1. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas Obesity rate: 38.8 percent Annual obesity-related costs: $410.9 million 5. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas Obesity rate: 33.8 percent Annual obesity-related costs: $182.8 million http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-fattest-cities.html
Hey, don't knock Bakersfield. When I was a kid the family was traveling and our beloved pet beagle went nuts and ate the upholstery of our station wagon while we were eating dinner in a restaurant there. Dad went apeshit and decided he was going to give the dog to the Humane Society of Bakersfield. The guy heard all the bawling kids in the background (at my mom's suggestion, we even brought out our money to offer to pay for the car) and talked him down. God bless Bakersfield. Every inbred pound of it.
No Deep South is surprising. The Mexicans are helping the rest of us keep pace though. The Chicago Tribune had an article about how the Hispanic kids eat at the local schools. Toss all the salads in the garbage, all the vegetables, all the healthy main courses. Load up on breaded spicy chicken tenders and fries. And Cokes to drink. All those calories on a short frame ... the result, wide-bodied short people. Such a shame as the traditional Mexican diet is very healthy (and tasty.)