Balance of Food

This story reminds me of a joke: What do you call a person in Wisconsin with thin thighs? A tourist. But seriously, a recent study stated that slightly more than one in five Wisconsin residents is obese. The study came over a 10-year period. The mark went from 18 percent in 1994 to 21 percent in 2003. Any way you look at it, these are quite heavy figures. For those who aren't familiar with Wisconsin's diet, it involves considerable amounts of cheese, brats (bratwursts, it's a sausage), beer, and Friday fish frys. Oh, and there's custard. Imagine really rich ice cream and then add eggs to it. Then there's the cold winters, so you have to bundle up with layers of fat. But Wisconsin is a friendly place to go. Just bring your appetite. We also don't mean to pick on Kentucky as well. I love Wisconsin and have been there many times. I have relatives in Kentucky, and have also been there many times. But according to the (Louisville) Courier-Journal, Kentucky ranks among the unhealthiest states. While eating fatty foods is high among the reasons, a combination of smoking (huge tobacco country) and a lack of exercise also fit into the picture. According to the Louisville paper, Kentuckians were fifth worst for cardiovascular deaths and seventh worst for obesity. Kentuckians die at a rate of 18 percent above the national average.