Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
New Yorkers Getting Fatter By The Minute, Just Like "Real" Americans
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Aug 14, 2012
Modified Aug 14, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Aug 14, 2012
Modified Aug 14, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Maybe it really is time to let Bloomberg take away that 20 oz. soda; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report on 2011's obesity rates in the United States, and found that more than one third of all adult Americans are obese, with New York State's 30+ BMI population weighing in at 24.5 percent.
The CDC study, which surveyed over 400,000 adults, shows a significant overall increase in obesity nationwide since 1985, when less than 10 percent of all New Yorkers were obese and no state in the country had a reported obesity rate of over 14 percent. Fast forward to 2001, and New York's statewide obesity rate was under 20 percent. In 2010 obesity prevalence climbed to 23.9 percent—now, nearly one in four Empire State residents are dangerously overweight.
The good news? While New Yorkers are fat, they're still not as fat as the Double-Down-downers in real America. The CDC study notes that more than one-third of all adults in the United States are obese (though a study from April shows that number might be even higher). The states with the most obese residents were Southern states like Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi, which had the highest obesity prevalence in the country of 34.9 percent. Western states like California and Nevada were leaner overall, and the slimmest state was Colorado, where it appears only 20.7 percent of the population spend their Sundays at IHOP.
Tagged
cdc
obese
obesity
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .