i read today that 3 in 10 american adults are obese. holy shit. dunno if that's true though. maybe the article writer was referring to black americans as several sources say ~30% of blacks are obese.
Here are a few interesting maps from the CDC (if you put any faith in the CDC):
Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: U.S. Obesity Trends | DNPAO | CDC
I've heard psychologists say obesity is linked to emotional issues - a goldmine for marketers.