San Antonio tips the scale on America's 'Fattest Cities' list (kids, people)

[ShaneSA]

Did you know that 54.9 % of all statistics are made up on the spot and have no validity?

[spacedoggie]

Originally Posted by ShaneSA

Did you know that 54.9 % of all statistics are made up on the spot and have no validity?

I thought it was 88.2%?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Reeves

Maybe the standard deviation is 33.3%. Sounds about right.

[AnthonySA]

Originally Posted by ShaneSA

Did you know that 54.9 % of all statistics are made up on the spot and have no validity?

that quote cracked me up to no end

[hello13685]

UTSASTUD, I totally agree with you that way too many SA'ers are hideously heavy, yet not afraid to wear low-rise hip huggers (or should I say jelly-huggers?). It's just that the study's conclusions aren't a good fit for its measures.

[Insomniac]

This ranking has to be one of the most fallacious out there. There are others but this is probably the one that gets the most mainstream attention. It’s pathetic how much media coverage polls/rankings like these get.

[wpotsie]

I actually heard SA was second beind Houston. There's a heavy Mexican influence in the city and there's not really many vegetables in the Mexican diet that I've seen (other than salsa). I've only been here a year and I can actually vouch for that statistic. I belive they look into the number of people with cardiovascular disease per capita. There are many fitness centers but not many parks, running trails, etc. compared to, say, Austin. I was actually blown away by theh number of fast food restaurants, too. McDonald's Whataburger, Taco Cabana, Wendy's, Sonic, Jack in the Box, etc everywhere you look!

[AK123]

Originally Posted by wpotsie

I actually heard SA was second beind Houston.

Actually, Houston and 2 of its suburbs made a "skinny cities" list (based on BMIs from CDC data)

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/money...skinniest.html

Skinniest
Here are the cities where residents have the lowest average body mass index.
Rank City Body mass index
1 Roseville, CA 24.5
2 San Francisco, CA 24.8
3 Houston, TX 24.8
4 Missouri City, TX 24.8
5 Sugar Land, TX 24.8

[googie2525]

There's a recent documenatary series focusing on Texas (produced for Trio, and made by Europeans no less), that evidentally ain't too gracious. Anyway, one's called "Fat City," which is "narrated by Dallas legend (and real-life Fort Worthian) Larry Hagman. Fat City takes us on a tour of Houston, Texas, the town with the heaviest population in the United States for three years running. After ticking off the factors that have contributed to this dubious honor (the massive restaurant portions, the urban sprawl that makes walking impossible), the documentary focuses on the story lines of three different figures who reside in Houston's gastronomical landscape."

I'd like to see this.

Here's a link: http://www.slate.com/id/2104849

[wCat]

I swear I read something recently that Cleveland got that honor! And I've been there and believe it!

Actually....I think Hello is correct about the stats being bogus.

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

Fitness is not a mainstream priority in San Antonio. People spend time away from work entertinaing friends and family, with food, rather than going on long bike rides. Plus, the weather can be challenging for some months, and inside living tends to be more sedentary. And those margaritas have a few calories.