FitSugar

Fattest State Revealed: Mississippi Again?

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

The results of a 2007 government survey given by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are in and it's not looking good for Mississippi. It seems this state has had the highest obesity rate every year since 2004, and they're still in the lead now. Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Louisiana are not far from the top of that list though, with more than 30 percent of the adults living there fitting into the obese category. The South has a larger concentration of rural residents and black women, two groups of people who tend to have higher rates of obesity. The typical Southern diet that's high in fat and rich with fried foods may be partly to blame.

So which state is the leanest? To find out read more.

Ahh Colorado. I knew it. Only 19 percent of this state is considered obese. This state has a reputation of being active with its ski mountains, and biking and hiking trails, which encourages people to move a lot more.

This survey was conducted over the telephone and may not be as accurate, so the CDC hopes to conduct a new project where they actually go out and weigh people. I'd be curious to see if the results change.

Source

Sleepless in West Virginia

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

Last night I was up late firing my glue gun at the finishing details on my daughter's Halloween costume, so I was a little groggy this morning. Most of the time I do get plenty of rest, but according to a recent study, sleeplessness is a major US problem. Americans suffer from chronic lack of sleep, and the problem is most prevalent in the southeastern United States, particularly in West Virginia. According to phone surveys of 400,000 people (at least 3,900 in each state), one in 10 Americans didn't get a single good night's sleep in the previous month. Statistics are double that in West Virginia - one in five is sleep-deprived.

The participants weren't asked why they weren't getting enough sleep, but experts think it has to do with the fact that this state ranks the highest when it comes to obesity, smoking, and heart disease. Studies show that obesity causes issues with sleep, and those who suffer from sleep deprivation are at higher risk for depression, high cholesterol, and weight gain, and are more likely to drink heavily and smoke.

Aside from sleep problems, West Virginia is also home to the fattest and unhealthiest city: Huntington, WV. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is shaping up the city in a reality TV show that will air in November. Besides helping them in the kitchen and the gym, it looks like Jamie also needs to help them in the bedroom.

This Oklahoma City Is Going on a Diet

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:00:00 -0800

Did you know that Oklahoma has an official state meal? Yup, an official state meal and it consists of cornbread, sausage and gravy, chicken fried steak and pecan pie.

With an official meal like that it's no surprise that Oklahoma City ranked 15th in a 2007 survey of America's fattest cities. Wanting to lose the title as one of the fattest cities in American, mayor Mick Cornett has decided to put the city on a diet and challenged residents to lose one million pounds. Residents can visit This City is Going On a Diet to sign up and track their weight loss. If you live in Oklahoma City, it's also a great resource so be sure to check it out.

Seems like a great way to get people to band together for their health, though I'll be curious to see how successful it is in the end. This is not the first time we've seen a mayor get involved in his city's health, but would you go on a diet proposed by your city's mayor?

Scale Back Alabama

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:30:00 -0800

Alabama is right next door to the fattest state of the nation Mississippi, and not far behind it statistically in terms of residents on the heavier side of a healthy weight.

Alabama healthy officials have created Scale Back Alabama, an eight-week program beginning in January designed to help people lose weight and learn how to eat smarter. Here's how it works:

Hospitals are taking the campaign into their communities to sign up businesses and other organizations. Teams of three to five members will compete to see who can win the most weight on a percentage basis, with the winning team receiving $1,000 per person, compliments of Barber Dairies.

The contest sounds like a great idea with team building built in to the program. American Idol winner and Alabama resident Ruben Studdard is the campaign's spokesperson.
He recently told the Associated Press, "I'm not where I want to be, but I'm on the right track, and I'm excited about encouraging other Alabamians to begin their own weight-loss journeys." He has lost almost 100 pounds with a diet and exercise regimen.

Right on Ruben! Good luck Alabama!