This supports my theory that city boys are puny weaklings that couldn’t survive a day of chaisin’ elk around the mountains in sub zero weather.
Bronco…theyd probably compensate for technopolis` genetics with tech-gadgets. Except endurance, which no high-tech can buy, obviously.
I have to think that education plays a part in this as well. Many of the people I know with a college degree seem to take better care of themselves.
Now on the other hand, go to podunk USA and the education level drops dramatically. And almost magically, the obesity factor kicks in! Fried foods daily, poor food selections day in and day out. It adds up!
Of course there are exceptions to this but it seems to be the case the majority of the time.
So how does education play a role, exactly? What about someone’s education level contributes to their obesity? Does it mean that those with a lower education level don’t know enough to stay thin? Do they have a lower IQ than others? Are they less motivated in general? Are they in different social classes? Do they make less money than their educated counterparts?
And how are we going to section people off according to education? Will those with only a high school diploma tend to be fatter than those with a 2 year degree? Will those with a 4 year degree be fatter than those with a doctorate on average? How about those who are more well-read than others?
And if education is a contributing factor, what causes different people to reach different education levels?
I only brought the education issue up because it seems to factor in to SOME degree. Sure, you can bring up multiple situations but in some cases it does factor in.
Just let me state that this is obviously is not always the case. There are exceptions.
The degree earned has little to do with what level of education you have in terms of health knowledge. Of course some with nutritional or fitness based degrees would know much more on the subject but as far as every day wellness and fitness it doesn’t take a PHD to stay fit.
One can self-educate themselves for virtually no financial cost. (cost of library card, maybe gym membership) Example of NOT educated…I heard a couple arguing the other day about a fish-fillet from McDonalds. One side said it was healthy and of course we all know thats not true by any stretch of the imagination. “It is fish and not a burger which makes it more healthy…” Conversation made me laugh though. This is just my take on the case of education v. economics.
Michelle gave a great example that should remind us that it is impossible to single out the one or two reasons people are fat. If we knew that we would all be very wealthy people.
Although I’ve never been to NY i’ve noticed this also in regards to the city vs country life in other places. I’ve also thought a lot about it. I think it is multifactoral. The life is faster paced and more stimulating in the city. In the country life is boring dull, apathetic and people just kind’ve seem to become “countrified”. Pace of life probably has a lot to do with it. Take 2 identical twins. Place one in a fast paced city. Place the other in some hick town in the middle of nowhere. I’d be willing to bet after 5 years twin #2 is significantly fatter then twin #1. I’ve lived in cities but right now i live in a very backwoods country town. The people here I’m around certainly don’t eat anymore then those in the city or are they less active, if anything they eat less. But on average they are by and large significantly fatter.
Also genetics probably has a lot to do with it…This is very general and their are huge exceptions, but IMO successful people tend to be free of biochemical problems in comparison to those with genetic tendencies towards obesity, addiction etc. Also intellect and genetic tendencies towards addiction/obesity etc. tend to be inversely related, or at least, its probably more like a bellshaped curve. Evolution-wise, the people genetically pre-diposed probably had ancestors who lived in a feast or famine climate (from cold winters or dry summers),these people would have needed a slow metabolism just to survive and a drive towards the “reward” signal that can be gained from food, drugs etc. So in todays world this is manifested by obesity and addiction amongst these people. Overall I would guess intellect and natural intellectual ability is greater among those residing in a fast paced city environment and lower amongst country folk. So perhaps there is a correlation here.
the social factor plays a large part I believe. I’m from a small mid-western town where the rate of obesity is very high. Its not that their too poor, economically. There is access to fresh foods and organic food is readily available.
What is different is awareness.
There just isn’t much of a social environnment that stresses health.
Its not common to see people running or biking, annd theres only onne gym in town.
In fact I get stares from people while biking or skating, sometimes comments such as “why do that when you can drive?”
Good nutritional information just doesn’t make it into local TV or papers, much less info regarding exercise,
thus there are a greater percentage of people growing up in an area who don’t see eating well & exercise as an important part of life.
my experience anyway
KELLY: Intellectual vs physical. Interesting. I am no ADD (attention deficit disorder) expert, but your post reminded me a question: have you ever seen an hyperactive (Ritalin) fat child?
Maybe my sample is too small, but IMHO all these hyperactive kids and teens are usually ectomorphs (tall, skinny, model, basketball player types), with the exception of petite atomic bomb who are naturally skinny yet overally smaller (reminds me that dog in the Kibbles and Bits who jumps all over).
For some reason, they are usually more neurally gifted (the nerd stereotype comes to mind), and it has been my personal experience that this taller group is effectively quick learners. And, yes, most managers where I work are taller than their employees. IT has also a bigger portion of taller types.
(You could also factor in blood types, but that was another topic in the past and not the point of this little tangent.)
Medication by smoking?
I also have observed that most of them, if they are not, become smokers. My guess is that, asides the calming effects of slower breaths, they have so much energy (or oxigen/sugar) to metabolize that they calm themselves by willingly junking themselves up (thefore using all that surplus neural energy to be sent to detox systems, a similar process to when you eat too much and wind up feeling doo-doo for hours…). I just wonder why they drink coffee like there`s no tomorrow on top of that. Some of them can even drink coffee before going to bed without any effect.
Bizarrely too, a very big portion (above 84%) of schizophrenics smoke.
My suggestion to this (smoker) class (hyperactives who need to smoke to medicate themselves): put them altogether and let them die. At least they won`t take others to the grave with them.
I wonder when science will be able to profile people accordingly and describing all these multi-factorial gene traits that all contribute to ones specific result` (look). Dream on.
Interesting . . . This is in today’s NY Times (you might need to register and have a login ID).
Other concerns would be area of the country, along with rural, urban, or suburban locations.
I don’t know about up north, but I really think those in rural areas in the south take in more calories than those in urban areas. That’s been my observation. Part of that, though, is the kind of foods that they eat. Another factor is that since there is less to do, food (and a lot of it) is involved in a lot of social activities. Think of barbecues, church functions, etc.