(Washington, DC) -- The government says Americans are heavier now than they've ever been.

A new report says more than 26-percent of the U.S. population was fully obese in 2008.

That's a jump of half a percent from the year before.

The head of the study says that if Americans continue to widen their waistbands, healthcare costs for obesity-related diseases will increase as well.

The CDC said 30-percent of adults are obese in Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Only one state, Colorado, had an obesity rate of less than 20-percent.

Obesity is considered a major risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and other diseases.

(Copyright 2009 by Newsroom Solutions)