Welcome  to  public  health  moment from  the  University  of  Minnesota. A  new  report  from  the  Trust  for  America's  Health  finds that  Minnesota  kids  have the  lowest  rate  of  obesity  in  the  nation, tying  with  Utah  at  just  over  23%  Jamie  Stang, a  nutrition  expert  at  the  University  of  Minnesota, says  that  obesity  rates vary  dramatically  by  region  of  the  country. What  the  report  has  really  shown  is that  there's  a  remarkable  difference  in obesity  rates  across  the  country for  both  adults  and  children. You  see  higher  rates  in the  Southeast  and  the  South  portion  of  the  US, and  you  actually  see  the  lowest  rates  in  the  Northwest, particularly  the  Pacific  Northwest, as  well  as  some  of  the  border  states in  the  Midwest  and  the  Great  Plains  area. Stang  says  that  Minnesota's  relatively  low  rate of  childhood  obesity  is  due in  large  part  because  our  children  are more  active  than  those  in many  other  parts  of  the  country. When  you  look  at  physical  activity  options, I  think  Minnesota  really  stands  out. We  have  a  lot  more  variety  of  parks, trails,  and  we  have  the  lakes. And  we  have  larger  yards, more  space  for  kids  to  be  out  and  play. All  of  this  really  adds  up  to more  daily  physical  activity where  it  may  not  be  competitive  sports, but  kids  can  just  get  out  and  run  around  and play  with  another  public  health  moment. I'm  John  Finnegan.