Forbes List: Most Obese Cities in America

Forbes Magazine has recently compiled a list of America's most obese cities, using 2006 data from the Centers for disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Facto Surveillance System. Researchers collected data about participants height and weight and calculated their BMI (Body Mass Index).  Individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher are considered obese. About 32% of the United States is considered obese. Memphis, Tennessee topped the list of obese cities.

Data was collected only for the country's 50 most populated cities. Smaller towns and outlying areas were not included. There ware a noticeable correlation between low poverty rates and obesity. Cities with a large percentage of people living below the poverty line also had a high percentage of obesity.

Some cities are looking for ways to promote healthier lifestyles by encouraging citizens to  exercise and make dietary changes.

Following are the top 10 most obese cities in America, as per Forbes Magazine.

Memphis, Tennessee: 34% obese. Causes of the high rate of obesity include high rats of poverty, Southern hospitality and Southern cooking featuring fried foods.

Birmingham, Alabama: 31.3% obese. A local non-profit organization called Jones Valley Urban Farm promotes healthy eating habits with community gardening plots.

San Antonio Texas: 31.3% obese. Calorie rich Tex-Mex cuisine is a factor in the high obesity rate. City officials are exploring solutions, with. The National League of Cities will provide San Antonio, along with five other cities, with experts versed in healthy eating and active living.
Riverside/San Bernardino, California: 30.8% obese. Riverside is located about an hour east of Los Angeles, an area dependent upon car transportation. The percentage of people neglecting exercise is at 30%.

Detroit, Michigan: 30.4% obese. Detroit is an urban area where healthy , fresh foods are less available. 33% of the residents live below the poverty line. Michigan was recently ran the ninth heaviest state in the nation by Trust for America's Health, a research group. Michigan promotes healthy living through "Step Up Michigan," a healthy living initiative.

Jacksonville, Florida: 29.8% obese. Jacksonville has a humid climate, which may drive residents indoors. A public health initiative initiative called Healthy Jacksonville promotes a community wide fitness and health challenge for residents.

Nashville, Tennessee:  28.8% obese.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: 27.5% obese. Oklahoma City has passed a bond measure to build gyms at 47 inner city schools and increasing the number of bide paths.

Kansas City, Missouri: 26.9% obese.

San Diego, California: 26.7% obese. San Diego has a high percentage of Hispanics, which have a higher rate of obesity than non-Hispanic whites. Poor neighborhoods have limited access for fresh fruit and vegetables.

Comments

[Buy Paxil]

Within one year after I turned 42 I gained about --not kidding--15 pounds of fat right on my waist, thighs, hips and previously flat belly. Yeah, not doing anything different, not taking any medications, no change in food or exercise. I have a great life, but "Heartache" describes the feeling well. I have so much compassion for her-- and you know, my 39-year-old 'ideal weight' self wouldn't have.

[Generic Cozaar]

There are several things that we should keep in mind when considering the fact that Mississippi is the most obese state in the US. Instead of pointing fingers at the people of this state and writing them off as lazy and unwilling to get rid of their fried foods, let’s consider some other factors that may have led to this unfavorable reputation. One is that with our current food retail culture many markets serving smaller areas of Mississippi have been forced out by larger chain supermarkets. These markets having closed left few areas with retail supermarkets leading to the increase in food deserts. A report was done that showed that rural counties in the Lower Mississippi Delta average one supermarket per 190.5 square miles. Also 70 percent of the lower income populations in this region must travel 30 or more miles to get to lower priced foods offered by the chain supermarkets. Those who do not have transportation to reach these places then have to shop at convenience stores or other price gauging locations. Let’s think about these lower income individuals who are using food stamps to supplement their dietary needs therefore have less money to buy the nutritional food that they need. So before we pass blame we should think about the structures that may be causing the people of Mississippi to be obese.

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We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it

[freelance writing opportunities]

well it shows because of their food intake!

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