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Maine is the 'fattest state' in New England

By Associated Press
Published: Jul 03, 2009 12:00 am
BANGOR, Maine (AP) - A new report says Maine is still the fattest state in New England.

The nonprofit Trust for America's Health released its annual "F as in Fat" report this week ranking states in terms of obesity rates.

According to the report, about 25 percent of Mainers are clinically obese, up from 24 percent in last year's report. Maine had the highest obesity rate in New England, but was 35th nationally.

Mississippi had the highest rates, while Colorado had the lowest.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Maine's top health official, told the Bangor Daily News that the high obesity numbers have been decades in the making and that it will take time to turn them around.

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Comments

Taxpoor says

Its bad enought to be a FAT SLOB but its even worse when you go shopping with out taking a shower or bath. The guy I had the misfortune of walking pass in a store stunk so bad people had their shirts covering their mouth and nose at the checkout. They should have told him to leave the store and not return till he could clean up. It was more then that he had been working hard that day. More like he didnt know about keeping clean or just didnt care. From the looks of him hes probably just LAZY & didnt care.

Posted 19 weeks ago (permalink)

Blue Eyes says

You know, I am overweight, and we can all sit around and put blame on everything else. But it all boils down to the fact that it's us, the individual, that buys and consumes the foods that make us overweight. I am doing my best,now, to eat as healthy as I can. Yes, the real healthy food is expensive, so I eat less of the food I can afford. It just kills me when I treat myself to a meal out, and see this horribly obese person order the largest portion of the worst food they could order. And this very person is in a wheelchair because they can't walk due to their size. Come on people, America has become lazy. And who's kidding who! We love food! I admit I do! But I have no one to blame but myself for the size of my body. The one thing that does make me laugh is when I go see my doctor....who is far from a sex goddess herself....and she has the nerve to tell me that I am obese! What the hell?

Posted 19 weeks ago (permalink)

Jay Bee says

It's not the food. We don't walk anywhere anymore. Everyone got their house on four acres in the middle of nowhere. I believe Maine is only second to Montana in terms of miles driven per person per year. People walk more in Portland, and they don't seem to weigh more than walruses.

My point - Mainers are LAZY. And anti-social.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

leigh48 says

Prices dont help !!
Some of us cant afford to buy healthy..buying vegetables and fruit for a family is outrageous so its macaroni or spagahetti or something else with no good nutrition.
Cost wise would rather eat 5 days opposed to eating 2 days for same $$

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

DR says

Embarassment over being fat used to keep us slimmer. Ever since it's been politically incorrect to mention or even notice that someone's bigger than their draft horse, people get bigger...and bigger...and bigger....and hey, I'm not saying it's easy to keep weight off as you get older. But children shouldn't be fatter than grown pigs, and no obese person should be buying carts full of totally fat-ladened, unhealthy foods in the grocery store each week.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

taxpayer says

Bingo! I think you have summed it up nicely! We're too politically correct about EVERYTHING in this country!

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

triumph says

If it we were 24% obese last year, and this year it's 25%, YES it will take time to turn it around at that rate. It would not happen in forever. Each person needs to take responsibility for his/her life. In Maine, there's too much worry about how each of us is victimized by others, and too little about what we should be doing about our own lives.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

Hulk's picture

Hulk says

Just wait until we get that wonderful "very needed" "free" government health care. Guaranteed you will be penalized or denied care in some way if you're fat. Unless you're one of the parasite class, government worker or on the dole.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

J says

Dora-- let me guess-- you are going to blame Maine's obesity problem on having beverages available in Maine's middle/high schools. It's not just the beverages. It's also attributed to the parents of these kids; as well as, technological advances that keep these fat kids inside. Looks like YOU could use some exercise as well, Ms. Mills-- talk about the kettle calling the pot black. . .

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

Reason says

Reason with me on this: how about watching tv commercials that advertise food and how good it is, everything from Mickey D's to Seafood Houses, Steak Houses, etc... Do we think that we are being seduced by television to think "FOOD" and eat our way to being Fat... after all the winters in Maine are long too so when we are house bound we are subjected to more and more media telling us just how good this or that is...Think then Reason with me that you should try to do something else than watch tv...have you ever noticed that all commercials seem to run at the same time too? You can not avoid the input... or perhaps you can if you just rent DVD's and watch only the News... but isn't that prime time for folks to eat as well... the plan is Subliminal. Reason says pay attention to the plan.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

mamie says

You don't suppose all those fattys were former smokers?
Now the smokers will get revenge ..All those former smokers that screamed aout the rest that continued to smoke can now laugh with glee as we watch the TWINKIE police go after them!!!!! ha ha ha

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

Hulk's picture

Hulk says

I believe it was Dora Mills who said the State was going to use the same tactics to fight obesity as they used to attack smokers.
Which means taxing fat people.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

will.davis says

@taxpayer You can be a fat worker or a slim slacker. Don't let your ignorance about this country's very needed social services programs impede the very real problem of American obesity.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

will.davis says

@taxpayer You can be a fat worker or a slim slacker. Don't let your ignorance about this country's very needed social services programs impede the very real problem of American obesity.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

Hulk's picture

Hulk says

Will either works for the government dolling out the welfare or is on the receiving end.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

LLC81 says

I think they are two seperate issues, but I must say, I have a hard time watching people I know with there first of the month check, buying tons of crap food!! while, there I stand in line, scrimping to get by.. till pay day, and my husband is working overtime!!! that is just wrong. I'm all for welfare for those in need. But the system is flawed.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

taxpayer says

Hmmm I wonder if there's a correlation between the obesity rate and welfare? Could it be that there are more people in Maine sitting on their butts all day and that's why they're so fat? I wonder more people actually got out and worked if they'd have time to stuff their faces with junk food. Just a thought.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

dnstapes says

and people were complaining about the new law requiring restaurant chains to inform their customers what's in the food. no wonder.

Posted 20 weeks ago (permalink)

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