cup of jojo

“How We Die (in one chart)” —1900 vs 2010

So interesting! Things to keep in mind looking at this:

• we live a lot longer now (because we aren’t very likely to die young of tuberculosis, diptheria, pneumonia, influenza, etc), and you are more likely to die of cancer & heart disease the older you get
• this is showing # of deaths per 100,000 people, so these are comparable statistics even though the population has increased
• human mortality rate hasn’t changed since 1900. It’s still 100%.

Click on this CDC map to watch the U.S. get fatter from 1985 to 2010.

Fact: in 2010, NO state reported an obesity rate of less than 20%. 12 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30% or more.

Review: obesity means a body mass index of 30 or greater. Calculate your BMI by multiplying your weight in pounds x 103, then dividing that number by your height in inches, squared. Or click here and use an online calculator. 

Examples: 

A person who is 5’5” and weighs 180lbs has a BMI of 30.

A person who is 6’0” and weighs 225 has a BMI of 30.

Debate: BMI is a controversial method of health assessment because it is so simplified, but debate it as much as you want, we KNOW health starts to significantly deteriorate in MOST people when BMI approaches and exceeds 30.