I found this map showing the percentage of obese adult population, listed by State and thought "what's so special about Colorado that they have the lowest obesity rate?" You Instructors in Mississippi have some "splainin to do" not to mention you have your work cut out for you... And Barbara, I know you are doing your best... but really, Georgia at 31.6 %? You can add your excuses below. I'm also curious to know; how do our International Instructors do in comparison?
Host of the Indoor Cycle Instructor Podcast - the #1 Internet radio show for and about Spinning / Indoor Cycling Instructors and Cycling Studio owners.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
Latest posts by John (see all)
I think a lot of factor are making this situtation. I do not know all different cultures and habits of each states but watching the map it is not so hard to find the reasons … if you watch those differents factors that could interfere:
-level of income;
-level of education;
-type of work;
-type of “urbanisation”;
…
Except for DC all the other “green” states have something in commun.
The only long term solution is education. But there are 2 or 3 bigs problems … 1st) the easy and lazy (modern) style of life 2nd) lobby … 3rd) industrialisation …
Obesity all over the world have some commun factors same factors as with smoker …
Now I am gonna ask you: do you prefer a good, tasty and naturaly made meal or a big unflavoared pasteurized chimically transform meal full of artificial stuff ? Or do you know the difference, have you ever have the opportunity to expereiment it?
Some would say that he first one is more expensive … false …it is more if you and the society you life in want to.
Watch how most proces foods are made … they have the right % of “sugar” and sodium to make you body want more … at the end it cost you the same but for your health …
Yes, we in Colorado are proud to be the most fit in the US. Don’t think this isn’t a part of CO PR! It is. The question is: do we move here because we’re fit and love the outdoor lifestyle or does living here cause you to be more fit and active (and then genetically spawn more fit and active Coloradans)? And yes I take complete responsibility for my little neck of the CO woods! hee hee… 😉
It’s amazing though to see the map laid out, and to see where the most obesity is…in the south and southeast. Mississippi is no surprise – what else is there to do in that State but eat? Florida gets a pass because of its addiction to the beach & vanity & liposuction. (But to be fair, there are also a lot of triathletes/athletes in FLA – that probably gives it the pink edge and not orange).
John, you’re in like 10th or 11th place from the bottom (lowest obesity), so you MN folk should be proud. We can’t blame the weather or your neighbors wouldn’t be so high up on the list. So what is the reason? Scandinavian genes? Or maybe Spinning? 😉
To be honest Wash State surprises me – I thought they were more fit there; and I thought California would have been green, but I guess inland numbers rounded up the averages of the skinny folk in the coastline cities of LA, SD and SF (which includes the west coast liposuction numbers) – that would mean there is a preponderance of very fat people inland in that State. (That comment comes from the voice of experience; I spent 20+ years of my life in CA…both SD and SF!)
Montana, well, they’re out there on horseback rounding up cattle and there ain’t much to eat (also said from experience); and Utah, they’ve still got the old timers attitude about physical work! (More States need to get back to that I guess.) The northeast? Perhaps it’s just the fact they have more of a disposable income and can afford gym memberships. Except for Vermont, the most active backcountry explorers on the planet. Everyone owns an SUV and everyone bikes/hikes/skis/climbs/plays hockey/plays ultimate frisbee. Except for CT, they’re the closest to CO, but that’s only due to the increased ability to pay for personal trainers in CT. (If you didn’t know it, CT is the location of the highest average income in the US).
A big surprise is the HUGE difference between Va and W.Va. They’re like different countries. I’m also surprised about Pennsylvania – everyone I know from there is thin and fit! I guess I don’t know the average person from PA…
I once did a Spinning orientation in Oklahoma (looks like they’re #4 in this prestigious list). I went to the grocery store and my jaw dropped at what I saw and the type of food in the grocery carts in the checkout lane. I was in shock and saddened…and I realized I don’t live in reality in CO.
And there you go folks, Jennifer’s assessment of the obesity epidemic (or lack of it) in the US. This map can help perpetuate any stereotypes you want (which I’ve just done)! You foreigners might get a chuckle out of the steroeotypes we have about our various States (and their eating/exercise or lack of it habits).
If you live in any of these States high up on this list – keep doing the wonderful things you are doing to your little population! Every little bit counts!
Pascal, we posted about the same time. My little stereotype “jokes” actually have merit based on your assessment – level of urbanisation, type of work, level of education and of course, level of income. You are spot on in your assessment, and you’re not even from here!
We have a long way to go in this country in terms of education. IMO, that is the #1 factor, and it’s not reaching the people who need it the most. I only hope we can reach this next generation. One of my dreams is, if I had money (like, LOTS of it) I would create a foundation for educating the youth of this country on proper nutrition and physical activity. And if I had my way – I’d get rid of Nintendo type games (“No Friendo”) because they teach and perpetuate inactivity.
*Sigh* I am grateful for the times that I grew up in!
John, I am falling on the sword for Barbara. It is my state of Alabama that is 31.6 percent. It is a sad fact that we have allowed this to happen. So here are the excuses. – If you research a little further you will also find the poverty level is much higher, education level is much lower. Fast food is cheap and easily available, organic is hard to come by and if you find it, it is expensive. Very few outdoor exercise friendly places that are free. Majority of the roads are not biker friendly, sidewalks are not the norm. Our state does not offer many things to draw young adults. Our bright and educated opt for greener pasturers. I could go on for days but bottom line poverty and education.
Gosh, I’m so glad to live in California with its abundant lunch hour tummy tucks and mini liposuctions and the stomach-band-thingy!!!
All that keeps us pink here!Who needs more?!LOL!
You know Texas prides itself on every being big so don’t let it be said that we aren’t trying to keep that going. Looks like we came in at #8.
The San Antonio prides itself on its Hispanic and German heritage. Beer and sausage will stretch out a waistline in little time at all.
This is the first paragraph I wrote last November:
School age children all across Texas are waking up this morning and either standing at the bus stop or buckling up for a ride to school. What they are not doing is walking to or from school, playing on the playground before school, going to recess during the school day, participating in daily physical education, or playing in their neighborhoods after school. Texas children are only moving when someone puts them back into a vehicle and takes them to gymnastics, karate, or some other type of supervised and organized physical activity. While the activity may be scheduled for 60 minutes the children are not truly active for 60 consecutive minutes.
My goal each day is to encourage someone to add daily activity to their lives.
A indiana is right up there, unfortunately. just sick when you look in those grocery carts. i often wonder are people living under rocks? anyone see the food revolution on tv last year by jamie oliver that tried to transform a few schools and thinking in w. VA. lived near there for a year and new what he was up against.
you know how the yogi masters leave you with that thought at the end of the class to take with you, i do that with each of my classes at the end. i try to drive home the idea of making good food choices especially after class. i take in articles and bring in treats to share that are wholesome, easy and cheap to make.
still, we need major help in indiana thus my hope for the training in the new year to come our way from cycle fusion and stage 5 joining forces. even instructors need help as there are some out there not modeling the best either.
Renee, that is a fantastic idea about leaving your students with something to take home with them. I’ve done it here and there but not made a practice out of it. I think that will be my new goal for 2011! Thank you!
And yes, I saw a video on Youtube by Jamie Oliver – he brought kids in and showed them a chicken, then took off all the good parts (and put them aside) and then ground up the rest in a food processor to make a paste, then formed them into “chicken nuggets” and fried it up. At first they were saying Yuk when they saw what it was made of, but at the end, it looked good (breaded, deep fried) and they ate them! YUK. This is Chicken By-Products – what most “chicken nuggets” are made of – not even the real chicken meat.
I sent the video to my siblings and nephews whose kids all LOVE chicken nuggets. Not sure if I did any good or not though!
FEEL FREE TO CHASTIZE THE FACT THAT I OBVIOULSY DON’T PROOF READ MY POSTS. IT’S AMAZING THAT THEY ACTUALLY LET ME LEED PEOPLE.
Why Dane? I liked your post!
Shirin, what is the stomach band thingy? Not the old sweat bands again?! Or are you talking about the surgery? If so, aren’t those procedures just for morbidly obese people, or are there doctors who put those on people who aren’t obese? If so, that’s sick.
MY GUESS THE STOMACH BAND THINGY WOULD BE THE LAP-BAND. IT IS USALLY APPROVED FOR PEOPLE WITH A BMI >40, ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS IS USUALLY FOR FOLKS WITH A BMI >50.
I USED TO BE THE EXERCISE Coordinator FOR OUR BARIATRIC PROGRAM. I WAS THE LAST PERSON MOST OF THESE FOLKS WANTED TO TALK TO BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO MOVE. I STOPPED TAKING IT PERSONALLY AFTER A WHILE.
In regards to my post I just tend to go with it and don’t always take the time to spell check or make sure I haven’t forgotten a preposition or two.
I was poking fun at the new trend in our neck of the woods! And yes, I am referring to gastric band surgery also known as lap band surgery.
It used to be taken much more seriously and considered only in severe cases of obesity. Unfortunately like anything else, it has become just one more quick fix for those with 30 lbs or so extra weight. It has become the “easy” way out. Insurance covers it, so it’s even more tempting!!!
I know a couple of people who really would not have been considered candidates for gastric bands a few years ago, but both have had the procedure done this year 🙁
Again, I’m only talking about those who opt to go through this for vanity, (or laziness)!
We talk about health, but of course we hope will all look good too. I think Jennifer refers to that in one of her books.
Carol, thanks for taking the sword for me! Yes, it’s all about the extreme poverty and lack of education in states like Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. However, I wouldn’t trade the abundance of genuine kindness and generosity found in our chubby states for all the lean muscle mass in the world!
Our 38,000 sq. ft. health club charges $10 per month ($29 to join) and all classes are free. Most of my students can’t afford cycling shorts or shoes and certainly don’t own heart rate monitors. However, there is never a shortage of passion, joy and heartfelt thanks.
Believe it or not, Colorado looks “bad” by comparison with a decade or so ago.
I went to a series of nutrition lectures last year and one of the lecturers had a specialty practice dealing with the “resistant” obese folk who “just couldn’t lose weight not nohow!!”
She was originally from Colorado but had to move to Florida to get enough business to stay in business. She showed us the obesity map from back then (which must’ve been sometime in the 1990’s). It looked like a similar distribution to this one but you could see why she moved…..Colorado’s obesity rates were down in single digits!
She showed us the most recent map side by side and joked that she could’ve stayed put…..Colorado, although still the “slimmest” state, now had an obesity rate that was pretty much where the “fat” states had been a decade or so earlier.
The reality is, that everywhere seems to be getter “fatter….even Colorado. You guys just started off at a lower level and your obesity rates are rising a teeny bit more slowly than everywhere else. It’s a sobering thought!
Vivienne
I was in Atlanta airport yesterday, searching for REAL food … when I saw a shop with no line with nobody in front of it … I found there something to eat ! But for 3 sandwichs it was 30$ !
I land in Montreal there were sushi place and healthy new “cuisine” more than anything else … there you have to search for junk food.
I remember 5years ago it was not absolutly not like that in Montreal.
I know that saying in US, that the governement have to control and limit, is not welcome. Junk food compagnies will not do it so if nobody do it nothing will change,what is really doing the FDA ???
Nothing in direct relation but how can products full of ephedrine are still in the market and so cheap, Hydroxycut is the best exemple. Few years ago NSA have been forbiden,ok it is still really easy to find some; but ephedrin is as hazardous as NSA.
Cocacola and soda can still be sell in school … the Y I work for just stop selling coke and soda, people adapted to it; what they sell is a brand under controle of Cocacola so it is not yet the best but it is a beginning.
Yes Pascal, you are so right. The abundance of unhealthy foods at airports and such is a testament to our society. Certain markets still have a healthier choice at their airport – for instance, I love it when I fly through or from San Francisco. And I WISH other airports had the selection that they have.
As govt cuts continue, we’re going to see even less and less control, probably even at the FDA. My biggest pet peeve is producers marketing their products as “healthy” “natural” etc when it is no better than those chicken nuggets I referred to. I wish they (FDA) had more control over “supplements” who can say almost anything they want (with a small print sentence that it hasn’t been verified by the FDA) but they do not.
In my 16 years in Colorado, I’ve seen that growth in obesity you refer to Vivienne, even up here in the most active part of the State – in the mountains.
I do understand that poverty and poor education have a large impact on obesity – and that is certainly why the poorest and least educated States are at the top of the list. But it isn’t the sole contributor – there is also a big upsurge in obesity in mainstream USA and wealthier areas due to the societal trends that have children across all economic strata moving less and eating worse than ever before. Computer games, way too much TV, fewer opportunities to be active in schools, etc. A poor fat child is a sad thing, but healthy food is expensive and their parents simply do not have the money to provide it. But a fat child of wealthy parents, they cannot use that excuse – so there is no excuse.
This is why I applaud anyone who does anything to get kids moving – any kids – and exposing them to better foods.
I bet we all have stories to tell about how much more we moved as children. We’d play in our neighborhood park until dark (tag, Red Rover, Dodge Ball, Cops & Robbers, Kickball, etc) almost every single day – running almost the whole time. Anywhere from 6-15 neighbor kids. You just don’t see that anymore. And my dad used to laugh and tell US stories about when THEY were kids how much more they played (and worked on the farm, and walked to school barefoot in the snow…)! 😉
This conversation is very interesting to me. It sounds like most of you are of the mind that external forces are at work, causing people to be fat.
Does behavior have anything to do with it?
Or cultural influences, i.e social peer pressure?
Or perhaps people are just lazy and like to eat?
I don’t see this as a lack of education,regulation or income. And I’m going to guess that people in Alabama know just as well as the people in Colorado, that eating too much will cause you to get fat. And that you will find fat rich folks in Co and thin poor people in Mississippi
My question is what’s the difference?
You would be astounded what people don’t know – it’s mind boggling! We – the fit, healthy and fortunate – think that it’s common sense and that “doesn’t everyone know this stuff”? But many people (in these uneducated areas) think french fries are vegetables, and are thus healthy. They don’t know the difference between carbs, fat and protein or how much of each you need. And they don’t know how (or that it’s important) to read the nutrition content of the foods they do eat. And others, like the fat rich kids who could easily have access to this knowledge, are not getting the guidance they need in order to establish healthy habits at an early age. I absolutely believe in personal responsibility, however, this major epidemic of obesity is starting at much earlier ages – and kids are learning from their parents, from TV, and as you said (and as I mentioned in my previous post) from societal and cultural norms. And unfortunately, laziness is a learned habit. So is portion size.
If you don’t think income has anything to do with it, think of a family of four on an income of $20K or less. Mom has to feed the kids at night – She has a choice; she can buy healthy vegetables for a partial meal (that they won’t eat), or she can feed them a full meal for the same amount at Burger King. She doesn’t think she has an option. And she doesn’t know much else. Healthy cooking and shopping classes could help – but where? how? when? by whom?
Education and income has an enormous impact that cannot be overlooked.
The good news is that healthy habits can be learned as well. But for there to be any major changes in stats, it has to start early. Sure there are those who turn their lives around on their own, but for large statistical numbers like this graph is showing, it is education and exposure from an early age that will have an impact. We can argue that it’s their personal responsibility till we’re blue in the face, but no major changes will take place across the country in stats like these. They need the tools.
Obesity actually runs in my family, but if my siblings are heavy – they have made that choice since they know what the alternatives are and they’ve seen the outcome. If I were to get fat…that is completely my responsibility despite my “genes” because I know better and I not only have the tools, but I know how to use them.
So that is the difference I see between us (my example of my family) and them (the poor uneducated in MS or other States). They don’t even know what they don’t know!
I agree that eating too much will cause the weight gain but the portions have changed as well as the life style. The south was mostly an agricultural area in the early days. The largest meal of the day was breakfast with plenty of protein and you would go to the fields and work. Manual labor has been replaced with equipment that is air conditioned. We have stopped moving as a society but we are eating as if we are still toiling. When I started in the work force, we had a 10 minute break twice a day and a 30 minute lunch. No food was permitted at your desk and no one brought sweets for the work force except at Christmas. Now, doughnuts or sweets are in the office every morning, food is stuffed in drawers, coke and vending machines are everywhere, hour long lunches or quick runs for fast food which will be eaten at your desk.
Then, we get to the children. For our facility, the snacks for after school programs are donated because we are a non profit. I walk pass the front desk and I see boxes of Ho Ho’s and Twinkies. I spoke with management and was told they had tried fruit and vegetable snacks but the kids were not eating it. (I think it is a case of the inmates running the asylum) I agree with Dane that we are driving our kids to participate in activities instead of playing outside. We don’t have time for a sit down dinner because we are rushing from one activity to another, so we eat in our car.
I do not believe the bad eating habits are because of laziness but more because we are in a time crunch and money. Stop at Micky d’s and you can get hamburger, fries and coke for less than $3 and eat it in the car or make a trip to the grocery, prepare the food then clean up afterwards and it will average double the price.
One of the things I noticed when I first came to the State in 1986 was the sheer volume of food served in restaurants. Everything was so much bigger than back in England. Likewise dinner plates for everyday use in the home etc. etc.
Additionally, “snacking” seemed to be just another verb as opposed to a value judgement on sloppy eating habits. For sure, England has never had the reputation of fine dining but “table manners” and “eating at the table” was the norm back when I was younger and I bought those habits with me.
Now, since the obsesity epidemic is talked about as if it’s a post-1980’s phenom, I can only assume that what I first noticed as a problem has only gotten worse over the years.
I have 3 plates remaining from the everyday dinner service I had shipped over when we first came and I get them out periodically…..part nostalgia, part self-check. They’re about 3/4 the size of a regular plate (I think they’re “luncheon plate” size) You know what?……as accountable and as disciplined over portion sizes as I perceive myself to be, when I put a meal onto these plates (I serve from the stove, not family style) I tend to almost overload them if I serve what feels like a normal amount from a week or two of serving onto my regular plates.
Bad habits are easy to slip into without noticing…..it’s becomes even easier to then blame Someone Else.
Vivienne
This is a great discussion – here’s a link to a rather old (2008) obesity map of the UK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7584191.stm
I live in the little yellow cluster south east of Wales. I agree with Vivenne about the size of the portions that are served in the USA – it’s astounding but if you are used to it, it’s not noticable.
The issue as I see it is that convenience food (nuggets, oven chips, pizza, burgers from Mc Donalds) are seen to be cheaper than more nutritious food. Over here there are so many buy one get one free type deals on these kind of foods and for the poorer members of society, they are the easy option. They are also the lazy option, and I don’t think that people can blame lack of education about the contents of food these days as over here, on the front of lots of food, there are clear lists about calories, fat, sugar and salt content. Some are colour coded too.
There’s talk of an extra tax on fatty sugary foods – I’m not sure how I feel about it, although if the money raised from that tax went in to either subsidising healthier foods, or in to cheap gym passes, I’d be happy.
It is easy to guess why Colorado is the lightest state – just looking into holidaying there is making me lose calories, what with all the hiking, ski-ing and biking.