TIME MAG: Why Are Southerners So Fat?

TIME:

People from Mississippi are fat. With an adult obesity rate of 33%, Mississippi gobbled its way to the "chubbiest state" crown for the fifth year in a row, according to a new joint report by Trust For America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Alabama, West Virginia, and Tennessee aren't far behind, with obesity rates over 30%. In fact, eight out of the 10 fattest states are in the South. The region famous for its biscuits, barbecue and pecan pies has been struggling with its weight for years -- but then again, so has the rest of the country. Wisconsin loves cheese, New Yorkers scarf pizza, and New Englanders have been known to enjoy a crab cake or two. So why is the South so portly?

Read the whole story: TIME

Comments

[SpencersMom]

Sexual repression in the bible belt is the main reason the bible waists are so large.

PEACE

[JT16682]

In the South, eating is a sport - that's why.

[arspar183]

who wipes dat arse when she does no 2?
her arms are way too short to reach back there.

[Decipherer]

I could have gone a whole month without your incisive anal-ysis. Thanks, pal.

[JohnFromCensornati]

It Paula Dean's fault.

[ThinkCreeps]

That's a relief.. I though you wrote Laura Dern at first reading. Rockin' good news

[KaPi]

Okay, I wan't to know exactly how that photographer took that picture. haha.

[sarimn00]

I know what it is like to grow up without a lot of money, and it is true that the cheapest stuff to buy is the food that is not good for you, so I can see this as in issue.
One of the reasons given, the climate, is one that I can't agree with. I live in Minnesota, and for nine months of the year, it is dam* cold. Below zero cold for a high quite often. Yet it is one of the most active states. I realize it is hot and humid in the South, and no one hates that more than I do, but why not go for a walk early in the morning or later in the day once it cools off a little? Maybe it doesn't cool off a lot, but enough that you can handle walking around the block. And in the winter months, isn't it a little cooler than the summer?

[WongChin]

Culture has a lot to do with it. Having been around this country, it is easy to see that Southerners generally tend to like fatty and sugary foods than Northerners and Westerners. Go to the most upscale breakfast restaurants in rural Virginia or Alabama and you will have to beg them to prepare your scrambled egg without bacon or sausage and to make your toast without layers of butter; otherwise, you eat nothing. And you're asking for these in the first instance because everything else is poison. There are poor people everywhere, but both the poor and the rich in the various regions have different tastes for and perspectives about food.

[sarimn00]

Yeah, I grew up on hotdish aka casserole dishes. People in my state could probably each name off 500 different ones. In fact, a small town near me is now in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most different kind of hotdishes in one place at one time. They are cheap to make, for the most part, and something you see a lot of.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"One of the reasons given, the climate, is one that I can't agree with."

you can have energy when it's cold. when it's hot and humid, it saps every bit of energy you have. imagine doing NOTHING and sweating. it can be miserable.

[sarimn00]

Believe it or not, Minnesota has those days in the summer time. Obviously, not as much as the South, I don't think I could handle it, because I am used to cooler weather. But to say they can't get any exercise because of it, I don't agree with. They could get exercise DVDs or a cheap treadmill or something where they could be indoors. I realize not everyone has access to these, but a lot do.

[sarimn00]

If your limbs freeze, it doesn't matter how much energy you have. You can't do much if you get hypothermia.

[punkingale]

It will be cool enough to do what you suggest Thanksgiving Day.

[nippyfan]

It's in the gravy and the gravy is goooood.

[InedaName]

Collard greens are actually very nutritious when they aren't cooked with fatback. Southern food is really bad for you but it's delicious, right?

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

They should try the raw vegan diet to lose some weight.

[ladybastet]

Palemoon
There are very few friends whom I consider to be "friends" online. I have lots of acquaintences however. Many more enemies.
I guess if you really are a friend, you'd know the right things to say to make me believe it. Hint, hint. ;o)
------------------------

I consider YOU to be MY friend.

[RJII]

every time I go down south the visit family, everyone I see is eating and eating unhealthy. Even a salad is loaded with extra dressing and bacon, etc. And their attitude is that dieting is OK, but intense exercise ike jogging is too extreme-- not lady like. They really trip off the fact that I don't straighten my natural ki.n. ky hair.

[enoughalready33]

After reading your post, I am reminded of visits from my northern relatives. They all arrive with the same attitude that you have and leave with a different attitude altogether. I live in rural Georgia, and contrary to the posts and the article in Time, I am neither overweight nor an unhealthy eater. I eat a variety of food and am very partial to seafood and fresh vegetables. I don't "straighten my kinky hair" either and it doesn't trip off anyone. True, it is hot and humid in the south, but I get plenty of exercise.
I love good southern cooking, and I also love a good, refreshing salad and fresh vegetables. I eat fresh vegetables everyday. I rarely eat fried food and I eat very little meat. Everyone in my family and the majority of the people I know has these kind of eating habits. Don't stereotype everyone who live in the south. Perhaps you have these preconceived ideas of what it's like in the south, so you came prepared to find fault. It would be interesting to know what you ate while you were visiting your relatives.
We don't all live on sweets and fried food 24/7. However, we do enjoy a healthy diet and exercise. If you ever take the time to talk to some southerners you will find yourself on the other end of an intelligent conversation and no one will mention your hair.

[AmyRenee]

cuz the food is soooooooooo damn good... u try eating that bland northern diet... jeeez i would rather be outside too...

[Firestarterfive]

"Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."

[tgd]

Speaking of shrimp--just had some boiled shrimp for supper tonight, fresh off the shrimp boat. Delicious!

[MamaBird62]

Oh man, I'm headed to Edisto Island soon. Looking foward to some boiled shrimp.

[NotWaldo]

My mother-in-law is a southerner. She' so fat, she has smaller fat women orbiting around her!

[lionzion]

Ha ha!

[linton]

Now the boss lady knows what you think of her mom!!

[SpencersMom]

First of all, more than 33% are obese. The "normal weight" ranges have been increased.

But the reason Southerners are so fat can be directly correlated to sexual repression. Why do you think Europeans are so thin?

PEACE