New Jersey’s Biggest Losers: Study reveals that Ridgewood’s citizens have NOT gained weight over the past decade

• Salem county’s citizens has lost the most weight over 10 years (they are 3% less obese).
• Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Passaic have gained the most weight.
• Infographic included showing NJ’s biggest losers (of lbs).

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, At the end of NBC’s first ‘The Biggest Loser’ season, the winning contestant had lost 122 pound (37% of his body weight). A study of contestants’ weight loss over a 6-year period after the show found that they had kept off 30% if their original bodyweight. Unfortunately, when it comes to America’s obesity crisis, life does not imitate reality TV. Warnings about America’s obesity epidemic are nothing new…

Statistics show that a sharp increase in obesity rates began in the 1980s, yet public health campaigns since have, it seems, not resulted in reductions in people’s waistlines. That is, according to a comprehensive study by BarBend.com, the world’s leading strength training resource and news outlet, who identified obesity levels over the past 10 years in cities and states across The Garden State.

The analysis of data available by County Health Rankings compared each county’s rate of obesity in 2012 to newly releases figures in 2022. The study found that of NJ’s 21 counties, just two have trended towards decreased levels of obesity. Two counties have remained the same – this includes the good people of Ridgewood (Bergen County), who have not gained wight over the past decade. The other 17 counties have in fact, got fatter.

A closer look at the data…

The top 5 NJ counties that have fared best over the past 10 years:

1) Salem: 3% less obese.

2) Sussex: 1% less obese.

3) Bergen: flat.

4) Hudson: flat.

5) Camden: 1% more obese.

 

The bottom 5 NJ counties that have fared worst over the past 10 years (all 7% more obese):

17) Cumberland.

18) Gloucester.

19) Hunterdon.

20) Monmouth.

21) Passaic.

 

Infographic showing obesity levels among NJ’s biggest cities and towns

If there was a silver lining to have come out of the research, it was that when compared nationally, New Jersey’s trend towards obesity is not as pronounced as in other states. In fact, New Jerseyans (albeit a minority) emerged as the 3^rd biggest losers (of lbs), coming behind only Florida (in first place, and who’s trend line remained flat), and Massachusetts.