The weight of obesity: Lessons from the fattest state

America is getting fatter, and Mississippi is leading the way. Local physicians are working hard to stem the tide. Part 3 of a 3-part series.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. Oct. 20, 2003.

The weight of OBESITY A three-part series  Linking large people to care (Oct. 6)  Public health ponders future of children with diabetes (Oct. 13)  Lessons from the fattest state (Oct. 20)

Dwalia South, MD, rarely sees people walking in her small town of Ripley, Miss. Recreational facilities are rare in this rural area. There are no local shops down the street because these businesses have been replaced by national chain stores on the outskirts of town. Thus, simple errands are a drive away. And even if there was someplace to walk, the heat and humidity would still make this choice unlikely.

"The only people you see walking anywhere are people who have already had their first heart attack and the doctor has said, 'you need to get out and walk,' " said Dr. South, a native of the area and medical director of the clinic system at North Benton County Health Care Inc.

It's true. Ripley might be a small town. But in terms of the community's weight problem, it offers a telling window on a statewide, even nationwide, battle. Each generation there seems to be larger than the last. Exercise opportunities are sparse, while fast-food and buffet-style restaurants are more convenient than ever. Portions are supersized. And even the school system has begun to rely on revenues from soft drink and candy machines to infuse cash into the education system.

"We're selling our children's health to the devil for money," said Dr. South.

Dr. South is very aware of how difficult healthy choices are in these surroundings. Much like many of her patients, she struggles with her own weight and walks most mornings to keep it under control. She tries to eat right, but she concedes that she doesn't do all that well. And in much the same vein, she strives to convince her patients to make the small changes that could affect their weight, but it seems even harder in Mississippi than in other places.