U.S. kids have been getting fatter in recent decades, but a new study that shows geographical differences in childhood obesity trends paints a clearer picture of where things are getting worse and better.

The study released recently online in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine looked at weight statistics among 46,707 U.S. children ages 10 to 17 in 2003, and among 44,101 children in 2007. Among the findings:

• The Southeast had the highest instances of obese and overweight kids.

• In 2007, 31.6 percent of children were overweight, and 16.4 percent were obese.

• In 2007, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of overweight children, at 44.5 percent; Utah had the lowest, at 23.1 percent.

• Between 2003 and 2007, the prevalence of overweight girls went up 9 percent; the prevalence of obesity in girls went up 18 percent.

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Los Angeles Times