Number Of People Overweight In Different States

Does anyone know where I can find statistics on the number of people overweight and obese in each state in America. It must be far lower in New York than Miami for example.

The Centers for Disease Control provides great data:

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/Obesity/trend /maps/index.htm

Original Post by kaufmkk:

The Centers for Disease Control provides great data:

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/Obesity/trend /maps/index.htm

 that was horrifying!

holy crap.  did you look at the powerpoint?  it's a real horror show.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

holy crap.  did you look at the powerpoint?  it's a real horror show.

No kidding!  I remember when I was in grade school back in the 60's (yeah, I'm that old).  There were maybe one or two overweight kids in my school, and maybe one who was considered really fat.  some 40 years later, it's the opposite.

The difference?  We didn't have 300 TV channels, computer games, fast food joints on every corner, etc. 

So what's the answer?  How do we reverse the trend?  I guess that's the million dollar question. 

i don't think we can blame it all on technology.  yes, i think video games are the scourge of society, but if that were the whole problem, there wouldn't be such strong geographic and socioeconomic components to obesity.

in the city where i'm living now, obesity rates are high, smoking rates are high, drug abuse and gang violence are out of control, etc.  but in my home town, obesity is a rarity (the exception is the First Nations communities, where it's probably over 25%; even that's relatively low compared to other FN communities and most of the US).

i think good quality, fresh food should be a guaranteed right.  and health education needs to be fully integrated into the school curricula at all levels, and those curricula should be designed to include the whole family; teaching kids what they "should" be eating and then sending them home to parents who can't or won't provide that just creates conflict.

we better move to colorado quick!!

I am from southern Mississippi and we, along with Louisiana, are consistently named the "fattest state" in the country year after year.  I think Alabama may have taken the crown last year (surprise).  Having lived in both states, I can say that exercise and physical fitness are not a part of the culture at all.  Part of this I think has to do with the heat and humidity.  Another huge factor is our diet of course.  We have delicious and highly fattening foods such as cornbread, fried chicken, fried seafood, hushpuppies, gravies, biscuits, etc.  Even our creole green beans have bacon in them!  Buffets are the standard (and good local ones at that).  We are also really big eaters down there.  It is nothing to go to someone's house for regular old Wednesday night dinner to see about 8 different foods on the table.  We cook big and eat big so we are BIG.

As an RD and Diabetes Educator in Alabama, I like to call that "job security"...Maybe a little too much.

Topanga hit the nail on the head, it is "horrifying".  All you have to do to see it first hand in AL is to sit in a Walmart parking lot for 5 minutes and watch the morbidly obese laboring about. Very overwhelming at times. and sad for the kids who grow up thinking that it's normal and ok to live that way.

oddfunk, I live in Baton Rouge and you're right, it's insanely difficult to pass up the good Southern food! I must say, though, that I was surprised to see the powerpoint. 20 years ago (or was it 30? I can't open the powerpoint anymore), less than 10% of the population of Louisiana was overweight. And my parents and grandparents had the same good ole Southern cooking when they were young. So while our Southern diets are not the greatest, it can't be the sole cause of the recent weight gain.

Original Post by jcl76:

oddfunk, I live in Baton Rouge and you're right, it's insanely difficult to pass up the good Southern food! I must say, though, that I was surprised to see the powerpoint. 20 years ago (or was it 30? I can't open the powerpoint anymore), less than 10% of the population of Louisiana was overweight. And my parents and grandparents had the same good ole Southern cooking when they were young. So while our Southern diets are not the greatest, it can't be the sole cause of the recent weight gain.

Yeah, I used to live in Slidell and my home town is one mile away from the LA state line and man do we have great food :).  Perhaps it is just a change in the culture altogether.  I am 37 and back in the day, kids used to actually go outside, climb trees, "explore" the woods and play.  We would run, bike, skip, jump rope, anything other than stay inside!  There was nothing to do inside other than watch 1 of 3 (NBC, CBS, ABC) channels on TV or stare into the bowels of a Lite-Brite.  Ya know?  I mean even with the TV, you had to get up and change the channels.  In fact, the only time I'd even be watching TV as a kid was on Saturday mornings when that actually meant something (no 24/7 Cartoon Network then).

Advances in technology with a serious emphasis on the "convenience" factor have affected American society's waistlines and mentality big time.  People have come to expect things quick and fast.  We have become an instant gratification nation with a serious entitlement mentality.  Hence, the beauty industry makes billions each year.  We all want to be thin/beautiful without lifting a finger and we want it yesterday!!  Here's my old person rant... lol...

I remember if you were away from home and had to make a phone call, you walked (exercise) to find a payphone with a shiny dime in your pocket.

Anyone know a site with international data?

It doesn't really surprise me so many people being overweight and obese tbh

After all its easy to be overweight and much harder to stay thin, which takes effort and self discipline.

Theres been far more than enough food available for decades in America certainly in the 80s and 90s, so I find it surprising how obesity statistics are so low back then rather than surpising that they are higher now tbh.

Oddfunk, you brought back memories for me!!!  As kids, we spent hours playing or working outside every day.  And forget instant meals..... everything was prepared at home over a stove.  And oh..... Saturday morning cartoons and then The Wonderful World of Disney for one hour Sunday night.  Even then, my parents only allowed us two hours of Saturday morning TV before we were sent out to do our chores.

I can't imagine the self-discipline that parents have to teach their kids these days.  It's got to be tough (but doable!!!). 

merylwhite1, you might find international statistics on the World Health Organization Web site. 

WOW! I just looked at the CDC website and that was crazy! I know they say it is bad but to get this bad in such a short period! Unbelievable

Kaufmkk---

"everything was prepared at home over a stove. " 

Exactly and if you wanted leftovers you had better turn the stove or oven on because there were no microwaves!!  LOL