We’re all concerned about our waistlines, and for excellent reason. We can’t blame the “obesity gene” when we’re reduced as a society to putting fat in our water. But some states are heftier than others, and a new analysis has found which is at the top and why.
The analysis, run by WalletHub, studied everything from the percentage of obese adults to how many residents live more than a mile away from a supermarket or other source of fresh food, and at the top lies Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Meanwhile, the skinniest states are Utah, Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.
However, this can be deceptive. For one thing, America is getting bigger all the time, with more than a third of all American adults reporting they’re obese, something even “skinny” states have to deal with. For example, Hawaii may technically be among the skinniest, but its native peoples are struggling with a Type II diabetes epidemic.
And the stereotypes many people resort to in the face of this news aren’t accurate, either. It’s no coincidence that the five fattest states are also among those with the lowest median incomes. Eating healthily really does cost more, in both money and time, than some Americans have to spare. Far too often, the poorest Americans have to choose between eating now and risking expensive medical bills later, or not eating. Thus a cycle is created.
Some states are always going to be bigger than others on charts like this, but what’s important is that we figure out why, and drive down the ranking overall. Combatting food deserts would be a good start. A little fresh food and better options will go a longer way towards a happier America, and besides, if we need a reason to trash talk each other, that’s what sports are for.
(via WalletHub)
