Statistics Can Say Anything
2006-04-06 17:43 - Links
So, I just read this article about how obesity rates are going up for men and children. And they are, and it's pathetic, and I don't like it.
But also horrible are the statistics twisting. Apparently men went from 27/67% obese/overweight to 31/71 over the past few years. But women only managed to stay constant at 33/62. Yet, someone decides to say:
"Women have always been more responsible about health than the general population," said Dr. William Dietz, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported the new data. "I'd like to think this shows women are leading the way in recognizing obesity as a health threat," said Dietz, director of the CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.
Okay, first, what a pathetically veiled sexist remark. More responsible "than the general population?" Than men! Just say it, that's the only other general population! But then, "women are leading the way" in noticing obesity was bad, yet there were more obese women by percentage 5 years ago, and still are now, without any growth. How does that line up? Bah.
