BMI Blues

As Americans continue their ~~race~~ slow, labored walk towards larger and larger coffins, New Yorkers are not far behind. According to a study published yesterday by the Trust for America’s Health, obesity rates rose in 31 U.S. States last year including New York where 22.4% of adults are obese – up by 0.7% from 2005.

New York State is tied for 38th place with New Hampshire while Mississippi can boast the widest waistlines, becoming the first state to break the 30% record. Numbers in the City were a bit heavier where 34% of adults were obese and another 22% were overweight. No states reported a decline in obesity rates last year.

Obesity is determined by a person’s body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by taking your weight in kilograms and dividing it by your height in meters squared. The score is interpreted as follows:

Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

However, the BMI isn’t perfect as it can overestimate obesity in athletic people who have a lot of muscle mass (which weighs more than fat) and can underestimate it in really obese folk who may have muscle atrophy. You can calculate your BMI here. Obesity raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health problems.

The report also looked at New York’s overweight kiddies (aged 10-17) and found that we ranked 18th in the nation, with about 15% of children tipping 25 on the old BMI. Washington DC had the fattest kids at 22.8% and Colorado was the leanest state, with an adult obesity rate of 17.6%.

The causes of obesity are obviously manyfold with the thin quickly pointing out that the chubby just don't exercise enough. While there may be a hint of truth in this (the report shares that the lowest exercise rates were in the states with the highest obesity rates), poverty is also touted as a strong factor where the five poorest states were in the top ten most corpulent.

Photograph of a 2006 NYC marathoner by brainware3000 on Flickr

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Kapil Desai in News on August 28, 2007 1:00 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

I think the reason why NY'rs are getting fatter is because the rest of the country (read: fat people) is moving here.

guest

What that say on the black guy's t-shirt?

guest

38th place? haha The Asians ruined the curve in yer favor for a change!

Reflect

Smaller refrigerators and cabinets might do the trick.

guest

When healthy food becomes as appetizing as non-healthy food, people will get thinner.

www.forgotten-ny.com

matty

I think NYC has some of the skinniest people I've seen in the country. SF and LA too.

In Chicago everyone looks about 10 pounds heavier.

guest

This whole obesity "epidemic" is bullshit... BMI was developed by a mathematician hundreds of years ago and it was NEVER intended to be used for measuring someone in order to determine obesity. Sure, people are fat, but it doesn't mean they're unhealthy, everyone's bodies work differently at all different scales.

Gringcorp

Yep, BMI absolutely sucks as a measure of obesity for tall people. MT should should consult the following site:

http://ufo.mines.edu/~gmurray/BMIApplet/BMIApplet.html

Outter Burrougher

TK, I believe the point put another way is that I look as thin as someone who weighs ten pounds more than me, but who has more muscle and less fat.

TK

i'm no scientist but i think pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat. Muscle is just more dense and looks leaner.

MT

BMI has to be the least reliable way to tell if you are obese or not. When I put in my height and weight (6'1", 185) it tells me I am the high end of normal. Meanwhile, I have 7% body fat as checked by a doctor.

It's like doctors and people who REALLY know tell you - never go by a number alone when determining your healthy weight. It's totally misleading. They really shouldn't be putting stuff like this out through official channels.

guest

How big was the sample size? A rise of .7% is not likely to be statistically significant.

-nisey79

guest

bmi seems to become somewhat skewed the taller you are. i would say 190 at 6'1" is slightly overweight but for example, plug in kevin garnett's stats (6'11" 253). he comes out as overweight. that's just ridiculous