Obesity Map

[Jenn! 918]

Over the past 20 years, Americans' waistlines have expanded, and top officials have declared obesity a top health threat. By examining the percentage of adults who are estimated as obese (about 30 pounds overweight for a 5'4" person), see how entrenched the condition has become over the years.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/obesity.map/

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It'####### the Fried Food Belt especially hard.

[Jenn! 918]

It'####### the Fried Food Belt especially hard.

I think it's especially shocking to see it on the map like that over time. It's as if it were some sort of highly contagious disease, starting in MS and rapidly spreading outwards. Like Outbreak or something.

[doodlebug 3]

roflmao @ "holy cow"

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It'####### the Fried Food Belt especially hard.

I think it's especially shocking to see it on the map like that over time. It's as if it were some sort of highly contagious disease, starting in MS and rapidly spreading outwards. Like Outbreak or something.

You're 100% correct. If it were any other disease that spread like that the country would be in a panic.

[dalegg 143]

I've never really considered 30 pounds overweight to be "obese". Still, they love their chili cookoffs down in the Texas areas don't they?

[Emancipation 2]

That is scary.. really scary..

[Jenn! 918]

I've never really considered 30 pounds overweight to be "obese". Still, they love their chili cookoffs down in the Texas areas don't they?

It's 30 lbs for a person who is 5'4" (or a BMI of >=30 apparently). I'm no doctor, but I'd imagine that's a cutoff point where the weight really begins to impact one's health.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

(UKC) myself....i wonder what it would show for brits Hmmm but i sure am glad my waistline has shrunk ......... lost 27lbs so far over the past 7 weeks

only 10 lbs to go till i reach my target weight

Edited July 31, 2007 by MariaDane

[nane1104 146]

I knew I live in the wrong spot..Louisiana that is. Cajun food is yummy though!

The thing is: You can eat, but then you have to balance it out again=extra gym sessions for me!

Edited July 31, 2007 by nane1104

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

It'####### the Fried Food Belt especially hard.

I think it's especially shocking to see it on the map like that over time. It's as if it were some sort of highly contagious disease, starting in MS and rapidly spreading outwards. Like Outbreak or something.

It'd be interesting to see this in relation to migratory trends, such as the fact that people tend to migrate to metropolitan areas for jobs.

[TracyLuis 0]

It's no surprise to me at all

[natty bumppo 297]

note to self ... exercise more

[Caladan 19]

I'd like to see the map played with the different definitions of obesity (body fat vs. BMI) taken into account, and to see how it tracks with things like factory closures and high-fructose corn syrup replacing sugar as a sweetener.

[Mags 112]

It'####### the Fried Food Belt especially hard.

I think it's especially shocking to see it on the map like that over time. It's as if it were some sort of highly contagious disease, starting in MS and rapidly spreading outwards. Like Outbreak or something.

high-fructose corn syrup replacing sugar as a sweetener.

HFCS came into use in the USA in 1984. I think this is pretty conclusive evidence that it is one of the main reasons for the obesity epidemic, that and an ungodly amount of fast food restaurants. It can take a few years to get really obese; hence the increasing amount of overweight people as the years go by.

Just my opinion, of course!

Edited July 31, 2007 by Mags