How fat is your state?

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

How fat is your state?

salesortonscom · Wise and Revered Master

Dueling banjos and overweight brother/sister marriages. You gotta love Mississippi!

Poncho29 · Senior Bucketkeeper

I don't know about obesity, but I think our state should be the diabetic state judging by the amount of scripts we fill for diabetic medication and supplies. But I suppose every state is like that and obesity goes hand in hand with diabetes most of the time.

Poncho29 · Senior Bucketkeeper

Maybe everyone is afraid they are going to develop dementia one day. (See the Overweight chicks unite thread).

Though its hardly a laughing matter that so many people are overweight in this country.

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

"If I have one more pie a la mode
I'm gonna need my own zip code"

-- Weird Al

-- Edited by Cat Herder at 10:22, 2007-08-28

Euphrasie · Senior Bucketkeeper

43! Whooooooo!

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Michigan... 9.

I'm not fat, I'm just fluffy! Besides, I know there is a physically fit, lean mean guy inside trying to get out... he just isn't trying hard enough!

Pt314 · Senior Member

Utah: 44th

I guess we aren't that fat.

Hmm I would have thought it would be higher with all of the ice cream we eat here.

glumirk · Senior Member

43. I guess that's why I didn't think it was such a huge problem. I want to know their definition of "obese" though.

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

Glumrick, I'm assuming they use the standard Body Mass Index definition of obese. (And while the BMI is not perfect, to get all the way to the obesity range it's pretty safe to assume there's a weight problem.)

A BMI of 25 - 29.9 is considered overweight
30 - 39.9 is considered obese
40 + is considered extreme obesity

http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

The above is a BMI calculator.

And when I lose 2.5 more pounds I get to be overweight and not obese. Yippee.

-- Edited by hiccups at 14:19, 2007-09-03

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

I'm obese, so regardless of what state I live in... I'm screwed... :)

--Ray

Dyany · Senior Member

Actually, hiccups, using the BMI scale (which is what I am sure they used, since it is the 'medical standard'), many major athletes and others of extreme fitness are obese. I hate the BMI scale. Sure, I'd be obese no matter what, but the bottom line is this: it is NOT ACCURATE and puts many people through unhealthy stresses and diets to reach an arbitrary ideal that may not be correct for their body. The BMI 1) does nothing to take into account muscle mass (hence the athletic obesity), and muscle weighs much more than fat, 2) doesn't take into account body frame, which will make a serious difference as to ideal weight, and 3) was developed years and years ago by taking a random sampling of heights and weights and figuring out the average. Honestly, would you call that scientific?!

Sorry, no mean to attack, the BMI just sticks in my craw. They have proven that hip-to-waist ratios are far more accurate than the BMI in predicting obesity-related health problems (yet another item providing evidence that the BMI is less than accurate). I have been to weight loss centers that actually took body frame into account and said I should weigh about 20 lbs more than the BMI said I should because I have a massive body frame. What kind of damage would it have done to my body and psyche to try and lose those extra 20 lbs? I feel it would be much better if they actually did some work and figured out a more applicable scale, such as body fat %.

Dyany · Senior Member

Otherwise, back to the topic -- did you notice that the worst states are a) very poor and/or b) hot, humid states with little in the ways of good, fun outdoor activities? Did you know that they can actually predict (with a good degree of accuracy) your chances of becoming diabetic by your INCOME, because healthy foods and lifestyles are so much more expensive? Admittedly, education plays a factor (you should never catch a post-grad saying 'it's Mickey-D's fault, how was I supposed to know hamburgers help make you fat when you sit around & watch TV all day long?), but when it comes down to it -- when you live in the hot and humid SE, you don't want to go out. (And since everyone is in the same hot and humid environment, more people are dumpy looking, so there is less social pressure to look fit.) It's gross out there. You find other ways to fill your time. If you have the money, you can go to climate-controlled gyms or buy good exercise equipment for home, but when you're poor, you're lucky if you can afford decent running shoes. Plus, when you have money it's easier to get a variety of nice fruits, vegetables, and whole grains rather than living off crap like mac and cheese.

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

I can't get my mac and cheese loving kids to put on any weight. hmm

Jen · Senior Bucketkeeper

I'm in a fat state. Yes.

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

I'm in a less fat state than I used to be.