Is it just me or are Londoners freakishly slim?

[manicinsomniac]

Not all of them obviously. And I don't mean that individuals are unusually thin. More than the population as a whole seems to be much thinner than the UK population in general.

I went in to London yesterday evening to meet a friend who was very late so I had lots of time to indulge my nosy, people watching habit (usually I just rush from A to B and don't look at anyone). And after a while it really struck me that almost everyone was slim.

So, now I'm wondering if it was a coincidental thing or not. And if not, then why is this?
Because so many people don't have or don't use a car?
Because, on average, the population of London is perhaps younger than the UK average?
Because, on average, Londoners are wealthier than the UK average?
Because so many artsy people whose weight/looks affect their jobs in some way live in London?
Because London is more multicultural than anywhere else and some ethnicities are genetically smaller and some cultures eat a different (better?) diet?

Or something else I haven't thought of.

I just thought it was interesting. Apologies if it really isn't!

For sure, wealth and the culture plays a role. It's similar in a lot of global cities. (Compare New York to a small town in the midwest, and I reckon you might see a difference in waistlines too).

I also think London forces you to walk further than you might think to and from tubes each day! And people walk or cycle to meetings more and more too.

Also: topography. In the north, the steepness of the hills in some cities and the comparative lack of congestion compared to major routes in central London is a significant disincentive to exercise.

My observations from when I lived in London and worked in central London (City):

People walk a lot, not many people have cars
People are very health/image conscious
Everyone has gym membership - it's not really a luxury in the City everyone went to the gym before work

Agree with Joyce - a lot of people walk in London because there are miles and miles of beautiful, accessible walking routes - it's not all about rushing around.

I'm with some of the other posters, Londoners are not thin, they are just less likely to be obese. It's sad that over weight is considered normal these days.

Merry exactly - we're so lucky in Hackney, we have acres of parks and marshes and river walks.

There are over 8 million people living in London and around 3.5 million tube journeys each day - it really can't just be about charging up escalators.

This is London, zone 2 - it really, really isn't all about going to a gym in the city.

Living in London, using the Tube daily is actually a good work out. I didnt really notice until my job took me out of the City, now a rush commute leaves me slightly breathless. Also my immune system was brilliant, I get every cold going now. All those people sneezing, picking noses etc whilst I was stood in their armpit actually did me a favour.

I am at least a dress size bigger now that I am not commuting/living in the City.