Can Kerry Beat Bush's Hold on the Obese (Not Just Overweight) Vote?

[taquinas101]

I was looking at the CDC's discussion of the obesity epidemic in the United States (individuals with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while individuals with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese). Overall about 1 in 5 people are obese. One thing that I noticed was that the regional map for obesity looked similar to the electoral map with states with high rates of obesity voting republican. Links to the polls and the CDC are listed below.

There are some exceptions, Colorado (Republican) has the lowest obesity rate at 14.4%, while Michigan (Democrat) has a high obesity rate of 24.4%. However, Bush does seem to have a definite advantage overall in states with high rates of obesity. Is there a way that Kerry and Democrats can target the obese vote and obese states?

Would programs designed to combat obesity, such as physical education funding and nutritional education, offend residents in the Republican obese states?

NEW ENGLAND
Conn. - 17.3
Massachusetts - 16.1

MID-ATLANTIC
New York - 19.7

EAST NORTH CENTRAL
Indiana - 24.0
Michigan - 24.4

WEST NORTH CENTRAL
Kansas - 21.0
Minnesota - 19.2

SOUTH ATLANTIC
West Virginia - 24.6

EAST SOUTH CENTRAL
Miss. - 25.9

WEST SOUTH CENTRAL
Texas - 23.8

MOUNTAIN
Colorado - 14.4

PACIFIC
California - 20.9


http://www.electionprojection.com/elections2004.html

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/index.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/prev_reg.htm

[JPJones]

1. If Kerry is elected, all restaurants will be "All you can eat"

I think the correlation has more to do with poverty than anything. Healthy foods are more expensive and more difficult to obtain than unhealthy foods.

[taquinas101]

2. The Point You Make Is Raised In "Nickel and Dimed."

Barbara Ehrenreich discussed the relationship between obesity and poverty in her book Nickel and Dimed. However, would the electorate in the red states really like to describe themselves as impoverished? Alternatively, are they willing to come to terms with themselves as obese?

Is it better to describe the issue as economic (poverty) or health (obesity) related?

[jpgray]

3. I don't agree with that--healthy foods can be had very cheaply

A large box of Uncle Ben's plain long grain rice, enough rice to last you for a solid week, is about two dollars. A loaf of bread, also enough to last you for a solid week, is around three dollars. If you want absurd amounts of cheese, butter, milk, meat, and sweets--then you are going to pay a lot of money. Grains and greens are very affordable--you can make a week's worth of gourmet pesto for about nine dollars, and you can be rolling in spinach/romaine salads for about four dollars a week. You can get good, healthy food very cheaply--but people like stuff that has that fattening, endorphine-mainpulating taste and is microwave-ready, which means it is likely to be expensive, filled with fats and a glut of unhealthy carbohydrates.