Rich planetoids in Qatar [Semi-rant] One would think that a country that promotes football, has hardly any fertile land to grow things, and has an incredibly high GDP (to the point of giving tons of cash to its citizens every year), would be populated by awesomely fit folks. Think again! So. I've been to Qatar before. I've had the privilege of eating with some people of note. I've wandered around markets and malls... and I've watched my fit cheese grate ab-ed sister and tiny asian mother get eyed by planetoid Qatari men and boys - and glared at by equally obese Qatari women and girls. What triggered this post? I'm translating a paper, and part of it is on Qatar. According to the manuscript, the leading health issue in Qatar is obesity. After having walked around in shopping centres and markets I can see why. Fast food places are fucking everywhere. KFC, Applebees, McDonalds, Coldstone, Nando's, Baskin Robbins... I could go on and on. Being so wealthy, boys (and only boys, remember we're in a conservative muslim society) are given free reign to run around... Though by "run around" I mean waddle from restaurant, to arcade, to restaurant, repeat. It does not help that the majority of these places employ filipino and south Asian workers - who are treated like shit by these entitled baby hams. I witnessed two Qatari boys shovelling starbucks cakes, one after the other, through their pie holes, for what felt like an hour but probably was only 15 minutes. Only to leave a huge mess of napkins, syrup and paper cups for a poor indian fellow to clean up. Obeasts are fucking annoying. Rich, entitled, child obeasts are horrendous. There. I just needed to get that out. Anyone else have experience with butterballs abroad? Note: Qatar was otherwise very lovely. The weather was beautiful. The food was awesome: fresh fruit was readily available and there were great traditional restaurants. My sister and I had loads of fun at the local ice rink at the mall (being from northern Europe, we felt like real figure skaters). Plus, my dad's apartment had a pool and gym. And I had never had Coldstone before to coming to Qatar. But I can't see how anyone could eat that every single day