California's Kids May Have Hit Fat Bottom

In the state that gave the world drive-thru fast food and marketed it heavily to children, it may not be surprising that levels of obesity among kids are double and triple what they were in the 1980s.

The good news is, the state's annual tests of 5th, 7th and 9th graders for physical fitness showed an improvement over last year, so hopefully we have collectively hit the fat bottom.

The Fitnessgram test measures kids' fitness in terms of aerobic capacity, strength and their body mass index.

In other words, they make kids run a mile and time them. Geez! Like, so boring, am I right? I'm getting a note from my mom.

Among all students, 34 percent met all of the test's criteria for fitness, having steadily risen from 28 percent in 2006.

However, class plays a role -- suburban students from wealthier white families score better overall than urban, African-American and Latino students.

Older students also generally tested better than younger students, possibly because they want to lose some weight so that hottie in English class will go see that new Twilight movie with them, and maybe even make out in the theater.

Jackson West is fat and proud of it.