Effect of culture on body weight If the only Pima Indians you ever saw were those living in Mexico and following traditional Pima practices, you might conclude that they are genetically predisposed to be slender. Obesity is almost nonexistent among the Mexican Pima. However, their close relatives living across the border in the United States (like this boy dancing at a holy festival) are often obese. That difference lies not in genes but in the choices of foods available.
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