capemaygop / CC

Political campaigning can get pretty dirty, and during the weeks leading up to last Tuesday's elections, the New Jersey gubernatorial race was no exception. Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine launched an attack ad against Republican Chris Christie that hit Christie below the belt—implying that he "threw his weight around" as a public official, literally.

While health care and the economy may have been the big issues on the table this election season, a survey by Public Policy Polling found that a hefty 11 percent of Jersey voters said that Christie's bulging waistline was a legitimate election issue, and 19 percent said it made them less likely to vote for him. Maybe Garden State residents are just proud to have the 10th lowest obesity rate in the U.S. and didn't want Christie weighing them down—but I'd say Christie should address this issue pronto.

Despite the obvious fat-bias, Christie came out on top and won the election, and we say, "Well, Chris—you've won, and now it's time to lose." We suggest that Christie enlist some help from carrot-crunching vegetarian Newark mayor Cory Booker—and adopt a vegan diet. Studies show that vegans are, on average, 10 to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters and that a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of heart disease by 50 percent—so it's obvious that going vegan would be the best way for Christie to shed pounds and maintain a healthy weight.

So, what do you think? With 23 percent of adults and 31 percent of children in New Jersey obese, should the governor-elect slim down and set an example of healthy living?

Posted by Liz Graffeo

moonbattery / CC

To paraphrase Adam Ant, he don't drink, don't smoke, what does he do? He eats a vegetarian diet too! Of course, I'm talking about Newark, New Jersey's teetotaling, carrot-crunching mayor, Cory Booker. So, if any mayor would be likely to take us up on our suggestion to ban fast-food restaurants, it would have to be Mayor Booker, right?

Well, that's what we think, which is why we've asked the mayor to ban the construction of new fast-food restaurants in Newark. Our reasoning goes like this: Studies show that people who live near fast-food restaurants have higher rates of strokes and obesity, and Newark residents have more than their fair share of both. Why not tackle both of those health issues—and beautify Newark at the same time—by banning golden arches and giant red-and-white striped buckets?

We think there's a chance that the mayor will go along with us on this one. Who knows—maybe Newark could become the next Akron, Ohio.

Posted by Alisa Mullins