Americans are FATTER than ever, but here's the ONLY thing you can do to lose weight

Burn more calories than you consume is the only solution to weight problems.

Americans are fat, and getting fatter according to new research from the CDC. More than 20 percent of Americans in every state are obese, and in some states, over a third meet the definition.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Americans complain about a lot, but they are the most well-fed, and sedentary people in the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most than 20 percent of Americans are obese. The conclusion is based on data gathered by state. In some states, over a third of the population is obese.

Colorado, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia are the healthiest areas with just twenty percent of their populations obese. Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia all had rates over thirty five percent.

Hispanics and blacks were most likely to be obese. Thirty-eight percent of black adults were classified as obese. About 28 percent of Caucasians are obese. No cause as to why was specified, but socio-economic factors are likely responsible for the disparity.

The CDC defines obese as a body mass index over 30.0.

The reason for the epidemic is simple. We eat too much, what we eat is loaded with fats and sugars, and we exercise too little. Many Americans consume a day's worth of calories in a single sitting.

We are also depressed, which tends to keep people on the couch as opposed to exercising. Unfortunately, the best cure for depression is exercise and activity.

Making problems worse are fad diets, the social acceptance of unhealthy behavior, and the fact that healthy eating is often more expensive, and less convenient than eating unhealthy foods.

Ultimately, the formula for beating obesity is simple, requiring no fad diets, supplements, or medical intervention. To lose weight, a person only has to burn more calories than they consume. It does not matter what you eat, so long as you meet your daily nutritional requirements, which are a little different for each person.

Tips and tricks include increasing water intake, finding small ways to increase exercise, and substituting healthier foods for less healthy foods. Ultimately, eating less is the single most critical thing a person can do to beat obesity.