Americans are getting heavier than ever, with more than 26 percent of the population now fully obese, the U.S. government reported on Wednesday.

Despite warnings that the population must stop layering on the fat and frightening statistics that show two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, the weight trend continues, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

"The proportion of U.S. adults who are obese increased to 26.1 percent in 2008 compared to 25.6 percent in 2007," the CDC said in a statement.

"If this trend continues we will likely see increases in healthcare costs for obesity-related diseases," said the CDC's Liping Pan, who headed the study.

"Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes," the CDC's Dr. William Dietz added in a statement. "As obesity increases among all age groups, we are seeing chronic diseases in much younger adults compared to a few decades ago.

"For example, we now see young adults who suffer from heart disease risk factors and other conditions such as type 2 diabetes that were unheard of in the past."

The agency used its Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey of 400,000 adults, to gather its data.

At least 30 percent of adults are obese in six states -- Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, the CDC found.

Only Colorado can claim that fewer than 20 percent of its residents are obese.

Last week the Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a similar report showing residents of 23 U.S. states are fatter now than they were a year ago.

Body mass index, a measure of height to weight, is used to calculate obesity. A person is considered overweight with a BMI of 25 or more and obese with a BMI of 30 or above.

BMI is equal to weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.

Someone 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds (109 kgs) would be obese and would have to get below 195 pounds (88.5 kg) to be no longer considered overweight.

TOMS Shoe One for One mission, "For every pair of shoes you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need."

The first Shoe Drop took place in Argentina in October of 2006, when TOMS Shoes Founder and Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie and his team brought 10,000 pairs of shoes to distribute to children in need.

Looks like another boring wedding processional, right?

Think again.

This is probably the best wedding entrance ever.

It has nothing at all to do with fitness or boot camp but I just had to share.

Enjoy!

In this video you'll hear from Brea Boot Camp members Amber and Walid. Both of these great people have been successful with their boot camp program and are making progress toward their weight loss goals. They were initially hesitant to come to camp but are glad that they did.

Press play now and listen to their fitness testimonials.

Natural and organic food markets have sprouted up everywhere, offering you a nearby source for "natural" foods, such as organic produce and other foods that are free of antibiotics, preservatives, growth hormones and trans fats.

However, not everything in these markets is healthy.

In fact, the layout of a natural food store can be challenging for even the smartest shoppers. Learn how to spot and navigate around the danger signs in store aisles before your next visit to the market. Jenna Bell-Wilson, PhD, RD, CSSD, co-author of Energy to Burn and owner of SwimBikeRunEat.com, shows you how.

Danger Sign: Organic Labels

The term organic means that the food is more than 70% free of pesticides, herbicides' fungicides, growth hormones, antibiotics, irradiation and genetic modification.

Organic does not mean the product is low fat, low sodium, fat free, low calorie, nutrient dense, rich in phyto-chemicals or even plain old healthy.

It simply means it has been certified "organic" by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Danger Sign: Crackers, Chips and Cookies-Oh My!

Natural food markets offer shelves and shelves of crackers, chips and cookies claiming to be organic alternatives to junk food-all without trans fatty acids. In these aisles, keep a close eye on food labels to make sure saturated fat hasn't replaced trans fat. There are some better, tasty snack choices lurking on these shelves, but again, check the labels to find the healthiest options.

Danger Sign: Frozen and Faux Foods

More and more natural food markets are stocking up on frozen and "fauxmeat" entrees to attract harried healthconscious shoppers. Stamped "organic" or "natural;' these products are convenient, but they can pack a lot of calories and fat into a serving size.

Occasionally indulging in a frozen pizza from one of these stores is probably not a problem if your overall diet is healthy. But don't assume that a slice of pizza is low fat simply because you bought it at a natural food market. Some varieties can dish up a generous amount of total fat, so always scan the nutrition facts panels.

The wide variety of meat alternatives now on display can also push the fat envelope. Although they may offer less fat and fewer calories than the "real thing," faux products can still provide more than a nugget of fat, some of which may be saturated. Flip the boxes and choose a meat substitute that provides the taste you are looking for with the least amount of fat. Pay close attention to the grams of saturated fat.