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Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the nation when it comes to obesity, according to the study. Colorado was the least obese.

CDC officials believe the telephone survey of 350,000 adults offers conservative estimates of obesity rates, because it's based on what respondents said about their height and weight. Men commonly overstate their height and women often lowball their weight, health experts say.

Most of the states listed in the Top 10 are considered southern states, which may be attributed to the southern diet of high fat and fried foods, said Adeline Yerkes, chief of chronic disease service at the state Health Department. The model, she said, is a poor diet with little exercise.

Yerkes said there isn't one way to solve Oklahoma's obesity problem. She suggests more walking and biking trails, allowing safer places for people to work out for free and better health education to get the state on the right path.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett started a campaign Dec. 31 challenging the city to lose 1 million pounds. Since Jan. 1, nearly 20,000 people have signed up and have reported losing more than 100,000 pounds.

The CDC study was conducted before the Oklahoma City initiative began. Cornett said he thinks the city is doing better now.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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