City folks are overwhelmingly thin

ctalimenti
ctalimenti Posts: 865 Member
in Chit-Chat
I made an interesting observation this weekend. We drove into the city yesterday; Chicago. We were in the neighborhoods of Wicker Park and Old Town (near north). I myself live in the suburbs. I noticed people were on foot; out and about. I noticed how difficult it was to drive and park a car there. But here's my most important observation; I noticed very very few overweight people. It was very noticeable to say the least; like I had been morphed to a different country. It didn't matter the age, I'd say over 90% were thin.
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Replies

  • Mobilemuscle
    Mobilemuscle Posts: 945 Member
    yup...like Europe

    Driving/sitting build fatties
  • Bucky83
    Bucky83 Posts: 1,194 Member
    I'd agree with this!

    I used to live in the city and had a very active lifestyle, and often walked everywhere.

    I now live in the country... and have put on 13kg in the process. Not good.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I guess it depends on the city. I've lost more weight out in the country with walking then I did in the city. Wonder if there is a difference between someone living in say Houston or Atlanta then Chicago or New York? Wonder if there is a difference in the car necessary cities like LA or Phoenix?
  • Blondiegrl11
    Blondiegrl11 Posts: 458 Member
    I noticed that in NYC as well. I'm pretty thin but I felt out of shape there.
  • StarChanger
    StarChanger Posts: 605 Member
    Houston is NOT a skinny city. It's a commuter city with poor public transportation...and good Mexican food (among other things). Plus, it's hot. Very freaking hot....

    I miss my childhood friends but, man, I don't miss living there....
  • almostplenty
    almostplenty Posts: 43 Member
    Maybe the fat people don't go out as much?
  • triblogcarol
    triblogcarol Posts: 7 Member
    This is a funny thread. I want to NYC for a few days and I have to say I was completely exhausted with all that walking around. So, I can see this theory having alot of merit.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    Maybe the fat people don't go out as much?

    This is what I was thinking... :ohwell: or they take cabs or drive instead of walking.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    Maybe the fat people don't go out as much?

    This would be my take on it. Chicago come on, It has all the best of the worst foods out there. Deep Dish Pizza, Chicago Dogs, Italian Beef, Gyros and Damn I am getting hungry.
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    when I first moved here I definitely noticed it. in fact, I signed up for MFP after I had only lived here a week because of how noticeable it was. I think it's the activity level required of city living (driving is more of a pain than walking) plus I live in a very health conscious area.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    when I first moved here I definitely noticed it. in fact, I signed up for MFP after I had only lived here a week because of how noticeable it was. I think it's the activity level required of city living (driving is more of a pain than walking) plus I live in a very health conscious area.
    It's because everyone in California is so fit and hot... :tongue:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    All's I know is: I'm pretty lean and I felt big riding the London Underground.
  • 2bePhantasticallyfit
    2bePhantasticallyfit Posts: 491 Member
    It really depends on the city. I am in Dallas and its pretty spread out so everyone drives. It is not a skinny city by any means!
  • suziepoo1984
    suziepoo1984 Posts: 915 Member
    I would agree. I think seeing more fit people around, made me feel out of place and it inspired me to some extent. Seeing such fit, beautiful, healthy people who work so hard has been very inspiring to say the least. Just today for eg: i saw a very smart 61 year old woman at zumba. I would never have believed her age if she had not mentioned it.She had just done Body Pump and Pilates class and was waiting for the next Zumba class! I want to grow up to look like her!
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    when I first moved here I definitely noticed it. in fact, I signed up for MFP after I had only lived here a week because of how noticeable it was. I think it's the activity level required of city living (driving is more of a pain than walking) plus I live in a very health conscious area.
    It's because everyone in California is so fit and hot... :tongue:

    I know they really are. maybe that's why everyone asks me where I'm from and not the chicagoan accent I picked up from imitating my manager all the time. damn it!
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    when I first moved here I definitely noticed it. in fact, I signed up for MFP after I had only lived here a week because of how noticeable it was. I think it's the activity level required of city living (driving is more of a pain than walking) plus I live in a very health conscious area.
    It's because everyone in California is so fit and hot... :tongue:

    I know they really are. maybe that's why everyone asks me where I'm from and not the chicagoan accent I picked up from imitating my manager all the time. damn it!

    Lol, when I lived in California, people just constantly asked me where I got my boob job done. They are real! I am not from here! :angry:
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    Theres a quote from sex and the city, I cant remember it exactly but it was something like
    "I realised that I wanted a designer bag rather than lunch"
    But yeah its definitely a lot to do with not having cars, I sold my car when I moved to the city as it was just pointless having it, no parking, traffic, petrol prices etc.
    Now i just walk/cycle everywhere!
  • ChrisM8971
    ChrisM8971 Posts: 1,067 Member
    I made an interesting observation this weekend. We drove into the city yesterday; Chicago. We were in the neighborhoods of Wicker Park and Old Town (near north). I myself live in the suburbs. I noticed people were on foot; out and about. I noticed how difficult it was to drive and park a car there. But here's my most important observation; I noticed very very few overweight people. It was very noticeable to say the least; like I had been morphed to a different country. It didn't matter the age, I'd say over 90% were thin.

    Its because us larger people were sitting at home ordering food off the internet while watching sports on the TV :wink:

    However this is such a role reversal on what used to be the norm with city folks being the heavier cousins of those that lived and worked in the countryside. Modernized mechanical farming techniques must be responsible for some of the change but as you say lack of parking, lower gym prices and maybe even and increased knowledge of diet and nutrition may be helping
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    Isn't chicago one of the fattest cities in America?

    I do know what you're talking about but I feel that in bigger cities, we just see a huge sample population and see more skinnier people when really, the % is about the same. I mean Detroit and (as far as I know) Houston are also some of the fattest cities yet they're big cities with lots of walking around. NYC too. LOTS of fat people there.

    Why not just learn from this? Sitting around and doing nothing = fat. being active and outdoors = thin. Your diet however will always be the bigger factor in how much you weight.
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  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    All's I know is: I'm pretty lean and I felt big riding the London Underground.

    It's so hot and crowded on the underground that you sweat away all your calories lol!

    I live in England and we walk a lot. Public transport is generally pretty good. We're 5 mins walk from the train station so can get the train to the next town and walk around there too. I only really need my car to get to work.

    I lived in France for a year and have been there on holiday millions of times, and there aren't many overweight people there.

    I've only been to the US once - to San Francisco, LA and Vegas. People walk a lot on San Fran, or maybe that's just the tourists? LA seemed pretty healthy, but I expected that. The food portions were still massive though, even the salads! Vegas, well......I felt anorexic there lol.
  • kelsully
    kelsully Posts: 1,008 Member
    Isn't chicago one of the fattest cities in America?

    I do know what you're talking about but I feel that in bigger cities, we just see a huge sample population and see more skinnier people when really, the % is about the same. I mean Detroit and (as far as I know) Houston are also some of the fattest cities yet they're big cities with lots of walking around. NYC too. LOTS of fat people there.

    Why not just learn from this? Sitting around and doing nothing = fat. being active and outdoors = thin. Your diet however will always be the bigger factor in how much you weight.

    Chicago is a big city. The particular neighborhood this OP was visiting are very well to do and trendy. To live there, you likely have money, are young and have roommates and no car, and you are likely well educated. Other neighborhoods, like Englewood are very poor, crime ridden, lots of health issues and obesity. No one would intentionally visit Englewood. My residential neighborhood on the South Side is more like a suburb with a city address. I think it depends on the neighborhood when you deal with Chicago, and likely all cities.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    I think that if city folk are, in general, thinner it is more to do with the fact that they are, in general, wealthier.

    There seems to be a correlation that the poorer a region is the fatter the inhabitants.
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    Isn't chicago one of the fattest cities in America?

    I do know what you're talking about but I feel that in bigger cities, we just see a huge sample population and see more skinnier people when really, the % is about the same. I mean Detroit and (as far as I know) Houston are also some of the fattest cities yet they're big cities with lots of walking around. NYC too. LOTS of fat people there.

    Why not just learn from this? Sitting around and doing nothing = fat. being active and outdoors = thin. Your diet however will always be the bigger factor in how much you weight.

    My friend and I always joke that as a woman, you don't really have to do much to be considered "Detroit hot" in comparison to other women in the city. I find that standard unacceptable and lazy, and I continue to work my *kitten* off in the gym anyway.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Sorry plenty of us fatties here in NYC.
  • HeyGoRun
    HeyGoRun Posts: 550 Member
    Miami is not a thin ppl city at all
    Average weight for a woman who is 5'4 is 158! In chicago its 159.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    All's I know is: I'm pretty lean and I felt big riding the London Underground.

    It's so hot and crowded on the underground that you sweat away all your calories lol!

    I live in England and we walk a lot. Public transport is generally pretty good. We're 5 mins walk from the train station so can get the train to the next town and walk around there too. I only really need my car to get to work.

    I lived in France for a year and have been there on holiday millions of times, and there aren't many overweight people there.

    I've only been to the US once - to San Francisco, LA and Vegas. People walk a lot on San Fran, or maybe that's just the tourists? LA seemed pretty healthy, but I expected that. The food portions were still massive though, even the salads! Vegas, well......I felt anorexic there lol.
    Vegas: yes, I felt quite quite tiny there. Many places in the U.S. I feel small, but in Vegas I felt absolutely tiny.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member

    There seems to be a correlation that the poorer a region is the fatter the inhabitants.

    and that is where I want to live...a country where the poor have an obesity problem...sure beats some of the problems the poor experienced in the past.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    .
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member

    There seems to be a correlation that the poorer a region is the fatter the inhabitants.

    and that is where I want to live...a country where the poor have an obesity problem...sure beats some of the problems the poor experienced in the past.

    God bless America! Where the poor are fat and the rich are skinny!

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