Mississippi: Fattest State in America
No one wants to win the booby prize, but sorry Mississippi, you just did.
The CDC says Mississippi is the fattest state in the U.S., where 32.5% of people are obese.
And, to make matters worse, obesity among adults increased in 23 states over the past year, with no state showing a major decline.
Health experts are worried. You see for years America has lived in fear of the aging, sickly baby boomers. Well, the time has finally come. U.S. adults, 65 and older, are fatter than ever and will soon strain the Medicare system.
The estimates are daunting. For example, aging boomers in Alabama will mean a 16.4% jump in Medicare patients. Annually, Medicare already spends $1,400 to $6,000 more money on each obese senior every year. So you do the math.
But, kudos to Colorado, only 18.9% people are obese there - thin air, thin people. Go figure.
Via The Associated Press.
24 Comments
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Created / Updated: July 14, 2009
What's interesting about the data is that there were 6 states with obesity rates greater than or equal to 30% - the upper limit. The states were Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. With the exception of Oklahoma, these seem to be states within the southern region of the country. It makes you think - what are they doing more of or not enough of in that region that is making such a huge difference in their weight and health risks.
ReplyAs someone in Mississippi, this is not at all surprising. To the comment above, I would say that the common link between the states you mention and their obesity statistics is their economic status. These states are also the poorest in the country. Yes, you can eat healthy food on a budget. I'm also not saying that people are dumb and don't know what healthy food is, but I think it makes a difference.
Where I live, which is fairly populated, we have one market that is far away from most of the population. I didn't even know it was there until recently. We used to have a few around, but no more. The hurricane didn't help things either.
It's a perfect combination of things down here that keep these states at the top of those lists.
ReplyAnother thing that goes along with the poverty levels in these states is the culture associated with healthy eating just isn't there. Children aren't taught in school about healthy eating or health living. There's no funding for nutrition classes, or even gym classes in a lot of places. And parents that are raised not only ignorant of healthy living, but actually disdainful of it are going to teach their children the same way.
ReplyRight Ann, we need to get the Government involved. That's always the answer. More money. More interference in people's lives. More nanny state. More hand holding. People like you need to move to your own little country where you can satisfy all of your little quasi-fascist fetishes to your heart's desire.
ReplyActually, since this is a state (not federal) government issue, all I have to do is make sure I don't live in the south ... check.
Replywhat are you trying to say about the south. People just like to have a down home cooked meal every once in a while. Shout out to Clarksdale,MS. We dont want to starve our selves into getting skiny because this is going to make us crave for more things. So dont down people becuase of there weight Ann!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplySorry Barry, it's not so much creating a nanny state it's about getting information out there to even the poor (information used to be only for the rich) If people know the right way to eat to be healthy and still choose not to then that's a different matter. Making information easily available to even the poor is not creating nanny state, it creates an informed public. There is nothing wrong with being informed. The thing is when people are presented with all the facts they usually make the right decision.
ReplyThats right! TRy to make these states look bad and this subject was not about proverty. Since you want to get on that subject why are they fat if they are living in proverty. Think About It
ReplyCulture is a HUGE factor in why the South has more obesity than elsewhere. My mom's family is from Tennessee and Alabama and all of them are very heavy. They don't eat salads or steamed vegetables; that's "rabbit food". It's all about the fried chicken, grits, biscuits, mac and cheese, etc. Any vegetable they DO eat is deep-fried. Actually, the only way my grandma eats green beans is to cook them in bacon fat. I'm not kidding, either. I used to kind of love them, but now when I eat those, they make me sick to my stomach.
ReplyI'm sorry, but if people want to be fat, they have the right to be fat.
We as tax payers also have the right not to pay for their health care when the consequences of living as a fat person catch up with them.
The notion that fat people are hapless victims of ignorance and poverty is laughable.
ReplyWhat is your problem? I think you need some exercise or medication, I certainly don't want to pay your stress related health care. I'd rather pay for more war, because that's the government's only job, certainly not to worry about the health and welfare of the people.
ReplyThis was an interesting study, and quite sobering. We don't need a study to show us this, all you have to do is look around while you are running errands.
The government hasn't successfully helped reduce the obesity epidemic. I think it has to be a grassroots effort, starting with each individual making good choices for themselves and their family. I lost 150 pounds 12 years ago, and am glad not to be part of that obese number anymore!
ReplyAs a 1 a southerner, 2 an independent voter, 3 a weight losing obese person...my goodness some of the commenters can be quite offensive.
ReplyThere are a myriad of things that can contribute to a individual's being overweight and a large group of people.
Yes the culture down here is to cover everything in butter and deep fry it. After we deep fry it we cover it in gravy made with more butter. Yes we love to eat and it shows. Isn't it funny when tourists come here the first thing they want is southern cooking?
We also are poorer than other states and yes we have less funding for phys. ed. and nutrition. Yes we are the lowest in education blah blah blah. However, that does not mean all of us are stupid and fat and lazy.
Please do not let a study color your opinion of an entire population of people. I have lived outside the south and have moved back home again. I lived in the Pacific Northwest and I do know that the culture there was geared toward education and fitness. That is fabulous.
I have lived in poorer sections of the south and I now in a upper middle to upper class area of South Carolina and do see that there is a shift in thinking. The men and women around here do seem more health conscious. That fact is made more obvious by the amount of supermarkets, food stores, restaurants and gyms are significantly higher here.
By the way I did grow up in a poor section of SC and surprise surprise: I was in P.E. every year, we had health every year, and we talked about nutrition, every year. Guess what!? I still got fat! Learning healthy eating habits has to start with the primary care givers of the home MOM and DAD. Both my parents were overweight so low and behold so was I. Both my parents hailed from southern states Texas and SC. Strangely enough my father was a medic in the Navy so he knew better and still got fat. So to address the idea that education is always the answer, not true. Best education is by example and starts at home.
So we aren't all overweight and uneducated in the south. There are some of us, myself included that have joined the global community and are fighting the good fight.
So please don't be so quick to judge and "size us up" by some poll.
Of course mom and dad have a lot to do with a child's education - and they certainly have the ability to counteract the best intentions of a teacher at school. But chances are, if mom and dad don't teach you about healthy choices, it's because THEY never had that education either. At some point, if enough education is given, hopefully someone will get the point.
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ReplyThere is always a number of reasons for these rates like poverty, family upbringing & what goes on in the home. I also noticed that the healthier states were ones that did a lot of outside activities. In general though, people are just eating more, sitting more, moving less & I think possibly less home interaction with kids.
As someone who grew up in the south before moving to Colorado with my skinny husband (I'm currently obese, on the downward slide toward merely overweight), I can say that Jody's on the right path. People here actually walk places instead of driving (the system of trails and paths for pedestrians and bikes here is one of the largest in the nation), do things like ride bikes and run for FUN *gasp* instead of as an item on their to-do list to maintain their weight, and a whole host of other things. There's also systemic reinforcement of healthy habits - frequent photos of government officials on their bikes, farmer's markets popping up left and right, corporate initiatives to encourage alternative transportation and healthy habits, etc. When I was growing up, we went from air-conditioned building to air-conditioned building via a car - now, we hate driving and prefer to walk or bike everywhere (we even sold our house in the 'burbs and bought a smaller one in the city so we could get rid of a car). There are other states with high levels of poverty that have lower levels of obesity, so I don't quite buy that people are fat because they're poor (although it can play a role). And we have fried chicken and gravy in Colorado too, along with lots and lots of beer (which we happily drink). So to those concerned about their expanding waistline, I say - get moving! :)
ReplyHi Julie! I've never been in the South, but I've definitely noticed about CO (where my family lives), and here in CA, where I live, there are bike paths, walking paths, fields to play in, places to hike. I've heard the South is auto only, and you take your life in your hands trying to bike around. I'm glad people are starting to bike, it improves the infrastructure for it, and then more do it, and so on. I have a friend with family in TX, and she says even corn on the cob is deep fried there. (TX isn't on the list, but the food is likely similar). And yes, of course CO (and CA) have beer and fried chicken, but we also have vegetarian restaurants, whole food restaurants, ethnic restaurants, good produce everywhere (especially CA). My health-conscious friend, (of fried corn story above) looked at all her available choices, and a hamburger was the healthiest of them all. That doesn't happen here.
ReplyI live in a small down in in Ms. I'm overweight and have been since birth.I don't blame anyone for me being obese. the fault is all mine.I should have ate better as kid and started good habits and etc.
in this town crime plays a big part in the problem . Good supermarkets and specialty stores can't open up because of gangs , looters,drug dealers and etc. You'd expect the police to help but for the most part they are dirtier than the crooks themselves.
I remember years ago a family dollar store just opened. On opening night it was set on fire. stuff like that happens all the time.
Most people I know refuse to walk out on the streets even in daytime. The one supermarket we do have sometimes stock healthier foods but the prices are outrageous.
As a hole it seems healthier food cost more in America. They fuss and holler about obesity well lower the price on the healthier foods . maybe raise the prices of bad foods and drinks slightly.
In the end that will help some but it's still up to the person to pursue the diet and eat healthier.
in my younger years food was my best friend I'm breaking the cycle but its a long road.
ReplyThe "accident of birth". We have no choice in who our parents are, and where we grow up. Doc, I hope that things go well for you.
ReplyNo matter where you live, there are going to be excuses for being fat. It's EASY to be fat. Different regions have delicious cuisines and people like to indulge. I live in the Midwest and Wisconsin is number 19 on the list...I'm surprised it isn't higher, actually. People here don't really work out that much because it snows a lot and people don't want to brave the cold. And we have really good beer, bratwust, and cheese. Veggies and fruit can get a little pricey in the winter, so a lot of people don't eat them much. It's very much a "meat and potatoes" kind of society.
I think the culture of how you're raised has a lot to do with your eating habits and if you'll be obese or not. My husband's family, like a lot of Midwesterners, farm for a living. They ate good, hearty "farm food" like meatloaf, pork chops, mashed potatoes, bread and butter, bacon, eggs, chicken, and good ol' raw whole milk. They also ate a lot of veggies in the summer, but only when they were in season. Eating a salad or something in the winter is seen as being a waste of money or something. My relatives are from the South and they don't really eat veggies fresh. They eat them cooked/fried/creamed/soaked in bacon grease. I remember when I visited my grandma once and made myself some steamed zucchini and she didn't know you could eat it without deepfrying it! Also, the whole concept of being very active doesn't seem to be a big thing down South. I'm not saying people aren't active down there, but from my own experience, most Southerners would rather spend their leisure time sitting around drinking coffee or sweet tea and chatting than biking or whitewater rafting.
ReplyI don't think with the way our population moves from location to location now-a-days you can stereotype it anymore. My town on Florida probably has as many or more fit athletic people as anyplace. We've become a very cosmopolitan society. If you want to be healthy and fit, you can do it most anywhere, although I do wish the food industry in all it's forms would be more helpful to people.
ReplyGood point about the colder climates! People are talking about how it's hard to get outside and exercise when it's hot in the south, but I'd say it's even harder if it's negative 40 degrees outside! I grew up in Minnesota, and you definitely don't want to walk to the grocery store through most of winter! But it's a different mentality. If you want to exercise, you can do it indoors. I've even seen walking clubs doing laps around the Mall of America.
ReplyI live in Massachusetts, which usually rates as one of the healthiest states in those kinds of studies. Sports are huge here, as is education. On any given evening there are hundreds of people jogging, walking, and biking along the many beautiful paths in Boston. HOWEVER, there are certainly lots of obese people in Boston too, and restaurants with huge portions of unhealthy food, and smokers galore outside any Boston bar late at night. I think that no matter where you live, your individual choices can make you or break you.
ReplyTexas use to be number 1...we use to be on top! We can't let Mississippi take us over! Quick to KFC!
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