Why Are Southerners So Fat?

Time ^ | 7/9/2009 | Claire Suddath

[Slings and Arrows]

Yep, they’re pretty dense, you betcha.

[kcvl]

This is advertising for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to promote more of the same, which in the end, is paid for by the TAXPAYERS while the foundation gets credit.

The foundation actually shapes policy this way!

******

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and healthcare issues, launched a massive national public awareness campaign to increase enrollment in SCHIP.

Millions of American children go without health insurance because their parents don’t think they can afford it. Government assistance is available in the form of Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), but most parents fail to take advantage of these programs because they mistakenly presume they do not qualify.

[Madame Dufarge]

the foundation played a major role in curbing tobacco use in the US, spending $446 million from 1991 to 2003 toward that goal, and it plans to use those experiences to shape its attack on childhood obesity.

Thanks, nice info.

Anyone who couldn't see this coming wasn't paying enough attention.

Smoker demonization was just the beta version.

[job]

That was exactly the trick, put it in while it was hot, but it tastes way to saccarine for me. I use sweeteners, but I use Stevia, a plant that is a great substitute for sugar and sweeteners.

I am guilty on all the other foods, but have quit b/c of high cholesterol. But I would cheat for good catfish, hush puppies, slaw, tea, pecan pie.

I lived in Lafayette LA from 91-93. I would probably be dead by now if I stayed there, but boy was it good. Probably the best fried food you will ever eat. Those people live to eat and drink.

[Rebelbase]

“mothers were driving their kids to bus stops that were just halfway down the block... “

Perv dangers, not laziness.

[BwanaNdege]

"What if people in subsaharan Africa had plentiful food, would they also become fat as a buffer?

Having lived a number of years in "sub-Saharan Africa", I can assure you that the answer is YES!

In fact, most cultures are capable of producing fat people.

(In the interests of full disclosure, at 5'8" and 200lbs, this Southern born and raised 61 year old man is classified as "Obese". However, as I mentioned in another post, I can lie on the bottom of a swimming pool. I thought that fat was supposed to float? Must be the rocks in my head weighing me down???)

[rockrr]

Yours, of course, is the correct response. If the author had been a bit more honest and a bit less regionally bigoted it would have been the central theme of the essay.

I see much more obesity around me than I did 20 years ago. I’ve always chalked it up to poor eating habits and not enough exercise, combined with highly processed foods, but I’m not so sure anymore.

I think you’re on to something about the food industry and “better living through chemistry”. I see too many folks who are active (ie. working their butts off), eating more moderately, and still heavy.

I also see a ton (pun intended) of folks who simply don’t give a damn...

[Albion Wilde]

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
At least it's not called the "Peter Wood Johnson Foundation" - that would simply be too much.

ROFLMAO!!

Actually, it was named for the founder of the Johnson & Johnson company, one of the oldest and best corporations in America, that produces medicines and medical equipment. One of the best stocks you can own as well.

I do not know whether the company has turned left recently, but it had traditionally been practical and profitable by making first aid and hospital medical items that people really need, both prescription and over-the-counter. What household hasn't used J&J Baby Powder or Band-Aids? They do a huge business in disposable paper drapes for surgery, and those paper exam-room gowns, as well as syringes, stents, surgical needles and thread, etc.

I also don't know about any ideology at the Foundation, but its leader, a woman, is married and has children. That's a good sign.

[Hot Tabasco]

Why Are Southerners So Fat?

This story is no good without supporting pictures........LOL!

[VideoDoctor]

Why Are Southerners So Fat?

WHY? Because your dealing with MAJOR LEAGUE grease.

"Order me another chicken fried steak please"

[Albion Wilde]

Moon Pies...

...and an RC cola.

Or, in North Cackalacky, a Cheerwine soda.

[Arrowhead1952]

Southern Motto: If it ain't fried, it ain't food!

Including bacon!

[MozarkDawg]

Those people live to eat and drink.

I'm from the SF Bay Area originally, let it not be said that our family gatherings, we certainly did our fair share of eatin' and drinkin' -- but some of the Southern food combos, I was not quite ready to submit. My first dinner, I was presented with a canned half-pear, a gob of mayonnaise in the center, shredded cheddar sprinkled on top, it was served on a piece of iceberg lettuce ... "salad" I was informed. Ooookay. (Casually slipped it to hub).

[tuffydoodle]

“The reason is that the foods many people eat are those that were designed for agricultural workers who typically burn 4,000 + calories per day. An office worker is lucky to burn 2,200 per day. In the past 50 years, sedentary jobs have replaced manual labor jobs. Hence, people have gotten fat.”

You are exactly right but I’d like to add one more point, portion sizes. They have gotten bigger and bigger over the last 30 years. So we have more sedentary jobs and huge portion sizes. It’s not rocket science to see why people are getting so big.

There is a great book out, called “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite” by David Kessler. I read it cover to cover and highly recommend it, to understand why Americans are getting so big.

[MozarkDawg]

LOL!!!!

[Peter Horry]

Post 84

Far more people are in sedentary jobs but mechanization has reduced the “work” in manual labor jobs. My dad started building with hand tools and his work evolved into mostly power tools, which meant less calories being burned. This has been the trend in most occupations.

I grew up on a farm and eventually, after years of a fairly active occupation became a desk jockey and had to exercise and watch what I ate. I remember, during one taxing period at work, working 10-12 hour days, that I started gaining weight. It was simply because I was “hitting” the snack machine when it was time for dinner and then eating dinner when I got off work. That extra snack day after day began to show eventually.

[Ditter]

While HFCS could be a factor, I think the automobile has made us fat. People don’t walk anymore they drive. I used to see people walking to the store, riding their bicycle to work. Lots of places don’t have sidewalks and the traffic is awful, it’ dangerous to walk. Everyone has a car or catches a ride. Some people walk and run around the track but they drive their car to the track and home again. It’s been 100+ degrees for weeks, I don’t want to walk anyplace, thank God I don’t have to and I’m not fat I’m fluffy.

[MozarkDawg]

Yup, that yankee caterwallin’ can mess up a good meal...

LOL!!

I notice there isn't a whole lotta of chit-chat, discussion going on during mealtime ... is this a typical Southern thing, or just that my particular in-laws, extended, are too much into talking at the table? Maybe if my Aunt Pat back in CA wasn't so busy running her gums ... ;)

[Chunga]

Sheila...I was born in Mississippi and live in Georgia...people from NYC are fantastic and their culture is one of the few Yankee cultures where the pride is worth it.

It's hard to make it in that place. People who have succeeded there have a reasonable justification for being proud. The swagger rubs off on you.

[Married with Children]

Probably from all the years of holding down blacks and getting them to do all our labor for us.