'Diabetes Belt' Outlined

Having lived in Colorado for 30+ years, and now temporarily in Tennessee, this observation is very true. However, what no one else mentions is that there isn't much if anything to DO for pleasurable exercise in many areas of the mid-South and deep South. It's way too hot and humid to do anything outside in the summer and it's fairly cold and rainy during the winter months. Not many metropolitan opportunities or nice locations for walking, hiking, bike riding, etc. The "let's get out and DO something" mentality that prevails in Colorado just doesn't exist in the South, and that lack of mobility just continues on from generation to generation, hence the ongoing problems. What is perceived as laziness may be simply the result of of nothing to do. Yes, there is a certain percentage of people who make the ffort and do exercise, but that percentage is much lower than in other areas of the country.

robin of TN 3:17PM March 08, 2011

Nature taking it's course is public tax dollars being spent to support the medical costs of people leading poor lifestyles.

jerome of MN 2:59PM March 08, 2011

I'm no doctor, but it seems less than coincidental to me, that the world largest and major creators and distributors of high sugar and high fructose corn syrup soft drinks, lie at the very epicenter of this map. Coca Cola out of Atlanta, Georga (which produces more than just Coca Cola... several hundreds of different brands of softdrinks) and Pepsi Cola out of New Bern, North Carolina (ditto). You can also add in Dr. Pepper of Waco, TX, on the edge of the map, who would obviously distribute eastward into the hot zone of the map, as there's not much population westward (desert).

Soft drinks have been directly linked to a world of health problems, including insulin resistance, hypoglycemia, diabetes, stomach acid and ulcers, tooth decay, obesity, metabolic syndrome X, flatulence, and chronic fatigue. Naked calories rob the body of vitamins and minerals, and provide no fiber to create a satiated feeling, leading to their over consumption, particularly when the world's most highly consumed and addictive drug caffeine is added into this witch's brew of a mix.

Soft drinks & Poor Nutrition leading to Obseity.... leading clogged arteries, and stroke. Coincidence? I don't think so. Open anybody's refrigerator in the south, and no matter how empty it will be of real food in poor households, you'll find Coca Cola, Pepsi, some other soft drink, Kool Aide or Gatoraide, or sweet tea.

Dr. Stein of GA 2:49PM March 08, 2011