View Full Version : Colorado the skinniest state
We have only 20.7% obese in Colorado. It makes sense since so many people are very outdoorsy and healthy food is easy to find. So I guess that means since i do not have to be at work until 9 I really should keep up my effort and run.
(PS this was on yahoo news but I didn'tthink to attach the link)
We lived in CO forever until about 2 years ago. As we were moving I gained 10 pounds crossing the line into Nebraska.
Hard to believe that "only" 20.7% obese is a good thing.......isn't it?
I think you have to consider the definition of obese.
A few years ago, while getting a checkup at my doctor's office, I was told that at my height (5'11") and age (mid 50's), my ideal weight was about 175lbs. She said that I was obese at my current weight of 190lbs.
I've never been able to reconcile that.
Good point, Alan. I think they base those stats on Body Mass Index (calculator here (http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bminojs.htm)). To be categorized as obese at my height, I'd have to be 186 pounds, which would make me pretty portly. But some people can carry a lot more weight than I do, and look pretty good.
I don't like those height to weight ratio's as a body fat measurement because they don't take into account muscle and bone mass - both which weigh more than fat. So a person may be very muscular, and thus heavy weight-wise, and have very low body fat but the BMI measurement would say they are obese (maybe that was your situation Alan). I remember in the service - which has very strict weight and fitness requirements - lots of big muscular ultra-fit guys were considered "fat or obses" when they were anything but. They changed the way they checked for body fat and that made a world of difference. My weight changes pretty drasticly depending on what sport I am doing. I gain weight (muscles) on purpose when playing beach volleyball but lose weight when running - sometimes a 30 or more pounds difference - but my amount of body fat really doesn't change at all but it would "appear" I was fatter using the BMI scale.
ETA: Just calulated my BMI using Puglogic's link and put in both my "running weight" and my more muscular "volleyball weight" and one was a 17 BMI and the other over 23 BMI even though my body fat and fitness levels were the same.
I don't like those height to weight ratio's as a body fat measurement because they don't take into account muscle and bone mass - both which weigh more than fat. So a person may be very muscular, and thus heavy weight-wise, and have very low body fat but the BMI measurement would say they are obese (maybe that was your situation Alan).
According to the chart my doctor used, I was listed as obese, even though I have a 33 inch waistline. I think about that every time I see one of these 'American obesity' articles or studies.
I am not sure BMI is a particularly good measure to use for people outside the main part of the curve. My wrist bones are ~10 inches in diameter around the bony parts, for instance, and most of my other bones are in the 99th percentile-ish, but I am just over 5'10" now, down from 5'11" in college. My BMI doesn't even fit on the chart, but I can move my anvil with one hand. Takes two hands to move the 500 pound bucket of sand and log I rest it on, but that's because the bucket is unwieldy.
It is possible Neanderthals still walk among you, though :-)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AuSwOBr0ie0/TzA4RzCtaJI/AAAAAAAAEo4/8fXsKo4QZrc/s640/IMG_0486.JPG
Ah yes, can't forget about the hairy knuckle and overhanging brow ridge crowd :-)! My next door neighbor was only 5' 5" but a serious bodybuilder who probably weighted close to 200 pounds. I don't think he had ANY body fat on him at all, yet on a BMI he would have been morbidly obses. Also, BMI as a measure of health and/or fitness is bad too. One can be "overweight" according to BMI yet be very fit and healthy. And one can be a "perfect" weight and have a great BMI but they can be extremely unhealthy and lacking in fitness. I imagine that having too low a BMI woiuld appear bad too, but many distance runners have BMI's under 14 (I did back in the day) but are fit and healthy.
Here's me two years ago, the poster boy of American obesity.
884
Here's me two years ago, the poster boy of American obesity.
884
Oh yes - MORBIDILY OBESE :-)!!! Good example of why I think those charts are useless. Just look at the olympic athletes who are fit, probably healthy, and muscular yet most would be considered obese on a BMI. However, I do think that Colorado is probably a state with alot of very fit and healthy people compared to other states overall. I just don't think the way they measure it is correct. Now to take my own morbidly obese body and roll it on down to the donut shop!
ApatheticNoMore
8-14-12, 2:59pm
I'm sure my bones are way on the other percentile as being super small. I'm not muscular either. I'm 5'4' I weight around 121 pounds. So yea I'm not fat free at that weight. I believe the whole "women are supposed to be fat free" to be unattainable nonsense for most average women anyway. Healthy eating and avoiding garbage? Health measurements (glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure). Now *that* I can focus on though never to the point of dietary perfection. I've also even been fasting ocassionally, and I like the results in terms of feeling of physical well being (I think it can easily be done to excess though, a few times a month is enough - it's still experimental with me - no final verdict). That or stenuous exercise alone would probably keep you out of the diabetes category, especially if you have no genetic tendency or signs toward it, and eat reasonably healthy (ha which is to say probably significantly better than the average person - I haven't read dozens of nutrition books to subsist on restaurant fare). Is it really worth worrying much more about?
ANM, I've been doing the fasting thing too, since something you wrote a few weeks ago. The day-long ones are hard, but a variant on it I do is to confine all my eating to 12 hours of the day, then 12 hours to "clean out." I'll often go for a walk or a run before breakfast, as well. I can't describe how much more clarity I have....really striking difference. ymmv, but this was a good thing for me to stumble over.
If my pants fit and I feel good and DW still checks me out once in a while I just don't even care what a silly chart says. I don't diet. If the pants get a little tight after a big weekend a little extra work on the house, walk the dog a more times, play a little volleyball and things seem to get back in line. And as far as food goes, I follow Julia Child's thinking, "if you're afraid of butter, use cream". Life's just way to short to worry about charts.
ANM, I've been doing the fasting thing too, since something you wrote a few weeks ago. The day-long ones are hard, but a variant on it I do is to confine all my eating to 12 hours of the day, then 12 hours to "clean out." I'll often go for a walk or a run before breakfast, as well. I can't describe how much more clarity I have....really striking difference. ymmv, but this was a good thing for me to stumble over.
I sometimes don't bother to take much, or any, food with me on several-day-long woodsie excursions. Less to carry, going a couple days without food doesn't cause me any trouble as long as I drink plenty of water, and I find I am more in tune with my surroundings than if I were well-fed and snoozy. I'll forage various plants along the way just for practice and minerals/electrolytes, but that's about it. If it went towards 5-6 days, I'd be thinking about setting snares or something.
In Arctic conditions though, I can munch on sticks of butter and feel just fine. All depends on the situation.
Agreed. I've been eating a lot of "weeds" lately too - dandelion, purslane, lamb's quarters, etc. - and I think that helps as well. Sharper and more focused, like I'm "in" life, instead of feeling like a bloated balloon floating just above it.
Charts, schmarts.
Also, I find if I eat a vegan diet for a week or two before going on a hunting/stalking trip, I can get a lot closer to animals - perhaps they can detect the odor of meat-eating primates more readily. Or maybe I'm just sneakier when eating veggies :-)
ToomuchStuff
8-14-12, 8:57pm
I am having a laugh at this thread, thinking about how people can't think but only look at charts and instructions. A few years ago, one of the local PD's went military style on their officers and physical conditioning. One who was considered to be in the best shape was told he was going to have to lose weight, as he was obese. He competed professionally and was at 3% body fat and could do more then the doctors they were using. It almost got to the lawyer stage when someone grew a brain.
Me personally, I am 5'10 and weighed myself for the first time in three years the other day and was at 195 lbs. Years ago, a doctor told me I should be at 165 but with one condition I should actually be at 175 lbs. So I would be right up there with Alan and the morbidly obese scale.
Are we talking winter weight or summer? I'm 5'11" and a summer weight of maybe 175 or so. I have this illusion of being at my high school weight of 160 some day. I'm about the same as Greg... if my jeans fit I figure I'm OK. They tend to get a little snug in winter. The only time I get on scales is when I go to the doctor. In my various travels the generally larger size of folks in the mid-west is always an eye opener. I've not noticed that there are especially large or obese people in the south, but maybe a little. The west coast pretty much seems like here in Colorado. My non-statistical observations.
It would be interesting to see a breakdown by income, education, or ethnicity, rather than state or region. Cheap high carb diets and cultural diet traditions seems as significant. It would also be interesting to see the amount of aerobic exercise, even if it is brisk walking, by demographic grouping,which seems as significant to overall well-being.
It's a study to see older documentaries. People back in the mid-20th century just do not look as large in spite of all the cheese and Campbell's soup based casseroles like I had in my youth. The earlier 1900's robust figures appear to be quite the thing.
I think the BMI is useful as a population statistic to show changes over time, which is exactly this case. Overall, most Americans are not putting on a lot of muscle weight, and nobody who goes from Mississippi to Colorado or vice-versa and has a look at the populationof each is going to think "well, it's big bones and muscle that pushes Mississippi over the edge". A doctor who uses BMI to the detriment of any other measure of a person's health is obviously way off the mark but as part of an assessment isn't a terrible plan. I have a large frame: 5'5" and shoe size 11 but I still aim to keep my BMI below overweight category. I also weigh myself about weekly and adjust accordingly. This is how I know that 4 days in TX last week=4 lbs gained so tomorrow I'll be running. >8) I figure I may as well have a goal to shoot for or maintain at, and BMI is it. Of course the culture in CO helps. Often the locker room discussions after a workout are...about the plans for other exercise later that day.
Last time I went to my doctor to have my blood pressure checked, she was very pleased to see that my former blood pressure was back to normal.
I don't use any salt now, in fact I don't even have any in my kitchen, and she told me that was exactly the right thing to do to keep my blood pressure down.
No problem with that, I don't even like salt any more.
No salt has also reduced my weight. No more heart rate problems either.
I've had a huge problem with getting my heart rate down over the years, so it's a huge relief to not worry about that now.
Tussiemussies
8-15-12, 5:32am
That is so great lizil, it must be a relief to you. Glad it wasn't a hard change for you and that you don't need to be on medication...
What interesting conversation after this,hmm.
I don't pay much attention on anindividual basis, my DR says i am wonderfully healthy but on charts I am overweight. I would really like to be 5-10 lbs lighter because I feel good there but in your 40's sometimes you do not have the responses you like.
What is very interesting to me going from having lived inBoulder, now working in highpoverty areas, and traveling/having family in different regions, is how much of a difference your culture can make in support or not. I stay really on a healthytrack and I am grateful that myextended family is very health oriented, but while I was dating someone it was apparent that was not the norm.I have workedplaces (not inColorado) where they actually laughed when I talked about running and thought I wastoo aloof because I packed healthy lunches. It does affect you, at least I stopped talking about running and more chips and sodas were in my lunch. I saw kids at camp over thesummer, a few had scholarships from our highpoverty schools and most paid a tuition that is substantial. The lunches were really different. Theonly kids I saw getting candy were the high poverty kids, we did not allow sodas, most of the other kids had things like a handfulof bluberries withother healthy foods.
For this school year I am looking at this and the programs we already have available in Colorado, when my son graduates in3years I am willing to move so I am building up what I need to take a Colorado lifestyle somewhere andhope to have an impact.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.