Why do people always say that most Asian people are "skinny"?

Majority are skinny. Especially Japan. Their waist band is not to exceed 34cm from what I heard not to long a go (about one year), unless that is the average that 80% of them should be, that's for the chicks and as for the guys I'm not sure. I'm not very clear on this because it's been like last year when I read it. Their diet consist of rice and fish mainly (veggies too) and those are not very fattening, compared fo eating fast food 2 times a week and fried oily stuff.