People still cook their own meals in Europe, well at least some do, and there's not as much HFCS. That's, I think, why were are lagging obesity-wise. But we're catching up. And you probably didn't go to the poorer, more provincial town. Went back to my hometown (I live in the capital of my country) and was shocked at the number of hams. Old mining and industrial town, so poorer and less educated people. The bus was packed with lards.