Obesity in Asia: "Consuming American fast food is the proof of one's economic status in the world"

http://truth-out.org/news/item/10203-obesity-in-asia-american-fast-food-is-fare-for-the-rich

Obesity in Asia: American Fast Food is Fare for the Rich

Saturday, 07 July 2012 12:01By Andrew Lam, New America Media | News Analysis
"Besides the tasty draw of fatty foods and sweet sodas, there's another reason why such establishments are making inroads in countries that are otherwise known for their excellent culinary traditions. Unlike in the U.S., where fast food is perceived as time saving and cheap and often the preferred meal of the working poor, in Asia places like Burger King and Pizza Hut are the fare of choice for those with dispensable incomes. For a regular factory worker in Vietnam who makes a few dollars a day, eating at KFC is completely out of the question. For those who can afford to eat at one of Pizza Hut's air-conditioned restaurants in a chic sparkling shopping mall in Hanoi or Saigon, however, eating is only part of the experience. The other part is equally, if not more, important: Consuming American fast food is the proof of one's economic status in the world."