I was at the beach today - and I saw a lot of healthy, well-toned beautiful bodies. I think it must be those fly-over and southern states that ruin the national average and give the country a reputation.
Here in California we bike and swim and jog. We're active. We incorporate fruits and vegetables, whole foods and grains into our diets, and we tend to go to the gym.
I love my conservative friends in the flyover states, but, really, there are only so many calories one can burn catcalling and shouting at Sarah Palin rallies and tea parties. Yelling out "Obama is a MUSLIM!" will burn maybe 10 or 15 calories, tops. And listening to Rush Limbaugh while cracking open a beer does not tend to raise the metabolism, as does cardio, for periods long enough to sustain a healthy heart.