CDC survey: South leads nation in obesity

[Amby 490]

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the nation when it comes to obesity, a new government survey reported Thursday.

More than 30 percent of adults in each of the states tipped the scales enough to ensure that the South remains the nation's fattest region.

Colorado was the least obese, with about 19 percent fitting that category in a random telephone survey last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 2007 findings are similar to results from the same survey the three previous years. Mississippi has had the highest obesity rate every year since 2004. But Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia and Louisiana have also clustered near the top of the list, often so close that the difference between their rates and Mississippi's may not be statistically significant.

Why is the South so heavy? The traditional Southern diet -- high in fat and fried food -- may be part of the answer, said Dr. William Dietz, who heads CDC's nutrition, physical activity and obesity division.

The South also has a large concentration of rural residents and black women -- two groups that tend to have higher obesity rates, he said.

Colorado, meanwhile, is a state with a reputation for exercise. It has plentiful biking and hiking trails, and an elevation that causes the body to labor a bit more, Dietz said.

Obesity is based on the body mass index, a calculation using height and weight. A 5-foot, 9-inch adult who weighs 203 pounds would have a BMI of 30, which is considered the threshold for obesity.

CDC officials believe the telephone survey of 350,000 adults offers conservative estimates of obesity rates, because it's based on what respondents said about their height and weight. Men commonly overstate their height and women often lowball their weight, health experts say.

"The heavier you are, the more you underestimate your weight, probably because you don't weigh yourself as often," Dietz said.

Overall, about 26 percent of the respondents were obese, according to the study, published this week in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

A different CDC survey -- a gold-standard project in which researchers actually weigh and measure survey respondents -- put the adult obesity rate at 34 percent in 2005 and 2006, the most recent years for which there are data.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitnes...s.ap/index.html

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

I got two words for you:

Biscuits

Sweet tea

Well, ok, that was three words.

[Amby 490]

I got two words for you:

Biscuits

Sweet tea

Well, ok, that was three words.

biscuits and sweet tea are both the suck!

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

I like biscuits and I ate lots during my vacation, but only because I had just tried them for the first time. Sweet tea is not for me. Not big on sweet drinks. I really enjoy still water with a bit of lemon.

I saw so many morbidly obese people on vacation, it was shocking. But there are so many food traps out there...fried stuff, huge portions, free sugary drink refills...and the bad food is cheap as well. I think it requires a lot of discipline to stay skinny in the US, as temptation seems to be everywhere.

[Amby 490]

so many morbidly obese people on vacation, it was shocking. But there are so many food traps out there...fried stuff, huge portions, free sugary drink refills...and the bad food is cheap as well. I think it requires a lot of discipline to stay skinny in the US, as temptation seems to be everywhere.

I agree!

A couple that is friends of my family moved to Australia 3yrs ago and within 6 months they had each lost 20-30lbs and neither of them were even big! They said they don't miss the massive portions and they don't have to come home and lay down anymore after going out to dinner and eating way too much.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Portion control is a big key to a healthy weight. People tend to eat everything on their plate - small or big plate, doesn't matter.

Also, the huge glasses in the restaurants in the US - who needs a 750ml coke with free refill with their food?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Suuweeet Dixie!

[pedroh 21]

that.. and also the south doesn't have any infrastructure for health and sport facilities...in small cities there's not even sidewalks.. and in the deep country, where are they gonna 'jog' or do 'hiking'? in the marsh? there's no 'hiking trails' in hicksville, SC.. the hospitals might have a decent gym, but it's small even for a small population..

but I agree, for much that I love sweet tea.. that ain't healthy, nor the cream corn, or biscuits and gravy, or the green beans cooked in fat backs, or liver with onions and gravy, or -some fried stuff- with -some veggies cooked with bacon- and -gravy is optional- lol

[sara535 15]

dont forget that everything is cooked in bacon grease or with salt pork too. When I go to arkansas to visit family with my non pork eating husband or my vegetarian brother in law its quite a challenge to find anything at all for them to eat.

[pedroh 21]

dont forget that everything is cooked in bacon grease or with salt pork too. When I go to arkansas to visit family with my non pork eating husband or my vegetarian brother in law its quite a challenge to find anything at all for them to eat.

yea I know.. that's why veggies are always tasty in country kitchens.. cuz they boil the stuff with fat backs lol..

[sara535 15]

well, it IS good. I would love to say that I dont like it but I grew up lovin that southern cooking and sometimes its just SO good. some fried catfish, hush puppies, cole slaw and greens cooked with fat back washed down with sweet tea, mmmmmm. I'm going next week actually, guess I know what I'll be eating

ooooh wait, back to the obesity issue.....

Edited July 17, 2008 by sara535

[pedroh 21]

well, it IS good. I would love to say that I dont like it but I grew up lovin that southern cooking and sometimes its just SO good. some fried catfish, hush puppies, cole slaw and greens cooked with fat back washed down with sweet tea, mmmmmm. I'm going next week actually, guess I know what I'll be eating

awwww lawwwd.. i was wondering what to eat after jogging lololol.. I think you hit the spot... yehaww

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

It also probably has to do with their genes. With the brother/sister dating thing.

[Teacher Mark 53]

[natty bumppo 297]

It also probably has to do with their genes. With the brother/sister dating thing.

that's west virginia .....