The Big Apple: 1 In 4 New Yorkers Are Obese

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fat-stomachIn New York, one in four residents are obese, a new study finds. The annual report released today by Trust For America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found two-thirds of adults in America and nearly one-third of children and teenagers are obese or overweight.

It found that 38 states now have obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1995, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent.

New York has the 11th lowest obesity rate in the country with the number of obese adults down to 24.7 percent of the population from 25.1 percent.

The combined obesity and overweight rate is 60.6 percent, up from 54.1 percent in 2001, the survey found.

The diabetes rate has risen to 8.7 percent from 4.7 percent in 1995 and the hypertension rate to 27.1 percent from 22 percent.

While there are glimmers of stabilization, Dr. Bill O’Malley views the fatness trend in New York as decidedly bleak.

“As a policy, I’m not sure how we can affect this,” O’Malley says. “People are free to make food choices as they are with other choices.”

New Jersey has the 9th lowest in the country with an adult obesity rate of 24.1 percent.

But its obesity rate has swollen by 90 percent in 15 years. More than 3 in 5 New Jersey adults are overweight or obese.

Connecticut has the third lowest obesity rate in the country with 21.8 percent.

So which state was named the most obese in the study? That award goes to Mississippi with an adult obesity rate is 34.4 percent.

Colorado was named the least obese state in the country with a rate of only 19.8 percent.

New Yorkers have their own theories about why our waistlines are growing.

One woman believes there are too many temptations, especially with all the fast food restaurants on the streets, and counting calories isn’t as easy as it seems.

A tourist from Colorado believes the problem in New York is the environment.

“The weather here presents some type of challenge when, four or five months out of the year – like last year, with all the snow that was here people probably didn’t get out and exercise as much as they would have,” he said.

{CBS New York/Matzav.com Newscenter}


4 COMMENTS

  1. Makes sense. Every group has their own take-out stores, restaurants, lunch specials, bakeries, ice creams, etc. When there is such an abundance of food choices within walking distance of your home, you’re likely to eat like a chazzer. I live down the block from a bakery, deli, and pizza/ice cream store, and could walk to any restaurant of my choosing, one of the negatives of living in Boro Park if you are a compulsive overeater, like me.

  2. Emes, I live out of town where there are no
    kosher restaurants etc. and I am still over weight. The compulsion will show its face whether you live in Boro Park or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Well, people who love to eat will love to eat no matter what. With all the delis, pizzerias, bakeries, etc. we have here, it is a nisayon every day for me. But I think about the issur against achilas gasa and look up to the example of those gedolim who have successfully trained themselves to eat only very small portions.

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