“Yes, Americans are fat. More accurately, Americans are still fat,” says Mary MacVean in the Los Angeles Times.  “The federal government released its ‘obesity map’ outlining the rates of obesity and how rates in the states compare. Overall, the rate for the South was 29.5 percent, followed by the Midwest at 29 percent, the Northeast at 25.3 percent and the West at 24.3 percent.”

MacVean quoted the Centers for Disease Control: “The obesity epidemic is still a major public health problem.” For example, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that more than a third of adults and almost 17 percent of young people were obese in 2009-10.

So, what are we supposed to do about it? We could get good and depressed – and make ourselves feel better with a double cheeseburger, super-sized fries and, of course, since we’re watching our weight, a diet cola, followed by a fried apple pie and – hey, the light is on at the doughnut shop – three glazed, fat-saturated bear claws with little chocolate sprinkles. And since we’re on a diet, spread generously with fat-free cream cheese.