Living Large in West Virginia

Obesity remains a critical problem in the Mountain State. The Associated Press' Tom Breen reports that "West Virginia is now the second-fattest state in the country, based on federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data analyzed by the Trust For America's Health."

"The study found that nearly 30 percent of adults in West Virginia are obese, up more than a percentage point from last year and second only to Mississippi," the AP article said. "The study also found that West Virginia has the second-highest rate of overweight children between the ages of 10 and 17."

But obesity is also a national problem. Both Breen's article and a separate AP story report that "Obesity rates continued their climb in 31 states last year. No state showed a decline."

AP also offers state obesity rankings. The report from Trust for America's Health, "F as in Fat," is also online.

Update: Public Broadcasting focuses on the dance video game that West Virginia has promoted to reduce obesity among children.