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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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W.Va. Town Is Nation's Tubbiest

Economic troubles, lifestyle traditions distract from rampant obesity

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(Newser) – Dietary tradition helps make Huntington, W.Va., the nation's most obese and unhealthy city, the AP reports. The five-county area, where poverty rates are high, boasts many pizza and hot dog joints—but Huntington's mayor will not follow the lead of New York City and ban trans fats in restaurants. "We want as much business as we can have here," said Mayor David Felinton, who underwent stomach surgery last year to lose weight.

Half of the area’s adults are obese, a new report says, and Huntington claims the country’s highest levels of diabetes and heart disease. Local doctors say they try to encourage better eating habits and exercise, but face an uphill battle. "People here have an attitude of 'You're not going to tell me what I can eat,'" one health official said. "The cultural attitude is 'My parents ate that and my grandparents ate that.'"

Southern states tend to be more obese, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Southern states tend to be more obese, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An overweight person is seen walking in London, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007.
An overweight person is seen walking in London, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The survey results of adult health issues reported in the US and in Huntington, W.Va., indicate the town is America's unhealthiest.
The survey results of adult health issues reported in the US and in Huntington, W.Va., indicate the town is America's unhealthiest.
An overweight man is shown in Washington in this 2003 file photo.
An overweight man is shown in Washington in this 2003 file photo.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
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People here have an attitude of 'You're not going to tell me what I can eat.' The cultural attitude is 'My parents ate that and my grandparents ate that.' - Dr. Harry Tweel, director of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department

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Reader25229471
Nov 17, 08 1:44 AM CST
Yes indeed your parents and their parents ate "that", are they alive ? However I can't stand all this lets make a law for this or a law for that. We are a free country, lets keep it that way. There is nothing wrong with giving people information. Real information, not self promoting propaganda from some study where the study ,WOW what a surprise it backs up the belief of the person or group funding the study. AKA; JUNK SCIENCE. That is why people believe none of what they read and hear and half of what they see. The Government 's job is to provide the facts, not pay and promote BULL . I and any child can see without a study poor people eat more fatty foods because they are cheaper, just look at the sales figures for McDonald's for the last quarter, where else can you feed a family of 5 for under $15.00 ? So, take the study money and offer better solutions at something people can afford. BUT IN THE END IT IS THEIR CHOICE TO EAT WHATEVER THE HELL THEY WANT ! OK , now pass those biscuits and don't be stingy with that gravy ! Reply
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