What Your ZIP Code Says About Your Weight
Forget the BMI (Body Mass Index), try your postal code instead. Researchers from the University of Washington have found a pronounced correlation between a persons address ZIP code and their weight.
Closer analysis shows the issue is more about demographics (income and race) than geography.
...for every $100,000 more a house is worth, the homeowners are 2% less likely to be obese. (via Yahoo)
There was a 30% obesity rate in the poorest neighborhoods, while the rate was only 5% in the richest parts of town.
Obesity rates continue to climb, and I wonder if this is tied to increasing poverty. The five poorest states are all in the top 10 when it comes to obesity rates.
How the post code research can be used to combat obesity remains to be seen. Perhaps the best way to lose weight is to upgrade your ZIP code and shift to a "thin" neighborhood. The only way some people are able to do this is to win a lottery.
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Lottery won't do much. People tend to end back where they started because they have no clue how to manage money.
Is this the association pressure thing at play, I wonder -- or the more money/more options with more money? My guess would be a combination of those three.
ReplyI watched a program recently where they gave a homeless man $1oooooo, and followed him to see if it would change his life.
After so many months, he had spent all the money, and was in greater debt than previous. He just didn't know how to deal with so much moneey, and ended up giving it away to 'friends,' or spending it on crazy luxury's.
It was heartbreaking, I really thought that it would have changed his life!
ReplySome people, yes, but not most people. Even if you can only save a little bit each week or each month, it is almost always possible to change your situation. The problem is that people don't want to discipline themselves (with food, money, whatever) and don't want to deprive themselves. That's why you see Lexus SUVs and DirectTV dishes in the poorest neighborhoods of NYC and Boston.
Not everyone struggling fits the stereotype, of course. But I think a lot of people would rather spend money on 'perceived luxuries' than healthy food... or a better place to live.
ReplyNever the Bride is right, I think. I drive by a public housing complex everyday and can't help but notice that the kids are wearing name brand clothes that cost more than mine do and all the cars parked in the complex are newer than mine. I think societies priorites, in general, have gotten screwed up and they'd rather spend their money on these visible signs rather than "wasting" it on good food. I got news, if you can afford a car payment every month, you can afford to eat well.
ReplyThis must have to do with the price of healthy food as opposed to cheap, processed stuff (at least in part). The more money you have, the more you can afford to buy organic produce, better cuts of meat, dairy, etc.
ReplyI know people are saying that it's just an excuse to eat poorly for those who don't have lots of money - and that they just need to look at what's on sale, etc - but the fact is eating healthy will cost you more. The question is, are they willing to spend their money on healthy food, or would they rather have a nice car, etc.
Didn't mean to say "etc" 3 times ;)
Replysome of it is learning how to eat the best for you. that has taken me alot of learning and i havent arrived there yet.
ReplyAlso not all of those who have low incomes have all the luxuries of life. Some have many and some have very few just like other populations.
This data isn't a shock to me at all.
Call me crazy but aren't most wealthy people more health-conscious, vain, and superficial about their weight in general? Not to be facetious or stereotypical but I'm sure anyone who lives in the ghetto or a poorly valued home is probably much less concerned about how they will look in a pair of skinny jeans. I'd imagine they have bigger fish to fry and probably care a lot less about their weight than someone who lives in a $500k home.
Replyi could not disagree witch cfchick more. being superficial has nothing to do with these studies.
ReplyWhen I was in college we did a project to help kids in Santa Ana get more active. We discovered a lot of interesting things! There was not enough room for the kids in schools, so schools were building bungalows as classrooms on the fields at school... where do the kids play at recess? There are not enough parks in the city for kids to play either! with multiple families living in the same house or apartment, most kids would watch tv or play video games at home. When you don't live in a nice area, parents don't want to let their kids out unsupervised. It's a vicious cycle!
ReplyWe'll have to agree to disagree since the study is open to individual interpretation.
It's just not surprising to me that wealthy people are more fit...vanity/health consciousness being one of many reasons. I believe it's definitely a factor.
ReplyI personally believe it has to do with education.
ReplyJust to throw a wrench in the works... The mantra of all stats profs everywhere is "correlation does not equal causation". Therefore, being rich could make you thin, or being thin could make you rich, or there could be (and likely are) some external variables that are creating this correlation. Therefore, just moving to a better neighbourhood is not, in and of itself, going to make you thin. I am struggling to see the value in this research, besides pointing out the divide between the rich and poor.
ReplyI won't disagree that people with more income have more time, energy, and money to focus on their health and how they look. But I do think it's a lot more complicated than that. I have lived quite close to the US poverty line for most of my adult life, but I do fit into my skinny jeans and my BP is pretty spot on. Why? Because I care about my health, not because I have a personal trainer and all the time in the world to exercise. I have good self esteem and I take personal responsibility for my health and finances. When I was younger that meant eating a lot of homemade rice and beans, buying bruised produce, and taking walks for exercise so I could stay fit while also saving money. It's not rocket science.
ReplyMany schools, now, can only focus on math & science in order to keep their funding, making no room for health issues, thanks to policies like "No Child Left Behind". School, at one time, was the primary arena for discussions in this regard, no longer. What we really need to be attacking is not people on an individual level, but a system which is designed to keep people living from scraps. The minimum required is what the majority of working-poor Americans is getting in the realms of: education, recreational space, etc. And the requirements are getting lower.
ReplyArrghh! It's the new "fat flight"!
Tadap... tadap... tadap... "This just in, people leave fat ZIP codes in droves, in search of a thinner neighborhood. Do you live in a fat ZIP? Housing costs are collapsing in some ZIP codes, while others sky rocket.
To combat the flight, Gotham City institutes new city ordinance : if your BMI is over 25 your insurance, mortgage rate and city tax is doubled, effective yesterday! Yes, we do not care that you have 7% body fat, BMI is G*D, BMI says you are fat, therefore you must be fat."
Tracking the original research, I think they used BMI to discover this wonder... (Did I mention I hate BMI?)
ReplyYeah, I think it's more about education and knowledge of how to use your resources wisely than anything. Lots of poor people waste money on crap...that's why they're poor or up to their eyeballs in debt. Lots of people buy expensive cars (never mind that they'll have a huge monthly payment for the next 10 years), take out every store credit card they can, live in a house they really can't afford and get a 50 year mortgage on the place, etc. They also probably shop at supermarkets and buy stuff that seems cheap, like mac and cheese and frozen pizza and stuff like that. Then there are people that know how to budget their money and don't live beyond their means...people who buy healthy yet cheap food like potatoes, tuna, carrots, apples, oatmeal, eggs, milk, frozen veggies, etc. These same people probably also drive a used car that they own outright, live in a house with a monthly mortgage payment they can easily afford, and don't waste their money on junk.
I have a theory that the rate of overspending is increasing just like the rate of obesity. A lot of it is lack of self control in the face of a lot of temptation. Just like there are some people who have a lot of money and spend it on luxurious items, there are people who have a naturally high metabolism and can eat "whatever they want". But for the majority of the population, you have to budget your money for luxuries and you have to budget your calories for treats.
ReplyHas there been any thought to the weather and the type of jobs that are the most popular in these zip code areas - having some type of effect on these results?
I live in the Northeast US in an area that is known for challenging winters. We hibernate inside. We hardly have much of a spring and then it's 90 degrees with awful humidity in the summer - and then we stay inside in the air conditioning. It seems that the sun doesn't shine too often either. I notice a difference in my attitude after several grey and cloudy days in a row. Then the sun shines and it is amazing the turn around in attitudes. When you are bummed - many people eat. I know I do.
We are near a city, with alot of urban dwellers, and the weight is high in the majority there as well. Anywhere we go around here, there are more than plentiful morbidly obese people. I just sat on my porch for about an hour watching all the people walking down to a Labor Day Fair. Fried Dough, Taffy, Waffles, and all the normal fair fare is offered. Way more than 1/2 those walking by were horribly overweight.
The weather conditions and the ability to spend time outside could be a cause for some of those with weight problems. I wonder if there has been a study done about that relationship.
ReplyI agree that weather can be a factor. The top poorest states are also in the deep South where spring, summer, and part of fall maens not only high temperatures but also high humidity, a combination which can suck the life out of you.
ReplyI don't think weather has anything to do with it. I live in Wisconsin where we have cold and snow in the winter, high heat and humidity in the summer. The really only ideal weather occurs in the spring (briefly) and the fall (again, briefly). People who are serious about exercise will either a) buy appropriate clothing and work out outdoors or b) find an indoor alternative. Not necessarily a gym membership, but exercise DVDs and a jump rope can do wonders.
ReplyWith regards to the weather:
I think only those few who are highly motivated are going to work out no matter what the weather. But I don't think they are the majority. I could be wrong. But looking at the obesity numbers in my area, I think many use the weather as another excuse.
ReplyYou can use anything as an excuse to not work out...lots of people do. The weather (quite honestly, there are probably only about 10 days out of the year where it is IDEAL for running outside...otherwise it's too hot, too muggy, too cold, too windy, too rainy, too snowy, or too icy), the fact that they'll look "dorky" if they work out outside, traffic, ill-fitting workout clothes, sports bra issues (solve those by visiting www.titlenine.com), shoe problems....the list goes on and on. If you are proactive and want to work out, you'll find a way to do it, whether or not you are rich or poor. I lost the majority of my weight when I was a dirt poor busy college student. I had access to a whole city's worth of streets to run on and my parents bought me two pairs of shoes for my birthday every year so I'd have a good pair to use. I gave up eating ramen noodles and cheeseburgers every day and instead ate turkey sandwiches on wheat bread, apples, baby carrots, and cereal. Now that I have more money, I still eat healthy and spend only about $50 a week on food. You just have to learn where to shop. I shop at Aldi (and so do a lot of poorer people in my city) and I buy bags of salad for 70 cents each, baby carrots for 70 cents a pound, 5 lbs of onions for $1, salsa for $1.50 a jar, individually frozen chicken breast for $6 for a 3 lb bag (sometimes I buy them at Walmart for $5.50 though), etc. I don't usually shop at normal grocery stores except for coupon items or if they are having some sort of major sale.
ReplyI agree with this. I moved from a boring, unathletic IL suburb to the heart of Chicago a few years ago and lost 100 lbs in the process. Fact. Surrounding myself with runners, bikers, organic independent restaurants, and a health-focused mindset in the neighborhood I lived in, made it incredibly easy to make the changes necessary.
ReplyThis story is nothing new. I am a dietitian and have read about the higher obesity rates in low income areas before. Yes, weather does play a factor and I do believe education is important. However, education is not everything as I do know overweight dietitian and doctors that smoke. Studies that I have read indicate that one of the main reasons for higher obesity rates in low income areas is due to a lack of availability of healthy foods. Poor areas tend to have few grocery stores and more convenience stores which are not known to be health food havens. Some public health agencies are trying to increase the amount of healthy food available in these areas to see if it makes a difference. Whether it does or not, this is a complex issue with more than just one factor to consider.
ReplyHehe, look up some of the fattest states--- GA, TX... and let me know about how "bad" the weather is there. ;)
I'm not sure this is why.
ReplyHeather said : "Hehe, look up some of the fattest states--- GA, TX... and let me know about how "bad" the weather is there. ;)
Sure there is no snow down south (or very little, but if it is hot and muggy - then I would consider that 'bad' (not really bad- but uncomfortable weather would be a better way of saying it , I guess). That would contribute to some wanting to stay in the air conditioning. It zaps the stregnth our of you when you are overweight. That is all I was saying.
ReplyI live in the triathlete capital of the US, and it has everything to do with the great weather.., But, there are a lot of people here in terrible shape, and when I lived in upstate New York, I knew a lot of people in great shape (biking, running, skiing).
In 1943, the pyschologist Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs. It's commonly taught in management training courses (that's where I learned of it). Simplifying wildly, the theory states that values lower down on the hierarchy have higher priority than those higher up, and individuals can concentrate values higher in the hierarchy only when the lower ones are satisfied. For example, if your employee just got kicked out of his apartment, he may not be at his best at work.
While health is a base need - it's near the bottom of the hierarchy, in fact many people deny being overweight is unhealthy. Sure, they know it, but it's not the same as having cancer or angina. Being overweight is a nusiance and a stigma, but losing weight is hard and the social pressures against dieting are high. So, for most people, having the correct weight is way up in the hierarchy - something to concentrate on when everything else is humming along. In the model, it would fall in the "esteem" category, which is right near the top.
I think this is the essence of CFChick's argument, stripping it of bad-spin words like "vanity" and "superficial". Poverty-stricken folks may find it harder to work on the self-esteem issue of having a healthy weight. On the other hand, some folks have a strong connection of their weight and health. For them, it's way down in their hierarchy.
Wikipedia has a nice article on the model, check it out. Like many such models, it's useful mainly in making one think rather than having great predictive value.
I've been thinking about Spectra's theory that the rate of overspending is increasing and her simile to the rate of obesity. It's a rare person who doesn't like to pamper themself, and the market has made it really easy to pamper yourself. Hum.
Actually, I think a great thing we could do is have magazines like People and Us, and television shows that show how hard all those fit celebrities have to work to stay fit. I swear, I think the average person thinks all those thin celebrities are that way without working their butts off.
Okay, I'll stop rambling...
ReplyI wonder if availability of food has some bearing on this -- some poorer neighborhoods don't have as much access to healthier foods.
Aside from that, now that we live in a better zip code than we did several years ago my commute to work is shorter, leaving me more time for exercise and more time to cook a healthier dinner. If we were even wealthier, I'd be able to afford a gym. As it is, I can afford exercise equipment in our basement AND I have a husband who can watch the kids while I take walks.
In grad school, when I worked three jobs and lived in a poor neighborhood, I had to grab food that was quick and ate a lot of sandwiches -- not so much salad. I rarely cooked a meal. I lived pretty far from the grocery store and didn't get there often. I had no time to exercise, besides walking to class.
ReplyI agree 100%.
I taught in the South Bronx and I was amazed that the children were required to sit still for hours and pay attention to school work. Come recess they were crammed onto a small roof top and told not to run. Understandably, it was not the safest place for recess. We did the best with what we had. However, with unsafe schools, neighborhoods, parks (if any) and homes in some cases, where can a child go to run around, explore and learn beyond the four walls?
Reply