New York ranks high in skinny state list

New York is in better shape than most of the nation -- when it comes to staying skinny, at least -- a health study released Monday said.

The Empire State's average body mass index is 24.5%, the seventh lowest in the nation according to a report by the Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit group. Although the study didn't list why so many New Yorkers are on the thinner side, another study gave some insight into how government intervention is helping kids' eating habits.

An article published in the medical journal "Pediatrics" found that students in states with strong anti-obesity laws in public schools had lost more weight than their peers in states with weaker laws.

Dr. Daniel Taber, the study's lead author, could not say if New York was one of the 40 states included in the study, but noted that the Big Apple's nutrition-based laws, such as the trans fat ban, are some of the strongest in the nation and contribute to healthier lifestyles.

"I admire the mayor and city for tackling obesity," he said.

Over the past couple of years, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city's Department of Health have made changes to school meals such as requiring that all milk be low fat and restricting sugary drinks and foods.