<i>in China it seems meat-dishes tend to be much fattier</i><p>Seems to be a preference thing. At least according to one immigrant Vietnamese family I was close with growing up, muscle is rather bland and boring in texture. They strongly preferred the fat &amp; connective tissue for their flavor &amp; texture respectively, and dishes were always very oily.<p>As far as I know, Western diets used to be fattier, but out of concern for the diseases of civilization animal fats have been reduced.