Most obese city in the U.S. / April 7th 2014

Blacklance36

And the winner is:

Huntington, West Virginia, has been awarded the dubious mantle of America’s fattest city, as new research found that the proportion of obese U.S. citizens grew again last year to 27 per cent.

With almost 40 per cent of its population classed as obese, the riverside city of 50,000 led the nation in a survey by the polling company Gallup. The fittest Americans were found in Boulder, Colorado, where just over 12 per cent of the residents of the sports-mad university community were classed as obese.

Of Americans as a whole, just 35 per cent are considered to be of normal weight, according to the survey. It showed a one per cent rise in obesity from 26 per cent in 2012, while a further 35 per cent were classed as overweight.

Boulder, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, was the only U.S. metropolitan area to achieve an obesity rate below 15 per cent in 2013, according to the research.

Comments?

summertime_girl

Never been to West Virginia, but spent some time in Boulder. Everyone looks great there.

EddieHaskell97

I stopped in Huntington, West Virginia to refuel doing a cross country flight years ago. There were indeed some heavy folks on the ramp and in the FBO. I didn't venture around town, though.

Blacklance36

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

Booksandbeaches

I haven't been to West Virgina, but I have been to Colorado several times. I can believe there are fit, active residents in Boulder.

Derpes

West Virginia and Colorado in one thread....is this some sort of John Denver tribute?

myuhmaya

I'm sure they all look great!

Chieflrg

Always considered those things bunk.

I've been considered obese my whole life from the silly charts...

wolverine66

I'm a fat West Virginian, but I don't live in Huntington.

It's not a real shock, since I don't think it's the first time the city has been named the fattest. I mean, Jamie Oliver did his Food Revolution show in Huntington because it was the fattest, and that was 5 or so years ago.

The state, overall, is close to the top, if not at the top, in obesity. And, while I am not proud of it as a West Virginian, I know I am part of the problem and am working on it.

but at least I was in before any hillbilly or incest jokes.

BlueBombers

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

Hey! We are not fat, we are fluffy.

jkwolly

When we went to Orlando on vacation, I was so grossed out by the amount of people I saw in motorized scooters getting around. Ugh.

jkwolly

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

Hey! We are not fat, we are fluffy.

All those damn timbits get to us

Linli_Anne

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

I would like to see a comparison study of Canadian "obesity" levels between our 2 seasons....I bet there would be a natural rise and fall in waist lines directly related to the plummeting of the mercury from November - March.

MyChocolateDiet

IN! in, i think i beat the hillbilly and incest jokes too.

jkwolly

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

I would like to see a comparison study of Canadian "obesity" levels between our 2 seasons....I bet there would be a natural rise and fall in waist lines directly related to the plummeting of the mercury from November - March.

HA so true!

pseudomuffin

West Virginia and Colorado in one thread....is this some sort of John Denver tribute?

This made me smile!!

Almost heaven, West Virginia...

Illini_Jim

Education and income levels play into obesity rates.

Based on a large national study, body mass index (or BMI, an indicator of excess body fat) was higher every year between 1986 and 2002 among adults in the lowest income group and the lowest education group than among those in the highest income and education groups, respectively (Truong & Sturm, 2005).

Wages were inversely related to BMI and obesity in a nationally representative sample of more than 6,000 adults – meaning, those with low wages had increased BMI as well as increased chance of being obese (Kim & Leigh, 2010).

Huntington WV…. Estimated median household income in 2011: $29,750,
Estimated median income for a family in 2011: $34,756
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $21,455

Boulder CO… Estimated median household income in 2011: $57,112
Estimated median family income in 2011: $113,681
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $37,600.

BlueBombers

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

I would like to see a comparison study of Canadian "obesity" levels between our 2 seasons....I bet there would be a natural rise and fall in waist lines directly related to the plummeting of the mercury from November - March.

^ This x 10

BusyRaeNOTBusty

So only 3% are underweight?

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

I would like to see a comparison study of Canadian "obesity" levels between our 2 seasons....I bet there would be a natural rise and fall in waist lines directly related to the plummeting of the mercury from November - March.

I think i read recently that Mexico now has a higher obesity rate than the U.S.

neandermagnon

I would also like to see a comparison to other first world countries like Canada.

I would like to see a comparison study of Canadian "obesity" levels between our 2 seasons....I bet there would be a natural rise and fall in waist lines directly related to the plummeting of the mercury from November - March.

plummeting of what mercury? (I'm not from the USA or Canada so I'm not aware of all the local issues with these countries)

eta: do you mean from the weather? *confused*



I'd be interested to know which city in the UK is the fattest though. I can't think of any off the top of my head that seem to be fatter than others.

frangrann

When we went to Orlando on vacation, I was so grossed out by the amount of people I saw in motorized scooters getting around. Ugh.

I know…..unbelievable, whole families motoring around!

CaitlinW19

I used to be a flight attendant...there were certain cities we would fly to that we would run out of seatbelt extensions routinely. Most flights we didn't use any so that is saying something.

lporter229

Education and income levels play into obesity rates.

Based on a large national study, body mass index (or BMI, an indicator of excess body fat) was higher every year between 1986 and 2002 among adults in the lowest income group and the lowest education group than among those in the highest income and education groups, respectively (Truong & Sturm, 2005).

Wages were inversely related to BMI and obesity in a nationally representative sample of more than 6,000 adults – meaning, those with low wages had increased BMI as well as increased chance of being obese (Kim & Leigh, 2010).

Huntington WV…. Estimated median household income in 2011: $29,750,
Estimated median income for a family in 2011: $34,756
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $21,455

Boulder CO… Estimated median household income in 2011: $57,112
Estimated median family income in 2011: $113,681
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $37,600.

I know this is off topics, but...
I had to Google the difference between "household income" and "family income" because I was surprised by the difference in the two for Boulder. Based on the definitions, shouldn't the household be higher than the family?

BinaryPulsar

I think Vancouver is a very fit Canadian city. Just like California. West coast is a fit area because of the nice weather. I've lived both places and on the east coast.

AirborneEd

Your BMI is based on your height and weight. It's one way to see if you're at a healthy weight.

Underweight: Your BMI is less than 18

Healthy weight: Your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9

Overweight: Your BMI is 25 to 29.9

Obese: Your BMI is 30 or higher

WV: Your BMI is 600.

Illini_Jim

Education and income levels play into obesity rates.

Based on a large national study, body mass index (or BMI, an indicator of excess body fat) was higher every year between 1986 and 2002 among adults in the lowest income group and the lowest education group than among those in the highest income and education groups, respectively (Truong & Sturm, 2005).

Wages were inversely related to BMI and obesity in a nationally representative sample of more than 6,000 adults – meaning, those with low wages had increased BMI as well as increased chance of being obese (Kim & Leigh, 2010).

Huntington WV…. Estimated median household income in 2011: $29,750,
Estimated median income for a family in 2011: $34,756
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $21,455

Boulder CO… Estimated median household income in 2011: $57,112
Estimated median family income in 2011: $113,681
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $37,600.

I know this is off topics, but...
I had to Google the difference between "household income" and "family income" because I was surprised by the difference in the two for Boulder. Based on the definitions, shouldn't the household be higher than the family?

Median Household Income refers to all households which includes families, non-family households, single person households etc. Median Family Income refers to just families. Its not uncommon for the median family income to be substantially higher than the median household income, especially in places that have lots of singles and fewer families.

lporter229

Education and income levels play into obesity rates.

Based on a large national study, body mass index (or BMI, an indicator of excess body fat) was higher every year between 1986 and 2002 among adults in the lowest income group and the lowest education group than among those in the highest income and education groups, respectively (Truong & Sturm, 2005).

Wages were inversely related to BMI and obesity in a nationally representative sample of more than 6,000 adults – meaning, those with low wages had increased BMI as well as increased chance of being obese (Kim & Leigh, 2010).

Huntington WV…. Estimated median household income in 2011: $29,750,
Estimated median income for a family in 2011: $34,756
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $21,455

Boulder CO… Estimated median household income in 2011: $57,112
Estimated median family income in 2011: $113,681
Estimated per capita income in 2011: $37,600.

I know this is off topics, but...
I had to Google the difference between "household income" and "family income" because I was surprised by the difference in the two for Boulder. Based on the definitions, shouldn't the household be higher than the family?

Median Household Income refers to all households which includes families, non-family households, single person households etc. Median Family Income refers to just families. Its not uncommon for the median family income to be substantially higher than the median household income, especially in places that have lots of singles and fewer families.

Ok, my brain wasn't working properly. I wasn't thinking in terms of median. Thanks for clarifying.

Blacklance36

When we went to Orlando on vacation, I was so grossed out by the amount of people I saw in motorized scooters getting around. Ugh.

I know…..unbelievable, whole families motoring around!

And as Homer Simpson said about a scooter, "and here I have been walking around all this time like a loser"

Lisa1971

When we went to Orlando on vacation, I was so grossed out by the amount of people I saw in motorized scooters getting around. Ugh.

I know…..unbelievable, whole families motoring around!

:noway: :noway: :noway:

blackcloud13

Based on what I see in Manhattan, the figure would be about 2% ! Every time I go there the gym is full by 6am!