The correlation between obesity and voting Republican

[octoberlib]

37.5%. That’s the percentage of U.S. adults who are not just overweight, but obese. The figure comes from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 — but it’s pretty much the same obesity rate we see year after year.

We’ve heard plenty of medical reasons for this. But there’s also a political correlation. Look at states where total obesity levels went above 30 percent last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Aside from Michigan, every single one of them voted for Mitt Romney last week, by a safe margin. These are solid red states like Indiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Louisiana and — far and away, the heaviest of all — Mississippi.

If the election were just held among the fattest, least healthy places in America, Mitt Romney would be going into the White House — with a mandate.

In contrast, look at the states with obesity levels under 25 percent. Out of 11 states, all but three went for Obama.

Does this mean voting Republican is fattening? Well, probably not. But we can say one thing for sure: The states that voted for Obama generally seem to know what’s good for them.

http://current.com/shows/viewpoint/blog/the-correlation-between-obesity-and-voting-republican/

[dsc]

1. wow

take out obese and replace it with virtually any other descriptor of a minority group and your post would be considered the bigotry it is.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

3. Obesity is a choice.

And it is the greatest preventable public health crises ever.

There is nothing dismorphic about considering obesity unhealthy.

[dsc]

5. so it is the inherant bad health of the obese that would cause them to vote for Obama

really? Silly me for thinking the OP was calling the obese stupid, or right wing.

[whistler162]

6. So is stupidity.....

why have you embrassed it?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. You've obviously never suffered from a dead thyroid, have you?????

[RomneyLies]

9. That's the biggest load of bullshit I ever heard

Obesity is a disease.

[onecent]

11. You are so MISinformed!!!!! You might want to do your research! n/t

[calico1]

4. The highest obesity rates tend to be in the South.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/19/state-obesity-rates-could-skyrocket-by-2030/57799906/1

Also the top ten States in education levels voted Blue, the bottom 10, except for one voted Red.

Most tax dollars spent on programs to help the poor go to the South. This has been discussed here many times.

Lower education levels + higher poverty levels tend to = higher obesity rates.

I'm not trying to insult anyone, it's just the statistics.

[Fawke Em]

2. I see how Obamacare. is going to work, now!

As more of these idiotic restaurant owners (Denny's, Papa John's, Olive Garden, etc.) react to Obamacare by cutting down worker hours, an even greater number of liberals, Democrats and other like-minded people will boycott these establishments.

By boycotting these restaurants, people will be skipping out on some of the most fattening, unhealthy food on the market, thus losing 5 percent of more of their body fat.

And, any nutritionist or general physician will tell you that you'll vastly improve your health just by dropping those extra pounds.

(Just a joke, but there is truth to it. )

[whistler162]

7. Another moronic "study"!

[dmallind]

10. You might want to look at real data

States are not obese - people are. And people are more likely to be obese if they are poor, or black, or have low education levels.

Looking at how those demographics vote is a bit different than assuming they wentr Romney because they live in MS or AL.

[malexand]

12. You're onto something...

Thank you, octoberlib.

Beyond the sad humor in this story, it really does require more study and overlaps to so many areas beyond food, BMI, et al., including education and health care.

In the spirit of full disclosure, my BMI is 19.7 (6'3" and 158 lbs.). Yes, I'm a California vegan.

It's easy to calculate your BMI online. One such site:
http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bminojs.htm

[mainer]

13. It's about southern cooking. This is cultural obesity.

I just spent a few weeks down south, where most choices on the menu (even in fine restaurants) were either deep-fried or drenched in sweet sauces. Even their famous crispy flounder was covered in a sweet sauce. Portions were outrageously huge. And don't get me started on the grits.

[Tom Ripley]

14. I'm 6' and 140lbs, and still find your post to be fucking offensive

[bluedigger]

15. Correlation is not causation.

Poverty contributes to obesity, along with personal health factors. You might as well compare annual snowfall in red states and blue states. People obviously vote R due to lack of snow...