Regional Obesity Trends - The Fattest US States + 22 Obesity Trends

We all know the obesity epidemic is only getting worse in the US, but how much worse, and which states have the most shocking stats? This map from Calorielab gives a good visual illustration, complete with percentage rates of obesity by region. The 2007 statistics reveals that the leanest state is Colorado, with an obesity percentage of 18.4 (19.3 in 2008), and the fattest is Mississippi with a whopping 31.6% of the population suffering from obesity.

The top most obese states, headed by Mississippi, are West Virginia (30.3), Alabama (30.9), Louisiana (30.7), South Carolina (29.0), Tennessee (30.7), Kentucky (28.7), Oklahoma (28.8), Arkansas (29.3).

More ‘Swelling’ Obesity Trends

As Food Size Doubled, So Did Waistlines - 2 Decade Portion Distortion (GALLERY)

30% of Americans are now considered obese, compared to only 15% about 30 years ago. In that same amount of time, food portions have also doubled in size, making the relationships directly proportional.… [More]

Obesity Up In 31 States - Dunkin’ Donuts Responds With Trans Fat Ban (VIDEO)

Mmmm doughnuts… without trans fats?!?!?  As obesity rates climb in 31 states, Dunkin’ Donuts has decided to ban most trans fats in its deep-fried pastries. The timing of their announcement couldn’t… [More]

Extreme Obesity - 50% Rise in Americans with Severe Obesity (VIDEO)

A study by the RAND corporation revealed that the number of severely obese Americans has grown by nearly 50% from the same period last year.  In short, America is becoming severly obese and lives are at… [More]

Obesity and Youth

Supersize My Kids – Parents Pass On Plump Genes (VIDEO)

America’s obesity epidemic has swelled the pool of plumpers to the brim and overweight people tend to seek out larger partners. This is no surprise; it is known that people tend to seek out people with… [More]

Guerilla Obesity Awareness Campaign - Every Fifth Child is Overweight (GALLERY)

Child obesity is fast becoming a global epidemic. The Health Promotion Switzerland foundation has come up with a creative guerilla campaign to raise the awareness of this serious issue.  The campaign… [More]

Kids Plus-Size Clothing

Obesity is no longer just a weighty issue for adults--children now make up an increasing percentage of the growing number of overweight Americans. According to 1999-2002 survey data from the National Center… [More]

Reactions to Obesity in Youth

Viral Ads Against Obesity - ParticipAction Campaign Targets Youth (VIDEO)

Viral ads seem to be the best way to capture the attention of the demographic deemed the “MySpace generation,” which is why ParticipAction, a Canadian non-profit organization, feels a new series of viral… [More]

Obesity Surgery Triples Among Teens

A growing number of kids are resorting to surgery to rid themselves of excess weight. In a world where slimness reigns supreme, kids are bombarded with images of supermodel waifs and lifestyle advertising… [More]

Anti-Obesity Baby Formula – Prevention To Start At Birth?

Most doctors will agree that breast feeding your baby is better than giving it formula. Some doctors are going as far as to say that it could also be the difference between being overweight as an adult… [More]

FatWorld Video Game Simulates Getting Fat (GALLERY)

Fatworld, a web game designed to portray the harsh realities of nutrition and obesity, is set to launch this fall. It was created by Ian Bogost, a 30 year old Georgia Tech Professor, who has designed other… [More]

Personal Trainers for Kids (VIDEO)

It should come as no surprise that an increasing number of parents are paying for personal training sessions for their kids. After all, we’ve already seen articles about the rise of obese children and… [More]

Stationary Bike/Learning Program - Smart Cycle Physical Learning Arcade (VIDEO)

When I was a kid, we had primitive technologies called bicycles and books. In the 21st Century, Fisher-Price has developed the Smart Cycle Physical Learning Arcade, a stationary plastic bicycle that plugs… [More]

Offbeat

Airline Fat Tax - Overweight Fliers to be Penalized?

Are heavy airline passengers going to be fined a tax for the extra weight they bring on board plane? It’s a possibility according to the Telegraph! “Calls for the tax - which would be determined per extra… [More]

A Supersized Toilet For Your Supersized Ass

We are truly living in the gilded age. Western society has become so detached from basic survival skills, traditional labor and sweat, we’re so fat and complacent, that we now need a special toilet to… [More]

Unique Approaches to Fitness

Fit For Funds – Italian Mayor Pays Citizens To Shed Pounds (GALLERY)

If having more energy and extending your longevity isn’t enough incentive, perhaps a little mullah could get your rear in gear. Mayor Gianluca Buonanno is offering residents in the Italian town of Varallo… [More]

Battling Obesity with LittleChanges - Couple walks/cycles across US

Morton and Priscilla, 43, are a little over 1/16th of the way to exercising off obesity.  After deciding she needed to makes some changes in her life, Priscilla made up her mind to become more conscious… [More]

104 Diet & Fitness Innovations for Men & Women (SUPER GALLERY)

With the media so focused on body shape, from profiling the diets of skinny celebrities to covering the obesity epidemic, the demand for innovations in diet and fitness is rising significantly. The following… [More]

Oh, It Helps Not to Eat Here:

Fat Burgers - The 24 Ounce Quadruple C With 1/2 a Pound of Cheese and Bacon (GALLERY)

In a culture increasingly obsessed with fat content, it seems only natural that there should be a backlash.  In this case, it comes in the form of fat burgers. Dangerous Dan’s Diner in Toronto offers… [More]

Heart Attack Grill - Fat Burgers, Sexy Nurses, Beer, Cigarettes and Wheelchairs (VIDEO)

Yesterday, I introduced you to fat burgers, the backlash against health food. Now I present you with a more extreme version of the same concept: The controversial Heart Attack Grill. The Heart Attack… [More]

Don’t Worry Though, It’s Not Just Humans:

Diet Pill for Obese Dogs

You love your dog. You feed him well or maybe too well. So the result is your dog is overweight. What will you do?  Yarvitan is your answer. It’s the world’s first anti-obesity drug for dogs. The… [More]

And Maybe Obesity Ain’t so Bad After All

Big Is Beautiful - Miss Jumbo Queen Thai Beauty Pageant (VIDEO)

Being thin won’t win you the crown at Thailand’s Miss Jumbo Queen beauty pageant; you have to be big-bodied with an even bigger personality!  A refreshing change to the usual skinny models that have received… [More]

Jean Paul Gaultier using size 20+ models

At this weeks Paris Fashion week Gultier used a woman who clearly was not the model for his famouns perfume botel. Perhaps taking the Spanish Fashion week requirement (women must have a minumum Body Mass… [More]