Wellness

[SeaMaiden]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/healthtrending/jackson-mississippi-is-the-fattest-city-in-america-ra...

[chrystaltree]

Before I even looked at the story, I was going to say that serious obesity exists in every part of the south.  A few years ago, I attended some conferences in GA and NC and SC and I was always astounded by the number of obese people.  I was a size 20ish at the time and I always felt fat but when I went to those conferences I was definitely on the thinner side of things.  But I thought that probaby wasn't really true about the south but apparently, it is.

[SilleeMee]

I've always wondered why obesity seems to always be a problem in the southern states. Why isn't it a problem in other parts?

[Goldengate8361]

I'm surprised. Usually, the most obese city is somewhere in Wisconsin.

[esmeraldagooch]

All you have to do is move there and see what is on the menu....   Fried chicken, fried catfish.fried hushpuppies, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, fried pickes, chicken fried steak. biscuts and gravy, grits. Sides usually consist of collards, greenbeans , corn on the cob and baked beans.... It's very hard to find a good salad bar.

[jeanlake]

Oh, no -- my friend retired from teaching and moved back home to Jackson to be near her mom.... She was a size 10 when she left town. (but I do believe socioeconomic, availability in grocery stores of fresh fruits and vegetables, emphasis on exercise and regional dietary habits play big roles in obesity) 

[Desertdi]

I would guess those record-keeping folks don't get around much...........

[sidsmom]

Wish I could remember where I saw this, but I believe the 

'fattest city' rankings are based on a lot of different markers,

meaning...it's not just the weight.  

Many 'per capita' markers like # of grocery stores, fitness centers,

athletic stores, restaurants, movie houses, lifestyle stores

(bicycling, yoga, etc) all factor in to the 'fattest city' title.

Even want to say they somehow measured the amount of pharmacy medication (insulin, cholesterol) being shipped to the city's pharmacies.

I'll keep poking around to see if I can find this info....

[software]

Bad habits.

People cook a certain way, like their mom & grandma with no regard to nutrition.

Plenty of fresh vegetables in the summer but it's all either fried or cooked with bacon fat, or fatback or some other kind of animal fat.   Also too much sugar.    Iced tea full of sugar, and the south is known for their desserts.  Fried pies, cakes, cobblers.    Lots of family reunions, church suppers.

The south is also called the "stroke belt".    Lots of cardiac disease, which is primarily hereditery but it sure doesn't help if you eat & smoke all day.

There is also a certain cultural view that "thick" is attractive.

I live in Alabama, just saying.

@SilleeMee