Is obesity 'normal' where you live, or 'abnormal'?

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  • Abi_bug04
    Abi_bug04 Posts: 220
    In Lexington, KY...it is unfortunately WAY TOO COMMON! :S (The OBESITY rate (not overweight...OBESITY!) is 30.1% in KY for 2011)...and is predicted to jump from a 30 percent adult obesity rate in 2011 to 60.1 percent in 2030...

    In fact, at over 200lbs, I am in the middle of the 'size' category...It's actually very sad!
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    I live in SoCal and you would think that it would be a "thin/health" area but its not. When we go to the beach I would say 90% of the population (including children) are either overweight or obese. I am 5'5" and 164 so I am overweight too; though when I tell people my weight they are shocked. Am I just dense?

    interesting. that's not my experience at all.
  • fitfreakymom
    fitfreakymom Posts: 1,400 Member
    I live on a base ( very small one) there are about 14 women here 2 of us are about 10 lbs overweight, two are fit and the rest are obese to morbidly obese, as far as the men go 2 or 3 are over weight, one is obese and the rest are fit.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Houston definitely has a huge issue with obesity. Our city isn't set up for walking to and from places very easily - you really need a car to get around. You can attempt to foot it or ride a bicycle, but it's very dangerous with traffic. I liked being in New York because you could walk all over the city - it seemed easier to walk than to drive.

    The more time people spend in their cars/in traffic, the more stressed out they are. They tend to eat more fast food. They move less and eat more calories. All these things contribute. Also, we are Southern - we still eat a lot of home-cooked fried food and outrageously delicious barbecue with all the fixin's. Our serving sizes are gigantic, and everyone tries to outdo everyone else on entree size.

    Hopefully we will gear toward being more healthy in the future.
  • Dark_Roast
    Dark_Roast Posts: 17,689 Member
    Very normal here, I get told almost once a week that I'm too thin. I'm not too thin, it's just that everyone else is big! When all you see is big people, it becomes normal. Sad really.
  • guzzlingil
    guzzlingil Posts: 60
    Unfortunately here in SE Louisiana, it is common ...
  • ashheartshawaii
    ashheartshawaii Posts: 18 Member
    Sadly, it is the norm in Arkansas, where I live. It's kind of ironic, because about eight years ago, when I weighed almost three hundred pounds, it was abnormal. I could never find anything to wear! Now that I am no longer plus size, there seem to be much better fashion options for bigger girls.
  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    I live in Orange County, CA and it depends on the area. In north county and the inland areas, it's particularly common, especially the in the less affluent cities, and cities with big tourist attractions (I tend to feel pretty good about myself at Disneyland!) On the coast and in south county, it's less common. On the coast you get a lot of affluent neighborhoods and body-conscious beach-goers/ surfers/etc. South county has a lot of health-conscious people and it's an attractive, safe area so I constantly see people running, walking their dogs, etc.
  • sarahertzberger
    sarahertzberger Posts: 534 Member
    I didn't think it was until my husband and I really started to try and lose weight and eat way less, but now it's like everywhere I look there are so many people that are not just obese but morbidly obese it's so sad I myself by the bmi counting am still considered obese which is bad but I'm changing that but these people seem to not know that it's killing them I made bad mistakes about my food choices and things like that, but I'm still probably only 1/3 of some of these people, I mean sure there are lots of skinny people too, but lately we've noticed so many more obese people around
  • aftergypsies
    aftergypsies Posts: 248 Member
    I'm in NorCal and in my small town it's pretty normal. Not so much in the bay area at least from what I've seen. People seem more active down there. My town is a hub for weed so that might explain it. Lol
  • emilyc85
    emilyc85 Posts: 450 Member
    I live in an obese area. I am one of the thinner people and I am considered obese by my BMI (though barely). :p
  • Kimmy_927
    Kimmy_927 Posts: 27 Member
    Wichita KS is one the most overweight cities in the U.S. Poverty is correlated with being overweight.
  • Gracerrr
    Gracerrr Posts: 141
    I live in the midwest, near Detroit, so it's very normal. I fully believe that lower income levels and obesity have a strong correlation.
  • aloranger7708
    aloranger7708 Posts: 422 Member
    I live in Maine now but grew up in Vermont, and being overweight or obese is definitely abnormal. But at the same time, people here are so accepting that you will NEVER receive rude comments from strangers or anyone else.

    I went to college in Mississippi and it's definitely more 'normal' there. Whenever I went out to bars, I was regarded as the 'hot girl' because the standards/expectations of beauty are much different than the fitness/health junkies of New England :-)
  • WaxMama
    WaxMama Posts: 369 Member
    Last year, Richmond was noted as the 2nd most obese state in the US with 30% of the cities population being classified as obese. I'm just outside of Richmond, but it's pretty much most of the state of VA.
  • bluelena
    bluelena Posts: 304 Member
    Houston definitely has a huge issue with obesity. Our city isn't set up for walking to and from places very easily - you really need a car to get around. You can attempt to foot it or ride a bicycle, but it's very dangerous with traffic. I liked being in New York because you could walk all over the city - it seemed easier to walk than to drive.

    The more time people spend in their cars/in traffic, the more stressed out they are. They tend to eat more fast food. They move less and eat more calories. All these things contribute. Also, we are Southern - we still eat a lot of home-cooked fried food and outrageously delicious barbecue with all the fixin's. Our serving sizes are gigantic, and everyone tries to outdo everyone else on entree size.

    Hopefully we will gear toward being more healthy in the future.

    I can't think of anything to add to this about Houston.

    I'm lucky enough to live in a pretty pedestrian-friendly area (I can walk to the grocery store and retail places), but yeah. For the most part, you NEED a car to get around. And our traffic is award-winning.
  • blues4miles
    blues4miles Posts: 1,481 Member
    I live in Orange County, CA and it depends on the area. In north county and the inland areas, it's particularly common, especially the in the less affluent cities, and cities with big tourist attractions (I tend to feel pretty good about myself at Disneyland!) On the coast and in south county, it's less common. On the coast you get a lot of affluent neighborhoods and body-conscious beach-goers/ surfers/etc. South county has a lot of health-conscious people and it's an attractive, safe area so I constantly see people running, walking their dogs, etc.

    I'm from SoCal and this is my experience as well. I live inland in the burbs and it feels like most everyone is overweight, though maybe not too many morbidly obese folks. Go to the parks or to the beach closer to the coast or in nicer areas and people tend to be pretty fit and active. We have great weather, so at work is kind of a mix. Lots of healthy and active people doing all sorts of things. But also a fair amount of overweight/obese older guys at my workplace. For some reason, the women are all fit and healthy with very few exceptions (me being one of them). I'm sure that has nothing to do with the fact that we are pretty male dominated here so the men typically do the hiring :wink:
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    Manhattan - obesity is definitely less prevalent here because everyone has to walk everywhere! Love it.
  • Lt_Starbuck
    Lt_Starbuck Posts: 576 Member
    Im in NYC too, healthy neighborhood.
  • herebeeri
    herebeeri Posts: 39 Member
    I'm in an affluent area of London (England) and I'd say it's pretty abnormal.
  • himilayaneyes
    himilayaneyes Posts: 204 Member
    Here in sunny Florida there are plenty of overweight and obese people. However, there are also a lot of hot bods. Tring to be one of the hot people.
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    I'm in LA, so it depends on where I go. In the poorer communities it is very common. In West LA/Beverly Hills/Beach communities, not so much.

    When I visit my family in Ohio though, I feel like the thinnest person in the world.
  • 2April
    2April Posts: 285 Member
    I come from the least obese city in Canada: Richmond BC!!
    http://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-suburb-the-least-obese-city-in-canada-1.659588
    I'm from Richmond too. Richmond also has the highest immigrant population in Canada and the highest number of Asians in North America. In China less than 5% of the population is obese so this makes sense.

    I am in New Brunswick right now and there are more overweight people than there were in BC, but 20-40 lbs overweight, not necessarily obese.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I live in Nova Scotia and obesity is very normal here. I noticed it a lot since I grew up in Ontario where it wasn't as common
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    Normal. At 5' 11" 195lbs (more or less) I'm usually the "skinny" one in the room.
  • kjoy_
    kjoy_ Posts: 316 Member
    in downtown columbus you see a lot of corporate types, OSU students and bikers that tend to be fit. in the suburbs or at the malls overweight is much more common for some reason. it's interesting the demographics you see downtown vs. suburbia.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    totally abnormal. I live in a town where everyone is running with their dog, jogging, etc. The town is completely tailored for bike riders. super active community, I like it!
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    Normal here in Wisconsin, but a little less so in the cities (Madison and Milwaukee), I'd say. It's the land of cheese and custard and beer! :drinker:

    I went to Denver two years ago and felt morbidly obese compared to them. Good job, Colorado!

    Oh, I would say Milwaukee is quite obese, especially in the poorer areas.
    I live in the city itself and you can't go to a Walmart, etc. without seeing several large people on scooters.
    My husband works as a paramedic for the fire department and a majority of the people he sees on runs are obese.
    It's sad.
  • xXxHBICxXx
    xXxHBICxXx Posts: 370 Member
    Very normal here in TN
  • Bubsys_mom
    Bubsys_mom Posts: 124 Member
    Unfortunately, being overweight is very common where I live. What's sad is the amount of children and young people who are overweight.

    My husband and I are both overweight. I hope we can change that so our son doesn't end up taking after us and our habits. :(

    Guess that is what happens when you live in the South around some of the worst foods for you. :/

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