It could be the snow and all the fresh air.
It could be the outdoor fun that is there.
Or maybe the fact that they’re all fitness nuts
Or maybe nobody there likes doughnuts
But in the land where mountains rise like a steeple
Are the fewest of the few of Wyoming’s fat people.
(With apologies to Dr. Seuss)
Whatever the reason, Teton County is the slimmest county in the state, according to recently released state figures.
Figures released last week by the state Department of Administration and Information’s Economic Analysis Division showed only 12.2% of Teton County’s residents have a body mass index higher than 30, the lowest percentage in the state.
The figures were included in the Economic Analysis Division’s annual “Wyoming and County Profiles” publication, which provides information about demographics, health information, vehicle ownership and more on a county-by-county basis.
A body mass index or BMI is derived through a formula involving a person’s height and weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
Statewide, about 29.7% of Wyoming residents have a BMI of 30 or higher.
The highest percentage of obese people in the state, according to the report, was found in Goshen County, where 38.3% of the residents have a BMI of 30 or higher.
Health officials in Teton and Goshen counties were not immediately available to comment on the report.
Teton County residents appear to just be healthy overall, also boasting the smallest percentage of cigarette smokers in the state.
The report said only 10.1% of the county’s residents reported they had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes and were still smoking.
By contrast, in Niobrara County, 34.1% of the residents identified themselves as smokers.
