How fat is where you live?

[donnydave]

I'm from a town in between Doncaster and Scunthorpe (fatty central by those numbers) and moved to Cambridge (54.3%), lucky escape!

 

[green1]

It is really silly to set the benchmark at bmi of 25 and then show pics of obese people. It is just a silly story that shows what you can do with statistics.

My BMI is just over 25 and I am not at all fat (I am 5'9" and weigh 12 stone 4lbs) and do everything right (Keep my weight down, eat healthy food and exercise about 5 times a week) . But taking the report figures I am one of the fatties that has a problem.

If my BMI was 25 I'd look like I was about to pop my clogs.

 

[JoeyB]

My hometown is 6th on that list lol

Glad I got out!

 

[Amanda P]

Anyone know how they collect the data?

"The data is based on adjusted, self-reported height and weight measurements which have been collected via questions in the Active People Survey by Sport England since January 2012. This provides data to monitor excess weight in adults (aged 16 years and over) at local authority level for the Public Health Outcomes Framework. PHE has undertaken extensive analysis of the data to ensure it provides a high quality and robust indicator of the prevalence of excess weight among the adult population."

I'm dismayed, but not entirely surprised to see that York-ish, which falls in Ryedale, is fourth fattest at almost 74%. None of that is my fault, but then, nobody asked me to self-report my height and weight.

I'm tempted to think that a survey conducted by something called Sport England might have been biased towards fitter folk - those doing sport. But maybe they mainly asked darts players and sumo wrestlers...

 

[totallyfixed]

"The data is based on adjusted, self-reported height and weight measurements which have been collected via questions in the Active People Survey by Sport England since January 2012. This provides data to monitor excess weight in adults (aged 16 years and over) at local authority level for the Public Health Outcomes Framework. PHE has undertaken extensive analysis of the data to ensure it provides a high quality and robust indicator of the prevalence of excess weight among the adult population."

I'm dismayed, but not entirely surprised to see that York-ish, which falls in Ryedale, is fourth fattest at almost 74%. None of that is my fault, but then, nobody asked me to self-report my height and weight.

I'm tempted to think that a survey conducted by something called Sport England might have been biased towards fitter folk - those doing sport. But maybe they mainly asked darts players and sumo wrestlers...

How depressing.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

If my BMI was 25 I'd look like I was about to pop my clogs.

I am a somewhat largish person and have lots of problems buying decent clothing to fit. When you look at XXXL and it comes up at 48" chest in some shops I just give up. I have often asked why the store buyers don't just stand outside their stores for an hour and actually observe the people walking past and take notice that we are not all skinny.

last time my GP surgery weighed me I was standing there in full lycra (having cycled there) and the BMI scale put me at overweight at 26 and the nurse promptly took one look at me and say, well I can't repeat it only because it will end up all starred out... but basically told me it didn't apply to me and it was an utter load of (more stars). I only consider myself to be "regular", yet I struggle to find jeans/trousers small enough in main stream shops because they usually only stock down to a ladies size 8 or 10 at best nowadays (some don't start sizes until size 12 or 14). I need a size 8 (lower half) when my BMI is 26. My BMI is now back down at 24.0 and my size 8 jeans are too big for me. If I get down to a 'sensible' BMI for my height say of 22 (random figure picked out of the air just happens to be mid way between 18.5 and 25), I need a UK size 4 yet I will still weigh in around 10 stones and finding any clothing that small in this country is a major headache.
(A UK size 8 is hips 35" and waist 26" - I'm around 34" and 30" respectively, so not exactly '...)

 

[Beebo]

People living in urban areas of London appear to be the thinnest. And you cant even say it's wealth related because Tower Halmets, Brent and Lambeth are also high on the list.
I would have thought some nice place in the countyside would have been thinnest, but it seems that urban living is good for you, especially if you are in the South.

 

[marknotgeorge]

Tyne & Wear doesn't appear to feature, but I'm overweight so I ain't helping! Oh well, at least I'm not obese anymore.

It's based on local authorities. Basically, who you pay your council tax to.

 

[Over The Hill]

last time my GP surgery weighed me I was standing there in full lycra (having cycled there) and the BMI scale put me at overweight at 26 and the nurse promptly took one look at me and say, well I can't repeat it only because it will end up all starred out... but basically told me it didn't apply to me and it was an utter load of (more stars). I only consider myself to be "regular", yet I struggle to find jeans/trousers small enough in main stream shops because they usually only stock down to a ladies size 8 or 10 at best nowadays (some don't start sizes until size 12 or 14). I need a size 8 (lower half) when my BMI is 26. My BMI is now back down at 24.0 and my size 8 jeans are too big for me. If I get down to a 'sensible' BMI for my height say of 22 (random figure picked out of the air just happens to be mid way between 18.5 and 25), I need a UK size 4 yet I will still weigh in around 10 stones and finding any clothing that small in this country is a major headache.
(A UK size 8 is hips 35" and waist 26" - I'm around 34" and 30" respectively, so not exactly '...)

I really think we need some pictures.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I really think we need some pictures.

Sorry, you will just go with the word of members who have met me... they will tell you I'm not fat with a BMI of 25! (which is what it was when they met me last month)

 

[piratemousey]

49.2 in Brighton. One of the lowest but still a shocking percentage in my opinion

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

BMI is meaningless.

Oh I don't know, I flew with them before they were taken over by BA and were prettty useful.....

As for obesity, I'm not sure about my area, but I imagine it isn't the worst in Scotland!

 

[slowmotion]

People living in urban areas of London appear to be the thinnest. And you cant even say it's wealth related because Tower Halmets, Brent and Lambeth are also high on the list.
I would have thought some nice place in the countyside would have been thinnest, but it seems that urban living is good for you, especially if you are in the South.
View attachment 37568

Actually, Tower Halmets and Hammersmith and Fulham are not entirely dissimilar in terms of income. I was surprised.

See here...
http://www.londonspovertyprofile.org.uk/indicators/topics/inequality/pay-inequalities-within-london/

EDIT: I just noticed that the chart shows only income of employed residents, so as a measure of poverty it's a bit off the mark. Sorry.

 

[morrisman]

64.5 here in leafy Bucks

 

[Julia9054]

People living in urban areas of London appear to be the thinnest. And you cant even say it's wealth related because Tower Halmets, Brent and Lambeth are also high on the list.
I would have thought some nice place in the countyside would have been thinnest, but it seems that urban living is good for you, especially if you are in the South.
View attachment 37568

Urban populations tend to have a younger average age.
Most people get fatter as we get older.