Yeah, we're fat. But not as fat as Southerners

Way to go, California! We managed not to top the chart in the latest obesity rankings. That honor goes to Mississippi.

Here's the AP story: Cluster of Southern states, topped by Mississippi, remain most obese, new US survey finds (we don't control the grammar in those Latest AP News headlines, btw).

Poor Mississippi. I'm sure it tries. Really, I'm sure it does. But have you had Southern food? It's almost impossible to stay skinny on. Which may be why a whopping 32% of that state's population is reportedly obese.

Alabama and Tennessee aren't far behind, with 30.3% and 30.1%, respectively.

Colorado apparently doesn't have time to eat, what with all that biking and hiking and skiing and what-not. Its obesity rate was 18.7%, the lowest in the nation. (I'm aware that the good news here is simply a matter of comparison.)

And California? It ranked on the relatively healthy end of the scales with an obesity rate of only 22.6% (that's right -- I said "only").

The numbers and rankings aren't surprising, I suppose, but they're fun for data junkies and the can't-get-enough-bad-news crowd. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has even provided an accompanying animated map showing how the prevalence of obesity has changed by state from 1985 through 2007. It's horrifying and riveting at the same time -- kind of like driving by the scene of an accident.

Most of the country used to be a soothing blue (rates under 19%). Now a staggering percentage is an alarming red (25% or higher). And you can spare your friendly "liberal media" representative the rant about "blue" being good and "red" being bad. The CDC came up with those colors, not me.

At this point in the post I could offer up links to the approximately 600 stories the Health section has done so far this year on nutrition, weight loss, eating healthfully, etc. I could even share the recent studies on which diets work and which work not at all. But what the heck. I don't know who's reading that stuff, but at least a quarter of the population doesn't seem to be.

And besides, it's been a rough week. So I'll bow to forces greater than myself (which is pretty much all of them, but most especially those pertaining to food marketing and sedentary leisure pursuits) and recommend the blackberry spice cake just brought in by former Food writer Charles Perry. The recipe? It's from the "Southern Cakes" cookbook.

-- Tami Dennis

Comments

[David]

I think our weather has something to do with it. While visiting my sister in Louisiana last month, I started to practice with my volleyball around noon. The humidly was very high and she pointed out that NOBODY goes out in the middle of the day! When I told her that's when my team plays at the beach, she looked at me like I was from another planet.

[Frederick]

I don't buy the excuse about diet or weather. I have lived in Spain and Africa and southern France where the weather was hot and humid, the food rich and plentiful (yummm!!) and virtually no one was fat.

Of course there were some noticeable differences in lifestyle - in the rest of the world you walk almost everywhere, whereas here we drive even two blocks. The rest of the world makes great use of fresh locally grown produce whereas most of us especially the lower classes eat prepackaged garbage sprayed with High Fructose Corn Syrup and hormones. I mean seriously even our pickles, crackers, and breads are laden with that poison.

My family spends every summer in Italy or France eating like crazy and not working out all that much - we always come back slimmer and trimmer.

[Gerald]

Frederick is right. I'm writing from Alabama, one of the really fat places. I've actually seen people back their cars onto the street to retrieve mail from streetside mailboxes, then drive back into the garage. Convenient but unhealthy food choices and choosing convenience of riding over walking...those are keeping us fat.

[Wilson Harville]

Ca. with a population of 36,458,000 has 8,239,508 fat people while Miss with a population of 2,911,000 has 931,520 fat people. Ca. with 163,707 sq miles has 50.33 fat people per sq mile, however, they are concentrated into a few large population centers. Miss on the other hand with 48,434 sq miles has 19.23 fat people per mile pretty much scattered around the State, they are everywhere. Not sure which is I'd prefer!

[jim]

For a long time I've been making the joke that the real reason why the South lost the Civil War has nothing to do with battles, slavery, states rights or anything else. Rather, the South lost because the women ate all the food and the Rebels starved. You can see it in the Charlottesville, Virginia K Mart, Wal Mart and Sears even today. Generations later the descendants of Southern women still can't fit into their husbands slacks in all too many cases. This is not revisionist history, this is empirical observation. Those who say the "South will rise again" have a point---every morning biscuits and gravy bubble up in the pan.

[Matt]

You have an awesome sense of humor. Great article too! =)

[Derwood]

Gosh Frederick, does that mean the key to thinness is spending time in Europe every year? Must be nice.. Most people are scraping by and annual trips to visit Eurotrash are just out of the question.

I do agree about the walking bit though. But, the problem is that communities in the US used to be built around a neighborhood shopping experience. Now, we have mega-malls and super-walmarts that are built tens of miles away, which kind of defeats the walking everywhere argument. The suburbanization of America is more to blame than anything else.

[JC]

Wow...that is pretty sad. I love eating good food but that is a huge percentage of people that are obese. And people wonder why everyone else is living longer. Statistics show that people that know how to control their eating and exercise regularly, are more sucessful and happy at school, work and family life. Maybe this is why our country is sliding from 1st in all areas...lazy, fat people that complain all the time about how bad things are...
I love America, and it's the people that make this country great.
But what happens when more and more people become lazy, couldn't care less about their weight, couldn't care less about what others think...just become self absorbed...Want to know??? Watch the news, turn on the TV.

[Rick]

I now live in Ohio, but grew up in Mississippi and still go back 4 -5 times every year. These 'fat' surveys always surprise me because I see many more grossly obese people in Ohio than in Mississippi. Many.

My theory is that the high-carb, high sugar and bratwurst diets of Midwesterners -- combined with long winters that tend to inhibit outdoor exercise -- account for the poundage of Ohioans.

It's certainly true that Southerners don't get outside much in the summer, because it's so brutally hot and humid. I never saw anyone playing baseball in the summertime until I moved North -- and it seemed so strange to see people outdoors in August.

Do any kind of physical activity outdoors in July and August in Mississippi and your brains will sizzle like bacon in a pan.

Yum! Me hungry now.

[Mike]

Along with poor performing schools and lackluster economies Southerners are a fat bunch to boot. It's no wonder that they have an inferiority complex in relation to "Yankee" latte drinking egg heads on the East coast.

[Kaj]

I've lived in Italy in the past 10 yrs. and now I'm back here in the states unfortunately with all these foods that are highly hormonized and artificially added chemicals to all most all food groups no wonder there are so many sick people not to mentioned the fat people who eventually would get sick. I don't understand how FDA can actually stay in business knowing the facts that these additives are hurting people. They know eventually people would get sick from consuming these foods but there is too much of profits to make selling these poisons to us.

[Proud southerner]

Well here in the beautiful south some may well be chunky. There are many people moving here day by day so there's something attractive and magnetic about the south. That said it's not just southerners that are chunky anymore. The robust folk might in reality some day suffer possible diabetic issues, blood pressure issues etc. AND the people arriving daily might as well consider a few extra pounds once they settle in! If there's little to do due to money woes then people tend to snack more for comfort. Remember all the TV spots about comfort food? Eat what you want in controlled portions, no matter where you live, north, south, east or west.....both sets of my grand parents were "very old" all on a southern diet.

Just remember ya'll ain't never gonna git no good cookin' like we got right here in the SOUTH.

Ain't never ever gonna be any music like us southerners write either! Southern cookin' and southern rock. Put ya fist in the air one time and gimme a "SKYNYRD! SKYNYRD! SKYNYRD!"
After all....who cares who eats fungi, tofu or a a big ole plate southern fried food! Just consider your ancestery and portion control!

[tang]

I also agree with the only-the-car-riding-Americans-get-fat argument, too. The problem with America is that people rely too much on automobiles, and the neighborhoods are also built in a way that encourages car usage, that there's no way that people can stay slim. I have lived in both China and Japan before, and I swear that there are more bicycles than cars there. Bicycles are healthier and more economical, but in America most people are just too lazy to ride bikes nowadays...

[Bert]

The bottom line is simple, not enough exercise and I don't mean a gym, just normal exercise like walking or just getting outside doing something rather then sit and watch TV or play what ever games. Especially youngsters don't do anything but text or play their games and school systems don't help as lately many are cutting PE or recesses outside. But maybe now with the high price of gas people will loose weight because they will ether gas up and won't eat or they will eat and have to walk, because most will not be able to afford both.

[Skinny In TN]

I think both sides have points that are valid...
it's too bad most people don't look for the good in everybody else to bash one life style or another. one thing I'll mention before I get flamed mercilessly is the fact that the US is full of a bunch of whiners and complainers and what not and they want someone to fix the fat problem when the real issue is get up off your lazy fat butt and get in shape

[James]

I am writing this from MS. I am 6' and about 220. I am very muscular, but could lose 20 lbs and would be very skinny. I workout with weights everyday and run 2 miles every other day. I am unusual though.

The reason MS leads in obesity (and the rest of the South is high on the list) is because of the deadly combination of poverty and minorities. Black people in general have a higher rate of obesity and make up over 40% of the population of MS. The heat/humidity does play a role too. International travels aside, it is unbearable during the summer from mid morning to late afternoon from July through Sept. I work out in a gym, but outdoor activities are rare.

From my experience, the more rural areas have the really fat people. Not sure why, but in the bigger cities the people do not look any different than say LA. I have traveled for work there many times.

[Monica L.]

Europeans get out and exercise, biking, hiking, swimming, even walking to the food stores, etc. Americans sit in front of video games, watch sports and eat slop - fast food, calorie rich sandwiches, prepackaged junk and don't take the time to buy, prepare or cook fresh fruits and veggies. A 32 ounce big slop coke is 99 cents and double whopper meals with large fries are cheap. Moms don't cook anymore - they buy this slop. it's all about the food and no exercise!

[bob in mississippi]

I've lived in MS for 8 yrs. True, MS has it's share of obese people. But in my travels across the country, I've noticed more obese people in states like Ohio and PA...

To understand Mississippi, you have to understand that eighteen of its counties (that are geographically connected) have a high percentage of people who are extremely poor, uneducated, and lead unhealthy lifestyles. Take out those 18 counties, and I guarantee the rest of the state would rank as "average."

Perhaps the most unfortunate part of this is that neither the Federal, State, or Local governments seem to care at all. Neither do the bulk of the other residents of the state...(including most of the church groups..) There is a great deal of apathy for this part of the state..

[Monica L.]

Bob, I understand what you are saying but must respectfully disagree. Being obese isn't a government or church issue - it's an individual choice! I agree that undereducated and poor people seem to be the majority of these folks, but they seem to find money for cigarettes, alcohol and the lottos - maybe they could make the personal choice to spend their money more wisely on the right food choices and get away from the NASCAR race on tv and start running or walking together.... just a thought.

[Bruce]

I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to New York City, which also has good food; however, New York Mexican and Chinese food is the worst I've ever had coming from California.

Anyhow, I noticed that after only 1 year in NYC my weight dropped and my overall body fat percentage dropped. Then I started noticing that there were not a lot of fat people in NYC. Reason: Very few people had cars. I was walking about mile and a half a day without even thinking about it. When I returned back to the Bay Area after 6 years in NYC, my weight immediately shot up, even though I was working out at the gym more frequently than I did in New York. I realized that in New York, walking every day had become part of my normal routine, so I was in great shape.

[David]

Y'all are partially right, but are ignoring the principal factors between regional obesity survey results: race and class. It may not be politically correct to say this, but black women skew obesity records. If you don't believe it, then do a multivariant analysis (this is a fancy statistical way of saying "take a look at the different variables that make one group more obese than another" ) of the obesity rates of white, hispanic and black males and females. You'll see that if you subtract out the data from black females, then the differences between states is far less than it appears in raw data. The south, where I grew up, has a significantly higher number of overweight black women than other sections of the country. It's that simple. Yes, temperature, food habits, urban sprawl and family size will factor into the obesity statistics, but the most important variables are race, sex and class, in that order. Age doesn't even account for very much.

Note to all of you who are gearing up to flame this entry: this is not a *racist* statement. Pointing out differences between races does not make one a racist. There are several reasons why black women have a significantly higher BMI than other populations; genetics and culture are the principal ones.

[Complete BS]

I'm thinking you'd really need to take a look at the study. You can't draw conclusions unless you do and this is a very truncated synopsis here. The AP's new journalism model isn't exactly in line with yesterday's 'just the facts, ma'am' journalism.'

What's the population makeup in those states? Because various cultures have different physical traits. Are the figures based on BMI, the formula established by the wacko Belgian guy who also had some very politically incorrect ideas about differences in races? Did you ever wonder how that BMI standard came into play? Check it out--very fascinating.

And God help us if anyone expects the government to get involved in telling people what they should weigh. What are the other health indicators--asthma rates, AIDS rates, cancer rates? Have you looked at the CDC charts on diabetes? Some ethnic groups seem to have a greater tendency, and that may not be self-inflicted. We visited Hawaii and the native people tended to be heavy. But they were beautiful people.

NPR did a cool story in '06 about longevity--here's an excerpt:
"The longest-living whites weren't the relatively wealthy, which Murray calls "Middle America." They're edged out by low-income residents of the rural Northern Plains states, where the men tend to reach age 76 and the women, 82."

I remember Jim Fixx, the guy that got the jogging craze going--he inspired us to jog every single day and his book influenced me enough I still stay active. He was in great shape. He died at 52.

I really think we need to consider ancestry when it comes to what a person should weigh. Look at Oprah--big but lovely. And look at Kate Moss--thin and pathetic, about as sexy as a stick of celery.

Weight loss is a kazillion dollar industry and it's also a profitable issue for medicine. I think more attention should be paid to how fit a person is. If someone is morbidly obese, that's another issue. Again, we don't know the criteria so we don't know if they're talking extra pounds or true obesity.

Media really should tell us more about how a study is done and what criteria are used. I've known of several people who weren't overweight, were never sick a day in their lives, didn't smoke, didn't drink and died young. It's a mystery.

I don't know how my state faired, but we have great options for outdoor recreation here and that may make a difference. I do think habits formed in childhood make a difference too--those of us who grew up with lots of outdoor time simply can't do without it.

I'd like to know more about the racial and ethnic makeup of the study. Very interesting.

[Utopia2009Obama]

I like the comments about Europe. When I was in Germany, they actually had bike paths with their own little traffic lights! And this was 20 years ago. Some people have no idea how backwards America really is. Hopefully by next year that will change. Prioities really need to change here cause we are really falling behind on what is really important, the people.

[Lindsey]

Monica, I if I am not mistaken, the areas Bob is talking about would not necessarily have NASCAR fans. The very poor there are not of an ethnicity that enjoys NASCAR.

[Craig Van Degrift]

We must ask what has changed since 1985 that might cause this dramatic change. Some suggestions: 1. Abolishment of PE classes in schools 2. Increased video games/television/DVD watching. 3. Effect of advertising of fast/junk foods. 4. More time pressure from additional work hours (husband and wife working full time) leading to increased stress, less energy for play, more commercially prepared food.) 5. Lack of health leadership at the national level. I'd bet on #4 being the dominant reason.