The fat content in the diet of the average 'skinny' poor Filipino family is much higher than that of many of fat westerners but there is a reason for that which is simply cheap access to energy, at 9 calories a gram it's better value for money for most folks, indeed I cringe when I see all the chicharon and the likes over there.
I have to disagree with this statement to some degree.. If a family is poor then chicharon is a luxury they cannot afford..
The poor families here usually survive by eating things like cheap fish or 2 pesos worth of bagoong with plain rice and local veg like green papaya,malongay leaves etc..The thing that makes them fat is the rice they eat three times a day..Veg like Malungay is stuffed with vitimin C.. More Vit C in a tablespoon full then there is in 8 oranges or so..
The kids round here are also forever snacking on my Guava trees like it was their God given right!! Actually I let them pick as many as they like..
The middle class here all seem to head for Jollibee and Mcdo`s as you probably know.