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Why Is the South So Heavy?

Written by PETA

Posted 08-01-2008

21 Comments

speedysigns / CC

Fried chicken, fried shrimp, fried fish, chicken-fried steak ... seeing a pattern here? A recent study shows that good ol' Southern-style, high-calorie, high-fat, meat-filled dishes are why the U.S.' Southern states are the nation's most obese. Lordy, y'all! Let's have us some massive amounts of deep-fried animal flesh!

Is your state one of the most obese? The study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced that the top 10 most obese states are Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma.

In an effort to combat soaring obesity rates, PETA has sent a letter to the governor of each of the above-mentioned states with an easy solution: Simply promote a vegetarian lifestyle and encourage more vegetarian options within their respective states. Easy as pumpkin pie.

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sports, obesity, huskies, murder, cannibal, of, North, White Rain Carolina, UNC, tar heels, wildcats, sparty, katie adams, leroy, fattest states, south

Recent Comments

erika commented:

8-5-2008 9:10 PM

wow that is sad... my colesterol sp? just went up 10 points.
ian commented:

8-5-2008 10:31 AM

It really depends on where you go. Outside alot of the more "urban" areas it's pretty redneck. I worked in alot of these areas when I first moved down and it was a huge turn off especially being new to the state of NC. Anyway not everyone is like that but people down here LOVE their pork...no denying that.
Mike Quinoa commented:

8-4-2008 9:55 PM

Lana you said "I have accept the fact that humans are natural carnivores." We are not natural or obligate carnivores such as tiger or lions. Most presentday humans are de facto omnivores. Read The Comparative Anatomy of Eating by Milton R. Mills M.D. to help you decide what we are. httpwww.earthsave.caarticleshealthcomparative.html
Kaitie commented:

8-4-2008 5:13 PM

My parents just came back from visiting Tennessee. All they talked about was how nice the people were yet they were ALL overweight. On top of that they went on and on about how everything they ordered was in SUCH LARGE portions LOTS of MEAT LOTS of FRIED foods and gravy on top of EVERYTHING. I can feel my arteries clogging just thinking about it. I'm going to go snack on some of my Jersey tomatoes now to forget about it!
Amanda Leigh commented:

8-4-2008 1:58 PM

I am one of the southern people ya'll are bashing. I do agree with the 'southern cooking' concept for I grew up with the poor diet of deep fried food and meat heavy meals. I knew no other way at the time for that's what we find in restaurants as well. I am a vegeterian now and I pray that I can reverse all the negativity my body received from this awful diet. However I don't appreciate the bashing of us "good 'ol southern folks". Not all of us are bad. As for the statement of how we treat our animals North Carolina...do NOT group me in that! I don't see North Carolina having an excessive difference in animal cruelty compared to any other state. All types of people abuse animals posh superstars to middle class workers. "Yankees" along with the "Rednecks"... I don't think it matters where you come from or where you live. Animal cruelty is animal cruelty. It shouldn't matter which state has more or less of it. It shouldn't happen AT ALL! I encourage the letter PETA sent about adopting a healthier lifestyle. A lot of people grew up like me not knowing any different and eating awful. I blame my parents for making me obese as a child by being ignorant to the appropriate foods. Kudos to PETA for trying to help the "fatter" states! I wish someone would have informed me a long time ago. The negativity I get from people everyday about my vegetarian choice leaves me baffled. They just don't understand. It's not because all of us "southern folks" are stupid though! Ignorance and stupidity are two seperate things and I wish PETA the best of luck in their attempt to show people better ways of life.
Chris commented:

8-4-2008 11:19 AM

I am also from Texas. True obesity is predominant in the South southern cooking with lots of meat and heavy foods is a huge factor. But you are so right the CRITICIZING tone of some people toward southern traditions and DIALECT win NO ONE over to healthier living. What a bland world it would be without southern lingo. I LOVE my parents' rich funny way of talkin' about the world. It's great making Daddy vegetarian chili and him none the wiser! We have to give ALTERNATIVES I grew up on that food and it was yummy. There are lots of vegetarians where I live and we just give our fellow southerners new ideas leaving criticism behind!
Crystal commented:

8-3-2008 6:18 PM

I think it is great that PETA is trying to enlighten the south I live in Florida by the way. But I think PETA should come to the aid of Native Americans which are suffering from obesity and diabetes. The fattening diet which most have embraced is killing them. Seems the white man has found a way to make them suffer more then they already have. So sad.. A vegan diet would work wonders..
aaron commented:

8-3-2008 4:48 PM

MAN THAT IS REALLY SAD TO READ...IT WILL NEVER CHANGE UNFORTUNATELY
Amy commented:

8-3-2008 2:21 PM

I get so tired of hearing people from northern states stereotyping southern people as fat ignorant fools. I'm from Texas and I must say that I don't even know anyone who speaks or acts like that. It's just another case of judging something you know nothing about. "Lordy ya'll. Let's have us some massive amounts of deepfried animal flesh!" Really!? Please!
Charlene commented:

8-3-2008 1:05 PM

Moving to Alabama from Connecticut was quite a culture shock. Moving from the North you never really "fit in". Being vegan well you might as well be from the moon. These people who can quote the Bible and whose first sentence upon meeting you for the first time when you move down here is Hi where ya'll from and what church do you go to?" should practice what they preach. All animals are God's creation and deserve to be treated with the same respect that these Southerners themselves want. I'm tired of hearing "it's just a dog or it's just a chicken". The only thing I can say is whenever you can push your beliefs watch for abused animals and do what you can to help them whether it's teaching someone about cooking the "vegetarian" way or making a big scene when you find a dog locked in a car at Walmart. Maybe someday the South will get their heads out of 50's leave the Andy Griffith Show back on the archive shelves and realize that the times have changed. Even if the South cooks vegetables they're fried. Yup the South is fat and most but not all are closeminded about animals so I guess I'm glad I don't "fit it".

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