Obesity rates in the southern states are increasing due to escalating poverty rates, according to a new report. States with a higher poverty rate have a higher number of obese citizens, the study says, because people with a low income are more likely to purchase inexpensive processed foods, which contribute to weight gain. Read the full story

In the July 24, 2009 edition of WLS News, find out whether germs in your mouth could make you fat, why the South has the highest obesity rates in America, and why doctors have changed their tune about using weight loss surgery to cure sleep apnea. Plus, learn whether getting married means saying “I do” to weight gain, and how the battle of the bulge is affecting the economy on the West Coast.

Read the full story

Obesity rates in the U.S. increased in almost half of the 50 states and did not decrease in a single state over the past year, according to a new report. Find out which states are the fattest, and how the current economic crisis could impact obesity rates in the near term. Read the full story