The south is full of

Southern fried garbage. Just like the majority of their food.  My father likes the Cracker Barrell, every oncel in awhile I have to take him for breakfast/dinner there, you should see the small farm animals in that place, and that's just the customers, you are what you eat as they say.

As opposed to fine italian dining, most of the people working/dining at those places look like they could be on the italian national swim team.

I'm being a bit melodramatic, but you get my point.

Not true.  There aren't enough fasting days, and even on those days, people can gain weight, since by eating one big meal, and more carbs (less protein), they can actually change their metabolisms.  AND a lot of the food people can afford is poisoned garbage that wrecks the metabolism, creates insulin resistance, etc. (particularly the high fructose syrups).