Thursday, June 16, 2005
At least we're not number one (Health)
My personal goal is to expose our lifestyle with facts, as numbers and percentages are terribly interesting. I was recently comparing my native land to other places that have welcomed my type when I found some interesting facts on our general well-being:
We're unhealthy. (The third unhealthiest city in the US to be exact. Two other Ohio cities made the bottom ten. The study was based on Physical Activity, Health Status, Nutrition, Lifestyle Pursuits, and Mental Wellness.
I have a few theories regarding our poor state of health that I'd like to contribute:
1) We're lazy (as a whole) as Cincinnati are thoroughly convinced that we must drive EVERYWHERE.
Our "Metro" (public bus, fondly referred to as "The 'Tro") is our only form of "Mass Transit". No trains. No Subways. No Streetcars. No walking the grueling three blocks to Taco Bell.
We had a subway system once...Our own secret underground railroad. Construction began in 1912 and the system continues to lie in shame underneath the pavement our cars grace. Its demise was blamed on funding in the 1960s, but I find this suspicious timing coinciding with social changes. (Specifically, desegregation. Transporting "others" in to our still segregated neighborhoods must not have appeared such a good idea at the time.)
1/3 of Metro Riders have no other means of transportation. (Translated as "No Car") and 51% are earning less than the current poverty level. With the exception of the 20% who work downtown using the system, we can assume that most are using what could be an excellent system because they must.
2) We love to eat out.
Households in Cincinnati allocated the largest proportion in the entire United States of their total food budget to food away from home at 48.8%. If we were going to eat half of our meals in the most unhealthy way possible, you would think that we could afford to burn the calories it takes to walk a block or so away. This makes me want lots of money to invest in restaurants. Donations are kindly accepted.
3) We love to smoke. Ohioans top the national averages with 6 Ohio cities (including Cincinnati at 21.5%) topping the list. Everyone knows smoking is bad, but it's too tempting after eating that meal at a restaurant or when making the "long" drive home.
4) We love to drink. The Alcoholism Council of the Cincinnati Area estimates that 85,000 to 122,000 Cincinnatians are alcoholics. Holy crap! Our population was only 331,285 in the year 2000. That means that 37% of our total population is addicted to alcohol. 92,586 of that number were under 18. Blindly assuming that we can remove the minors from this study, that makes 51% of the adults remaining alcoholics.
I wonder how many of those are having a beer with their cigarette on the short car ride to the restaurant.
We're unhealthy. (The third unhealthiest city in the US to be exact. Two other Ohio cities made the bottom ten. The study was based on Physical Activity, Health Status, Nutrition, Lifestyle Pursuits, and Mental Wellness.
I have a few theories regarding our poor state of health that I'd like to contribute:
1) We're lazy (as a whole) as Cincinnati are thoroughly convinced that we must drive EVERYWHERE.
Our "Metro" (public bus, fondly referred to as "The 'Tro") is our only form of "Mass Transit". No trains. No Subways. No Streetcars. No walking the grueling three blocks to Taco Bell.
We had a subway system once...Our own secret underground railroad. Construction began in 1912 and the system continues to lie in shame underneath the pavement our cars grace. Its demise was blamed on funding in the 1960s, but I find this suspicious timing coinciding with social changes. (Specifically, desegregation. Transporting "others" in to our still segregated neighborhoods must not have appeared such a good idea at the time.)
1/3 of Metro Riders have no other means of transportation. (Translated as "No Car") and 51% are earning less than the current poverty level. With the exception of the 20% who work downtown using the system, we can assume that most are using what could be an excellent system because they must.
2) We love to eat out.
Households in Cincinnati allocated the largest proportion in the entire United States of their total food budget to food away from home at 48.8%. If we were going to eat half of our meals in the most unhealthy way possible, you would think that we could afford to burn the calories it takes to walk a block or so away. This makes me want lots of money to invest in restaurants. Donations are kindly accepted.
3) We love to smoke. Ohioans top the national averages with 6 Ohio cities (including Cincinnati at 21.5%) topping the list. Everyone knows smoking is bad, but it's too tempting after eating that meal at a restaurant or when making the "long" drive home.
4) We love to drink. The Alcoholism Council of the Cincinnati Area estimates that 85,000 to 122,000 Cincinnatians are alcoholics. Holy crap! Our population was only 331,285 in the year 2000. That means that 37% of our total population is addicted to alcohol. 92,586 of that number were under 18. Blindly assuming that we can remove the minors from this study, that makes 51% of the adults remaining alcoholics.
I wonder how many of those are having a beer with their cigarette on the short car ride to the restaurant.
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Wow, I had no idea the 'Nati was so unhealthy. I mean, I knew it was ridiculously unhealthy, but until I saw that "Unhealthiest Cities in the US" study, I had no idea just how unhealthy we are. I find it kind of hard to believe that people are unhealthier in the 'Nati than they are down here in Middleofnowhere, KY. The average size of the people down here makes me look like a damn Victoria's Secret model. And that's no joke.
I enjoyed all of your informative linkage! Thanks!
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I enjoyed all of your informative linkage! Thanks!
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