Fighting the fat fight
Following up on Steven’s post Chicago: Fit or fat, we’re #1!, Dr. Terry Mason (Health Commissioner) has made it a priority to tone Chicago’s physique.
On an interesting note, the commissioner also took offense to the ways in which Men’s Health determined their fattest cities. Sure, we can’t go outside and run 365 days a year. And we certainly love food in Chicago. But neither of those things makes us inherently fat.
Of course not exercising and overeating cause people to be fat. What are you talking about?
When did I say that people in Chicago don’t exercise and overeat?
What I was saying (and the commissioner was saying) was that Men’s Health was flawed in the way that they collected data. The put an emphasis on climate, so Chicago took a hit for that. What I was saying is that you don’t need to be outdoors to exercise. I do all my exercise in the comfort of my home. I am sure many other do as well. The fact that it is cold here doesn’t make us fat.
They also gave weight to the number of fatty food establishments. What I was saying is that, while we like food in Chicago and are a food city, that doesn’t automatically make us fat. Overeating, indeed, makes people fat. The presence of places to eat does not make people fat.
The metrics by which Men’s Health made their list were flawed. That’s all.
Keep at it Ben- you’ll land Chicago on the list of stupidest cities.
Now I understand. I didn’t read the article – I was just going off these sentences.
“Sure, we can’t go outside and run 365 days a year. And we certainly love food in Chicago. But neither of those things makes us inherently fat.”
I agree that the metrics are flawed.
Hopefully, you can understand the confusion.
Nikkos-
You’re a very rude person. Just thought I’d let you know.
You know, Ben, if you watch Fox News and listen to Bush with the same critical thinking skills you used to read Lauren’s post, I can understand why you get it all so incredibly wrong.
Some people are just intent on finding something to argue about.
I think the only way to determine a city’s health is to analyze medical records, insurance claims and payments, do a city-wide weight-in…things that magazines generally aren’t going to have the power to do. This method of looking at weather and food joints just isn’t cutting it. Reading the Trib article I mentioned in the fit/fat post, Baltimore residents were pretty much astonished that they were considered the most fit. The way they describe it, they’re the fast food king of the land.
That said, anyone for a polish? Damn, I’m hungry.
Apparently everyone missed the part where I acknowledged my mistake.
A polish sounds good, but a gyro with extra tzatziki sounds better. Good thing I just did 30 minutes of lunges and leg lifts in my dining room.
Oh man, don’t get me started. I’m sitting here, too tired to cook…might just have to order a large beef fried rice from Marks Chop Suey. Or perhaps some tacos from Tarascas…or maybe some of the Hans’ All Natural Apple Chicken Sausage from last night…