<p>qdogpa, you really haven’t ever talked to someone who worked their social status, including income, into a conversation? Lucky you!</p>
<p>The midwest may be overall heavier but getting the perspective that people on the east coast are thinner because of what one sees in Boston is a gross overgeneralization.</p>
<p>A 2010 obesity map shows that the Southwest, Montana, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Alaska, Hawaii and Connecticut are the normal weight states. The midwest, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and several Northwest states are overweight with the South Central (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and a few others in the obese category.</p>
<p>BTW, this page has a graphic showing obesity over time from the mid-1980s to near-today. It’s amazing to watch the country go from normal weight to overweight. There are six categories of BMI and the entire country is in the upper three categories - it’s just a matter of whether your state is normal, overweight or obese. Go back a few decades and many states were in the underweight category and one could argue that that’s not a bad place to be.</p>
<p>[Obesity</a> and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: U.S. Obesity Trends | DNPAO | CDC](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html]Obesity”>http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html)</p>
<p>Huh? The map doesn’t say anything about underweight or normal weight, just the percentage of people who are obese (defined as BMI >= 30).</p>
<p>For 2010, even the state with the least obesity still had 21% of the adult population with BMI >= 30 (and, on a population basis, very few people that heavy are muscular athletes or body builders). Mississippi is at the other end of the scale with 34% with BMI >= 30.</p>
<p>Oops, I misread the map. I thought those were BMI numbers. I think that the argument on using Boston or New York as a proxy for the East Coast still stands.</p>
<p>I’m sure it’s an over-generalization, but obesity in the Southland has its roots in the fact that southerners love fried foods and LARD. Some relatives of mine turn up their noses at baked fish, baked chicken or roasted pork chops. Fried green tomatoes anyone? What about fried okra? And southern biscuits famously have a much higher calorie content than bread from loaves. And every good baker knows that lard makes for a superior pie crust. Everyday consumption of carbohydrates like grits and white rice doesen’t help, though I love a bowl of hot creamy grits. Southerners’ saving grace are green vegetables like collards, mustard and turnip greens, butter beans and…Poke Salat!!! LOL.</p>
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<p>Except that the CDC statistics linked by ucbalumnus in post #116 don’t particularly bear out your observations. The obesity rate in California (24.0%) is roughly the same as in New York (23.9%), New Jersey (23.8%), Massachusetts (23.0%) and Connecticut (22.5%). Minnesota is only slightly higher at 24.8%. The least obese places in the country are Colorado (21.0%) and Washington, DC (22.2%). Except for Michigan (30.9%), the Midwest is not notably more obese than the rest of the country; Wisconsin (26.3%) compares favorably to Oregon (26.8%), Minnesota (24.8%) compares favorably to Washington State (25.5%), and Illinois (28.2%) compares favorably to Pennsylvania (28.6%).</p>
<p>The states with the highest obesity rates are in the South: Mississippi (34.0%), West Virginia (32.5%), Alabama (32.2%), South Carolina (31.5%), Kentucky (31.3%), Louisiana (31.0%), Texas (31.0%). Other Southern states are not far behind (Tennessee 30.8%, Arkansas 30.1%, Georgia 29.6%). That may be partly due to regional differences in diet (I associate Southern cooking with lots of fried foods, fatty parts of the hog, vegetables cooked in lard, rich desserts, and sweet tea), higher poverty rates (historically, obesity rates have been higher among poor people, and there’s still a correlation, although wealthier people are rapidly closing the gap), and differences in racial/ethnic composition (obesity rates are considerably higher among blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians than among whites and Asians).</p>
<p>My mantra: never trust a skinny cook. Originally from Iowa, I have often laughed about how we referred to Jello concoctions as salads. When I was home in the fall, my dear, sweet aunt and uncle took me to a restaurant that in addition to having 17 pie varieties on the menu, an Oreo salad was offered. Of course, I had to order that. It was (I am guessing) a combination of Cool Whip, pudding, and Oreos. Now that was my kind of salad.</p>
<p><a href=“obesity%20rates%20are%20considerably%20higher%20among%20blacks,%20Hispanics,%20and%20American%20Indians%20than%20among%20whites%20and%20Asians”>QUOTE=bclintonk</a>.
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<p>However, it is worth noting that genetic differences in body fat and muscle mean that the same BMI can mean different levels of body fat percentage on average. For example (in the US), a population of white people with BMI 25 has an average body fat percentage similar to a population of Asian people with BMI 23, a population of black people with BMI 26, and a population of Polynesian people with BMI 29 (i.e. black and Polynesian people are, on average, leaner for the same weight, while Asian people are, on average, fatter for the same weight – though individuals can vary considerably from the averages).</p>
<p>[Body</a> mass index and percent body fat: a meta analysis among different ethnic groups](<a href=“http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v22/n12/abs/0800741a.html]Body”>Body mass index and percent body fat: a meta analysis among different ethnic groups | International Journal of Obesity)</p>
<p>Bopambo, never have had a conversation where income levels were discussed…perhaps because those that actually have wealth,don’t need to brag about it…</p>
<p>Grits in the cereal aisle made by Quaker are not the kind of grits that most born & bred Southerners would want to eat ;)</p>
<p>It’s my experience that the question “where are you from” means different things in different parts of the country. Growing up in an area of NJ where most people were at most 2 generations removed from emigrating, it was about nationality. My mom (who is 81 and from England) still asks “what type of name is that?” or “what’s their background?” when someone new enters our social circle. </p>
<p>Here in TN most people have had family in this country for generations and asking them about their nationality is confusing: they’re American! If pressed they’ll usually say something like “well, I remember hearing that our family originally came from Scotland” or something like that. Our area has a lot of transplants, so the question “where are you from?” usually ends up with them saying where they grew up.</p>
<p>This conversation brought up something that after 20 years I didn’t quite realize before. I grew up in NJ as a second generation American. Grandmother literally came over “on the boat” and through Ellis Island as did my other relatives, though not as amazing a story as my grandmothers journey. My childhood was very centered on Irish and German heritage, food, stories, holidays - so much of what we did was what was done in the “old country”. However, my friends were irish catholic, jewish, italian and their heritage was known to everyone. I’d go to their homes for dinners or holidays and see how different things were than my own home. </p>
<p>My hubby on the other hand was raised in WV, where they didn’t even really know where they came from - he was raised with no ethnic roots beyond the old methodist pot luck sunday with the green bean and onion casserole. I remember how funny it was for him to meet my relatives with thick accents and food he didn’t think people really ate. </p>
<p>It’s a little sad to realize that I didn’t really pass on that much to my kids since we moved away and dh had no real heritage and the area we live in now is not particularly anything beyond old farming families and dc refugees.</p>
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<p>When someone tells me where they are from, I immediately picture the area. So if someone tells me they are from San Diego, I’ll remember my visit there and think of the museums we saw and how we visited the beach, etc. If someone tells me they are from San Francisco, I’ll think of Chinatown, Fishermans wharf and how when we visited it was cooler then I expected. Sonoma Valley conjures up pictures of my husbands cousin. Portland? My husbands family and the Rose Gardens, a cool downtown. Washington State? I think of Mt. St. Helen and how the trees were all replaced on one side of the mountain, but not on the other. So, yes, I absolutely think of the different areas of the states when someone says West Coast. </p>
<p>It’s not that it’s good or bad to be from one place or another, more like it’s incorrect and sloppy to not specify, because they are different. I don’t live in a city, don’t want to live in a city and don’t want to be associated with a city. So to say that all of us on the East Coast are a certain way because people in this city (maybe hundreds of miles away) or that city is like that is galling.</p>
<p>And yes, I can understand why a Californian wouldn’t mind being mistaken for someone from Oregon or Washington - that’s usually a good connotation. I’m not sure someone from Oregon or Washington would want to be mistaken for a Californian. Or maybe I’m wrong and everyone on the West Coast is just laid back. ;)</p>
<p>I have lived at length in every region of the USA. Overall my favorite for being genuinely friendly, open, knowing how to drive and fast-paced but still mellow is SoCal. PAC NW is way too passive-aggressive and people like to inform you of how you are violating the rules at way too many instances whichmakes me want to violate every one I can. I jaywalk just because I know it bugs people. Only place where every time my wife boards a plane early due to some non-obvious handicap (16 knee surgeries and trouble walking and standing for very long) somebody always has to point out it is not time for general boarding yet. Also people seem to insist on doing exactly the speed limit in the passing lane and will not pull over. When they get the light- flash they get really upset. Driving in Socal for a week for the Rose Bowl was such a treat. People will move over no matter how far over the limit they or you might be going. (In LA 85 is the new 65). East Coast is just a bit too much in your face even for me and needlessly overwrought about everything. Also statements about emphasis on family and money still too true. South is very nice but less genuine than most. They are less welcoming of new folks too but do not have the P-A thing down. They do have some great local foods and better service and respect. Midwest a bit dull and too many drink too much. Outside big cities food is pretty bad. Also a little too retiring to the point of being obnoxious. It is OK to brag a little you know.</p>
<p>why is it so hard for so many to understand that if you are not passing, to stay in the right lane?..and if you happen to be in the left lane and someone is coming up fast behind you, to move the heck over.</p>
<p>I am from Calif (a native) and live now on the east coast, have for over 20 years. One thing most forget is that most people who live in Calif, are not native Californians but sort of wish they were so no one asks where you are from because they like to think that they are “Californians” now.</p>
<p>People on the west coast are more laid back but honestly, it all has a lot to do with the weather. In Calif, if you didn’t get to it today, no problem, it will be sunny tomm. Here in the east, I find it interesting how right after Labor day, the weather really does change meaning summer is over and people gear up for the next season.</p>
<p>^^Yes. I know I’d be a lot more friendlier it it were 70 and sunny all the time.<br>
Labor Day>>Thanksgiving=getting everything cleaned, put away, insulated and ready for winter.<br>
Dec>>March=wind, snow, gray, occasional blizzard. All extra $$ goes to pay heat bill.
March, April=mud season. Oh, and tornadoes.
May, June=get everything out, cleaned, summer IS coming. 
July, Aug=swelter in the humdity.<br>
Repeat. Every year. No one, no one…moves to Indiana for the weather.</p>
<p>kathiep,
Is Pennsylvania considered “East Coast?” It is not on the coast (that I know of).</p>
<p>I have heard some people refer to Arizona as being “West Coast,” but it is not. It is in the West or Southwest, but not the West Coast.</p>
<p>“why is it so hard for so many to understand that if you are not passing, to stay in the right lane?..and if you happen to be in the left lane and someone is coming up fast behind you, to move the heck over.”</p>
<p>And when you pull out to pass on the right (which is legal in many states), the left-lane addict decides he’s not going to be passed … and speeds up. Drop back and pull into the left lane behind him … and he slows down again.</p>
<p>Bay, i think if you use the i-95 corridor as the line dividing East Coast,then SE PA would and shold be considered ‘east coast’ ,but most of PA would not be considered East Coast</p>
<p>[East</a> Coast of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_of_the_United_States]East”>East Coast of the United States - Wikipedia)</p>
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