We're No. 1!

[marsupial]

Mississippi's still fattest but Alabama closing in

I find this tidbit amazing:

_In 1991, no state had more than a 20 percent obesity rate. Today, the only state that doesn't is Colorado, at 18.9 percent.

And this just makes me sad:

Mississippi also had the highest rate of overweight and obese children, at 44.4 percent in total

[falafel]

Not to undermine your claim to the fattest state, but I would like to know how they judge these things. There must be some way in which practically every state and/or city can claim that title. It seems that I am constantly hearing different places named as the fattest, including Houston, Las Vegas, Chicago/Illinois, Mississippi, etc. I know some of these are cities and some are states. Still, doesn't make sense. Maybe they are just trying to spread the love around, like the all-star game.

[marsupial]

Not to undermine your claim to the fattest state, but I would like to know how they judge these things. There must be some way in which practically every state and/or city can claim that title. It seems that I am constantly hearing different places named as the fattest, including Houston, Las Vegas, Chicago/Illinois, Mississippi, etc. I know some of these are cities and some are states. Still, doesn't make sense. Maybe they are just trying to spread the love around, like the all-star game.

Look, don't you try and take away our title. Believe me, we are FAT.

[Pheidippides]

Look, don't you try and take away our title. Believe me, we are FAT.

So are we Houstonians, collectively speaking.

[Fiyero]

Look, don't you try and take away our title. Believe me, we are FAT.

I second this. I lived in Southaven, MS for a year and the people would sweat vegetable oil. Plus I drove around a lot for work, and saw the largest mammals I've ever seen in my life, and don't forget that I've been on a safari.

Oxford was an exception though, where everyone was in shape.

[beefytee]

Arkansas better be thanking their lucky stars for Mike Huckabee.

[Danimal]

I second this. I lived in Southaven, MS for a year and the people would sweat vegetable oil. Plus I drove around a lot for work, and saw the largest mammals I've ever seen in my life, and don't forget that I've been on a safari.

Oxford was an exception though, where everyone was in shape.

My body image has never been better than living in MS. I'm average build, but often get compliments on my svelte shape at work. I'll fall to pieces if we ever move out of the south.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Too much fried everything and too many casino buffets.

[marsupial]

Too much fried everything and too many casino buffets.

I also think poverty and poor education play a major role in the obesity problem in the South.

[I.J. Reilly]

I also think poverty and poor education play a major role in the obesity problem in the South.

Are poverty levels generally higher in the South? I'm asking b/c I'm not sure and I've never really done any sort of research on it. Has the South moved away from an agrarian model? My southern exposure has been a mix but I feel like it generally is trending towards more urban areas, as is most of the US. I know housing prices in Mississippi are some of the lowest in the nation, but is per capita income also as low?

[beefytee]

I also think poverty and poor education play a major role in the obesity problem in the South.

And trailers (single or double wide) don't usually have 2 levels, which means no going up and down stairs.

[marsupial]

Are poverty levels generally higher in the South? I'm asking b/c I'm not sure and I've never really done any sort of research on it. Has the South moved away from an agrarian model? My southern exposure has been a mix but I feel like it generally is trending towards more urban areas, as is most of the US. I know housing prices in Mississippi are some of the lowest in the nation, but is per capita income also as low?

See this map:
http://www.census.gov/did/www/saipe/...hh_inc2007.pdf

and this map:

http://www.census.gov/did/www/saipe/...t_Poor2007.pdf