Comments on: My theory on the Walmart Diet http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/ Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:17:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: vanderleun http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84868 vanderleun Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:47:21 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84868 I tried it. I keep going to Walmart and shopping until I drop, but I don't lose a pound! Next time I'm there I going to do 30 reps of bench-pressing the two dozen doughnut boxes before I put them in my cart. I tried it. I keep going to Walmart and shopping until I drop, but I don’t lose a pound!

Next time I’m there I going to do 30 reps of bench-pressing the two dozen doughnut boxes before I put them in my cart.

]]> By: Gringo http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84869 Gringo Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:02:40 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84869 Neo, that's a good explanation to me. Like you say, you have to do a LOT more walking in them than in a Ma and Pa store. Neo, that’s a good explanation to me. Like you say, you have to do a LOT more walking in them than in a Ma and Pa store.

]]> By: I R A Darth Aggie http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84872 I R A Darth Aggie Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:13:10 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84872 I have a new walmart that's closest to me. It also seems to have the widest aisles. More importantly, it isn't overly crowded and I can checkout in 5 minutes. But...it's FREAKIN' HUGE. I need a FREAKIN' MAP to navigate around. If I need three things that aren't close to each other, it takes me 30 minutes to find them all. I have a new walmart that’s closest to me. It also seems to have the widest aisles. More importantly, it isn’t overly crowded and I can checkout in 5 minutes.

But…it’s FREAKIN’ HUGE. I need a FREAKIN’ MAP to navigate around. If I need three things that aren’t close to each other, it takes me 30 minutes to find them all.

]]> By: Oldflyer http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84873 Oldflyer Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:30:23 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84873 Don't think me an elitist, because I happily shop at Walmart regularly. But, to tell the truth when I look at a many of my fellow customers I think: "Wow, I have to watch my weight." Our community is a broad mix of small town upscale and down scale country. I have been alert since the downturn in the economy to see if there are more "value shoppers" in our local Walmart. It is inconclusive. I do know that Walmart = value for the $$. Don’t think me an elitist, because I happily shop at Walmart regularly. But, to tell the truth when I look at a many of my fellow customers I think:
“Wow, I have to watch my weight.”

Our community is a broad mix of small town upscale and down scale country. I have been alert since the downturn in the economy to see if there are more “value shoppers” in our local Walmart. It is inconclusive.

I do know that Walmart = value for the $$.

]]> By: Donna B. http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84874 Donna B. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:32:00 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84874 I can hardly go to WalMart anymore because I have just a touch of OCD and I want to walk down every aisle because I might miss something I think I need if I don't. I have neither the time nor the money to shop at WalMart! I can hardly go to WalMart anymore because I have just a touch of OCD and I want to walk down every aisle because I might miss something I think I need if I don’t.

I have neither the time nor the money to shop at WalMart!

]]> By: Fred http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84876 Fred Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:08:54 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84876 Off topic, sorry, but RUSSIAN FRAKKIN BOMBERS just landed in Venezuela to perform routine training exercises over neutral waters. One word for you Medvedev, Curacao. Unreal how short term our memories are. Just finishing Between the Wars and it's a nice analysis of Clinton's struggle with the deft-wing and moderate right / isolationists in the face of the first phase of the Post Cold War world. Assuming crude stabilizes around $100 / barrel Chavez will not implode and will continue to raise serious red flags for this hemisphere. Off topic, sorry, but RUSSIAN FRAKKIN BOMBERS just landed in Venezuela to perform routine training exercises over neutral waters. One word for you Medvedev, Curacao. Unreal how short term our memories are. Just finishing Between the Wars and it’s a nice analysis of Clinton’s struggle with the deft-wing and moderate right / isolationists in the face of the first phase of the Post Cold War world. Assuming crude stabilizes around $100 / barrel Chavez will not implode and will continue to raise serious red flags for this hemisphere.

]]> By: Alex http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84885 Alex Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:01:34 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84885 Another explanation for the "Walmart Diet" is reverse causality. Walmart execs like to locate new stores in places where the economy is improving, and as people get richer they tend to lose weight. If those two things are true we can get the result of the paper without any actual causal effect of Walmart on health. Notice in column 6 of table 2 when they add county-specific time trends (one way to account for changes in county attributes like the economy) the effect becomes smaller and insignificant. I'm not convinced their story <i>isn't</i> true, but neither is it rock-solid. I'd like to see the authors either a) add more economic controls besides just unemployment and that questionable imputed income measure they use, or even better b) run a placebo regression in which they see whether adding a Walmart has any effect the year <i>before</i> the Walmart actually opens. If the true cause is economic changes in the area then the placebo should turn up positive --- if the true cause is Walmart affecting health then it should be negative. If they get a negative result on the placebo test I'd be a lot more convinced they are right. Then we could debate exactly how it works (wealth, exercise, etc.). Another explanation for the “Walmart Diet” is reverse causality. Walmart execs like to locate new stores in places where the economy is improving, and as people get richer they tend to lose weight. If those two things are true we can get the result of the paper without any actual causal effect of Walmart on health. Notice in column 6 of table 2 when they add county-specific time trends (one way to account for changes in county attributes like the economy) the effect becomes smaller and insignificant.

I’m not convinced their story isn’t true, but neither is it rock-solid. I’d like to see the authors either a) add more economic controls besides just unemployment and that questionable imputed income measure they use, or even better b) run a placebo regression in which they see whether adding a Walmart has any effect the year before the Walmart actually opens. If the true cause is economic changes in the area then the placebo should turn up positive — if the true cause is Walmart affecting health then it should be negative. If they get a negative result on the placebo test I’d be a lot more convinced they are right. Then we could debate exactly how it works (wealth, exercise, etc.).

]]> By: Sloan http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84888 Sloan Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:23:18 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84888 I haven't been in Walmart enough to know for sure, but I'll bet that the milk and bread are located waaaaay at the back...just like every other grocery store. Having said that, I have to say that I think Walmart is, on balance, a good thing. It gives lower-income folks a chance to buy decent stuff at a decent price, thus stretching their dollar. Nothing wrong with that. But even if I had a Walmart nearby, I think I'd still buy my groceries at Kroger...GOTTA be easier to find things. I haven’t been in Walmart enough to know for sure, but I’ll bet that the milk and bread are located waaaaay at the back…just like every other grocery store.

Having said that, I have to say that I think Walmart is, on balance, a good thing. It gives lower-income folks a chance to buy decent stuff at a decent price, thus stretching their dollar. Nothing wrong with that. But even if I had a Walmart nearby, I think I’d still buy my groceries at Kroger…GOTTA be easier to find things.

]]> By: camojack http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84903 camojack Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:50:45 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84903 FWIW, <b>I</b> think your theory has some merit. ;-) FWIW, I think your theory has some merit. ;-)

]]> By: SteveH http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84907 SteveH Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:13:59 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84907 Maybe the cookie and ice cream aisles should be 200 flights of stairs up....While the brocolli replaces the tabloids beside the checkout. Maybe the cookie and ice cream aisles should be 200 flights of stairs up….While the brocolli replaces the tabloids beside the checkout.

]]> By: goesh http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84909 goesh Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:33:37 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-84909 I really like the freedom of being able to buy any colored Chinese t-shirt I want. Woo-hoo! We're number 1 !! I really like the freedom of being able to buy any colored Chinese t-shirt I want. Woo-hoo! We’re number 1 !!

]]> By: Ymarsakar http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-85162 Ymarsakar Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:42:54 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2008/09/10/my-theory-on-the-walmart-diet/#comment-85162 Neo, that skit was a hoot. Probably more funny than it would have been if I had watched it too. Thanks. Neo, that skit was a hoot. Probably more funny than it would have been if I had watched it too. Thanks.

]]>