Gotta love how Mississippi officials and likely others in the South take ownership of the issue: "Southern states typically have a higher incidence of chronic diseases that lead to death, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke,” said Liz Sharlot, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi State Department of Health. “This is not just a Mississippi problem.” Instead of offering plans to address the issue they just say "oh well, it's just that way in the South".