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Infographic: Why Most Vietnamese are Slim?

Vietnam's dietary landscape is arguably the most direct determinant of its low obesity prevalence. Meals centered on rice, supplemented with vegetables, lean fi

Akhyari Hananto

June 27, 2026 10:47 AM GMT+7

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Data Sources

Various sources

Vietnam's dietary landscape is arguably the most direct determinant of its low obesity prevalence. Meals centered on rice, supplemented with vegetables, lean fish and poultry, and fermented foods create a natural barrier against excessive calorie consumption. Portion sizes remain smaller than in many Western and even other Asian diets.

While ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are a well-documented driver of obesity globally, Vietnam's diet remains largely based on fresh products. This stands in stark contrast to Malaysia and Thailand, where UPF penetration is deeper and fast-food markets are expanding rapidly — Thailand's fast-food sector alone was valued at USD 33.49 billion in 2025.

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