[Reason]

I suppose we need to move to Alabama and teach them how to live healthier

[jetsjoe]

I would love to see a study done where they took a dozen kids and maybe even a dozen adults who are obese with little to no exercise program and put them on a healthy diet and an enjoyable exercise program and see which lifesyle they like better. I'll take a 2 mile afternoon walk and grilled chicken and vegetables for dinner anyday over a day of donuts lounging around house.

[indy-bama_grl]

I have to disagree with reguards to school. I have lived in indy my entire life. Schools here are horrid. Check out greatschools.net. The schools in Alabama are ranked higher in just about every aspect than in indy. There are more schools ranked 10 (highest) in one county in Alabama than the entirety of indy.

Alabama may be more poverty stricken, but at least you do something about it. In indy, you can not go a twenty mile radius without seeing people livin on the streets.

Alabama has a lot to be proud of, and I am not just talkin about sports. I hate indy. The people in bama, for the most part, are nice. In indy, rude and mean are just the way things are. It is even taught in school. I am not exaggerating, in elementary we learn songs like, "Think Hard Double Retard."

I have to say that when it comes to either rude and mean or obese people, I would choose the obese every time.

[elfyum]

Originally Posted by jetsjoe

The rest of us will try not to have to look at you and your gross kids.

This is a sick statement that seems to get to the root of why this bothers you so much...
I think that sentiment is alot more "gross" (and probably equally as unhealthy) than an overweight person!
As a previous poster said, EVERYTHING is unhealthy! Pick your poison. If you somehow find vegetables more appealing than donuts (which I find hard to believe!) then that's definately good for your health. But read about how bad attitudes affects health as well.
And you can eat healthy all you want & still die from a tornado, car accident, some freak disease...
So do the best you can & don't worry about having to LOOK at obese people - I'm sure some find looking at you offensive as well...

[jetsjoe]

Indy-Bama girl-

Sorry, you are wrong. Search schools ranked by states and Alabama is #49. Also, go on Mobile Press Register. It is a well know fact Alabama has terrible schools. Has been for some time. You are just comparing everything to "Indy". There is alot in between. The American Legislative Exchange Council rates 45-49 as Tennessee, Lousiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. As usual, the south is were at the bottom!

Elfym-

I actually don't like donuts. Hard to believe I guess but over fattening foods don't appeal to all. Sorry.

[Twostep]

Originally Posted by jetsjoe

Why do Alabamian's have 101 excuses for being so obese? Being the #1 state for obesity is disgusting. More importantly a health hazard. Apparently frying everything you see is so appealing you don't care if your life is shortened, you teach your kids this sick behavior or you die of heart disease? Guess not.

It is bad parenting to teach your kids this behavior. Turn on any national news program or the Today show, the rest of the country is concerned about obesity and the health risks it imposes to the future generations. I am sickened every time I have to eat a meal at a restaurant and watch obese parents and chubby kids choking down butter with a side of bread like it is there last day on earth. Kids are the future and at this rate in this state, the farthest they will go is the refrigerator.

Have you considered eating at home?

[james_hsv]

Originally Posted by jetsjoe

Indy-Bama girl-

Sorry, you are wrong. Search schools ranked by states and Alabama is #49. Also, go on Mobile Press Register. It is a well know fact Alabama has terrible schools. Has been for some time. You are just comparing everything to "Indy". There is alot in between. The American Legislative Exchange Council rates 45-49 as Tennessee, Lousiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. As usual, the south is were at the bottom!

Hmm, this is what I found:
Teacher's salaries: #47
Student:Teacher Ratio: #19
Expenditures per Pupil (where AL was ranked #49 a few years ago): #43
I don't see a #49 ranking anywhere.

So, you are a few years behind. We're still quite poor, but we're no longer thanking God for Mississippi. Also, in 2005, Newsweek ranked a Birmingham public high school as the top public school in the nation. The school systems in the Birmingham suburbs and Huntsville can compete with any other so-called "great school system." So making a blanket statement about all AL public schools being "terrible" is...uneducated.
And about the obesity problem: AL is the #2 fattest state. But some people have done things to combat this, like the people of Jackson, AL (?) who lost more than 10000 pounds last year. So it's not like we're sitting in front of our TVs and doing nothing about it.

[Clarkx3]

how about another issue....LITTER, you think people that take as much pride in this state as they say wouldn't use the side of most roads as their personal garbage can. There are some beautiful stretches of roadway in this state that are just a dumping ground. Keep the trash in your car!

[gizmo980]

I have no connection with Alabama, but this thread caught my attention... here are the actual school rankings, according to the National Education Association - a more reliable source than Google or "bestschools".
http://www.nea.org/edstats/RankFull06b.htm
Alabama isn't exactly "tops", but it's around the middle on everything except student expenditures... so I think you need to do some more research, jetsjoe.

And ironically, the BEST public school in the country according to Newsweek (another trusted source for this topic), is located in Alabama:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/

Finally, I agree with elfyum - it's your attitude that's "gross", and I'm sure nobody would mind if you stopped paying so much attention to their bodies. Obviously it's important to be healthy, but why are you making other people's weight your business? And don't give me the "taxes" reason, or I'll list everything else that unfairly costs us money! I've lost 60 lbs. in the last 2 years, so I know way too much about this subject. I also know it takes more than "not eating donuts", and that it's a REAL struggle for people who are prone to obesity. So a little empathy/understanding wouldn't kill ya... and neither will one donut, LOL.

[beenaround]

I don't have connections in Alabama either, but I do like to visit. Why is the original poster so hard on Alabama? Other states have obesity problems too; obviously more so in Alabama, but the condesending tone is quite rude.