Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I think Indianapolis and Des Moines are somewhat surprising that they ranked so poorly.
I'm not surprised, especially about DSM. While they do have a bit of a bike culture (and it seems to be getting more prevalent with the addition/extension of bike trails), the outdoor recreation leaves a lot to be desired. There isn't a big 5K/half marathon scene, cross-country skiing is virtually non-existent, and most decent hiking is several hours away.
Atlanta being one of the only southern metros to land in the top 25 most healthy at #78. I've always said people here in Atlanta are more fit than your average southern city or metro. I don't know why though...probably because of the "Hollywood" factor and people wanting to look as great as they can.
How can you possibly know this? Sounds like you have a confirmation bias.
Wallethub is relying on a landline phone survey of people, not medical records provided by physicians showing a diagnosis of obesity. I don't think cites can be ranked credibily in terms of fitness based on a phone survey with a limited sample size.
Louisiana is kind of a difficult one due to the types of cuisine prevalent here. We eat a lot of meats and crawfish, fish, and other types of seafood and usually with rice. There are actually a lot of cooked down vegetables such as onion, and celery in the cooking so its not technically going without a serving of vegetables. Also as far as least physical, I definitely think that is false. Lots of people here are oil workers and manual laborers. they works their hands and bodies to the bones. This is NOT a lazy place at all. Now the obesity problem due to the amazing variety of food here is pretty true. This metro loves to eat and often.
But overall, I think this index is trying to fit everyone into some kind of national diet standard without considering regional cuisine styles and traditions. Furthermore, we actually have several restaurants with dance floors due to cajun heritage of dancing after meals. What other places have that?!
The restaurants in Shreveport Bossier which is number 2 on the fattest list tend to be fried chicken drive thru and soul food restaurants which serve copious amounts of greasy fried foods with gallons of sweet tea. Comfort foods they are, but many people rely solely on these offerings. It is hard to convince people to try other things without a citywide educational program or PSA's. I would venture to say that we probably have the most fried chicken and fried fish take outs per capita of almost any city.
however no real surprise, southern cities with hot humid oppressive summers, fried food are obese. cities with overall great weather and outdoors are fit. no shock
there is fried food everywhere. You can get KFC in California. i would think cold weather places would have more obesity b/c who wants to be active in the cold.
there is fried food everywhere. You can get KFC in California. i would think cold weather places would have more obesity b/c who wants to be active in the cold.
Certainly there is fried food everywhere, but on every street corner? Even the gas stations here have fried chicken, fish, potato logs, egg rolls, etc. The majority of the gas stations here feature these. Couple that with Church's and Popeyes everywhere and what do you get? Obesity.
Certainly there is fried food everywhere, but on every street corner? Even the gas stations here have fried chicken, fish, potato logs, egg rolls, etc. The majority of the gas stations here feature these. Couple that with Church's and Popeyes everywhere and what do you get? Obesity.
You realize other foods have calories, right? It is not just fried foods. Something like pizza probbably worse than fried fod for gaining weight.
So gas stations outside of the south never have any fried food offerings?
Having a lot of fried food places doesn't mean everybody eats there all the time.
You realize other foods have calories, right? It is not just fried foods. Something like pizza probbably worse than fried fod for gaining weight.
So gas stations outside of the south never have any fried food offerings?
Having a lot of fried food places doesn't mean everybody eats there all the time.
But plenty do. Every time I go in one there is always someone in there buying that stuff. Always, or a 12 or case of beer. Pizza is not a real deal here although many eat it regularly. The main culprit is fried chicken here. Now where you come from maybe it isn't. But those places are all over the metro.
Also the lack of regular exercise has hurt many people's health. People don't exercise as they should. No walking areas or cycling.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
