As Current TV looks at issues regarding nutrition this week, we can’t forget America’s stubborn weight problem.
Which brings us to our number of the day: 37.5.
That’s the percentage of U.S. adults who are not just overweight, but obese. The figure comes from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 — but it’s pretty much the same obesity rate we see year after year.
We’ve heard plenty of medical reasons for this. But there’s also a political correlation. Look at states where total obesity levels went above 30 percent last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Aside from Michigan, every single one of them voted for Mitt Romney last week, by a safe margin. These are solid red states like Indiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Louisiana and — far and away, the heaviest of all — Mississippi.
If the election were just held among the fattest, least healthy places in America, Mitt Romney would be going into the White House — with a mandate.
In contrast, look at the states with obesity levels under 25 percent. Out of 11 states, all but three went for Obama.
Does this mean voting Republican is fattening? Well, probably not. But we can say one thing for sure: The states that voted for Obama generally seem to know what’s good for them.
