By LDT45

June 29, 2010 10:38 AM | Link to this

Ohio is way over weight. It’s gross and a sad sight to see, how do you people live with yourelves?

By Twiggy

June 29, 2010 10:39 AM | Link to this

Pick a Mall and people watch for 30 minutes. There’s your answer.

By me

June 29, 2010 10:43 AM | Link to this

Not surprised. I attended the Tatoo event at and could not believe the amount of obese people. Obese people with handicap parking permits, obese people smoking, obese people riding around on wheel chairs etc.

By tina

June 29, 2010 10:46 AM | Link to this

Twiggy: that is true. Obesity is a huge problem in Ohio and all around the country… and the majority of these people who are obese have obese children and it just goes through the generations. A lot of these people want to blame it on thyroid issues (as they sit their and eat their big mac) or it being genetic and although this may be true for some, most of these people just over eat and dont exercise. Laziness is mostly to blame for this problem… my biggest problem with this is seeing handicap stickers on the cars of obese people. They are considered handicapped because they are fat…follow them in the grocery store and look in their carts….nothing healthy

By Max

June 29, 2010 10:49 AM | Link to this

I have friends visit from the West Coast and after seeing a fast food restaurant every other block they always comment, “Doesn’t anyone cook in Ohio?” I think it was NYC which placed a ban on saturated fat cooking oil….well, that’s a start. Maybe charging a ‘wear and tear’ fees for overweight patrons of businesses having stools and chairs would help….Yes, I agree many men like those slim, sexy lady’s bodies but have let themselves look like a cardiac arrest ready to happen. Making it worse is the lack of wardrobe choices which makes the fat guy uniform restricted to resembling the fashion taste of Bart Simpson.

By daniel

June 29, 2010 10:54 AM | Link to this

I think they should add a 5% Fat Tax on all fast food restaurants (defined as having a drive-thru window), as well as 5% tax on pre-packaged junk food in all stores. The only ones affected are those choosing to eat this junk. People would eat less junk and we could pay down the deficit.

By tator tot

June 29, 2010 11:04 AM | Link to this

It’s not what or where you eat, it’s how you eat. Portion control and excerise are the key to staying healthy. Maybe if the fast food restaurants start posting the calories on the menus, people will think twice when ordering. Then again, maybe not.

By Concerned

June 29, 2010 11:49 AM | Link to this

This is a concern & needs to be addressed for a it’s a vicious cycle. Being obese & unhealthy causes diabetes and death also, it certainly causes an increase in healthcare and our taxes being spent to pay for it!

By Mr. Hyde

June 29, 2010 11:50 AM | Link to this

If you want to see how bad the trending to obesity is in the U.S. go to the CDC’s website slash obesity slash data slash trends dot html

By Scott

June 29, 2010 11:51 AM | Link to this

The “obesity epidemic” is a media creation just like “global warming” Where are all of these obese people? I don;t see them anywhere. The government lowers the numbers and all the sudden we are all over weight? Ridiculous. Of course people buy it hook line and sinker because they believe anything htey hear on the news

By Max

June 29, 2010 12:05 PM | Link to this

I could have saved the TFAH funders a piece of cash; just research the Ohio sales of sizes X-XXX black stretch pants bought for their ‘slimming’ effects.

By Mom

June 29, 2010 12:23 PM | Link to this

What concerns me is how many children and young people I see that are more than overweight, they are really FAT. At the rate they are going, they will not live to middle age. This is not just an appearance problem, this is a serious health issue for Ohio and all over. And an economic issue. All the health problems associated with morbid obesity are a financial strain on health care. And who’s going to work to pay into Social Security to support me when I retire? Not these people! They will be on disability from all the fat-rated illnesses, unless they are dead. if you don’t believe this is a real problem, look around!

By Neil Webster

June 29, 2010 12:42 PM | Link to this

You know that obesity is not a sign of a bad person or of bad morals. This isn’t about ethics. It is chemisty, and the medical profession doesn’t have all the answers. Why is it that metabolism is so highly variable? We don’t know, so don’t judge someone as ‘bad’ or inferior just because they are heavy. There is a natural distribution in a population just like there are taller people and shorter people. There are heavier people and skinny people. This is diversity in a population. Adjust and stop being so judgemental of others.

By big and proud

June 29, 2010 1:08 PM | Link to this

I am a woman of size and can tell you that after 12 years of diet and exercise FAILING that it isn’t just the what you put in your body that determins your size. I cook for myself using fresh veggies and lean protiens, I don’t snack unless it is fruit or veggies and I am still over 200lbs. I don’t have a thyroid problem or any other medical issues that contribute. I am just a bit bigger then most. Some of the comments here make me sick to my stomache. You people need to grow up.

By Scott

June 29, 2010 1:51 PM | Link to this

Brenda: The government lowers the numbers, and the media fuels the situation. I worked at my daughters elementary school for 3 separate days, and every kid in that school came by my table to get whayt they ordered. There was not one obese kid there. Just becuse they lower the numbers does not mean everyone is obese. Look around where are all of these obese people.

By Likewise

June 29, 2010 2:05 PM | Link to this

@ Big and Proud: I am the same way. It aggravates me to no end that I eat healthier and exercise far more than most of the thin people I see on a daily basis. Genetics are cruel, but many people are even more so.

By Mom

June 29, 2010 2:06 PM | Link to this

Where are all of these obese people? Where I work, where I shop, where I go to church, where I live. I don’t know how you miss them, Scott. I am a size 14, not small, but I’m becoming average size or smaller.

By Bill

June 29, 2010 2:12 PM | Link to this

Having struggled with weight gain over the past twenty years, I know the problems with trying to loose weight. But I’ve lost almost fifty lbs by eating smarter and less, by working outside doing physical work and am proud to say that it works. For those that are too lazy to cook healthy foods and do anything physical, I fear your future looks bad. If I can do it, anyone can. Don’t give me this ** about DNA and hormones, you’re just lzy and stupid!

By syl

June 29, 2010 2:13 PM | Link to this

stretch pants don’t care who wears them try eating vegetarian once in while, better diet and you won’t be feeding off the disgusting Ohio factory farm industry

By Likewise

June 29, 2010 2:20 PM | Link to this

@ Bill: Good for you. You clearly are one of the people who became overweight due to poor choices, and not genetics. I may be overweight/obese, but I am a heck of a lot healthier than many thin people.

By Stan

June 29, 2010 2:22 PM | Link to this

This country spends more on alcoholism. If you are going to start taxing food because people eat too much, they are going to have to tax beer, wine and alcohol. Half the people driving down the road have had drinks. They kill people. I had a whole lung removed and put on 90 lbs. I can’t walk like I use to. So everyone is not just lazy. Quit judging people by the cover. You people do not have a clue.

By NCF

June 29, 2010 2:25 PM | Link to this

Do you remember when they redefined “obesity” by shifting the BMI back in 1998? Suddenly overweight persons became “obese”. Most of what we everyday people call “overweight” are now clinically defined as “obese”. This is known as moving the goalposts, and has nothing to do with the rates of heart disease or diabetes. You really consider Mel Gibson “obese”? I understand his BMI is 32.

By LDT45

June 29, 2010 2:34 PM | Link to this

What’s so hard about eating right and finding a few days a week to get on a treadmill? No excuses people, if you wanted to be thin you would find a way. Plain and simple.

By NCF

June 29, 2010 2:48 PM | Link to this

BTW, those of you who see so many obese people need to be made aware of your “confirmation bias”. 29 percent means only about 3 out of 10 people in Ohio are categorized as “obese”. If all you see are obese people, maybe the problem is with your judgmental perspective.

By HowFat'sOhio?

June 29, 2010 3:07 PM | Link to this

Ohio is so fat they put double wide angle lenses on all survillance cameras. Ohio is round on both ends and has a Hi (fat) middle. The Buckeye state makes statues outta butter, just in case, we get hungry away from home…

By PJ

June 29, 2010 3:33 PM | Link to this

Lol! My point is really that there are way to many people that want to control everything and everyone. It’s not going to happen. We have free choice, in spite of current trends. When people want to lose weight, they usually can. If not, then that certainly doesn’t make them any less of a person than skinnie minnies! I just think there are way more important things to worry about. Yes, being overweight is a health risk. But the overweight person must address that, not someone else.

By NCF

June 29, 2010 3:39 PM | Link to this

I was going to chime-in on more Ohio-is-fat jokes, but really those should go to Mississippi, which is ranked as most obese for adults as well as children. In fact, the worst of the obese states are in the south. (Also, Texas is ranked #13, same as Ohio.) Government efforts to curb obesity always fail. The RWJF has a publication series called “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America”. The government efforts have been failing for years. Anyone care to guess how long the government has been failing to fix obesity in the US?

By adfj

June 29, 2010 4:24 PM | Link to this

I notice that kids no longer play outside like most of us did when we were kids. Parents need to start taking away the xbox and send the kids out to play more. That will help.

By irishguy

June 29, 2010 4:55 PM | Link to this

Ohh, it’s an epidemic, oh the humanity! Let’s legislate it away, let’s tax the fatties. Let’s ban certain foods. Thank God for the Food Police and the Nanny State! I’m losing weight since those who think the Nanny State can save us from ourselves make me puke.

By Richard Jones

June 29, 2010 5:03 PM | Link to this

Not surprised - high State unemployment has to be a part of the ‘fattening’ of Ohio - too many people havd too much time on their hands - and the fridge is only a few steps away from the computer and television. Cheap food puts weight on quickly, tool.

By Ted

June 29, 2010 7:08 PM | Link to this

In my mid 20’s I struggled with my weight. I went on a diet many times only to go back to my old lazy ways. And I gained it all back every time. I made exercise a priority 7 years ago. I’m over 40 and can eat what ever I want. Get off the couch and turn off the TV. Being fat is worse than smoking. No kidding…look it up.

By BT

June 30, 2010 12:06 AM | Link to this

Ohio fell out of the top ten states for obesity? Damn! How did we let this happen? C’mon people! Belly up to the buffet. I know if we try hard enough we can eat our way back into the top ten! If we try really hard, we might make the top five!

By NCF

June 30, 2010 10:14 AM | Link to this

@”Mom”-“when you can’t tell if a woman is pregnant or fat, it’s not judgmental perspective!” Really? “…it’s just plain gross!” Sounds pretty judgmental to me. But my point is not about your cherry-picked anecdotes, it is about the fact that so many of you cannot see past the fat people you know to notice how statistically few they are. Only three out of ten, ma’am.

By ugh

June 30, 2010 11:49 AM | Link to this

here’s another problem i see. maybe you don’t see a lot of fat people. but there are some people who are skinny but couldn’t walk a mile without getting winded. many skinny people are in worse shape than some bigger people. its more of a laziness epidemic than anything

By w

July 1, 2010 10:00 AM | Link to this

genetics ???? genetics must cause people to flock to buffets or my eyes are seeing double (s)……..

By New here

July 12, 2010 6:23 PM | Link to this

@Scott, June 29, you haven’t been to Ohio, have you. It is definitely not “media hype.” I moved here 6 months ago and it’s actually amazing the difference in the predominant body type here from anywhere else I’ve lived. It’s not just a small difference, people are really enormous. This article doesn’t shed much insight onto why, but the comments have been hilarious.

By New here

July 12, 2010 6:27 PM | Link to this

btw, the consensus here seems to be that it’s lifestyle choices over anything else. Does anyone dispute that as the primary cause?

By NCF

July 22, 2010 2:15 PM | Link to this

I think it’s amusing that nearly one year ago, Amelia posted a blog that says Wal-Mart has a slimming effect on the community. Check the “Seen and Overheard” archives, on the date 7/29/2009 “From Laura Houser, Staff Writer The common perception is that Walmart is bad for America’s waistlines: they drive down the prices on fatty foods, resulting in a league of overweight shoppers. “The chain is also critiqued for a number of other reasons, but the naysayers might be wrong when it comes to encouraging bad eating. “A recent study by economists Art Carden and Charles Courtemanche, of Rhodes College and the University of North Carolina respectively, says that there was a small but statistically significant reduction in obesity rates in communities with a Walmart.” So, there you have it. Or don’t. The obesity thing is very mixed message.