Since you make mention of poverty and "having to fast", it seems you're conflating undernourishment with fasting. Making a blanket statement about countries th

Since you make mention of poverty and "having to fast", it seems you're conflating undernourishment with fasting. Making a blanket statement about countries that eat less is hard to discuss meaningfully. But one example of interest may be Japan which eats less than those in the U.S. while having much greater life expectancy[1]. [1] http://www.choicesmagazine.org/2006-4/grabbag/2006-4-12.htm http://www.choicesmagazine.org/2006-4/grabbag/2006-4-12.htm