Posted on 11/26/2007 12:46:45 PM PST by MotleyGirl70
Forbes' America's Most Obese Cities.
Did your city make the Fatty List:
1. Memphis, Tenn.: 34%
Researchers have found that residents are aware of the area's obesity problem, currently affecting 34% of its population. Among the causes they blame: high rates of poverty and a culture of Southern hospitality and food that values certain types of dishes--many of them fried--over healthier choices. Memphis actually sits on the western edge of a web of Southern cities along with Birmingham, Ala., and Atlanta, that also landed on our list.
2. Birmingham, Ala.: 31.3%
As the second most obese city, 31.3% of Birmingham's residents have a BMI of 30 or higher. Since 2001, a local non-profit organization called Jones Valley Urban Farm has tried to promote healthy eating habits with community gardening plots. The organization also offers educational programs for grade-school children in an effort to battle the city's high childhood obesity rates.
3. San Antonio, Texas: 31.1%
Arguably the home base for calorie-rich Tex-Mex cuisine, this Texas city comes in a close third as the most obese. City officials, however, have taken note, and are exploring solutions. A team of municipal and school leaders was recently chosen by the National League of Cities to receive technical assistance for one year in combating childhood obesity and adopting wellness initiatives. The league will provide San Antonio and five other cities with experts versed in healthy eating and active living as well as fighting obesity.
4. Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif.: 30.8%
Those living in the city of Riverside and the surrounding metropolitan area, located about an hour east of Los Angeles, are likely victims of a car-centric culture. But despite efforts to promote safe streets and bicycle riding, the obesity epidemic is only getting worse: 30.8% percent of Riverside residents are obese, a 5% increase from 2005. The percentage of people neglecting regular exercise is also creeping upward, now standing at 30%.
5. Detroit: 30.4%*
Parts of this beleaguered city, where 33% of residents live below the poverty line, may qualify as a "food desert," a term used to describe urban areas devoid of healthy, fresh food choices. That may explain why 30.4% of its population, and that of the surrounding area, is obese. Still, it seems the state also suffers from unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity: Michigan was recently ranked the ninth heaviest state in the nation by the research group Trust for America's Health. The state already promotes healthy living through an initiative called "Step Up Michigan," but the epidemic might require a more aggressive intervention.
6. Jacksonville, Fla.: 29.8%
Perhaps this city's humid climate drives its residents, 29.8% of whom are obese, indoors. In an effort to lessen the area's obesity rate. the city has launched a public health initiative called Healthy Jacksonville, which allows participants to get involved in a community-wide challenge for improved fitness and health. A primary motivator for the city was the $357 million price tag, as measured in 2003, of obesity and overweight health issues in its residents.
7. Nashville, Tenn.: 28.8%
Nashville's obesity crisis is worsening: At 28.8%, the percentage of residents who are obese increased roughly two points last year, while the number of overweight residents rose to 39%, up from 35.5%. The city has tried combating the rising numbers with various health initiatives, including a mile-plus walk with the mayor and day-long events encouraging the use of nearby greenways.
8. Oklahoma City: 27.5%
Mayor Mick Cornett has been working with city leaders to improve local health on a number of fronts. One reason? A whopping 27.5% of Oklahoma City residents are obese. Among other strategies, the city has promoted healthy living by passing a bond measure to build gyms at 47 inner city schools and increasing the number of bike paths. They've also tried to lure high-profile stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods while also looking at ways to decrease high rates of fast food consumption.
9. Kansas City, Mo.: 26.9%
Well known for its barbecue, Kansas City has a big appetite. Like other cities on this list, where a culture of food is closely intertwined with a way of life, that may contribute to high levels of obesity. In Kansas City, 26.9% of residents have a BMI higher than 30, which qualifies them as obese. At least many are vocal about improving parks and recreation services, as well as making sidewalks more walkable. When polled by the city government last year, improved parks and sidewalks ranked at the top in terms of what residents most wanted.
10. San Diego, Calif.: 26.7%
The glitz of downtown San Diego belies pockets of poor neighborhoods where access to fresh fruit and vegetables is limited. Other factors contributing to the obesity rate of 26.7% may be car commuting and a large Hispanic population, whose members often have higher incidences of obesity than non-Hispanic whites. To counteract the trend, San Diego County has invested in preventing and reversing childhood obesity by forging collaborative relationships between public and private entities.
11. Cincinnati, Ohio: 26.3%
Though University of Cincinnati researchers have made progress in determining the cause of obesity, the city's waistline continues to expand. Since 2005, the percentage of obese residents has grown 4% to 26.3%. The state is following the lead of cities like San Francisco and New York as it considers a ban on trans fats in restaurants. The mayor has also implemented initiatives to ensure children in underserved communities have access to nutritionally balanced meals.
12. Indianapolis: 26%
As the hub for several interstates that cut through the city, Indianapolis has been dubbed the "Crossroads of America." It's not surprising, also given its notoriety as home to the Indy 500, that Indianapolis has long been considered a driver's city. Local residents, 26% of whom are obese, have paid the price for sprawl policies and a prevailing car culture--with their health. That may change as city planners continue to build and promote greenways and bike paths, including its so-called "cultural trail," an eight-mile path which will connect several neighborhoods.
13. (Tie) Baltimore: 25.8%
Issues like safety, poverty and food access have contributed to the obesity rate in Baltimore, which edged to 25.8% last year, a slight increase from 2005. Various groups, including the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance and the Baltimore Neighborhood Research Consortium, are leading efforts to understand what aspects of neighborhood planning best contribute to healthy communities.
13. (Tie) New Orleans: 25.8%
Residents of New Orleans love their food, a lot of which is deep fried. Disentangling a love for food from a need to make healthy eating choices may be the city's greatest challenge. The department of public health has implemented weight loss and physical activity programs tailored for the local population, including an African dance class for women.
13. (Tie) Virginia Beach, Va.: 25.8%
The city of Virginia Beach celebrates its 35 miles of coastline, but given its obesity rate, it's unclear whether an outdoor mentality has become a part of local culture and not just a function of tourism. Among other healthy living promotion strategies, the city instituted an incentive program in 2006 through which employees could earn up to $200 per year by exercising at a gym for a specified number of visits.
16. Atlanta: 25.6%
At 25.6%, roughly one quarter of Atlanta's population is obese. One cause might be sprawling suburban subdivisions which require residents to commute an average of 35 miles per day by car. A study released by a University of British Columbia researcher in January 2007 found that residents of Atlanta drive more than those in most other regions in the country. Researchers also found that 37% of Atlanta residents living in highly walkable neighborhoods were able to get 30 minutes of moderate activity each day, as opposed to those in the least walkable neighborhoods, 18% of whom got similar levels of exercise.
17.(Tie) Milwaukee: 25.4%
Milwaukee is another city on our list that saw its obesity rate increase significantly since 2005. Then, 19.8% of residents were obese, compared with 25.4% in 2006. Another alarming number is the percentage of impoverished city residents: 26.2% of individuals live below the poverty line in Milwaukee. The combined statistics may hint at limited access to healthy, affordable food as a primary cause for the growing obesity rate.
17. (Tie) Richmond, Va.: 25.4%
The obesity crisis in Virginia has caught the attention of state lawmakers, who are currently considering legislation to fight childhood obesity. Richmond joins Virginia Beach as the second Virginian city to rank on our list. Vanderbilt University researchers also recently ranked Richmond among the top 10 cities with the largest gaps in obesity rates between black and white residents, a fact experts should take into consideration as they look at different prevention approaches.
18. (Tie) Austin, Texas: 24.9%
Austin wouldn't have entered our list based on 2005 figures, when only 17.2% of its residents were obese. But in 2006, that number shot up to 24.9%, which was enough to surpass neighboring Houston, an erstwhile "fattest" city. The noticeable shift may shock residents who think of their hometown as healthy and active.
18. (Tie) Las Vegas, NV: 24.9%
Las Vegas, the nation's capital of excess, ties with Austin for last place on our list. Despite the city's many walking groups and fitness initiatives, 24.9% of its population is obese, a nearly four point increase from 21% in the previous year.
And Here, for everyone’s entertainment, and maybe a wake-up call, is a musical version of this article.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn52Px_h7_8&feature=related
“Flame away if you feel the need, but this is the reality where I live.”
No flames here because you are dead on. I worked at a C-Store through college that was by a section 8 apartment complex. My experiences were the exact same as yours.
The welfare queens shop at expensive c-stores and buy crap. The reason being, they think if they aren’t spending a lot of money at once, they are saving money. Many just don’t go to the market and buy a bill of groceries. The same people who do this are the same ones who would put $2 worth of gas in their cars every two days instead of filling up once every two weeks. They simply do not have a clue how to manage even a little money. Why would they? More is coming next month and they don’t have to do a thing for it.
In short, it’s just plain laziness and ignorance. How are we to expect people who literally drag their feet when they walk and lie down when they drive to be fit and healthy?
There is a lot of talk here about Southern cooking, etc. That is just a sorry argument. We eat healthier today than ever before in history. What we don’t do is MOVE as much. According to many posts on this thread, I should weigh 300 lbs. I cook with real butter. I fry stuff all the time. I drink sweet tea and enough Coke to keep a factory open. I weigh 160 lbs and am 6 feet tall. I can also drop and give you 51 right now.
Southern heat, my butt. Sweating is good. It’s all I can to to keep weight on during the summer. Know what I did during the heat of the summer? Rented a jack-hammer and broke up all the concrete surrounding the pool in my yard, tossed all the brken concrete (almost a foot thick in some places) and filled in the pool. I dug up 6 LARGE pompus grass plants (weighed over 500 lbs each) and hauled them off. I had to use an engine hoist to get them in the back of my truck. I also rented a skid-steer and leveled the back yard where I filled in the pool. I also installed gutters on my house and built two large flower beds.
To hot to go outside, my butt. Too lazy. Anyway, sorry about the rant.
When humidity is really high and temperatures are well in excess of 90 degrees it’s kind of hard to get outside and get all physically active. If you have air conditioning, as most of us southerners do, you’d be really tempted to stay inside most of the time during our hotter months. Our states tend to be poorer states too. People eat a lot of junk food because that’s what they can afford, and they don’t tend to have a lot of money for gym memberships and fancy activities. Education levels tend to be lower too. Consequently, we are inundated with grossly obese people who sit in their homes avoiding the heat, eating McDonald's and all you can eat buffets and when they do cook at home it’s often BBQ, fried foods, etc., not so healthy stuff.
Southerners may be the worst about it, but Americans in general are too heavy. Travel around the world some and you’ll know your back in America when you land at one of our International airports. On average the people you see will be a lot heavier than those in the airport in the foreign country you were coming from. I went to Brazil a not long ago and was just blown away by how many fat people I saw in the Miami Airport when I got back. Hardly anyone in Brazil is overweight, but here most people are. You see the same thing in other countries too, not just Brazil although people there may healthier than in a lot of other countries. Most anywhere you go though you’ll see far fewer “cows” walking around, far fewer really fat people. You’ll also likely see far less junk food being pushed on people, fewer all you can eat buffets, smaller portions being served at restaurants, and so on.
Agree with you FIL, it is all about in versus out. None of us exercise they way we should for various reasons (excuses) and that is where I point the finger.
Not so much "what you eat", it's how you burn it off.
If you toss out all the illegals in San Antonio, not only would the obesity level drop but also the traffic, and the tremendous drain on social and school system dollars. It went from being a nice, mid-size Texas city to #5 in the US - just from the illegals!
I became allergic in my early 20s. It sucks because I love shellfish. Never had lobster before I became allergic but I've had crab legs and shrimp and miss not being able to eat it anymore.
The Queens aren’t going to change until we (the people buying their damned food) make them, and the only way to do that is through legislation. You sure as hell aren’t going to “embarass” them into it.
Because they are so overweight and slothful, they have a ton of medical problems. They go to the free clinic or the ER at the hospital. No problem for them. Guess who pays for that? Then there’s dental. Their “super healthy” diet makes all their teeth fall out. No problem. We’ve got a free dental clinic also. Again, guess who pays for it?
Then, around this time of year, the local bleeding hearts flood the local airwaves (and personaly solicit me) for donations so “I” can have the privelege of buying their children Christmas presents!!!
Sheesh! don’t get me started.....
Several posters on this thread have indicated that they don't exercise because going to the gym is too time consuming with work, kids, and family commitments. But as you have just illustrated, a person does not have to go to a gym to get the kind of exercise needed to lose weight. Park the car and WALK! I park my car in the furthest corner of my office lot even though I have a private space right next to the building. I walk to the four or five blocks to the diner or deli at lunch, rather than drive. I walk up three flights of stairs rather than take the elevator. I still cut my own grass, trim the hedges, rake leaves, and shovel snow, rather than hiring someone else to get exercise. I stand and pace when I am on the phone at the office, rather than sitting with my feet up on the desk. Although I do belong to a gym, I go there not just to exercise, but to exercise at a higher level. And even there I have to laugh at the fat people who circle the parking lot looking for a space right next to the building, rather than parking in the far corner and walking. If a person really wants to lose weight, then they need to exercise, but they don't need to join a gym. WALK!
The bottom line is that 99% of fat people are fat because they eat more calories than they burn. They are essentially lazy, and their excuses are self-created life style choices that they are unable or unwilling to change because they are -- LAZY!.
Out of the park!
we've been eating healthier, and i have found that healthy food is more expensive... i'm not complaining... i think the expense is worth it... but the food is not cheaper... (i'm comparing unhealthy "eating in" food with healthy "eating in" food)...
“a person does not have to go to a gym to get the kind of exercise needed to lose weight. Park the car and WALK!”
I don’t think walking an extra 30 seconds is really getting you much exercise. I don’t think you can compare it to spending a reasonable amount of time at the gym.
What's up with that?
How’s your waste level? That’s the biggest problem I’ve found with buying healthier food for home, when you’re used to shopping for prepackaged stuff you tend to shop for 1 or 2 weeks at a time and you just can’t do that when you’re buying fresh fruits and vegetables, they don’t keep that long. But once we retrained to buying for 2 or 3 days the cost dropped. Of course now there’s a mid ground, there’s prepackaged fresh (mostly salads), which might be cheaper over the long haul but is pricier in the short term. Part of it is also where you go, mainline grocery stores tend to have more expensive fresh sections, not sure if it’s to keep equity with the rest of the store or what. Smaller places, like Trader Joe’s, the selection is smaller and more sporadic but the price kicks butt.
We have a HUGE welfare population, and they eat a lot of unhealthy foods.
Its not the same as the exercise that I get a a gym, but it is exercise and reflective of a healthy life-style. All those "30 second" walks add up throughout the day. I average 10,000 steps a day before going to the gym. At two feet per step, that's 3.78 miles a day! Although I am not walking long enough or fast enough across the parking lot to achieve any meaningful aerobic benefit, I am burning calories, and those calories add up over time.
It must've been a while since you last checked. Fruits and veggies aren't cheap. That's why WIC recipients don't buy them. They can get more for their money with junk food than healthy food.
Personally, I love veggies and always need celery and/or carrot sticks in the frig to munch on especially later at night. Keeps me away from the Oreos--most of the time.
” I am burning calories, and those calories add up over time.”
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What you said. Most people don’t realize that certain forms of exercise are cumulative. The exception is strength training, IIRC. Because of my age, I do yoga for some of that — a milder form than Bikram’s to be sure, but it’s a very effective way for me. Things will get more strenuous later, as I heal...
We also have to know when to push the plate away. Once you get used to it, it’s really very easy to do, and you don’t feel deprived. You’ve eaten what you want, just not too much of it.
As big as I am, I’m seeing results where it counts: on the scale. As long as I’m taking a (mostly) downward track, I know I’m doing the right thing.
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