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The Rice Thresher
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Joan Shreffler Special to the Thresher We're number one! A recent article in Men's Fitness magazine rates Houston as the "fattest city in America" out of the 200 metropolitan areas surveyed. Houstonians, the magazine claims, are overall in the worst health of any of their peers. The average citizen here "watches too much TV, drinks too much, eats poorly, has a terrible commute, breathes some of the worst air in the country and has too few choices for recreational facilities." Detroit, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Columbus are also among the "fattest cities". The magazine named America's "fittest" cities as San Diego, Honolulu, Seattle and Minneapolis. Since the magazine hit newsstands earlier this month, Houston has become the butt (slight pun intended) of many late-night TV jokes. However, I'm not sure if this newfound claim to fame is justified. I have visited almost all of the cities in one of the two top five categories, and I was skeptical of the study's conclusions. After contacting one of the magazine's editors, I was sent a detailed list of how each city's scores were computed. In each of 15 categories, cities were ranked first to last and assigned a numerical grade based on some curve even more confusing than the one in my freshman chemistry class. Scores were then translated into letter grades; for example, Houston received a C- on alcohol abuse and an F on TV viewing. Houston's great diversity of cultures, in addition to the booming economy, has led to more restaurants opening and more people treating themselves to meals out. This luxury becomes apparent on the waistlines of restaurant patrons. The magazine also states that Houstonians do not exercise enough. The Outer Loop and the Memorial Park trail are always packed with people trying to stay fit, but these people were not taken into account by the magazine. Houston's C+ exercise grade was based almost solely on the percentage of people with health-club memberships. Houston's stifling hot summers contribute greatly to its residents' inactivity. Last summer, I found myself having to wake up before six just to run four or five miles before the heat made it unbearable. Even then, I felt like I was swimming through the humidity, and was drenched in sweat after just a few minutes. I considered joining a health club myself. But clubs down here seem to realize the necessity for such a facility for anyone wishing to stay fit over the summer, and set their rates accordingly. One club I visited was going to cost me about $250 to join, and then $50 a month for my basic membership, which didn't even include aerobics classes, weight instruction or purchases at the "health bar." The most disturbing part of the study is that well over half of the score is based on statistics that the residents of the city have no control over. The first is air and water quality. Houston, as we know, is hot and muggy. This traps pollution in a cloud over the city. There is also no mass transit system, making an automobile a necessity. Houston is by far the largest city in the country without any kind of subway or light-rail system. As a result of these and other factors, Houston received an F in air quality and a C for water quality. Perhaps what hurt our score most is the emphasis the study placed on climate and geography. We received an F and a C, respectively, in these categories, while America's "fittest" city, San Diego, aced both. Is there anyone in Houston who doesn't wish we had San Diego's weather? Although comedians are having a field day with these rankings, fear not, Houston. Eight of the top 20 "fittest" cities are in California. Right now, they are protecting their air by conserving fossil fuels and are also in the middle of a huge energy crisis. Let Jay Leno make fun of our waistlines, but when their electricity goes out and they have no gas for their cars, we will have the last laugh. Joan Shreffler is a Lovett College sophomore.
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