Over half of those in their 40s and 50s in Okinawa are obese and those over 20 surpass national obesity standards. (22fe26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Pink Trumpet Tree, roadside Uruma, 16fe25

On 13 February, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki announced the results of the 2024 Prefectural People’s Health and Nutrition Survey.


The percentage of those over 20 who surpassed the standard (BMI over 125) was 41.1% for males and 27.5% for females, while the national average was 31.5% for males and 21.1% for females. Over half of those in their 40s and  50s were obese. 


Because obesity is the cause of a variety of lifestyle illnesses, Governor Tamaki urged, “Aim your meals to fill your stomachs to 80%. Maybe walk another 10 minutes or such. But don’t overdo your exercises.”


The daily intake of salt was 9.3 grams for men and 7.8 grams for women. Although that is a bit lower than the national average, the intake did not achieve the Prefecture’s goal of no more than 7 grams.


With the intake of vegetables at 247.8 grams for men and 243.1 for women,  the standard of 350 grams targeted was not reached.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times (via Asahi) , published 14 February 2026 at 11:30.

https://www.asahi.com/sp/articles/ASV2F2RNXV2FDIFI00PM.html


Denny in the News: Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 


This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 


Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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