"What we found is the West North Central region has about 41 percent obesity compared to 31 percent obesity in the southern region that includes Alabama and Mississippi," said George Howard, professor in the Department of Biostatics at UAB. "By the way, 31 percent is not a good thing -- but it's not at the bottom."
So why did the Southerners get such a reputation? Because they are more honest than people in other states! In a nationwide telephone survey done by the Centers for Disease Control, respondents were asked their height and weight, among other things. The results showed the South as the most obese states, but when the scales were brought out, the results were surprising!
It turns out that most people lie about their weight when asked on a telephone – but not in the South. Turns out Southerners fudge less about their height and their weight, which created the impression that they were more obese because everybody else was just being dishonest!
