A study released Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that Southerners are once again the nation’s fattest. The study blames the obesity rate, which is highest in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, on a variety of factors, including high poverty rates and the staple of many Southern diets — fried food.

Colorado ranked as the most fit state, due largely to a culture built around outdoor and sporting activities, with other Western states not far behind. So what are we Southerners doing wrong?

Apparently, most are consuming far more calories than they need. The cheapest foods, according to the CDC, tend to be the most calorie heavy, and without the understanding to make informed choices, many simply make the fastest and easiest choices.

Southerners should take notice of the study, as each year, the statistics show that the percentage of obese adults is getting higher, along with rising obesity rates among children.

As a community, there is more we can do. The newly formed Parks and Recreation Board should consider making all of the city and county facilities more widely accessible to the entire populace. They shouldn’t be in the profit business, and the fees often charged seem too high for public facilities. In addition, employers should stress the importance of healthy eating and habits, and establish programs to encourage better habits.

For children, schools can continue with healthy lunches, healthy snack choices, and by eliminating fast drinks and foods from vending machines and lunch lines.

However, parents are the most important allies in the struggle against childhood obesity, and should encourage children to exercise and eat right by setting a good example. Programs such as the new one at the YMCA will give children the opportunity to have a structured after school program with a great deal of time spend in healthy activities.

So let’s get up, get moving, get your children up and active, and learn to live a healthier lifestyle. Let’s not be part of the Southern culture of obesity any longer.