Obesity rising; Southern states have highest rates

"The report found a strong association between socioeconomic status and adult obesity rates. About 35 percent of those earning less than $15,000 a year were obese, compared to 24.5 percent of adults earning $50,000 or more per year."

"Income disparities may contribute to this trend of obesity being prevalent in the South, said Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PolicyLink. The issue of access and affordability of healthy food is also a factor, said Dr. James Marks, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation."

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/29/obesity-rising-southern-states-have-highest-rates/?hpt=Sbin

Here's the states with highest rates:

1.Mississippi (33.8%);
2.Alabama (31.6%) tied with Tennessee (31.6%)
4. West Virginia (31.3%)
5. Louisiana* (31.2%)
6.Oklahoma (30.6%)
7. Kentucky (30.5%)
8. Arkansas (30.1%)
9. South Carolina (29.9%)
10. Michigan (29.4%) tied with North Carolina (29.4%)
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Is there an association between conservatism and obesity? If anything, the economic correlation with obesity may demonstrate (poor) people voting against their interests in these very red states.

Many southern states are not all that pedestrian friendly.

Most southern cities are VERY car-centric.

Here in central AR you're pretty much shit out of luck if you don't have a car.
YES we have a bus system but it sucks majorly.

i'm the most liberal, leftist, progressive person and also the most obese person in my family.

is that the people are poor. They can't afford the healthy foods. They live on high content fat foods like pasta (cheap) bread etc. The cost of being thin isn't cheap. Who can afford leafy green veggies, fruit etc as high as the price is. In Minnesota where I live you get a 6 oz bag of spinach for 2.37. How darn far would that go. Back on the East Coast we could fill a bag and get pounds of the same sort of food for a buck. It is the cost of bringing these foods to the groceries. GAS ISN'T CHEAP.

These states are hardcore red, defend the wealthy, and demonize taxes and social programs.

1.Mississippi (33.8%); 2. (tie) Alabama (31.6%); and Tennessee (31.6%); 4. West Virginia (31.3%); 5. Louisiana (31.2%); 6.Oklahoma (30.6%); 7. Kentucky (30.5%); 8. Arkansas (30.1%); 9. South Carolina (29.9%); 10. (tie) Michigan (29.4%); and North Carolina (29.4%); 12. Missouri (29.3%); 13. (tie) Ohio (29.0%); and Texas (29.0%); 15. South Dakota (28.5%); 16. Kansas (28.2%); 17. (tie) Georgia (28.1%); Indiana (28.1%); and Pennsylvania (28.1%); 20. Delaware (27.9%); 21. North Dakota (27.7%); 22. Iowa (27.6%); 23. Nebraska (27.3%); 24. (tie) Alaska (26.9%); and Wisconsin (26.9%); 26. (tie) Illinois (26.6%); and Maryland (26.6%); 28. Washington (26.3%); 29. (tie) Arizona (25.8%); and Maine (25.8%); 31. Nevada (25.6%); 32. (tie) Minnesota (25.5%); New Mexico (25.5%); and Virginia (25.5%); 35. New Hampshire (25.4%); 36. (tie) Florida (25.1%); Idaho (25.1%); and New York (25.1%); 39. (tie) Oregon (25.0%); and Wyoming (25.0%); 41. California (24.4%); 42. New Jersey (23.9%); 43. Montana (23.5%); 44. Utah (23.2%); 45. Rhode Island (22.9%); 46. Vermont (22.8%); 47. Hawaii (22.6%); 48. Massachusetts (21.7%); 49. District of Columbia. (21.5%); 50. Connecticut (21.4%); 51. Colorado (19.1%)

But seriously, I think it's because of a lower per capita income.

And yes, poor people do vote against their interests. However, I think this has a lot more do to with low incomes, depression over the economy (Michigan could definitely fit in there), and the southern "diet" of fried, fatty foods.

The saddest thing is the obesity rates in children. I see families out all the time where every single member is obese, even down to the 4 year old. Very, very sad.

I agree with you, it is just an unfortunate spiral of poverty and malnutrition. I happen to believe that poor nutrition can affect every aspect of day to day life, so this is sad to me. I also believe, but have no proof, that there is more "pride" about eating food that is "bad" for you among conservatives. It is similar to not beliving climate change and intentionally using more fossil fuels.