Fat America: Obesity Rising in Southern States

The number of obese American children might be declining slightly, but adults? Not so much. A new report finds more grownups getting fatter in 28 states, a hefty number of them in the South.

Here's an excerpt from today's Reuters' story:

"Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced, and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region, and income," said Jeffrey Levi, director of Trust for America's Health, which sponsored the report along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The annual ranking of U.S. states found 10 out of the 11 states with the highest rates of obesity were in the South with Mississippi number one for the sixth year in a row with 33.8 falling into the category

Over 25 percent of adults in 38 states are obese. Race and poverty continue to play a role.

What has your experience been covering obesity and its related health issues in your community? Leave your comments below, and don't forget to check out these ideas from our former California Endowment Health Journalism Fellows: Don Finley offers tips for covering diabetes and obesity and Rebecca Plevin blogs about her coverage of obesity among Latinos in Central California.