Its hot. Its sticky. And in the southern United States this summer, more than 30% of adults are considered to be obese—with Mississippi topping the leader board. This according to CDC estimates reported yesterday by the Associated Press. The study—a random phone survey conducted last year—was published in the CDC's weekly Morbidity and Mortality report. According to CDC experts, the South has higher obesity rates than the rest of the country in part due to high levels of poverty, specific demographic groups that call the South home, and traditional southern eating habits.

Mississippi has had the highest obesity rates in the country since 2004, as well as having rates above the national average for heart disease and stroke—two conditions thought to be closely linked to obesity. These conditions also see higher rates among rural residents and black women, two demographic groups which the South has high concentrations of, and two groups which are more likely to be living in poverty.

The poor in America tend to be obese. A national reality according to one expert cited in the study—only being able to afford and have access to foods which are calorie-dense and nutrient poor. Something that the traditional southern diet, they cite, is rich in. The Southern diet is high in fat and fried foods, but carries with it just as much history and tradition as it does calories. Could the key to the South's obesity challenge be simply cutting back the collard greens and fried chicken? If only it were that simple.

As the summer heats up, so does the discussion on America's obesity epidemic. Prevention, management, and treatment of obesity and the additional chronic conditions associated with it, have come to the forefront of the debate in cutting our nation's health care costs. As Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said this week, in connection with a report released by the Trust for America's Health, we need to change our mindset to the prevention of these conditions. It is the right season for tackling obesity with a little creativity at both the local and national levels—finding a way to drop our health care costs and lose the pounds, but keep the occasional sweet tea and pecan pie.