LAT: American Waistlines Grow, Especially in Southern States

[DeepModem Mom]

American Waistlines Grow, Especially in Southern States
By Thomas H. Maugh II, Times Staff Writer
August 29, 2006

The United States continues to get fatter, with Mississippi and other Southern states leading the way, according to a report issued Tuesday by the advocacy group Trust for America's Health.

The report found 29.5% of Mississippi residents were obese. Nine of the 10 states with the highest rates of obesity are in the South, the report says.

At the other end of the spectrum, Colorado is the leanest state, with 16.9% of its residents obese — still above federal guidelines, which call for a maximum obesity rate of 15%....

***

From 2004 to 2005, the percentage of obese people increased in 31 states and stayed constant in the rest. No state showed a decline.

"Obesity now exceeds 25% in 13 states, which should sound some serious alarm bells," said Dr. Jeff Levi, executive director of the group. "Quick fixes and limited government programs have failed to stem the tide."...

(The report is available online at www.healthyamericans.org.)

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-obesity30aug30,0,5160221.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[mnhtnbb]

1. obesity and poverty are linked. Ever checked how expensive

fresh produce is at the market?

http://www.census.gov/statab/ranks/rank34.html

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi top the list of states with high poverty levels (behind DC)

[Erika]

2. Yep, rice and noodles are cheap.

With W's cuts to health programs, those are the options left to the fast growing poor of the southern states.

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. Its MUCH more expensive to eat "right" than it is to eat

fattening foods. It does have "something" to do with eating at fastfood places more often, but I believe it more of income level thing. OH, and it has much to do with genes.

[Javaman]

11. The rise of obesity in our society has a direct correlation to the

amount of corn syrup that is ingested.

It is in quite literally everything that we eat and drink.

If you eliminate that from the U.S. diet, you will see a dramatic drop in weight and diabetes.

Also eliminating poly-unsaturated fats, would be a gigantic help.

[PennyK]

3. I believe it's because of not cooking.

The biggest change in the American diet is that most people no longer eat home cooked food. No matter what it is - high fat, high carb, WHATEVER - when you make the food yourself you know eactly what's in it...no mystery ingredients. I admit that not everyone has as much time as me to prepare meals, but I really think it makes a huge difference. Even homemade cakes and goodies have some nutitional value (eggs, milk, etc.). and they're much more satisfying than those repulsive Entenmann's cakes.

[Erika]

6. Studies done show the poor do not eat out

They can buy a few days of noodles and rice supply, compared to a couple of cheap hamburgers for one meal.

[madrchsod]

5. food products that contain huge amounts of salt and other fillers

i used to mix powder that went into processed foods and the main ingredients were kelp,guar gums,whey,and large amounts of salts. 4 for a dollar mac n cheese and some 25% fat cheap hamburger from save-a-lot goes along way...

[sofa king]

7. My roommate had something to say about that tonight.

He claims that the obesity statistics are skewed because many Americans are packing a lot more muscle than people from other countries. Height/weight standards apparently assume muscle mass is fat.

He says he's technically obese according to those charts, and while he could break me like a twig if I'm late on the rent (gulp), there ain't a helluva lot of fat on him.

However, having spent this past weekend contemplating the giant midwestern terrorist--I mean tourist--arses blocking the left side of the escalators on the DC Metro, I'm inclined to believe that there are still a whole lot of obese people in America. And they're all in my fucking way!

[Nihil]

9. Hilarious!

> He claims that the obesity statistics are skewed because many
> Americans are packing a lot more muscle than people from other
> countries.

No pal, they're just FATTER.
There *are* reasons (as mention upthread) but the excuses are getting
funnier by the day!

[sofa king]

15. No, really!

My pal is in the best shape of anyone I know. He exercises, trains, or works out at least five times a week. I don't want to reveal too many other details about him, but I can tell you with all honesty that according to this chart, he's at least twenty pounds overweight. So that chart isn't taking into account his Brock Sampson-by-choice (sans mullet) build.

I, on the other hand, very closely resemble Dr. Venture, only without the glasses and pocket protector--and I have hair. I'm embarassingly weak by comparison to other weak guys, much less my friend described above. Even I seem to fall on the high side of those height/weight figures. Nobody has ever accused me of being fat, but I have often been described as "scrawny."

If I start getting into shape (as I started today by exhausting myself jumping a damned rope for five minutes) I'm almost certain to add muscle mass while I also lose the minimal amount of fat I can afford to keep around. Five pounds of muscle will put me out of the range described on those charts, and on the way to "obesity." That can't possibly be correct.

I'm certainly not saying that Americans aren't getting fatter--that should be obvious to all of us. What I am saying is that right before my very eyes I have an example of a guy who isn't fat, but statistically is considered to be so, and the millions of other American health nuts may be considered as such as well. To me, that's a cause for suspicion. It would be embarassing to discover that our fatness statistics are themselves packing extra weight.

http://www.adultswim.com/shows/venturebros/

[hadrons]

10. sorry, not buying that .....

[Turley]

13. The fat girl in the picture is in Europe

Not saying she's European. Just saying the furniture she's sitting on is German "Festzeltgarnitur" so she's probably in Germany. Must have been an American tourist, eh?

[BlueIris]

8. More ignore-the-war propaganda, with a nice stab at the South thrown in

for good measure. I can't believe someone actually built a website called healthyamericans.org for this latest bit of crap. But I'm sure all the insecure and "super-fit" folks who don't want to make time to care about real issues feel nice and superior each time more of this bullshit is floated.

[Hope springs eternal]

12. yup

heart disease is propoganda </sarc>

Having some meat is one thing (note: can actually be attractive), but obesity is a downright health risk. I think health should come before pesudo-feminist "looks" arguments.

[fishwax]

18. huh?

I think health should come before pesudo-feminist "looks" arguments.

So what is it about that post that prompted you to disparage "pseudo-feminist 'looks' arguments"?

[llmart]

16. Hey, don't knock it!

I love reading these stories because they do make me feel superior. I've never been overweight in my adult life and I'm damned near 60!

Just joking. I don't see how anyone can argue with these facts. Just look around you every day. I can start with my coworkers. I don't work in a large place, but I think there are only two of the 45 of us that exercise every day. And the younger ones are the most overweight.

I think it has more to do with us having too much money rather than being poor.

[DinahMoeHum]

14. Once again, "Mississippi's affinity for the bottom" is in play.

in terms of being last in health care among the 50 states.

- phrase by the late Dr. Aaron Henry, civil rights advocate and former NAACP head.



:evilfrown:

[bennywhale]

17. The gluttonous consumption that is the American Way

id to blame for this. Additionally it is ignorance and mass corporations eliminating real choice and bombarding peoples minds daily with what they shoud be eating.

Farmer joe's shop that used to around the corner selling fresh produce can't compete with mass produced advertised shit