Fat & Not Happy: 10 Unhealthiest States

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_Fat & Not Happy: 10 Unhealthiest States_

 

__You can blame it on whatever you want--most likely it's a combination of

high-fat comfort food and very little exercise--but the South has become the

most unhealthy region of the United States.

 

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has ranked the 50 states and

the District of Columbia by the health of their residents--namely by the

incidence of obesity, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Heart disease is

the leading cause of death in the United States, while diabetes is No. 6. And

obesity contributes to both of them.

 

This report card isn't good.

 

Mississippi is the unhealthiest state of all. Nearly a quarter of the

population is obese, which is the highest percentage of all the states, and

there are a staggering 235.8 deaths from heart disease per 1,000 people, the

fourth worst in the nation. In addition, 6.2 percent of the population has

diabetes.

 

Even the so-called " healthiest " states aren't all THAT healthy. None of the

states has an obesity rate in the single digits! Colorado comes closest with

13.8 percent of residents deemed obese, as defined by having a body mass index

of 30 or above. " It was surprising how many states were ranking so high with

obesity--not just being overweight, " clinical research coordinator Brie

Turner-McGrievy told CBSMarketWatch.

 

_The 10 least healthy states:_

 

1. Mississippi

2. West Virginia

3. Tennessee

4. Michigan

5. Louisiana

6. Texas

7. Kentucky

8. Illinois

9. Missouri

10. Arkansas

 

_The top three healthiest states:_

1. Montana

2. Hawaii

3. Minnesota

 

The Big Sky state has less than 1 million residents, but just 15.2 percent of

them are obese. It also has the sixth lowest number of heart disease

fatalities--146 deaths per 1,000.

 

_WHY? What makes Mississippi so much unhealthier than Montana?_ McGrievy

suspects it's old-fashioned southern cooking. If it can be fried, it is.

" Southern recipes keep getting passed from generation to generation, so people

keep eating high-fat foods and not exercising and that's where you find high

rates of diabetes and heart disease, " she told CBSMarketWatch. " Some of the

southern states on there already have a good start. They eat beans and greens.

The problem is the preparation method. They tend to cook with a lot of fat and

meat. "

 

What can be done? McGrievy has a simple solution--for a start, at least. Go

vegetarian. " A lot of people think if there's no meat on the menu, it's not a

meal, " she said. " Cutting out meat is one of the best ways to increase fibers

in fruits and vegetables. "

 

*--Cathryn Conroy *