Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Poverty, Heat, Infrastructure Make Southerners Fat

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 9, 2009 2:32 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – The American South is the most obese region in the country because of a “perfect storm” of factors, Claire Suddath writes for Time. Mississippi, whose 33% adult obesity rate makes it the fattest state, is also the poorest, with 21% of people living under the poverty line. That means less money for healthy food, and fewer places to get it. But other poor states are relatively thin—what accounts for the disparity?

It could be the food culture, Saddath writes, but “just as Californians don't actually live on wheat grass and tofu, Southerners don't really sit around eating fried chicken every day.” The clincher, a researcher says , is “Southerners' lack of physical activity rather than the food.” Sweltering heat, lack of public transport, and few opportunities to even walk outside mean Southerners are extremely sedentary. That, plus food and poverty, means obesity.

U.S. map shows adult obesity prevalence by state.
U.S. map shows adult obesity prevalence by state.   (AP Photo)
An overweight man is shown in Washington.
An overweight man is shown in Washington.   (AP Photo)
A boy bites into a deep-fried Reeses's at the Indiana State Fair.
A boy bites into a deep-fried Reeses's at the Indiana State Fair.   (AP Photo)
Southern fried chicken.
Southern fried chicken.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

So there you have it. Southerners have little access to healthy food and limited means with which to purchase it. It's hard for them to exercise outdoors, and even when they do have the opportunity, it's so hot, they don't want to. - Claire Suddath

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Pragmaticrealism
Jul 15, 2009 2:32 AM CDT
2-bits that was a useless, ignorant comment.
Addyp
Jul 10, 2009 12:41 PM CDT
@anchower- Right, if only the whole world suffered from a culture of excess, only then would they know our pain. /sarcasm
schmidtkoff
Jul 10, 2009 4:25 AM CDT
sc transplant here - yes they do eat fried chicken almost everyday, sausage gravy on biscuits, white rice, macaroni and cheese, grits. macaroni and cheese, white rice, is served at every occasion, christmas, thanksgiving, memorial day, easter,4th of july etc. collard greens and ham hocks. souse. they waddle here because they are so fat they can't walk! there are very few sidewalks to walk safely. 2 llane highways or truck routes with sidewalks and noxious fumes. out of 10 people at work 7 are considered obese. the south is (at least in SC) is so backward in everything that it is disgusting. as i have said before, try living here. and yes - i'm getting out.
Health • US

 
obesity • heat • Mississippi • poverty • public transportation • excercise • South • Southern United States • physical activity

More Newser Stories

Diabetes in US Nearly Doubles in 10 Years
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne