Marshall Brain's Blog

This article really changes the way you look at over-eating and obesity:

Manhattanites prove pound-wise - White residents are thinner than U.S. norm

The basis of the article is this simple fact: people who live in Manhattan are much thinner than the norm. The article puts it this way:

The average body mass index among white Manhattan residents is 23, compared with an average BMI of almost 27 nationwide. Only 34% of white Manhattan residents are overweight, with a BMI of 25 or more, compared with 64% throughout America.

Why is this? It turns out that no one knows for sure. One reason, to be certain, has to do with wealth. The NYTimes reported last week that the average sales price of an apartment in Manhattan hit a million dollars this year. It would appear, based on this article, that every Manhattanite can afford a personal trainer.

But there also seems to be a great deal of social pressure driving the trend. It is quotes like these that get your attention:

• "To be fat is to look slightly stupid"
  
  
• "Staying thin today is a sign you're hip and on top of things"
  
  
• "Ambition may be a key factor, but fashion is the ultimate motivator in the quest to be svelte."
  
  
• "Manhattan is the epicenter of vanity"
  
  
• "New Yorkers are fashion slaves heavily influenced by the media"
  
  
• "Most people take a minute or two to decide whether they like someone's looks, but here, it takes a nanosecond"
  
  
• "Thinness is equated with power"

What do you think? Does this Manhattan trend now trickle down to the rest of America, or not? One thing is certain -- it sure would be a lot easier with Vertebrane.