KIDS AND RACE: Childhood obesity is much higher among African-American and Hispanic children than any other group, according to two studies published in the American Journal of Public Health. More non-Hispanic white adolescents from lower income families are overweight than those from high income families, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: Fast food restaurants are more common in areas where poor people live. Grocery stores selling a variety of fruits and vegetables are rare. Corner stores that sell no fresh fruit are more common. Many parents work one or two jobs and don’t have the time to cook healthy meals.

GETTING FATTER: The Centers for Disease Control says everyone is getting fatter – both rich and poor. The CDC reports that between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates doubled among adults and now about 60 million adults – 30 percent of the adult population – are now obese.

UNHEALTHY LIVES: Only about a quarter of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. More than half of the adult population gets the recommended amount of exercise.

By The Associated Press