Americans get fatter and fatter, with the nation's obesity rate increasing in 31 mostly southern states, Trust for American Health reported Tuesday.

"The epidemic obesity is getting worse," said Jeff Levi, the group's executive director, who has issued the organization's third report on the problem.

In a telephone press conference Levi blasted the government for failing to provide a global policy to handle the epidemic. There is "no strategic global policy; quick fixes don't work," he said.

A full 27 percent of the nation's health care costs are related to problems linked to obesity, Levi said.

Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans are either overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Childhood overweight rates have more than tripled from 1980 to 2004, from five to 17 percent, according to the CDC.

The group's report showed that Mississippi was the heaviest state in nationwide rankings, with an adult obesity of 29.5 percent. Second was another southern state, Alabama, followed by West Virginia.

Nine out of 10 southern states have the nation's highest obesity rate -- and not surprisingly, those states also report the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension, two health problems associated with obesity, according to the report.

Colorado was the leanest state, with an adult obesity rate of 16.9 percent.

Obesity rates remained the same in 18 states and in the U.S. capital district, Washington. All states fail to meet the national goal of reducing adult obesity levels to 15 percent or less by the year 2010.

Source: Xinhua/agencies