# We're From The South, And We're Fat: Latest Report on Obesity By State **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820 "2010-07-15T19:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/21 "2010-07-16T03:03:43Z")
Is there any correlation to average income per state? It would appear at first glance that there is. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/22 "2010-07-16T04:54:05Z")
I just happen to be from the least fat state in the nation, but I travel a lot and getting off the plane in the south or midwest is a stunning experience. It’s not the number of obese people you see, but the number of morbidly obese. It has no correlation to race, people are just stunningly fat in those areas. Colorado doesn’t have any natural advantage over those other places, but the difference is astounding. Actually, if you draw a line corresponding with the eastern border of Colorado, all the fattest states are east of it, and the thinnest are west of it. I wonder why that is. The highest ranking of a western state is Alaska at #24. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/23 "2010-07-16T05:04:56Z")
Meh. Having the most fat people is nothing. I want to know who has the fattest fat people. This is a list that MUST be ranked by tonnage. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/24 "2010-07-16T13:50:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Is there any correlation to average income per state? It would appear at first glance that there is. It’s in there… > [@](#): > > High levels of poverty and low levels of education are linked with obesity across the U.S. For example, Mississippi is also the poorest state in America and ranks in the bottom ten in educational spending as well. When unemployment rises, obesity can soon follow because cutting back on expenses often means cutting the healthier, more expensive foods and people also turn to junk food to relieve stress. It’s no big deal. 'merkins are just preparing for the collapse of the global economy. When everyone else has starved to death, there will be 100 million Yanks in top form, poised to impose Democracy on every corner of the world! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/25 "2010-07-16T14:11:30Z")
Yeaaaaaa! I moved to Colorado, now I’m not fat anymore! ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/26 "2010-07-16T14:13:54Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > Yeaaaaaa! I moved to Colorado, now I’m not fat anymore! Yeah, you know what? I’ve been to Walmarts in Denver - don’t go kidding yourself. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/27 "2010-07-16T14:18:31Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > Yeah, you know what? I’ve been to Walmarts in Denver - don’t go kidding yourself. 😛 Not to hijack too much but, I want to see a WalMart in Boulder :p. The pot aisle would be next to the munchie aisle. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/28 "2010-07-16T14:20:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Woohoo, #43. I guess all that hiking, mountain climbing, biking, and skiing does some good, after all. > > I’m surprised that DC fares so well, though. I would have thought that they’d be on the heavy end. Its the Marion Berry diet. Cocaine usage and running from constant gunfire are quite slimming really. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/29 "2010-07-16T14:20:33Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > Not to hijack too much but, I want to see a WalMart in Boulder :p. The pot aisle would be next to the munchie aisle. ROFL. The People’s Republic of Boulder, oh how I miss thee . . . ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/30 "2010-07-16T14:21:58Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Hey, we only claim 7 or the top 10 spots. W Va (4), , OK (6), KY (7) are not Southern states. > 😃 Well W Va and KY sure as heck aren’t the North. I say they each count as 1/2 so you claim 8 of them now 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/31 "2010-07-16T15:12:42Z")
Mississippi, is only #1 because of those three REALLY REALLY REALLY fat people that push the average way up ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/32 "2010-07-16T15:14:22Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Hey, we only claim 7 or the top 10 spots. W Va (4), , OK (6), KY (7) are not Southern states. > 😃 Evidently you’ve never heard Oklahoma native Reba McEntire talk ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/33 "2010-07-16T15:22:17Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Hey, we only claim 7 or the top 10 spots. W Va (4), , OK (6), KY (7) are not Southern states. > 😃 I [and Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_United_States) disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/34 "2010-07-16T15:22:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Hey, we only claim 7 or the top 10 spots. W Va (4), , OK (6), KY (7) are not Southern states. > 😃 Kentucky isn’t a southern state? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/35 "2010-07-16T15:44:14Z")
New York state is #36? Not too bad, I guess. I keep my trim figure by shovelling snow 6 months out of the year. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/36 "2010-07-16T15:45:24Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > [CDC](http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html). Unfortunately that page doesn’t give the actual numbers for 1985, but going by the trend map, in 2008 only one state is in the 15-19% category with all other states higher, and in 1985 there are _no_ states in the 15-19% category or above. > > ETA: Granted, there’s a ton of states with No Data, but by 1994 when all states have data, everyone’s still between 10-19%. In 10 years it went up to mostly 20-29%, with a few below that. This is mostly due to the fact that until the late 80s/early 90s there wasn’t a lot of concensus on what the BMI cut-offs were for ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’. In the 80s, a BMI of 27+, not 25, was the most common technical definition of ‘overweight’. It wasn’t until the late 90s that BMI 25 was standardized as the official cut-off for ‘overweight’. The moment these new standards were established, the number of Americans considered overweight and obese jumped from 36% of women and 33% of men - to 50% of women, 59% of men. NSFW link. [Good explanation](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q4Z2IcWvPl0/TCwdwhDsUbI/AAAAAAAAFZk/6NromVx0lio/s1600/can2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/37 "2010-07-16T15:52:56Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > This is mostly due to the fact that until the late 80s/early 90s there wasn’t a lot of concensus on what the BMI cut-offs were for ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’. In the 80s, a BMI of 27+, not 25, was the most common technical definition of ‘overweight’. > > It wasn’t until the late 90s that BMI 25 was standardized as the official cut-off for ‘overweight’. The moment these new standards were established, the number of Americans considered overweight and obese jumped from 36% of women and 33% of men - to 50% of women, 59% of men. I’m going to be generous and assume that link was _not_ intended to be a porno pic. That aside, did you look at the CDC link? The map is only tracking those who have a BMI over 30, and there’s no indication that changed from year to year. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/38 "2010-07-16T15:58:16Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Kentucky isn’t a southern state? I don’t think the Southerners claim it. I’m from Kentucky originally: my husband is a native Mississippian. He says the South consists of TN, SC, NC, AR, LA, MS, AL and GA. FL, according to him, is a Yankee Penal Colony. KY never made up their mind, and is simply confused. 😃 > [@NinetyWt](#): > > Shut up or I’ll sit on you. This made me smile. 🙂 The Doper formerly known as **Juliana** ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/39 "2010-07-16T16:10:02Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > NSFW link. [Good explanation](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q4Z2IcWvPl0/TCwdwhDsUbI/AAAAAAAAFZk/6NromVx0lio/s1600/can2.jpg) **rhubarbarin** , you’ve been around long enough to know better than to provide an unlabeled an NSFW link like that. I’m not giving you a warning, but do not do that again. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820/40 "2010-07-16T16:11:50Z")
I’m not doubting the problems with obesity in America. It’s plainly visible to anyone these days. However, the report is based on BMI which junk science. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-from-the-south-and-were-fat-latest-report-on-obesity-by-state/546820.md?page=3)