from the chaos of daily life.
Now let’s flip that and look at what life is like back home. For most Americans, work doesn’t stop. Lunch is eaten at the desk (guilty), and most don’t take more than a few minutes to eat. People drive even short distances, and time feels too short to cook a full meal or go for a walk.
Meanwhile, I’ve heard stories of people working in France or Spain where lunch breaks are actually breaks. Not a 30-minute break, but one or two hours to eat, relax, and recharge — not scarfing down food between emails. In many European countries, it’s common for shops to close in the middle of the day. Not for lack of business, but because the culture actually encourages rest and time away from work. Can you imagine? No running errands on your break since all the shops are closed!
Another big difference? Walking. In many European cities, walking is part of daily life. Grocery stores, cafes, transit stops — they’re all close by. It’s common to walk to the store daily for fresh foods. Yes, there are cars, but there’s more built-in movement.
Contrast that with here, where people will drive to the gym a mile away. And yes, I used to walk or bike to my gym, and people thought that was wild. When I worked at the university, international students would tell me that they had gained weight after moving here. I had to say to them that it wasn't because the food made them unhealthy magically, but because their habits had changed. They stopped walking, took the shuttle everywhere, and ate more convenience foods. They adopted the U.S. lifestyle, and the result showed up over time.
I’m not saying the U.S. lifestyle is bad across the board. However, the idea that it’s just the food ingredients that make people sick is a stretch. Food dyes and unpronounceable additives aren’t the whole picture. If you’re eating a half-pound bag of candy every day, the food dye isn’t the issue. And swapping additives doesn’t solve the larger problem of how people live. If you are driving to places you could walk to, or getting another restaurant meal because you don’t have time to cook, that's the issue, not the food specific to the U.S.
So before we hold up Europe as this magical land of health, let’s look at the bigger picture. Yes, there are some policy and food regulation differences. I wrote about that in last week’s blog (check that out if you haven’t already). But culture, movement, work-life balance, and stress management all play a major role in health outcomes.
Comparing food is easy. Comparing lifestyles? That takes more honesty. And let’s be real — that’s what matters more.
