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Forbes Mag. Has the "Skinny" on America's Fattest Cities
11/27/2007
Forbes Magazine has recently published its list of America’s 20 most obese cities. In this contemporary era where there is a gym, recreation center or fitness club in every major city and suburb, and NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” is one of the highest-rated and most talked-about reality TV shows of all time, it seems we as a nation still have much to learn about sedentary living and the dangers of overindulging in alcohol and non-nutritious, calorie-laden snack foods.
The article reports that being overweight rather than svelte and physically-fit adds $93 billion to the nation's medical bill each year, with 32% of our nation’s population having a body mass index of 30 or higher (18.5-24.9 BMI being considered healthy, according to the Centers for Disease Control). Annually, 112,000 Americans die from obesity-related causes, and the condition of obesity is responsible for an increased risk of chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
For brevity’s sake, SMGN will only comment on the first ten. See if your area is on the list:
- Memphis, Tennessee – 34% of persons in this city find themselves overweight, topping the national average. This is likely due to a culture of Southern hospitality serving up an overabundance of fried foods.
- Birmingham, Alabama – 31.3%. In an attempt to curtail this staggering figure, a local non-profit organization, Jones Valley Urban Farm, has been trying to promote healthy eating habits with community gardening plots since 2001.
- San Antonio, Texas – 31.1%. Obviously, too much Tex-Mex cuisine is “in the mix.”
- Riverside/San Bernardino, California – 30.8%. A mere hour’s distance from car-centric Los Angeles, where, as the song says, “Nobody walks in L.A.,” lack of exercise has been cited as the leading cause of this city’s obesity issue.
- Detroit, Michigan – 30.4%. In an urban area where 33% of residents live below poverty, Detroit has actually been deemed a “food desert,” meaning that healthy food choices are simply unavailable to a large segment of the population.
- Jacksonville, Florida – 29.8%. Regretfully, this North Florida city’s sweltering humidity tends to keep residents indoors, contributing to a sedentary lifestyle.
- Nashville, Tennessee – 28.8%. As with Memphis, this city of Southern hospitality and the hub of country music serves up an overabundance of fried foods, beer and libations.
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 27.5%. Forbes tells us that the city has taken action to fight fat by passing a bond measure to build gyms at 47 inner city schools and increasing the number of bike paths. The City is also trying to attract Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods retail establishments to provide nutritious alternatives to fast foods.
- Kansas City, Missouri – 26.9%. Famous for its mouth-watering barbeque, KC residents traditionally love to eat. Recognizing this, when polled by the city government last year, improved parks and sidewalks for exercise ranked at the top in terms of what residents most wanted.
- San Diego, California – 26.7%. Pockets of poverty scattered within this generally affluent metropolis, coupled with a largely Hispanic population, that tends to be heavier as a culture than non-Hispanic whites, means that richer, sodium-laced foods are consumed by over a quarter of the population.
- Cincinnati, Ohio – 26.3%
- Indianapolis, Indiana -- 26%
- (Tie) Baltimore, Maryland -- 25.8%
- New Orleans, Louisiana –25.8%
- Virginia Beach, Virginia -- 25.8%
- Atlanta -- 25.6%
- (Tie) Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- 25.4%
- Richmond, Virginia.: 25.4%
- Austin, Texas -- 24.9%
- Las Vegas, Nevada -- 24.9%
Surprised? Outraged?? If your home city happens to fall into one of the listed areas, Reader, SMGN recommends that you not despair; rather be a positive influence in your local community. Make nutritious food purchase decisions at the grocery store, take smaller portions at family, office and holiday gatherings, eschew “fast food,” limit alcohol consumption and make cardiovascular exercise, even if just brisk walking, a part of your daily or weekly regimen. Lobby your city government for more adequate exercise facilities, public jogging trails and the like. Genetics aside, staying healthy is largely a choice. Wherever possible, be a leader, not a follower, and make the right choices.
Lisa Carvin - Freelance Reporter