This question is not mean to be racially offensive, but something I am very curious about.
In China and India, people were generally very thin, short and disease prone in the past due to limited food supply and nutrition to feed a third of humanity. With economic growth, people in both countries are becoming fatter and taller -- but not as muscular as Africans.
On the other hand, Africans in much of the African continent are still starving or getting limited nutrition. Yet, they are quite big and muscular.
Muscularity may be genetic, but height and weight are surely reduced if one is starving all the time (especially during the growth and childhood phases) and ones parents and ancesters have always been starving?
Why did this not happen in Africa as it did in China and India?
2007-01-09 05:31:39 · 12 answers · asked by Apeman 1 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
There is some confusion. I didn't mean the starving people with big bellies as I know of that disease.
I mean general Africans who eat one or two meals a day and are often starving in their younger days -- but who still end up looking like Dikembe Mutombo or Hakeem Olajuwan or JJ Okocha or Miriam Makeba etc...
I lived in Africa and the kids who grew up with me were often starving. I recently went back, and they all look so strong now.
2007-01-09 05:57:32 · update #1
well it probably happens through natural selection and survival of the fittest. the tiny africans die young because they can't survive, but the bigger, stronger ones survive and reproduce.
2007-01-09 05:35:57 · answer #1 · answered by alohafridayalex 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason is because of genetics and also the different types of foods that they eat. They eat things that may may stick to them. They also eat a lot of soul food and that plays a part. Soul food sticks to the body and people from other races may be generally smaller because of genetic and also because they don't eat a lot of things that Africans may eat. I was wondering the same thing because Chinese people really seem to be the smallest and that's not attractive to me, especially the men. They are just as small as the women. I believe that Africans are the biggest because they had to endure the most and they are the strongest race of people.
2007-01-09 13:48:54 · answer #2 · answered by Brownie_baby 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The people I have seen who were starving looked to me like they were starving. One thing that may confuse you is that very malnourished people do appear to have a big, protruding belly. It's certainly not fat. It's a classic sign of malnutrition.
As for being short, people from China and India are genetically, typically short. That's not necessarily true of Africans. So I guess I don't really understand the question as it is presented.
2007-01-09 13:49:50 · answer #3 · answered by Rvn 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Its a very sad fact but this is true...The stomachs swell up because of the hunger and eventually, the body starts eating its own muscle tissue. What you see are not full stomachs. You see severe swelling that look like full stomachs and muscles. Did you know that youre actual stomach decreases in size when you dont or cant eat? This is a fact. Poor little things. Its very hard to make them eat because theyre stomachs have shrunk to such a tiny tiny size. What you see is swelling dear friend and this swelling can cause severe pain and very commonly, death.
2007-01-09 13:40:33 · answer #4 · answered by tomy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, Africa is quite a big continent, so you probably have seen pictures of people who are not starving. As for the fat ones, they probably eat whatever they can. As for muscles, probably genetics.
2007-01-09 13:41:32 · answer #5 · answered by Offkey 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They work from sun up to sun down, hard manual work...!!! As far a Mal-nutrition I don't see a difference in it, they are both starving.
2007-01-09 13:38:10 · answer #6 · answered by Diana J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of Africa isn't starving, and doesn't have a history of starving.
2007-01-09 13:34:58 · answer #7 · answered by Soundjata 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
you are crazy.. starving people are thin anywhere.. or do you mean the bloated belly starving people get before they die..its fluid.
2007-01-09 13:36:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it,s because the skin is right on the bone also that,s thire rib cage that pop.s out . instead look at there hair that tells if they need help or not, i help one kid all ready and i sponsering a nother kid,world vision is the best organation,
2007-01-09 13:40:49 · answer #9 · answered by i,m here if you need to talk. 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They're only starving when the TV cameras are on them. They import the flies that buzz around their heads too.
2007-01-09 13:34:37 · answer #10 · answered by I hate friggin' crybabies 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋