A couple of readers have challenged Walt's assertion that Americans are fatter than others. It's true that there are part of the world where you can see large numbers of obese people. Samoa and South Africa spring to mind, although in South Africa the fattitude seems largely confined (or unconfined) to women. In fact, it's regarded as a sign of beauty.
In the case of the Excited States of America, though, we're talking about a huge number of fatties. "We're not talking about an obscure population," said James Zervios, spokesman for the Obesity Action Coalition in Tampa. "We're talking 93 million people."
That is to say, 93 million Americans are overweight. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in three Americans is overweight and another one-third is obese, and about one in 20 is at least 100 pounds heavier than he or she should be, or "morbidly obese."
I already said that. I didn't have a number to put to the assertion, but had and still have full confidence in what I see with my own eyes. In fact, I'm thinking of going to the optometrist to see if my glasses can be fitted with wide-angle lenses, just so I can see all of the tubbies waiting at the airport to occupy the seat next to mine.
Thanks to Agent 17 for sending along a recent article from the Palm Beach Post which gives us the above figures. [Don't go for the cheap joke! Ed.]
No comments:
Post a Comment