I basically figure that its not what your eat but how much you eat. Just remember that you may have gotten fat from outside sources - but you do have the ability to lose it. I have lived and work in Russia since 1995, but first came to Russia in 1993. In Russia, things a lot different - not only in the general poor condition of the country, but in other areas as well. One of those areas is how the people live.
Fat people are more common with the older generation.
I believe that this is in the diet of the people. Through tradition, people eat basic foodstuffs. What I mean by this is, that they eat whole grains for breakfast instead of the sugar and chemical laden cereals and donuts that we have. Of course, part of the reason why so many Russians still eat this type of food is, that it is much cheaper than the American equivalent of Post and General Mills cereals. So, being poor does have an advantage.