19 Ways the World Loses Weight

Different cultures have different solutions for fighting obesity.

For example, if you dine out in Europe, a waiter almost always puts a bottle of mineral water on your table. By comparison, in Canada water is often left on tables undrunk, in favour of pop, alcohol or other beverages that add empty calories. Just drinking water with your meal—mineral or tap water—can make a big difference to your waistline over time.

We’ve collected ingenious tips like this from 18 different countries, asking leading nutritionists and Reader’s Digest’s network of international editors to divulge the quirks of their cultures that can help us all fight fat. Consider it a world weight-loss tour you can do at home.