Do You Live in the Fattest State?
Thursday August 30, 2007
The numbers are out for 2007 and, according to the article, F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007, the news isn't good. As compared to last year's obesity report, we've actually seen an increase in obesity in 31 states. Here's the breakdown, with the states that fared the worst:
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
- Alabama
- Louisiana
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Michigan
As a southerner, it's sad to see so many southern states in this list and, worse, that even the leanest states (like Colorado) still experienced an increase in obesity. So, what's behind this obesity epidemic? Are we eating too much? Not exercising enough? All of the above? What can we do about it? Leave your comments and tell us what you think. You can find out healthy your state is at Trust for America's Health.
Weight Loss and Obesity Resources
Comments
There is a lot of very fat people. There also is a lot of very fit people that fall under the obesity or over weight chart because of muscle mass. The weight charts are set up very low. Drug company profit is the reason?
in case no one noticed, over half of these “fattest states” are also in the top 10 POOREST states in the country. Does anyone take into consideration that perhaps people are so fat because all they can afford to feed their families is unhealthy food ? everyone knows that its cheaper to eat hot dogs than 99% lean beef. its cheaper to eat canned fruit (packed with syrup) than to buy a bag of fresh apples. if the government would stop complaining and start DOING something to actually HELP the poor people, and not make it impossible to get needed help…everyone could afford to eat healthier and thus the “fat” problem would go down. i am a single mom of 3, i make $8 an hour. i get no food stamps. i am over weight, myself. my son is too. when i shop for fresh veggies and fruit, we end up with less groceries. when i buy bologna and hot dogs, we end up with much more food to last us 2 weeks till i get my next paycheck. before people complain too much about a problem with the poor or fat folks in the nation, they need to do some research and try to understand WHY things are the way they are. as its said ..”the rich get richer, the poor get poorer….and appearently fatter!!
With regard to poor people being unable to afford healthy food. I grew up in England (born 1942) and obesity was not a problem. We were not well off at all and of course came under war rationing. Not too many people had a car, so we walked everywhere or took public tranportation. Food was not as abundant. Now when I go to England to visit I see many overweight people in all economic conditions – a sign that lifestyles have become more ‘americanized’ if you will. This is because of the change in habits. An adbundance of food – so people do eat more. Everyone seems to have at least 2 cars in the family and would not dream of using public transport. So obesity is a sign of the times – rich or poor we can make sensible decisions on what to eat and how to exercise. Healthy food does not have to be expensive. And we have an over-reliance on meats (which is not needed) But we do not seem to make these good decisions – we take the easy way out. And whatever your economic standing you do not have to over-eat.
Nikki, what you say rings true. I have heard that before and it makes sense. I’m pretty broke myself, and I eat a ton of cereal. The price of milk has affected the way I eat. It’s sad but that is a part of life.
On another note, my ex-wife lives in Mississippi, so this makes me smile! hehehe
Headline reads – “Do you live in the fattest CITY”
…and yet, the top ten STATES are listed. Since when have Kentucky or Michigan been considered a City?
Society is just plain lazy. It makes me absolutely sick to see so many obese people walking around. Processed foods, computer technology, too much stress, not enough time in the day and you wonder why people are fat.
Is the author of this article related to the South Carolina pageant contestant? This is clearly a list of states, not citys. Perhaps we need to focus on geography and nutrition in our educational system.
Having said that, I do agree it costs more to eat well. A trip to the grocery store can be overwhelming to our budget… I really feel for the people in poorer states.
Parents need to start teaching their kids proper nutrition and not let them sit in front of the computer or TV all day and night. Instead of parents spending time w/ their kids they buy them Xbox or some other game console and hundreds of DVD’s, when they should be spending time w/ their kids, or at least having them go play outside and do something active. As a mother of 2 children I find it disgusting that parents will let their kids become so overweight and obese at such a young age. They are killing their kids and setting them up for a life of health problems. American’s of all ages need to get off the couch, stop eating McDonald’s or other fast food night and day, stop complaining, and get active.
In regards to poor people being fat,I grew up poor eating hot dogs on tortillas and bologna all day and nobody in my family was over weight. We always did sports and played outside. Kids these days would rather be inside watching TV or on the computer talking online.If your kids are overweight put them in sports;keep them healthy and out of trouble.
People are so worried about the overweight people out there, but does anybody care about the teenage anorexics and bulimics that are on the verge of suicide because they think that 100 pounds is fat? Maybe we need to focus more on ALL eating habits and disorders, because weight goes both ways. Up an down!!:) And if parents stop rewarding their kids with food everytime a good deed is done or a tantrum is thrown, then they won’t expect it everytime they want it.
I am a fultime RV retiree. I see fat folks every where we go, actually as my mobility has decreased and potluck dinners have increased I have according to the numbers put out by Insurance companies have become one of them. When we park where there is regular excercise as a group or just geographic like on a bike trail my weight goes down. When I was a teen President Kennedy made an effort to pull americans together in an excercise program that started in the schools, making exercise and physical achievement some thing to be proud of. I think that mind set died along with him. Bottom line is a calorie is a calorie whether it is 99% fat free or pure sugar your body has to burn more than it banks. If calories were money we would all be rich.
As a resident of the ‘leanest’ state, Colorado, I have to say that staying fit is becoming more difficult. Even here obesity is on the rise. T.V. is flooded with ads for fast food, beer, soda, and other unhealthy foods, and Americans are parked in front of it. Wal Mart has taken over the country, and what do you see when you walk into the store? Aisles lined with sweets, chips,and sugary drinks.It’s getting more difficult to exercise when perfectly good gyms are taken over by “health clubs” that don’t allow grunting or sweating, with no weights over 65 pounds.Trails and open space are being turned into condos and strip malls. More kids own video games than bicycles, and P.E. class is, at best, optional.people wait for long periods of time to get the closest parking space at the store just down the street. Come on America, own up to your obesity problem, take charge of your own life and make the changes needed to achieve healthy weights. You don’t need to live in Colorado or spend a fortune on groceries to do it.
Am I reading the same article? My headline says ‘..Fattest State?”
Something else which should be taken into consideration is the medication taken by obese children and adults. Doctors are ever so liberal to have you take meds for this and that, sometimes several at the same time. These maybe something just approved by FDA and/or ones that have been used for years. What happens when these are combined? What happens to the child who is on medication for asthma, ADHA, or any other condition? They either become very thin or grow at an obese rate. There is another factor which could be leading to this alarming growth of obesity which is artificial sweetners. A study has proven that there are many people who are allergic to these widely used sweetners and are not even aware of it. This includes children. Cereals, breads, canned veggies and fruits, drinks, etc. all contain some form of artificial sweetner. I’m not defending obese adults or children because I am highly aware of the serious health effect it has. What I would like to say is that it is not a matter of which state you live in, America as a whole has become exceedingly obese. I have saw in earlier posts that lack of exercise, computers, video games, processed foods, laziness, being poor, and just being bad parents are what causes obesity. Each individual’s situation is different. The cause is different. The recovery will be different. Oh, we can probably add to the list of causes divorce, stress, depression, diabetes, and fatigue. Give me the state that doesn’t have any of these and I’ll move there tomorrow!
I am a senior citizen with a very large stomach. I just retired and decided to try to eat healthy. Well the first thing I see after I decide to do this is about the bad spinach. There is always something bad with the healthy food, so i feel like its a lost cause. Good luck to you all.
Why is everyone worried about everybody else. Quit being in everyone’s business and worry about your own self. If you want to be skinny, fine. If you want to be fat, fine. Why does everyone take it upon themselves to talk about everybody else. Get a life.
i think it should be your choice to how ever you want tobe its your body and opion
I have to say I was shocked to see that WV is the second state. I knew we’d be in there I just figured we’d be like 6 or 7. It’s a shocking thing. Nikki’s right, it’s hard to eat healthy when you can’t afford it. On top of that, it’s even harder to exercise. Sure you can run, walk and jog but that gets old so fast. It doesn’t help that in order to get your hands on helpful eqipment and to learn the right and wrong ways to exercise costs big bucks. Running and walking only get you so far. People think that being fat makes you a lazy person and yes, some are but a lot of us want the help. There are just many obstacles in the way, a big one being money.
Maybe everything that has been said is true. It is true that lifestyles have changed in the last twenty years. I’m the mother of six. How often do you see that these days? It is just as uncommon as seeing kids of any age outside. It shouldn’t matter how much money you make or whether you are single or married. What matters is that it is something that has to happen from the inside of you. If you as a parent are overwieght then what kind of message are you sending your kids. There are so many ways to get healthy and It doesn’t take alot of money or fancy equipment to do it. Maybe what the problem is is that no one wants to take the time to get healthy because there is always a better excuse or reason that they can’t. IT IS YOUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF YOUR KIDS TAKE CONTROL AND LET THE REST OF THE WORLD BUGGER OFF!
Alot of people don’ realize the addiction that people have when they have been eating salt and sugar all of their lives. I can speak for myself when I say that the first month of diet and exercise can be hell. Your body is craving this stuff like drugs. It really takes determination and dedication to eat healthy and exercise if you are not accustomed to it. Most people in the 10 fattest states don’t have an exercise regimen. I believe that people should start exercising first. If you walk 3 miles a day for exercise, you are not going to want to eat cheeseburgers and fries to undo all of that work!
Wake up Im fat because Im poor. Your fooling yourself. Try this and its free turn off the video games, computer, and TV and go outside and get some exercise. When I was a kid we had no video games our schools had PE and our parents would never let us lay around like kids today. Maybe its time to take resonsabilty for your own actions or lack of action and not try to blame it on your social status.
I am replying to an earlier post that people should mind their own business and let other people be fat or skinny if that is what they want. But it is our business because the increase in obesity affects everyone’s health care costs, loss of productivity in the workplace and of course America has become a huge joke because of all the “fat” Americans. It does seem to cost more to eat healthy foods, but it doesnt cost anything to go for a walk or to run. Calculate the calories you eat even if it’s hot dogs, and just burn more.
After you lose weight by eating healthful foods and exercising, LEARN TO SPELL, AMERICA! These messages are appalling!
As someone raised and lived my whole life in Alabama, I agree that this state does have an extreme high level of obesity. The reasoning behind this for the most part is POVERTY. This is a very poor state. The so called healthy foods are priced for the moderate to wealthy incomers. Myself being on the very low income side can tell that the cheaper foods that we can only afford are the ones loaded in sodium and fat. When it comes to eating fresh foods that are healthier instead of boxed meals, well most low income families have to work long hours and usually more than one or two jobs just to make ends meet if at all possible to do that. So there is not enough time to make healthier meals. Oh and if you are lucky enough to be able to get a little help from the government with food stamps/welfare assitance its still not enough. The basic necessities like milk, eggs, etc are extremely high priced. But an upside to all of this is that more people in this state or at least in my area of the state are trying to be come fit and healthier. There are more people out running, exercising, and going to gyms. I myself decided a couple of years ago to maintain my health by running.
From the time i left school and entered into the work force i had up until about 12years ago had held jobs that required losts of activity. i worked in a leather factory and roap factory for example. both were Very active jobs. I would gross 250.00 week and 96 per week went to medical ins. not much money left to buy food,pay rent,car payment ect. so like others we ate hot dogs, pasta things like that. when i started my job working in a calling center for a credit card co i never changed my eating habits. i found myself in 2005 175 lbs over weight. I did nothing about it at first. then health issues i have caused me to look at what i am doing to myself. i have lost 53 lbs in just about 6 months. everyone says wow how did you do it. It was simple (although lots of hard work) i just eat nothing processed lots of whole grains and nuts, and litterly walk my but off. i understand the financial aspect of it. i now make aprx 53k per year i can afford to eat the correct foods. i guess for me it was the activity (lac of it) in conjuction with not eating correctly. i refuse to have any kind of operation i did this to myself i will get myself out of it. i walk 2 mile or more almost every day. i live in Maine so the swimming is not something i can do year around but that is helpful too. i think the most important thing for me is the support i get from those i love and those i work with. i have in the past gotton so involved in what was going on arround me and helping others i did not think of myself. no one is going to help you but you. gubbame@yahoo.com
I agree with sign of the times
I am poor and I too have to purchase food i would rather not but I work out almost every day and play with my children when there is time. I do walk to the store and I have a 2 yr old who demands walk any way. LOL
well nikki, maybe you should get a second job than. and stop complaining.
I have an idea for the people bitching about no money and no time to work out because of kids.
Why don’t you take your kids to a free public park and run around and play with them? They get a workout, you get a workout. You spend time with your kids that you both will cherish and it’s free. OK? That should solve that issue. Next question please.
I have an idea for the people bitching about money and no time to work out because of kids.
Why don’t you take your kids to a public park and run around and play with them? They get a workout, you get a workout. You spend time with your kids that you both will cherish and it’s free.
OK? That should solve that issue. Next question please.
I am a single mother with two jobs. I work 50 hours a week at one and on weekends for 17 at another. When I get home I have little time to feed, bath and help out with the homework before sending my children to bed at a decent hour. My husband died about 6 months ago. We live on my buget and that is the 99 cent menu at mc donalds on the way home from daycare. Or like nikki mentioned hot dogs that are 99 cents a package at the store. Taking time to prepare healthy foods and being able to afford these things are not an option when I have to work two jobs, pay attention to my kids and am being pulled in every direction with very little money to spare. My children are mildly overweight and are still active. We need to get higher wages and cheaper good foods.
PS I agree that there are people out there, living on food stamps with 7 children with 7 different dads and very obese have more children just so they can continue to sit on thier butts and get money from the government. I am not one of those people. Unfortunate circumstances ( like the death of the bread winner of the family) has left others in a bind. I will not ever accept food stamps. There are more people in need than me. My children are well cared for, smart and loved. But all those people saying, just get out and go to a park or something like that. Well, tell me when, Do I cut things out like homework and sleep so that my kids and I can work out to stay skinny? NO, We need higher paying jobs so that I don’t have to work two jobs so that I could afford to feed and take time to prepare good foods for my children. Any nuff said I’ll quit blabbering.
The ht/wt chart doesn’t take into account that people come in a variety of skeletal sizes. This makes for a vast inaccuracy & insufficiency in the utility of the chart for humanity in general.
Kathy, the government pays NOTHING! The TAXPAYERS ALWAYS PAY!
How many 80 or 90 year olds do you see that are “fat.” How long do you want to live?
i have the answer to all of the folks who want to blame the government for their problems. Why dont you go get yourselves an education so you can buy your food? I was a single parent of two kids when i put myself thru college, i never accepted any public assistance because it was nobody elses problem except my own. So, get off your butt, get an education so you can buy the healthy food and stop blaming the government. An how much money does it really cost to buy some chicken and carrots?
Honestly I’m really not surprised the evidence is everywhere you look. Stop deep frying everything, put down the ranch, and maybe even ride a bike. Thank you South Carolina for disappointing me even further. Also stop making excuses if you love animals adopt a dog from your local rescue and start walking. Making a routine is the best way to start. You would also be saving two lives, yours and the dog.
Mindy and T should really learn how to read…it CLEARLY says states at the top of the page!No wonder we’re fat..we’re also stupid!
I just read all of the statements,comments,insults and excuses for being overweight.I come from a family where my fathers family of 12 brothers and sisters were for the most part all overweight at some point in there lives.Yes they were poor and ate food that they could afford.They almost all smoked and consumed more than moderate amounts of alchohol.I still loved them all but learned from them.There kids excluding me is probably 70/30 % overweight to different degrees.What I learned is lifestyle changes.Eat less,drink less and don’t smoke.Read and educate yourself on good health.It’s not rocket science.Exercise everyday in some manner even if it is in front of the T.V.on a rainy day.15 minutes a day is better than 0.Go to a used book store and spend a few dollars on yourself to find a book on the subject.Take control of your life if you have any self respect at all.Help yourself don’t ever count on the Goverment to do that for you.Self-reliance look it up!!!!!!!!! Mark
My my my, there are some heated arguments on this subject. Some rude people and just plain dumb ones as well. The truth is whats good for one is not for another. Everone is different, grew up different and have different values. TV, Video games and Mc donald have nothing to do with the problem. It is the people themselves. The problem is everyone wants to blame someone else for being too fat, too skinny, too poor, too overworked. Be yourself. Stop worring about others and quite complaning.
oh my God! I can’t really believe people are blaming being poor for their unhealth. (Maybe when it comes to health Insurance – but certainly Not for being fat.) Fat is how and what you eat. Notice the first is How you eat. I was under the impression we, as a nation, were getting smarter about this. Apparantly some of us just learned to blame low income. Yes, a Micky-D item is $.99 but so is a whole chicken on sale. So are Turkey Legs, a bag of carrots, navy beans, and pasta. (It is not necessary to drown pasta in sauces and butters, a tiny bit of olive oil and a few spices taste great)The last time I looked grocery stores also carried a ton of canned vegetables Not packed in salt. What about fresh fish, it needn’t be covered in expensive coatings either, and 5 portions of 6oz piece of fish is barely less than 2 pounds of cod or flounder or whitefish or pike. Puhleese, eat smarter. It starts with you as THE Parent to teach. Each of the foods I mentioned can be blanched, boiled, baked or cooked in less than 20 or 30 minutes. Stop making excuses. The portion size you give your child teaches them to eat B-I-G because they are hungary. Well, give them smaller portions more often. ‘Leftovers’ is not a dirty word. I grew up a poor kid with 6 bros. & sis. who ate ’surplus’ food leftover from WW2 that my Mom had to stand in line for hours at the Armory for. Mom worked as soon as her last was in school full time, Dad died in France in a trench somewhere. We were poor but we didn’t know it until we looked back as aults. We played outside, running around, constantly, always had chores and always had something to eat. The difference was My mother cared that we eat healthy foods even if we were poor. Stop blaming everthing else but your laziness and bad habits.
Some of the most healthy foods are the cheapest: All the legumes (pinto beans, garbanzo beans, lentils etc., plus they replace meat as a protein. A big pot of pinto beans will create bean burritos, bean soup and cornbread, add the necessary spices and you have refried beans to eat with tortillia chips. Cultivate a garden if you have the space — you’d be amazed at what grows so easily, zuchinni squash, tomatoes, lettuce, corn, asparagus, rhubarb, etc. It takes planning and a little work but you CAN eat healthy foods on a low budget. I spent two and half months this spring in a very small town in Kentucky and was shocked to see young children carrying Colas while walking to school, smoking cigarettes, most had to have a Pepsi or Coke with every meal, snacks continuously, and then wonder why they are fat! Most were on welfare yet had cell phones, Ipods etc. One couple is expecting their first baby but can’t get married because if they do, the wife won’t qualify for Medicaid which will pay the hospital bills. His family and her family even though they are a Christian family feel this is just fine. Our tax money pays her hospital bills and then they plan to have a not-so-cheap wedding! What is our world coming to? I’m sure this is not the only couple. There are so many fat-free products available now. I use Plain no-fat yogurt to thin vegetable dips, pimento cheese, slaw dressing, etc. Cuts the calories and extends the number of servings. The yogurt is cheap and the no-fat products aren’t any more expensive than others with fat. It baffled me to read the school’s menu for the week which included enough sugar and carbohydrates to make any child fat and then they cut the physical education programs. Our society as a whole is a food society — “let’s go out for dinner; let’s have a potluck supper; let’s have lunch together; our church has donuts and donut holes along with big urns of coffee, sugar and cream before Sunday School on Sunday mornings. That’s for people who are too lazy to get up early enough to eat a nutritious breakfast. Plus it’s free. I wonder if it would help for the welfare departments to teach nutritional courses and recipes rather than dole out the money.
If some of you are that poor how can you aford a computer,and the internet ?????
From my heart I pray for the critics to be forgiven. Those in true need to be helped. The bigots to have their eyes opened. No matter which side of this argument you may be on, there but for the grace of God go you.
For those who feel criticized, not good enough, smart enough, small enough, or pretty enough. You are not alone. To the critics, I feel sorry for you small view of humanity.
Let those who are without guilt throw the first stone.
For those who say that one’s obesity is no one else’s business, try selling that idea to the insurance companies, and the neighbors down the street who have to subsidize the higher health costs of obese people. The government estimates that an obese person has a 21% greater health bill on average than someone of regular weight.
If Medicare and private health insurance aren’t charging people different rates for health insurance premiums, then this means that people who are in shape are paying the health bills for those who aren’t in shape, to the tune of a few hundred billion dollars a year nationwide.
Besides the economic issues, there are the quality of life issues with obesity. I can’t imagine most people would volunteer for house arrest if they hadn’t committed a crime, and yet by failing to take care of their bodies, they condemn themselves to a sort-of prison through knee problems, onset of diabetes, much earlier use of wheelchairs, and often much earlier deaths. The government now recommends that even senior citizens start a strength training program to maintain good balance and basic muscle strength. This can prevent many falls and can even keep many elderly individuals out of wheelchairs altogether. Moreover, strength training increases bone density and strength, which is another good reason to lift weights.
Aerobic exercise is just as important for everyone. If you are a parent, don’t you owe it to your children to live a happier, more active, and longer life?
As for the issue of cost, perhaps fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains cost a little more than junk food. But what about the thousands of dollars in health costs that result from that poor diet? In the end, you spend far more in medical bills than you saved on groceries over the years, and you decreased your enjoyment of life at the same time.
I realize that some cases of obesity are greatly influenced by genetics, but looking at statistics over the last 20 years, there is no good reason at all for every single state in the country to have skyrocketing obesity, childhood obesity and childhood diabetes rates. In 1991, 12% of Americans were considered obese. Now it’s 32%. In 1991, only 4 states had obesity rates of 15% or higher, none over 20%. In 2006, EVERY SINGLE state has an obesity rate over 20% except Mass. and Colo.
This can’t be explained by the supposed high cost of food or genetics. People and families don’t change that drastically in 20 years. However, eating habits and exercise (or lack thereof) routines do change that quickly, and we are seeing the unfortunate results.
Maybe governments can play a part in building more sidewalks, bike paths, parks and recreational facilities, but no one can force people to use them. There are plenty of malls around. People can walk around in them. A jump rope is a very inexpensive piece of equipment. That’s another good option.
The bottom line is that there’s no good reason for the obesity crisis (and it really is a crisis) and it does affect everyone else, through the hundreds of billions of dollars spent every year on weight-related diseases and conditions (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, required wheelchair use).
Fatty foods, Soft drinks. Junk food. I see all the buyers in the markets every day. No exercise. Drive everywhere. People, GET OFF YOUR LAZY REARS and start walking/running/biking/swimming and you won’t be fat anymore! Calories in, calories out–duhhh!
We were poorer than poor in the depression but if anyone was fat or obese, I sure didn’t see them. People did hard work back then and worked off the calories. Primary problem now is the hardest work most kids do is turn on the TV or the Nintendo; different time as far as adults working but there are still ways to get out and burn calories.
Has anyone ever considered The meds we take? I gained 30 pounds in a month taking Elavil. I wont come off either. I think that fat has atrophied!
Where this topic is concerned, every side has valid points.
Fast food dollar menus and foods filled with msg(a huge culprit in the obesity game, sodium, fat, and empty calories being often the cheapest and easiest to prepare in our time crunched lives, it is no wonder America has gotten heavier.
That said there are ways for people to make healthier choices and be mindful of what they eat.
That 42 oz value sized coke from Mcdonalds contains 460 calories that most people don’t even register they are drinking.
Giving up soda for water and getting a Brita pitcher which is a $20 investment and can even be found along with many other free items including exercise equipment on your local freecycle site, can make a huge difference in your caloric intake. Just from giving up sodas I lost 42 pounds.
I am still a long way from thin but I make more informed decisions now about my body and the fuel I put into it. I won’t lie I do still eat and crave high calorie, sweets, and salty foods and even had some while reading all these comments, however I know that I have to offset what I ate with exercise.
My hip hurts me along with my knees when I walk. However other forms of exercise including riding a bike don’t hurt. you have to find the things you can do and make the choice to always be mindful of what you are doing.
I think we have become a horrible example to the children of this nation on both sides of the fence. There is a balance between obesity, and unhealthily thin which is what the media seems to push down our throats as the norm, and height of beauty.
Let’s get off our couches, out from in front of our game consoles and computers, and get out and start doing things with the people we love and care about. Take a walk, go for a bike ride, go to the park and chase your kids or in my case since I have none I borrow a friends kids around. Play some sports, get active in your community, become a big brother or a big sister. Buy a $5 fitness band, do some push ups (even wall push ups), join a free fitness site like http://www.sparkpeople.com , which has been a huge help in getting me to be more mindful of my choices, and these things are CHOICES.
I live on a disability income of $643 a month. Even on section 8 housing it is not easy to live on that amount of money. After surviving Hurricane Katrina, losing all my possessions, suffering from PTSD, Depression, and Panic and anxiety disorder, even after all that and being put on disability, and into section 8 when I had never previously accepted any type of help before. I realized that even then I have choices about my health, my fitness level, and what fuel I put into my body.
You wouldn’t try to make your suv run on a fifth of cheap vodka because it was cheaper than gasoline, yet we do the same when fueling our bodies. If you want something bad enough you find a way to get it. If your priority is alcohol, drugs, fatty, sugary foods, a bigger nicer car, a dooney and bourke purse, or eating healthy and exercising you will make the time and money for what you truly want. It comes down to are we apathetic about it and accepting defeat?
Which I freely admit I have done for years thinking I could never get thin or eat healthy without having a $50k a year job. Or do we get off our butts and educate ourselves and make better choices for ourselves and our families.
Being overweight is not the end of the world, nor should it be an acceptable reason to criticize, belittle, or make people feel worthless. It is something that more and more people are facing as a health problem. Some of them the very people who made fun of the overweight kids in school and made their lives hell. I have to admit that the poetic justice of that is not lost on me nor do I not find myself laughing when I see someone who has done the same to me, looked down on me for my weight, becomes bigger. I think it serves them right but it is no better than picking on people for being poor, a different ethnicity or sexual orientation than yourself. Bullying is bullying and we have to learn to accept diversity.
That said we can all become as healthy as we choose to be. I know some obese people that are as healthy and fit as many of the thin folks I know if not more so. It all comes down to tolerance and what our priorities are.
I know I had to make the decision to start trying to lose weight and become more fit for myself. No amount of anyone else’s bitching could make me change. But I feel so much better now that I am putting more efficient, better fuel in my body.
I feel more alert, and less stressed, and more satisfied and satiated when I eat better and am more active. I still have a lot of weight to lose to be where I want to be.
What is right for me may still be what others consider overweight but after 40 years of living in my body I will pit my wisdom about what feels right for it against any naysayer or doctor.
That said make the choices that you ultimately can live with when you look at yourself in the mirror no one but you is responsible for how you live. The fact that we have relinquished so much of our personal responsibility from forcing reality tv and an x box to be our babysitters to buying into the junk American companies sell us as food, to letting the government take the blame for our conditions whether that be, poor, fat, or un-eduacated or all of the above and a few others I failed to mention. The last I heard we were still free to read, walk the streets, find a piece of rope and jump rope, play with our kids, and get off the collective tit of television, and fast food mentality and control our own thoughts and actions.
Even with a food budget for myself that is less than that of my cats per month I can make choices about what I eat and what I don’t. Talk to your parents and grandparents about how they or their parents worked 16 hours in a field or factory yet still found time to cook at home, and spend time with their families because it was important to them. It was a priority so they made it happen.
Of course this too was still a time when you could actually correct, spank, or chastise a child for acting up and not go to jail. Our society has put personal responsibility on the back burner and tried to make everything and everyone else take the blame for our own shortcomings.
Everything from our lack of exercise, to our instant gratification lifestyles, to our poorly educated and disciplined youth. Take your power back and use it.
*steps off her soapbox and moves on*
$.99 hamburgers are not the only option, and I am ashamed of people who blame their income status for their obesity.How about going to a health food store and buying $.99 worth of brown rice?…while you’re there, ask if they have reduced price produce….most health food stores have what they call “scratch and dent” vegetables and fruits…stuff that may need a bit of trimming, or is bruised, or just not “pretty” enough for people to buy.It is most likely organic too….so do some research.
Soups, made from beans or lentils are both filling and healthful, loaded with fiber, protein and vitamins.I know.I am the produce manager at a Health Food Store, and although I don’t make enough to actually shop there,I CAN make healthy, intelligent choices.Buy in bulk, just what you can afford and what gives you the most nutrition for your money.It can be done.Eliminate dairy products..they are expensive, and you will drop pounds almost instantly and effortlessly,as well as saving your body from the nasty added hormones, chemicals and unhealthy fats.I lift 80 lb boxes of apples on a daily basis.I laughingly call it my workout….I have dropped 47 lbs by simply eliminating the cheeses and eating MUCH less meat…most of us eat WAY too much meat.It should be thought of as a condiment…or a seasoning…very little meat can flavor an entire pot of soup….so.instead of stopping at McDonalds for the $.99 value menu crap, with a little planning and forthought..you can have a simple nurishing meal in 30 mins.Time is a premium in our society…but who can’t take 30 mins to make a healthy meal for themselves and their family.
Just my attitude.Hope I have helped someone.
Another point…..studies have also determined that’s it’s not simply the calories consumed…it’s also the volume (weight ) of the foods you eat each day.For example…a woman should eat between 2.5 – 4.5 lbs of food per day (men 3-5 lbs),…so in simple terms…imagine a plate full of meat vs a plate full of lettuce..which is going to fill you up more? with the least amount of calories?…..again, this is a simple example, but a lunch consisting 1/4 lb burger, cheese, roll, toppings, fries and a soda have already given you about 3/4 lb of food…with a HUGE calorie count.Now, imagine a HUGE salad with onions, peppers, celery, carrots, tomatoes …all kinds of veggies and low cal dressing(or olive oil and vinegar) also about 3/4 lb or so…which is healthier?…..and in actuality, the salad is going to give you much more needed nutrients…water, vitamins, etc….add some sunflower seeds and you have some protein…a complete meal….for a lot less calories.
Also, one more thing.CHEW, CHEW, CHEW your food!! Digestion STARTS in your mouth with saliva by breaking food down into useable molecules…even before it reaches your stomach….many of us are so conditioned, with only a half hour lunch break to eat and try to do errands, that we gulp our food down as fast as possible…We are cheating our bodies of vital nutrients.Without starting the digestion process, breaking down foods in our mouths, the stomache has to work extra hard, and it just can’t do it’s job.The protein particles are too big to get into the blood stream where they can give us optimum nutrition….so although we are eating way too much, a lot of Americans are actually UNDERNOURISHED!!!!!!!Imagine that.
again…I hope someone is helped by the info here.
When I turned 47 I decided I had to make a change in my lifestyle and loose 30 pounds. I started walking regularly and tried to watch what I ate. Three years later I had gained another 30 pounds. I went to my regular doctor three different times. They ran some tests and shrugged their shoulders and said it was my age.
I finally found a Doctor who specializes in Bariatric Medicine who had helped me to loose 60 pounds. I have a combination of thryroid problems and food allergies.
If more medical Doctors had a better understanding of nutrition more people may be able to find help.
thisis for all of you that state it is too expenisive to eat healthy: since when do fresh fruits and veggies cost more than fresh meat? hello fresh fruits and veggies arfe proably the cheapest things u can buy in the grocery store. And for those of u that are rasing kids driving thru for the 99 cent deeal are teaching your children very bad habits
Nikki and many others are saying that the government should give them better food. Stop! Enough! Quit relying on the government to give you what you need and go get it yourself. Some of the poorest countries in the world have people who are fit and lean because they have taken the steps to do so. You can’t expect the government to give you organic produce and high quality meat.
The reason we in America are overweight is not just overeating and lack of exercise, although these do contribute of course. Think about WHAT we eat… meat that has had growth hormones added, and chemicals added to make the animal gain weight faster with less food; tons of the wrong kind of carbs… bread, cereal, etc. – humans do not digest grains well; but the biggest contributor is chemicals. There are chemicals in the form of drugs, pesticides, herbicides, industrial chemicals, etc. in EVERYTHING – food, water, air… everything. Try reading “The 100 Year Lie”. You’ll understand why we’re fat, and why we’re sick, both mentally & physically in this country.
When you are on a strict budget, it is certainly cheaper to buy and prepare less healthful foods. Yep, a package of hot dogs or hamburger costs less than the more expensive but lower fat chicken breast or sirloin steak. The more healthful veggies are also expensive. It’s much cheaper to go to some fast food place or to make high-fat food at home. Unfortunately only the upper middle class and the wealthy can afford to eat well.
I know being obese needs attention too but does no one care about all the other people with eating disorders…FYI.People like me who are anorexic. I can’t even eat cheese as Im worried I’ll put weight on! But noooo, no – one cares about us. It’s always ‘These kids are obese, lets help them get thin again.’ All I want is some help but no one seems to be as bothered about people like me.
And if someone calls someone fat, thats considered as bullying right? But what about if someone says OMG you’re really thin, people expect you to take that as a compliment but I think it’s just as bad as saying someones fat. All I’ve been getting all my life is ‘Twiggy’ ‘Don’t bend her arm..she’ll snap in half shes so thin’
What Janet (born England 1942) writes, echoes what I have repeatedly stated regarding growing up in England in the 1940s & ’50s: one never saw fat people of any economic level. In fact, until I moved to the USA 28 years ago, I had probably seen less than a dozen fat people in my entire life. Now, however, contacts in England tell me that even my home village contains a disturbingly high number of obese folk, mainly because their lifestyle has become americanized, i.e., they eat junk food, spend hours watching t.v., drive everywhere instead of walking, & rarely exercise. We have met the enemy, & it is us!
I’m sorry for everyone but if you can afford a package of bologna you can afford a dozen eggs and or a can of tuna with lettuce or how about fresh ground peanut butter..plus a bag of apples goes a lot farther than a can of sweet syrup ladden fruit…
As we are all aware eating out at fast food joints is probably the major culprit in weight gain. Portions which are way too large for anyone and packed full of fats and carbs galore. I, as a restaurant manager and chef, can vouch for this. Eating out can be done in a healthful manner but not at a fast food joint. Exercise is a thing of the past except for a small percentage of intelligent folks who see the light. I can’t for the life of me understand why they still build homes with kitchens in them. The average family doesn’t even know what it’s for!
Misty – You’re right… NOW the title clearly reads “STATE”. You should take into consideration that there was a change made by the author after the error was pointed out to them. I mean, I did post my comment two days before you, a lot of changes could have been made in that amount of time.
I apologize for any confusion, stress, or anxiety this discrepancy may have caused you.
As for the actual topic of the article… It makes me sick to my stomach to read all of these excuses. It’s too expensive to eat well, it’s the governments fault, I don’t have enough time. BLAH BLAH BLAH What a load of crap.
I have three jobs, work about 70/wk and I still struggle financially to make ends meet at the end of the month. One thing I have found though, it is MUCH cheaper to keep groceries in the house than to stop at your favorite fast food place on the way home. And, there are several simple quick meal ideas out there that can help with the time constraint you all seem to have. And, if you have kids, have them help in the kitchen. Teach them while they are young how to cook and to have a routine, and I bet they will continue that healthy lifestyle when they are on their own.
If the cost of food isn’t your excuse for being fat… I’m betting it’s because you’re lazy. Park at the far end of the parking lot when you go to work or to the mall. Take the stairs rather than the elevator. Send the kids outside to play instead of buying them new video games every time you turn around (also a way to save money you can put toward groceries) and make sure your children are active.
Oh, and whoever it was that wanted to put blame out there that Wal-mart has taken over the country and when you walk down the isles lined with sweets and junk food it is near impossible to shop healthy these days… There is this thing called WILLPOWER that you could stand to try on for size. Just because they put the crap in your face doesn’t mean you need to buy it. Maybe if we, Americans, all exercised a little more willpower and maybe even a touch of discipline we wouldn’t have such a huge obesity problem, and our kids would not only be healthier, they might actually have some self-respect, and respect others too.
Hello, I live in Columbia, Missouri now but really form Chicago area in Illinois. Is either of these state a fat state?? I use to be so very thin and NOW I WEIGHT 207 and mad about it too as I seem to put on the weight and cannot get it off and some people say to go walking but when it gets TOO HOT out how can a person go walking and I go water exercise every morning that I can go which is almost every day except Sunday as go to church. Thank You Pat Novak
Hey guys instead of bashing each other.
why dont we use PRAYER and self respect to try to help each other that have a weight problem. If america use the same words, but turn into postive words we could possible see a chage over time.
think about it,and remember any thing is possible with the LORD…..
I have to disagree with Janet.It is expensive NOW to eat healthy. In the 40s-50s it was very easy to eat healthy because most locations had local farms and markets to purchase (relatively)cheap “healthy” food from. Also processed foods were rare. That’s not an excuse for the choices that are made concerning what/how much is eaten. Choices come from a combination of knowledge and education.
Having worked in schools for a lot of years coupled with my memory of school lunches, I can tell you that healthy is not the first word I would use to describe the menu choices. If you don’t believe me go to a couple of school district websites and you can see the menu choices for yourself. What you learn is generally what you do and children are learning that food is food so to speak. Willpower will not come into the equation if you think what you’re doing is right. And schools aren’t the only places that these habits are being learned.
Economics plays a part also because a twinkie can be produced faster than an apple meaning more profit. In turn meaning more twinkies.
Also all the debate about trans fat and it’s removal from food indicates a shift to healthier thinking. Now if these same companies could make better tasting products with less fat, less sugar and no genetically modified grains (read healthier)there would really be some progress made.
Add to that people had more time in the past to spend in actual activity because they worked less (as evidenced by what used to be an 8 hour workday 9-5 now is an 8-5 because you can’t have lunch on the company’s time.)People are getting fatter because they don’t eat well, sleep less and get very little exercise.
Obesity is an issue of food and health education at a national level. That’s where the fight should start.
Understand that nasty foods are cheaper because they are subsidized by the government. Do your research… it has everything to do with poverty. This also effects the prices internationally, so don’t get high and mighty about living in England. It is far cheaper to by junk food that is filling (mac and cheese) than a salad with heathly side dishes. Which fills a belly faster? Why is it cheaper? Why are all of the additives cheaper to produce than just picking a head of lettuce? This has to do with farm subsidies for certain crops (primarily corn). High frutose corn syrup is made from this which is one of the most unhealthy (yet cheapest) components in our processed food.
If you are ticked off about this, start voting.
Someone said they cannot afford to eat healthy food? Deception. Junk food is just as expensive. They are just too lazy to think ahead about their diet, and entire families are fat.
I agree with Phyllis, healthy food is absolutely NOT expensive. With some creativity and imagination people on limited budgets can eat very well. Why would anyone think of purchasing bologna when one can use peas, beans, legumes, and green leafy vegetables for protein and iron as well as other important nutrients. Also healthier foods tend to help one stay full for longer periods of time. A culture that is rich in poor eating and cooking preferences and extremely inactive is what is contributing to the rise in obesity. I also think that we need to broaden our definition of what we consider healthy….obesity is just one indicator on ill-health.
Weigh control and a healthy lifestyle takes effort and committment. I get up at 6 o’clock 4x/week to exercise, because this is the only time in the day when I actually have time to workout because I also have 3 children and a job. I also say ‘NO’ to foods which are unhealthy…again an effort. btw. the foods that i eat most of rice, potatoes, pastas,fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and inexpensive cuts of REAL meat are ALL cheap when compared to processed, unhealthy, and fattening foods. If you eat like a PIG, lay around like a PIG, you’ll eventually end up looking like one!!
Look, we were the poorest of the poor. We had 5 kids under the age of 5. We live in Michigan. There was no cable TV in our neighborhood when we moved here. When it came in, I declined it. The last thing I wanted to see was the kids and dad sitting on the couch after I was working all day watching Simpsons or sports. The kids came home from school and got a snack and if they had no important homework were shushed outside to do chores or play. There was always laundry on the line to take off and fold, snow to be played with, a garden to be planted or weeded and you bet my kids were so tired from playing and working that they fell asleep at 8 PM right after bathtime and got a good 10 hrs. sleep a night. As far as food goes, we were on WIC and food stamps and supplemented everything with our garden (350 qts. a year). It takes planning,and motivation, and as far as video games? Yep, we finally got one, but it was limited after the work was done. Limits need to be set. Kids may whine about it, but they accomplish so much more, when their options are limited.
Being a GI RN for many years and seeing all kinds of ailments usually brought on by how people live “their lives” it seems to me it’s not so much WHAT you eat but rather HOW much and WHEN you eat that can make the pounds come on and stay on! Smaller portions, a little bit more of “moving” and NO EATING 2-3 HOURS BEFORE BEDTIME will mnake a BIG differance in not only weight gain but various GI distresses.
It is everyones bussiness on wether you are fat or not because we have to pay medicade and medicare for your big butts to see the doc!
It’s the MSG, aspartame and other toxins! Think about it, more diet food full of this crap and more people becoming obese. 1983 is when aspartame hit the market and you wonder why this is the generation of fat kids!!