Fat South

AP: Mississippi is still fattest state, but Alabama is closing ranks

The nation's annual obesity rankings are in. Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year and didn't decline anywhere, says a new report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

It's clear in the report that fat, not just age, will be the biggest factor in the increase in medical attention needed by Americans. In every state, the rate of obesity is higher among 55- to 64-year-olds - the oldest boomers - than among today's 65-and-beyond.

Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity, 32.5 percent, for the fifth year in a row. Three states have adult obesity rates above 30 percent Alabama, 31.2 percent; West Virginia, 31.1 percent; and Tennessee, 30.2 percent.

And the South takes a hit on obese children rates as well: Mississippi had the highest rate of overweight and obese children at 44.4 percent, followed by Arkansas at 37.5 percent and Georgia at 37.3 percent

Not trends we want to continue.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: New laws begin today and include more care for women with cancer

ARKANSAS: Legislators question state prison board's actions

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist signs water management bill, upsetting conservationists

GEORGIA: Latino voters in the state outperform national turnout in 2008

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear announces 38 recycling grants, 9 household hazardous waste grants

LOUISIANA: New Orleans is the nation's fastest-growing city

NORTH CAROLINA: EPA worried about 12 coal-ash storage ponds in state

SOUTH CAROLINA: Report says state may be paying too much for insurance

TENNESSEE: Gov. Bredesen kicks off statewide planting program

VIRGINIA: President Obama to hold town hall forum on health care plan in Virginia today

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