Despite the many health warnings in recent years, America is fatter than ever.
A new study has found that our obesity crisis has increased dramatically in the last 20 years.
It also revealed the epidemic is going to get worse in the years ahead unless the country makes a dramatic effort to stop it.
America is at a point now where in two thirds of the states, 25 percent of the population is obese. Not just overweight -- obese.
Mississippi weighs in as the heaviest U.S. state. Thirty-four percent of the population is obese.
Just 20 years ago, there was no state with an obesity rate above 15 percent.
Obese Costs
The current health issue has taken a toll on overall U.S. health, as well as citizen's finances.
"Being overweight is expensive. People tend to complain that eating healthy costs too much, but when you think about it, it's very expensive when you're heavy," Nutritionist Joy Bauer said.
"You have more medication costs, more medical bills. You spend a lot of money on food as well because you excessively snack," she added. "And you buy things that you wouldn't be buying if you were eating properly."
Fattening Lifestyle
Experts say there are many reasons America has ballooned as a nation, but they all fall under the lifestyle umbrella.
Shannon Ferry lives in Philadelphia, home to all kinds of delicious, yet unhealthy foods.
"There's so much food to eat. We love the cheesesteaks. We love the Philly cream cheese on our bagels," Ferry said.
"Being close to New York, we have New York style bagels, the Philly cheesesteaks on the soft rolls overflowing with the meat, the onions, the sauce," she said. "There's so many places that compete for who has the best cheesesteak."
Food is getting better tasting. Portions are ever increasing and it's never been so readily available. You can even go whitewater rafting then pig-out on the riverbank.
"We do bacon wrapped scallops, creamy cilantro dressing. We're going to have a peach salsa to go along with it," Bryan Schwartz, with Wilderness Adventures, explained.
"You're on the river and intense and then you get a chocolate mouse served to you and we have bread with a wedge of warmed brie," he said.