Why We're Fat
Gender and age matter more than you may realize
Ultimately, being overweight is likely to lead to premature death. People who are severely overweight are four times as likely to die before their expected lifespan, and people who are moderately overweight are twice as likely to die early. So the Javauxs take to the track together, walking a mile twice a week. She is slower than he, and she says most people on the track pass her by. But, she says, "We really want to succeed. I'm doing it for him, and he's doing it for me." It just may take her a little longer, and she may have to work a little harder to get there.
The years take shape
How and where we gain weight have to do with age and sex
CHILDHOOD. Lessons learned young can be hard to break. Poor eating habits have caused a huge surge in kids' rate of obesity
PUBERTY. Teenage girls obsess about their weight with good reason. They change from 12 percent fat to 25 percent fat virtually overnight.
PREGNANCY. Weight gained early in pregnancy may be harder to take off later. And men get fatter just by being married.
MIDDLE AGE. These are the danger years, especially for men. Weight carried around the middle is more dangerous than weight on arms and thighs.
OLD AGE. Both men and women lose muscle and bone mass. Appetite wanes, and hormonal protections disappear. Limbs get skinny.
Heavyweight states
States with high percentages of overweight* people tend to be those lightest in their wallets. It may be that fresh fruits and vegetables are harder to find in less affluent areas.
THE HEAVIEST
West Virginia 37.8
Mississippi 37.5
Alaska 36.2
Louisiana 36.1
Alabama 35.8
Kentucky 35.8
THE THINNEST
Arizona 22.5
Massachusetts 26.9
Nevada 27.0
Colorado 27.2
Connecticut 27.4
Vermont 27.4
*People with a body mass index between 25 and 30, taken from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data
With Josh Fischman
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